Tony Romeo (December 25, 1938 – June 23, 1995) was an American songwriter.[1] He is best known for writing the number 1 hit "I Think I Love You" by The Partridge Family as well as many other hit records, mostly during the 1960s and 1970s.[2]
Tony Romeo | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 25, 1938 Troy, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 23, 1995 (aged 56) Pleasant Valley, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, singer, producer |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Labels | Columbia Records |
Other hits written by Romeo include "Oh Boy (The Mood I'm In)" by both Diana Trask and Brotherhood of Man; "Walking in the Sand", sung by Al Martino, which reached number 9 on the Adult Contemporary charts in 1970;[3] "Indian Lake" for The Cowsills;[3][4] and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" by Lou Christie.[5][6] He wrote songs for The Seekers, The Everly Brothers, Richard Harris[7] and David Cassidy[8] among others.[9] His songs were used in such movies as Rain Man (1988) and Gaby: A True Story (1987).[10] and the TV program The Debbie Reynolds Show (1969–1970).[11] Through colleague Wes Farrell's Pocket Full of Tunes songwriting agency, Romeo additionally created commercial jingles to advertise such products as Breck shampoo, Coty cosmetics' fragrance Muguet de Bois, Pall Mall cigarettes, and Scripto lighters.[12]
Off and on, during the 1960s and 1970s, he attempted to make a name for himself as a singer and recorded solo singles "My Ol' Gin Buddy and Me"/"Mr. Hunkachunk" for Columbia Records in 1966 and "Go Johnny Go"/ "Doctor Recommended Me a Potion" in 1977 for Lifesong Records. Overall, over 150 of his songs were recorded,[13] in addition to working as a record producer. In 1970, he wrote music and lyrics for a musical-theater version of A Dog of Flanders.[citation needed] He also produced the duo, Good & Plenty[2] (cf. Good & Plenty candy). He also wrote and produced the MGM album The Trout on which he performed along with his brother Frank Romeo and Cass Morgan, and the unreleased solo album Moonwagon.
Romeo wrote nine platinum records.[14] His most successful song, "I Think I Love You", was released in November 1970 by Bell Records, the first single released by The Partridge Family. The song hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles chart for three weeks: November 15 – December 5, 1970 [15]
During the last 15 years of his life, Romeo was a resident of Pleasant Valley.[16] He died at home at the age 56 on June 23, 1995. His death was attributed to a heart attack.[1][2] Romeo was survived by his mother Irene Romeo Perrelle of Watervliet, and his brother Frank Romeo of Watervliet.[17]
Compositions
edit| Title | Year | Original artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ain't Life Grand" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "Anthem" | 1972 | Wayne Newton | Can't You Hear the Song? |
| "Arizona Two Thoughts" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "As Long as There's You" | 1973 | The Partridge Family | Crossword Puzzle |
| "Beautiful People" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "The Beginning" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "Being Together" | 1972 | David Cassidy | Cherish |
| "The Best Way to See America" | 1971 | Lou Christie | Paint America Love |
| "Blessed Is the Rain" | 1969 | Brooklyn Bridge | Brooklyn Bridge |
| "Blue Canadian Rocky Dream" | 1972 | Richard Harris | Slides |
| "A Brand New Man" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| Breck Shampoo | [commercial] | ||
| "Californie" | 1966 | Tomorrow's People | [single] |
| "The Candy Kid" | 1968 | The Cowsills | The Mission on the Bowery |
| "Carnival Girls" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "Children Dreamin'" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "Come On Joe" | 1987 | Jo-El Sonnier | Come On Joe |
| "Count on Me" | 1967 | Peaches and Herb | For Your Love |
| "Crazy Billy" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "Days of My Life" | 1968 | The Seekers | [single] |
| "Dear Mom" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "Didn't We Love Each Other Good" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "Doctor Recommend Me a Potion" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "A Dog Named Flanders" | 1970 | [musical theater] | |
| "Don Junior" | 1974 | Jim Ed Brown | [single] |
| "Don't You Ever Give Up On Me, Baby" | [songbook: Songs by Tony Romeo] | ||
| "The End" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "Everybody's Got a Home but Me" | 1966 | 6/7/8 | [single] |
| "Fresh Water" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "Get Away Said the Man in the Moon" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "Gin Buddy" | 1972 | Richard Harris | Slides |
