RIP David Cassidy

David Cassidy posed naked ( for photographer Annie Leibovitz) and revealed his drug use in the May 11th, 1972 issue of Rolling Stone. "The Business of David Cassidy" --which at that point included a Top Ten version of "Cherish" and a hit TV show called "The Partridge Family "-- would never be the same.

   It pissed off everybody that was really profiting from the business of David Cassidy. I had fan letters that came to me--and there were hundreds of thousands of them, literally-- in defense of me by fans of mine, that said, "Oh David, I know that you couldn't possibly have done this because I know that you would never have posed nude for photographs", And the fact was, I had, willingly done so, had thought about it. I scratched my head and thought, you know, this David Cassidy business has really gotten outta hand. 
~ David Cassidy

40 Year Itch: UK Top 10 This Week in 1974

Hey Kids! This Rubettes Pic is Big Enough to Use as Desktop Wallpaper

The most shocking thing about the UK Top 10 list this week is only 2 of the songs made any impact on the US charts, both hitting #1. The Rubettes hit is straight out of the "Roy Wood 50's style music meets 70's Glam Rock" playbook.

1. The Rubettes : Sugar Baby Love

  The surest sign the Glam Rock craze was a glittery double decker bus rushing headlong down a Dead End alley into a brick wall. Great pop....but don't listen for the lyrics or if you're prone to cavities.

2. Sparks : This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both of Us

1974's strangest and most brilliant UK hit was actually recorded by a US band



3. Showaddywaddy : Hey Rock and Roll

After the show, pimply boys were allowed to rifle through the sweat stained suits for their proms.

4. Ray Stevens :The Streak

Still not funny

5. R. Dean Taylor: There's a Ghost in My House

A Re-issued 1966 single from Canuck rocker is such a big hit even The Fall record a version

6. Paper Lace : The Night Chicago Died

UK rockers Paper Lace did the right thing by sending a copy of the single to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley who made it known that he hated it. 

7. Cockney Rebel : Judy Teen

Confusing fans, the single was not on the brilliant album released that month, Psychomodo.

8. Mouth and MacNeal : I See A Star

Crushed by Abba's Waterloo", the Dutch entry still made the Top 10 in the UK.

9. David Cassidy : If I Didn't Care

His star quickly fading after a young girl was crushed at a UK concert, Cassidy recorded this classic cover 25 years before Bryan Ferry

10. Status Quo : Break The Rules

Formulaic Status Quo tune that would peak at #8.

40 Year Itch: Victim of Contrived Hysteria

On May 26, 1974 750 people were hurt at a David Cassidy concert at the White City Stadium. A few days later 14 year old Bernadette Whelan died of heart failure --the first fatality at a British pop concert. Cassidy had already announced his retirement that week.

"I feel burnt up inside," he told the Mail. "I'm 24, a big star ... in a position that millions dream of, but the truth is I just can't enjoy it."

  There were 35,000 fans at the White City concert. When Cassidy made his appearance there was a surge. Some were trampled . Others were crushed.The director of the British Safety Council called it a "suicide concert". Six fans were taken to the hospital.

    In an interview with the Sunday Times, Cassidy put his hands on his heart. `Oh man', he says. `My first reaction was that I was totally brought down. I feel responsible and yet [pause] I don't feel responsible'."

    At the inquest, the coroner called Bernadette a "victim of contrived hysteria" and suggested that "trendy, high platform shoes" were a contributing factor in the number of girls who fell over in the throng.