The COWSILLS: A Band History |
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- Опубліковано 2 лют 2024
- One 1960s pop group whose music is often overlook is the Cowsills. Their image has often gotten in the way of any serious discussion about their body of work, which spans roughly six albums. This video will offer a view into some of their deeper cuts, which will give a fuller understanding of their talents and their place in 1960s pop music.
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John Cowsill is married to Bangle Vicki Peterson. And while the Bangles were broken up in the 90s, Vicki was in a band with Susan Cowsill called the Continental Drifters.
I really enjoyed seeing Susan at the Continental Club a few years back. She even did "The Flower Girl" (I know that's not the real title)...great show!
I had Vicki and Susan with the Continental Drifters a couple of times in our club: what lovely people and such a fantastic live band❤🎉
@@familydogg1234
Thank you.
Susan &, Vicki Peterson married to John Cowsill Also started band The Psycho Sisters
I'd drift with Susan.
Being born in 1957, I grew up listening to great music including the Cowsills. People that are just now discovering them, will not experience what it was like, being a youngster in the 60s and hearing a brand new Cowsills recording on the radio for the first time. They were an incredible talent, that could have gone decades into success with proper professional management. I still love their music.
agree, i am 1958, loved growing up in the 60's and the Cowsills.
One of the most underrated bands ever. I wore out the early vinyl recordings. I still listen to their early music to this day as I have them on my Amazon Music playlist. Takes me back my younger days. Had the chance to meet Bob, Paul and Susan a few years ago before their show. Was actually sitting in for their sound check that evening because the place let some of us in even though we weren't supposed to be there. I was sitting in the seat and their wardrobe was sitting right in front of me. That was how I was able to talk with them when they came down to the seats to get their stuff. What nice, down to Earth people they were. Paul even stood there and talked with me for 5 or 10 minutes like we were old friends.
Yes, the all seem very approachable.
I spoke with Bob and Paul online when Abbey Road By The River reran a concert during Covid and I met and know Susan. They are undoubtedly the nicest and kindest people you would ever met.
The single “Hair” is a pretty impressive self-produced recording for “just” a family band. They were very talented musicians and songwriters who deserved far more success. Although what they achieved wasn’t bad.
Thank you. great little video..when ever i hear Hair, it brings me back to the summer of 69 out at my swimming pool with my brothers and sisters, just finished watching dark shadow, and speed racer on the tv..I was 10 years old and truly was in heaven, if there is a heaven on earth, I was blessed to be a part of it
Listening to the snippets in your video reminds me just how melodic their original songs were and how they are so tragically underrated.
Still is my favourite version of “Hair” ! This was really good, from the beach boys, the Jackson’s etc a lot of shit dads !
Great video.
I love & enjoy your band history videos.
Please do Bread & the Dave Clark Five ( especially since it's the reunion year of their first appearance in the US too ).
I did see the Cowsills on the Happy Together tour in 2018. They were great.
Those first two Cowsills albums, "The Cowsills," and "We Can Fly", are among the best albums in my collection. I was stunned by the sophistication of the songwriting. The arrangements, especially of the vocals, were incredible.
Very well done documentary. The Cowsills are unique to me because when I was starting high school in 1971, you wouldn't be caught dead saying you liked their music, at least in the long haired hard rock crowd I was in. I always knew they had great harmonies, but I kept that to myself. As I got older, I've grown to appreciate them more...probably the same way I felt about the Carpenters.
Yeah, many of us had to keep our guilty pleasures quiet because it just wasn't cool to like many of pop bands of the day.
I have the exact opinion of Cowsills and Carpenters . Loved them but never would admit back in the day. I found out years later a lot of my friends felt the same
@@jbsguitars8373 Ha.....yes, funny how that worked out. We were all trying to be so hip and cool. I worried too much about trying to impress others, so I kept my like for the Cowsills and Carpenters to myself. A little age and wisdom has let me come to appreciate how good they really were.
Me too ! Few others also!
