Some songs just get a second chance at magic. Back in 1967, The Young Rascals scored a hit with a soulful ballad, but it took five years and a red-hot teen idol to give the track a second chance at life and become part of an unforgettable musical legacy.
David Cassidy was the hottest teen idol of the 1970s. He rose to popularity with a starring role on the television series The Partridge Family, and his singing talents earned him spots on Billboard’s Top 100.
Playing Keith Partridge on TV made David Cassidy a household name, but his true vocal talent came alive when producers let him step out on his own. In between shooting the series, he squeezed in solo recording sessions and hit the road, turning him into a legitimate, record-breaking superstar.
Cassidy first hit the Billboard charts as a solo artist with the Top 10 single “Cherish” in 1971, following it up with “Could It Be Forever” in early 1972. For his third release, he took on “How Can I Be Sure,” the 1967 Young Rascals classic that peaked at No. 4, bringing his own cover to No. 25 on the U.S. charts.
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The Young Rascals’ Felix Cavaliere said he wrote the song about a young woman named Adrienne Buccheri, whom he called his muse. “She was very young, much younger than I was, and it was totally crazy. It culminated in ‘How Can I Be Sure,'” Cavaliere explained.
Cavaliere added, “I woke up one day and said, ‘What the hell am I doing? I’m going out with a kid.’ It was strange,” said Cavaliere. “She ended up marrying a very dear friend of mine, and they had a couple of children together, then unfortunately she passed.”
Cavaliere’s bandmate and “How Can I Be Sure” co-author, Eddie Brigati, added, “On that particular song, I got a block, and I was freaked out about not finishing it. My brother (David) put a bunch of different things in it, and he was never properly acknowledged for it.”
Although The Young Rascals’ original charted higher, Cassidy’s cover was just as timeless. As noted by Classic Bands, his solo success translated into record-shattering live shows, packing venues everywhere from New York’s Madison Square Garden to London’s Wembley Stadium.
In 1974, the actor and singer told the BBC of his success, “I wish every human being could walk out on stage and have that energy focused on you.” He added, “It’s an incredible high to walk out on stage and see 40,000 people, knowing they’re all with you. That’s something very few performers have experienced.”
Cassidy would place two more hits on the Billboard charts as a solo artist. “Rock Me Baby” charted in the latter part of 1972, and “Lyin’ to Myself” ranked in 1990.
David Cassidy died in 2017 at the age of 67. The Young Rascals’ original founding members, Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish, are still performing live with dates scheduled through October.
Related: This ’70s Teen Idol Was Told He Was ‘Insane’ After Baring All On the Cover of ‘Rolling Stone’