| "Go Johnny Go" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "The Good Dr. Jefferson" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "Good Mornin'" | 1974 | Lou Christie | Lou Christie |
| "The Guy Who Did Me In" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "Happy" | 1970 | Paul Anka | Life Goes On |
| "Hello and Goodbye" | 1969 | Steve Dworkin, Jerry Vale | none |
| "Hello Hello" | 1972 | The Partridge Family | Shopping Bag |
| "Hold Onto Me" | 1969 | Steve Feldman | [Tony Romeo demo] |
| "Home for a Little While" | 1973 | Bubba Davis | [single] |
| "Ho Hum" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "How I Spent My Summer" | 1972 | Richard Harris | Slides |
| "Hushabye Wee Bobby" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "I am a Clown" | 1973 | David Cassidy | Cherish |
| "I'm Coming Home" | 1972 | Richard Harris | Slides |
| "I Can Hear My Heart Begin to Cry" | 1987 | Girls Next Door | What a Girl Next Door Could Do |
| "I'd Like to Be with You" | 1960 | [published] | |
| "I Don't Have to Tell You" | 1972 | Richard Harris | Slides |
| "If You Ever Go" | 1972 | The Partridge Family | Shopping Bag |
| "I'll Never Get Over You" | 1973 | The Partridge Family | Bulletin Board |
| "The Image of You" | [songbook: Songs by Tony Romeo] | ||
| "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" | 1968 | Camel Drivers | [single] |
| "Indian Lake" | 1968 | The Cowsills | Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools |
| "I Played My Part Well" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "Isn't It Hard to Tell the Truth" | 1973 | Cassandra Morgan | Isn't it Hard to Tell the Truth [unreleased] |
| "I Think I Love You" | 1970 | The Partridge Family | The Partridge Family Album |
| "It Means I'm in Love with You" | 1973 | The Partridge Family | Crossword Puzzle |
| "It's One of Those Nights (Yes Love)" | 1971 | The Partridge Family | Shopping Bag |
| "I Will Watch Over You" | 1967 | Peaches and Herb | Let's Fall in Love |
| "I Would Have Loved You Anyway" | 1971 | The Partridge Family | Sound Magazine |
| "I Wouldn't Be Lonely Anymore" | 1967 | The Bubble Gum Machine | The Bubble Gum Machine |
| "Last Night" | 1972 | The Partridge Family | Shopping Bag |
| "Livin' in a World Of Make Believe" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "The Love of a Woman" | 1967 | The Bubble Gum Machine | The Bubble Gum Machine |
| "Mayola" | 1968 | Back Street Union | [single] |
| "Milk Train" | 1968 | The Everly Brothers | [single] |
| "Montage" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "Morning Rider on the Road" | 1971 | The Partridge Family | Up to Date |
| "Mr. Hunkachunk" | 1966 | Tony Romeo | [single] |
| Muguet de Bois | 1969 | Brooklyn Bridge | [Coty Cosmetics' fragrance commercial] |
| "My Christmas Card to You" | 1971 | The Partridge Family | A Partridge Family Christmas Card |
| "My My My" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "My Ol' Gin Buddy and Me" | 1966 | Tony Romeo | [single] |
| "November Song" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "Oh Boy (The Mood I'm In)" | 1975 | Diana Trask | The Mood I'm In |
| "Once Upon a Dusty Road" | 1972 | Richard Harris | Slides |
| "The One and Only Original Sunshine Kid" | 1975 | Jimmy Hannan | [single] |
| "One More Mile and Darlin' I'll Be Home" | 1970 | Kes Wyndham | [single] |
| "Papa je t'amine" | 1971 | The Cowsills | Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools |
| "The Path of Love" | 1968 | The Cowsills | Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools |
| Paul Mall cigarettes: "Longer Yet Milder" | 1970 | [commercial] | |
| "The People Theme" | 1978 | Sacco [Lou Christie] | [single] |
| "Please Uncle John" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "(Point Me in the Direction of) Albuquerque" | 1970 | The Partridge Family | The Partridge Family Album |
| "Poor Baby" | 1968 | The Cowsills | The Best of The Cowsills |
| "Real Good Woman" | 1971 | The Changing Scene | The Changing Scene |
| "Roseanne"/"Dear Bill" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "Roy" | 1972 | Richard Harris | Slides |
| "Saddle the Wind" | 1974 | Lou Christie | Lou Christie |
| Scripto Lighters | [commercial] | ||
| "She Is the We of Me" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "Sing Me" | 1973 | David Cassidy | Dreams Are Nuthin' More Than Wishes |
| "Ski-Daddle" | 1966 | 6/7/8 | [single] |
| "Slides" | 1972 | Richard Harris | Slides |
| "Stay with Me" | 1960 | Four Voices | [single] |
| "Stingray's Back in Town" | 1966 | Tomorrow's People | [single] |
| "Stop By to Say Hi"/ "Rosanne is that You" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "Summer Days" | 1971 | The Partridge Family | Sound Magazine |