Lol. I forgot I've a cowsill album 😊 yes in 1971, I entered Junior High
Great job! The Cowsills were an important part of my childhood soundtrack, which revolved around all things pop/rock. The Rain, the Park..." is just a classic!
Such a talented bunch of little kids, no lessons, all self taught, amazing. Their vocal harmonies were brilliant.
This family deserve having a film made about them. Great individuals, group, songs and should have being as recognisable as the Beatles, Beach Boys etc, around the world.👌🥇
"Indian Lake" is one of the greatest bubblegum pop songs of all time. Its outrageously catchy
I dont know if I would categorize The Cowsills as Bubblegum, but more in the category of Sunshine Pop.
In general I'd say that's right, but "Indian Lake" is pure bubblegum in the non perjorative sense. It probably inspired the Partridge Family sound that came later.@@erniericardo8140
Love that song!
In 1979 I had just moved to LA with my band. One night we went into Hollywood to just hit some clubs and see what was up. At (a now defunct) place called the Starwood we saw John Barry and Susan playing a set of their hits. About halfway thru Bill And Bob joined them on stage. It was vocal magic. The audience didn’t really respond but I thought they were really great. Well … just a memory
Wow, very cool experience!
Loved Cowgirls
Thanks! Saw them on the Happy Together tour a few years back. They opened and me and my Dad were blown away! They have the best energy ever! It was a joy to watch. I'll never forget it. And I hadn't listened to them before that moment. Now I'm a fan. Great job I learned so much!
The first concert I ever attended was...The Cowsills. They performed at Memorial Hall in Dayton, Ohio. It was 1968. I was ten years old. I recall being blown away by their set of songs. Susan came out and sang "Hello Hello". The whole concert was great. I was able to see them again a few years ago. Great talents.
In our too hip arrogance we always hated white-bread Top-40, although 'Hair' had a nice groove. Much of this still leaves me flat but the harmonies are undeniable and it's nice to hear a serious critic pay some respect.
Wait, they played the theme song from "Love American Style?" I didn't know this?! Jesus, I'm old!
I dug the cowsills back in the day and still do today, if you listen to the old music, it will take you right back to the 60’s ☮️
This is like a doctoral thesis of the Cowsills. The voice blend of this band plugs right into the Partridge Family vibe for sure. Thanks so much for your magic time machine on pop culture. You totally know your stuff. I don’t think I could cover a show as detailed as this about the Cowsills without busting up laughing (no disrespect implied it’s just me). I want to also thank you for your Beatles research which is excellent!
I appreciate the kind words - plenty more to come!
The Cowsills are what the Partridge Family was based off of.
I'm not the Cowsills expert you or many of your viewers are (though I loved their music dearly, discovered them in the late 60s and then again with that wonderful documentary 11-12 years ago and clips on UA-cam) but I just wanted to tell you how very much I loved this. I've now watched this 2 1/2 times, you share so much and so well. Just wanted to say thank you and I'm sorry I haven't heard of you before but I'm excited to watch more of your videos. This really was amazing. ❤❤❤
Thank you, Doug. That is quite a compliment that you've watched it more than once! Plenty more to come.
Another great episode Matt. You are really, no pun intended, in a groove at the moment. I salute the sheer amount of work you put into researchng and delivering these programs.
Thank you, Neal. I'm going to have a busy 2024!
Damn - that was the Cowsills deep dive I didn't know I needed! I have the compilation Painting the Day: The Angelic Psychedelia of the Cowsills and I figured I was pretty much set, but you're making me think twice. Now we need deep dives on other "AM pop" groups that were way weirder than people realize, like the Poppy Family, the early Bee Gees, Chad & Jeremy during their Of Cabbages and Kings phase, or the Four Seasons during their Genuine Imitation Life Gazette phase.
These kids were no joke. They exuded talent.
Great episode as always, Matt.
