Lead singer
David Cassidy hated the song and didn't think it was very good. In addition, he hated the idea of speaking aloud in the middle of the song. He hated it so much, he refused to do it. His refusal caused consternation with the studio and the record company, where the heads of both
Bell Records and
Screen Gems, both owned by
Columbia Pictures, got involved. Shooting of
The Partridge Family was stopped so his manager and agent could talk to him over the issue. It was suggested to Cassidy that the song would achieve greater commercial success with the spoken interlude included. Cassidy finally caved in to the collective pressure and recorded the song as requested. When it was finished, he begged them not to release it: "It was horrible, I was embarrassed by it. I still can't listen to that record." ==Reception==