| "Sunbeam" | 1974 | Lou Christie | Lou Christie |
| "Sunny and Me" | 1968 | Good & Plenty | [single] |
| "Sunny Jo" | 1972 | Richard Harris | Slides |
| "Sunrise Highway" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "Teddy Bear's Picnic" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "That'll Be the Day" | 1971 | The Partridge Family | Up to Date |
| "Theme from People Magazine" | 1978 | Lou Christie | [CBS TV Series] |
| "There He Goes" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "There'll Never Be (A We Like You and Me)" | 1975 | Lou Christie | Lou Christie |
| "Together We're Better" | 1972 | The Partridge Family | The Partridge Family Notebook |
| "Two Little Clouds Passing By" | 1975 | Lou Christie | Lou Christie |
| "Understanding Who I Am" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "Wha'cha Gonna Do For Me Now" | 1967 | The Bubble Gum Machine | The Bubble Gum Machine |
| "Waco" | 1971 | Lou Christie | Paint America Love |
| "Walking in the Sand" | 1970 | Al Martino | [single] |
| "We Can Never Be Friends" | 1972 | David Cassidy | Cherish |
| "Welcome Me Love" | 1969 | Brooklyn Bridge | Brooklyn Bridge |
| "Welcome to the Big Big Apple" | 1977 | Tony Romeo | Moonwagon [unreleased] |
| "Wishwater" | 1969 | Dr. Wishbone's Revival | [single] |
| "With a Little Love (Just a Little Love)" | 1969 | Debbie Reynolds | [Debbie Reynolds 1969–70 TV show opening theme] |
| "Worse Day I've Been To" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "Yeah Yeah Yeah" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "You Are Always on My Mind" | 1971 | The Partridge Family | Up to Date |
| "You Can't Hang On" | 1968 | The Trout | The Trout |
| "You Can't Keep Me" | 1967 | Good & Plenty | The World of Good & Plenty |
| "You Don't Have to Tell Me" | 1971 | The Partridge Family | Sound Magazine |
| "You're All the Woman that I Need" | 1970 | Al Martino | [promotional single] |
| "You're the Rock, You're the Rebel" | 1987 | Girls Next Door | What a Girl Next Door Could Do |
| "Your Kite, My Kite" | 1968 | Brooklyn Bridge | [single] |
| "You Were the One" | 1974 | Lou Christie | Lou Christie |
References
edit- ^ a b "Tony Romeo, songwriter, 56" (obituary), The New York Times, June 26, 1995, page B8.
- ^ a b c "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1994 - 1995". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ a b (No author.) "Fayette County Youth Theatre sets two shows," The Valley Independent, July 28, 1970, page 27: This popular story ... has music and lyrics written by Suzanne Buhrer and Tony Romeo. ... Romeo has composed many songs, including Al Martino's hit 'Walking in the Sand,' music for Lou Christie, Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge, and The Cowsills' 'Indian Lake.'
- ^ (No author.) "Partridges hit with new ingredient, old family recipe," Charleston Gazette, March 27, 1971, page 8: The Partridges even trade shamelessly in Cowsills-style material. 'I Think I Love You' was written by Tony Romeo, composer of the Cowsills 'Indian Lake.' And Romeo has three songs on the new Partridge album.
- ^ "Hit parade hall of fame – Lou Christie". Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ (No author.) "Tune In [column]: 'I'm Gonna Make You Mine'," Charleston Gazette (Charleston, West Virginia), November 11, 1969, page 12 (includes full lyrics and chords).
- ^ UPI. "Composer, guitarist causes big splash" (headline refers to a David Bowie album), Las Cruces Sun-News, December 20, 1972, page 21: Richard Harris, one of the better singers, continues to come on strong with "Slides" (ABC Dunhill DSX 50133). All but one of the 12 songs, a finale by Harris himself, were written by Tony Romeo, who conceived the album. Among the songs are 'I Don't Have to Tell You,' and 'How I Spent My Summer.'
- ^ Joe Davenport. "Records" (review of Cassidy's 1972 album Cherish), San Antonio Express and News, February 20, 1972, Sunday One section, page 21: "At first blush you get the impression Cassidy is more at home with Tony Romeo tunes than with others as he sings 'Being Together' and a great 'I Am A Clown,' on which the true qualities of Cassidy's ability comes forward."
- ^ AllMusic – Tony Romeo songlist
- ^ "AllMovie | Movies and Films Database | Movie Search, Ratings, Photos, Recommendations, and Reviews". AllMovie.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "Tony Romeo". IMDb.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "Romeo racks up 'de Bois', Billboard magazine, May 17, 1969.
- ^ "The Cowsills - Tony Romeo". Bapresley.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "Yahoo! Groups". Groups.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2001. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ The Cowsills website
- ^ The Sunday Gazette, June 25, 1995