I think The Cowsill’s Hair was the last song from the musical Hair to hit big on the US Top 40. Age of Aquarius by the 5th Dimension, Easy to be Hard by Three Dog Night, and Good Morning Starshine by Oliver were all from the musical Hair and were Top10 or #1 hits. Hair - The Original Broadway Cast Album was #1 on the album charts for a long time, and the album cover was (is) really iconic from back in the day. An excellent album.
Looking forward to your next episode. Thanks for everything (The Beach Boy episodes were terrific, and I appreciate the time and effort you must have invested. You do quality work.)
Thank you for the kind words. More to come!
Fun Fact - The Ramones were huge fans of The Cowsills, and drew inspiration from Gray Sunny Day, their favorite Cowsills track.
I'm going to see them at a small club in NYC Super Bowl Sunday evening. I've seen them twice in the venue and boy did they not disappoint. Great harmony vocals!
How was it?
The Cowsill's newest album Rhythm Of The World is filled with great original songs with great harmonies, performances and melodies. I love their newer stuff!!
I love that song "Hair." It's my favorite song by them. The "Rain, The Park and Other Things" was good too!✌️
The Rain The park and other...is damn near the greatest 60's sunny day sugary sweet pop confection ever recorded. Instant mood lift ;)
I got to see Bob, Paul and Susan in concert a few years ago and also met them afterward. The show was PHENOMENAL and they are super nice people!!!!!
Boy, this took me way back! Their sound can shoot me back to childhood almost faster than anything. Heard about their dad and his abuse of their mom and the kids much later on...sad. But, boy their music made the times. Thanks for this, Matt!
My pleasure, Bill!
The Cowsills are a very interesting band.
"the family that sings together stays together "
that's not the old saying ... 🙄 i know but it applies to the Cowsills . since they kept adding more of the family through the years maybe they should of called themselves the NEPTOMISTS 🤷🏻♂️🤔🤡
Thank you, Matt! Great job covering this band & family!!
Awesome documentary. I basically knew very little about the Cowsills. I remember hearing brief bits of their song first hit song but I only got some interest in them about last year or so when it was mentioned that the Partridge Family was somewhat based on them and their was interest of them having a T.V. show. Enjoyed this information. Family bands and singing groups has been an interest to me.
I have their first record, it's such a feel good album for me
John Cowsill is a good singer. I heard him do an amazing job on Darling with The Beach Boys touring band a few years ago.
Agreed. Amazing singer!
Really enjoyed this musically in depth history of the Cowsills. I can't believe you have all those LPs including some that didn't chart at all. // Up here in Vancouver Canada, Bill Cowsill had success with various groups, most notably Blue Northern in the early 80s. Their self-titled album in '81 was nothing short of excellent and had 2 big radio hits up here, "Can't Make No Sense" and "You're Not The Same Girl". I bought the LP and still enjoy it today. These hits are on UA-cam.
Thanks for those Bill Cowsill titles! I'll check them out.
Seconding Bill Cowsill’s 80s output - worth checking out the Blue Shadows work.
I saw somewhere in an Interview that the song Rain The Park was originally titled The Flower Girl but Scott McKenzie had just released the song San Francisco Wear Flowers In Your Hair and MGM was afraid DJ’s would mix up the songs so they had Kornfeld change the name and he came up with Rain,The Park And Other Things which doesn’t make sense because the song to this day is referred to The Flower Girl.
I was only talking about this band with my brother a week ago. I knew the Park, the Rain (etc) and that they had done Hair (enlighteing to find out why) and that they were the basis for the Partridge Family. I thought that they may have been a 60s "singles only" band, now to find that they released so many albums. Thank you Matt, you have opened another window to music to be listened to :)
Glad you enjoyed it, wonsworld!
That was excellent. I didn’t know much about the Cowsils until I watched
the Cowsils A family band documentary. A great story
Thanks Jake!
Your presentation is fantastic. Quite refreshing.. on a lighter note, met the 2 older in about 1970. I was in highschool and had a beer with em.
“The Rain, the Park and Other Things” was released in August 1967 as a “radio exclusive”, not available in stores, until public demand got really strong and then it was released in September of that year.
Thank you for that info - I did not know that!
@@popgoesthe60s52 I had just become a real teenager shortly before that record was released and like most teenagers, I was always listening to the radio, especially WKBW 1520, a station in Buffalo NY that was heard as far down south as Florida and as far west as Detroit. The other go-to station was WYSL 1400, also in Buffalo. Those were really GROOVY times…
😃
Thanks for providing background on the group. I never realized the extent of their talent and their achievements.
Danny Bonaduce had said quite loud many times, the reason why they did not use the Cowsills in the Partridge family was “because they were f*** ugly!” Susan Cowsill said that she had heard that, and they always felt that he was a punk, and his subsequent life was par for the course of a guy who did not care about other people
Bonaduce was no oil painting, that's for sure!
@@popgoesthe60s52 - You took the words right out of my fingers.
The Cowsills weren't an ugly family. In fact they were photogenic. Danny Bonaduce on the other hand.....😳
In no way am I dogging any sexual identity the way anyone sees themself as but find it funny that Bonaduce can’t even tell a man from a woman when he assaulted someone he paid to have sex with but was expecting heterosexual sex ( allegedly) and found out his date was packing almond joys and not a mound bar only to then single out a family band as ugly as though he was the authority to do so after not even being able to tell the sex of his prostitute he picked up.
Bonaduce called someone else ugly???
Susan had a fantastic voice when she grew up. I saw a documentary on them after the band was long gone. Sad story. Great segment Matt ! Thank you🎼🎸
I was in love with Susan
"The mother could sing!" LOL.
The Rain, the Park & Other Things is an enormously catchy song. After 50 years it's still standing like a cathedral!
Great to hear what's on their albums, I had no idea. Mostly covers; I expected.
(at 5 seconds, the fragments are a tad too short, though)
Aside from the Partrich Family, there was another formation excelling in sunny, uplifting songs with good vocal harmony backing. Spanky & Our Gang. Very underrated.
Unfortunately short clips are all I can play due to copyright
@@popgoesthe60s52
I should have known... A stupid remark from me. 🥴
@@willemvandeursen3105 no problem, man. Lot's of people request longer clips. I wish I could do 15 seconds!
Actually, Matt, this is one of your best I've seen so far. I always felt that The Cowsills were deeper than (most of) their hits would have indicated, and you confirmed that here. Wonderful job.
Thank you, Jason!
This was my childhood. All kinds of good memories, you know as a kid, pretty much no worries in the world. The only information you could get were TV and magazines. Then I turned 13 and the musical tastes changed to hard rock and beyond. Still have a soft part in my heart for all the 60's music. Everything progresses. Thanks Matt.
Happy 200th video, Matt! I appreciated this deep dive into the Cowsills. I grew up on the Partridge Family and only learned about the Cowsills after the fact. "The Rain" and "Hair" are classics from that era, but it's so interesting to hear how versatile and talented they were. Their music still sounds fresh and full of energy.
Thank you, Greg!
I saw The Cowsills last summer as part of a 60s review. Much to my surprise, they were my favorite act. Thanks, Matt, for a great dive into their music!
Great Job...pairs well, filling in details musically, along with Louise's doc give a complete picture.
Thank you Matt for the wonderful band history you produced here. Despite the handicap of an abusive father and a squeeky clean image, the family continued to push boundaries and managed to somehow bring their obvious talents to the forefront to this very day. Think maybe Susan Cowsill would make a good interview on a future segment of yours?
The Cowsills were the Soundtrack of my Youth , Thank you for creating this Video :) QC
Truly appreciate all your hard work putting together these quality videos. Always informative and adding to one's musical knowledge.✌🏾
Thank you, Robert. More to come.
Speaking about their single, “a most peculiar man”. Simon and Garfunkel had that song, and “Richard Corey,” on one of their albums, “the sounds of Silence”, two of the biggest downers in pop music history! I couldn’t believe Paul McCartney and wings covered Richard Corey during their 1976 tour
That's because the Moody Blues covered it and Denny Laine ( brother of Penny) sang it.
Being.a huge 60s music fan, a huge baseball fan, and a huge New York City history buff, I was shocked to learn from you about Soundblast '66 at Yankee Stadium. I never knew about this.
By 1966 Yankee Stadium (and the Yankees) were symbolic of the crew cut ,old guard, establishment Eisenhower era. There could be no bigger contrast on earth than The Byrds amd The Cowsills playing at Yankee Stadium in '66
It’s amazing how musically talented this group was along with all the missteps that doomed them. Susan Cowsill’s recent cover of To Sir with Love us a great performance.
I learned a LOT from this, many thanks for doing the hard work and presenting the story. I always have to wonder where the Cowsills could have gone if they had decent management. They sure had the talent!
When I was a kid a couple of my favorite songs were Hair and Indian Lake, but they had a lot of great songs. Very talented and underrated, IMO.
Thanks for giving the Cowsills some love! I put them on my short list of favorite bands of all time. :) I love everything they ever did, but if you were to ask I would say that side A of the 'On My Side' album is the best thing they ever did, first to last song. I consider it to be among the best album sides in my entire collection, by ANY artist.
Yes, the measure of a band is the quality of their deep cuts, and the Cowsills have a good many of them.
Thanks! I have a new appreciation for the group....
Excellent video, you filled in an enormous amount of great content about the Cowsills i was unaware of. Nice perch as well that you record from.
Pop Goes the 60's: thanks for posting. The mother of the Cowsills turned down an offer from ABC TV to give them a tv show so they came up with "The Patridge Family" instead. Cheers!🥨
Thank you for showcasing The Cowsills. I'd heard the reason the song title "The Rain, The Park, and Other Things" was chosen, was because there were a couple of other songs bearing the title "Flower Girl". I think it might have been their producer (?) that just threw that title together. I'm not sure if I recalled that correctly, but it's pretty close. I really enjoyed this!! 💛🌼🐄🌼💛
Thanks Vicki!
Terrific band history, Matt! I have to confess that when I was a teenager in the 1960s, I thought I was "too cool for school" to listen to the Cowsills (whom I regarded as a silly bubblegum band). With the passing of the years, I've rediscovered the band and I was shocked at just how good they were. Just now, you inspired me to listen to the 'Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools' LP, and wow! What harmonies! The tracks "Newspaper Blanket", "Make the Music Flow" and "Captain Sad and his Ship of Fools" -- written by the band -- are especially strong. ("Who can Teach the Songbird to Sing", written with Graham Nash, is also very strong.)
Yeah, their deep cuts are worth looking into, especially on the We Can Fly and II x II albums.
Vauge memmory of Dick Clark interviewing the band in the late 60's doing "HAIR". Dick surprised them by a clip of their years earlier ABS appearence in B&W doing "The Rain...Things."
Thanks for this in-depth piece. I saw/heard them about five of six years ago and they were INCREDIBLE. Also purchased The Family Band dvd - which really gets into the nitty-gritty. Go hear and see them if they come around.
Thank you for this !!!!!
Great doc, Matt! Informative and enjoyable, as always. I remember the Cowsills from the late sixties, and it's so interesting to learn the behind-the-scenes stuff about bands that you thought were one-hit wonders.
Thank you Matt! I was pleasantly surprised that you decided to feature the Cowsills on one of your excellent band history videos! Bud Cowsill's firing of producer Artie Kornfeld then later his oldest son Bill, who was basically the group's Brian Wilson, was like a knife through the heart for the Cowsills. They will always be one of those "what could have been" stories. Amazingly, Bob, Paul & Susan are still doing shows in 2024 as you mentioned.
Thanks Owen. Yeah, Bud really did a number on the whole thing.
And add Bud's tantrum with Ed Sullivan.
I remember seeing the Cowsills in concert in the late '60's when they opened for Eddy Arnold. I don't really remember any of their songs and it was only about 10 years ago that I learned they had done the "Love American Style" theme song. I didn't know they did the song "Hair" as well. Nice documentary I enjoy learning new things from the past.
Well, well done. Truly. Thank you!
Thank You for a great informational video of the Cowsills!
Interesting. My favorite of their songs was Indian Lake because it reminded me of my favorite summer camp location, albeit on a different lake.... I do remember a radio commercial in which part of the lyrics were "Milk makes it, a cow is a cat's best friend."
Wow, Matt, I'm not sure I could think of anyone else I'd hoped you would showcase. Thank you. It hits me on a personal level as much as the musician in me. It will be difficult to keep this short but I'll try.
Bill and I were friends, as much as he allowed anyone behind his walls, during most of the mid 1980s and a few years beyond. He'd been here in Vancouver, Canada, for several years by that point. He was such a fascinating, kind, thoughtful and complex man. But above it all, nothing spoke to and through Bill as his love of music did.
He loved his family deeply, with never a bad word about any of them, save for his father. We shared that view of our family and fathers, which gave Bill and I a stronger bond. We understood each other, even if we rarely spoke of our fathers. Sometimes, when we'd come close to tears, a brotherly hug helped to heal the moment.
I still remember him, cigarette dangling from one corner of his mouth, playing Patsy Cline's Walking After Midnight, and hearing the voice of an angel. His face would light up when I'd add a harmony line to whatever he was singing. Bill loved harmony. He'd call it the missing part of a song when it wasn't there. At the time I could sing but had no instrument to offer so adding me to his band held no merit, but he would sometimes turn to me to help his bandmates get a harmony line to whatever he had them play.
"Dead guys, we only play dead guys" was often heard from Bill as his amazing trio worked the pubs. Patsy Cline, The Everly Brothers, Jim Reeves, The Burnette Brothers, Sons Of The Pioneers, Roy Orbison, even Elvis, as Bill would proclaim that the real Elvis died in 1961 after the release of Little Sister. Then, he'd explode into that great song with lead guitar from whoever was available to play. Sometimes, it was Lindsay Mitchell from the local and Canadian major group, Prism.
He would often tell me of his experiences in the music industry and loved when I added my own observations. When I noted George Harrison's early work sounded so much like Carl Perkins, I can still hear Bill telling me "Man, George WAS Carl Perkins!".
From so many years of playing the clubs and how some 'fans' acted, Bill called his guitar El Kabong, named for the Zorro-like persona that cartoon character Quick Draw McGraw would sometimes become. Bill would give the unruly a swift crack on the head when anyone dared to interfere with the stage equipment with El Kabong, and have the bouncers quickly toss them out on their ears.
If you want to know more of what Bill did after, check out his work with the Vancouver band, Blue Northern or his own band, The Blue Shadows.
With Blue Northern - I Can't Make No Sense, You're Not The Same Girl, Too Late To Turn Back and 100%.
With The Blue Shadows - On The Floor Of Heaven, Deliver Me, Is Anybody Here, a great cover of Soldier Of Love, If I Were You, Think On It, and several more.
Sadly, Bill had so much trouble getting past his addictions - alcohol and bad drugs. Sometimes, I wouldn't hear from him for weeks as he fought his demons. The damage his father had done was deeply rooted, much like Brian Wilson trying to cope with Murry's version of parenthood. Bill passed away in Calgary after being hospitalised for the damage he'd done to himself over the years. I wasn't able to be there, but I know from another friend, Prism's Al Harlow, that Bill had found his peace with himself. Rest well, brother Bill. You are missed.
Thank you so much for offering your story with Bill. I wish I could have seen him live.
@@popgoesthe60s52 I wish you could have, Matt. He had an amazing voice and was a true entertainer.
Matt, CONGRATULATIONS on #200!! And thanks for another great episode. I knew you would get to The Cowsills eventually. It's always been a shame that the image obscured a lot of fine music. Your analysis has done them justice. Anyway, keep up the excellent work.
Thank you, Dave.
You always create great historical programs on popular music. I love being a subscriber!
Susan and I were born on the same day and I had the biggest crush on her. This family was everywhere, yet I feel they still don’t get the credit they’re due in the pantheon of Pop. Such talent and harmonies. As you mentioned, Bud derailed a lot of their opportunities.
I appreciate the support!
we saw Susan, Bob & Paul at the Happy Together Tour a year ago, growing up i had all their 45"s. i loved the flip side of the Hair 45, What is happy.
I am so very happy you did this video for the Cowsills. Sure, like everyone, I remember "The Rain The Park & Other Things, Indian Lake, Hair", but didn't know anything else about the family. Then, about 3 years ago I saw a video or two about them and I became hooked as far as their quick in-and-out musical history. Though after 1970 thru 2000, they were forgotten, they had a very good reunion video I saw on UA-cam, then learned the heartbreaking story of 3 of the members deaths, but uplifting story of three still performing to this day. The 2010 documentary of them you mention here was also a great yet sad story. I just want to thank you very much for doing a piece on them!!! Your vids still convince me that you are truly the best at what you do. Truly, I mean that, so never ever stop doing your thing....for all of us!
I really appreciate that Michael, very kind of you to say.
Matt, I really enjoyed this video. The Cowsills had an interesting but sad life due to their father. I have watched other docs about them and yours was quite interesting because you included and discussed the songs. Yes those songs you mentioned with a Crosby, Stills and Nash influence was spot on. They sounded awesome too.
Thank you for the comments!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Yes sir. Thank you for your awesome videos about great music from the 60s.
Notice the special beauty of sibling harmonies: The Cowsills; The Beach Boys (Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson); The Bee Gees (Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb); Heart (Ann & Nancy Wilson); School of Seven Bells (Alejandra & Claudia Deheza); Echosmith (Sydney, Jamie, Graham, and Noah Sierota); The Haden Triplets (Petra, Tanya, and Rachel Haden).
Very true!
I can't tell you how many times I've watched the Cowsills performing the song 'Hair' here on UA-cam but I can tell you it really doesn't come off as a parody at all - even if that's the way Reiner originally meant it. They seem to be taking it VERY seriously (despite the fact that they're obviously having fun doing it), and it really stands up as a great piece of 60's history.
I LOVE watching the Hair video, it's my go to if i need cheering up. Bill is clearly having a BLAST it cracks me up every time.
From the Singers who brought you the Partridge Family. Outstanding! What a tragic ending w Father blowing their inheritance. God's Blessings Cowsills.. John Bill Susan Etc .
I came across The Cowsills two years ago after hearing The Rain the Park and Other Things which I thought was a really good song. I didn''t know anything about them but I do now after watching your entertaining and informative video, As always, your meticulous research shines through, Matt!
Thank you, Nick!
another great episode, thanks POP
My pleasure. I'm working on my next one due out by Friday. 🙂
The later career of Billy should be delved into more deeply, particularly the Blue Shadows, ostensibly a country group, but in my opinion, pop with a country veneer glued on top. But perhaps a separate segment would be required. Of course, that leaves your 1960's wheelhouse. Also Susan's later work particularly with the Continental Drifters & Psycho Sisters is not mentioned. Barry also put out a couple of records and he had an interesting voice - more blues than pop. The Family Band flick is a must see for anyone interested in this group. Though derivative, Rhythm of the World is an excellent record and I am happy to say, I had a part in financing it, however modest. Finally, they are still performing and definitely worth seeing as those angelic harmonies are still there.
Excellent and arcane history of The Cowsills. Very interesting. Fine group of domestic music groups. The family composition is unique. Excellent narration of this history by Matt Williamson.
Thank you, Burton.
My favorite show was Love American Style and I had no idea they sang that song. Very cool!
saw the Cowsills a few years ago as part of a larger show with a bunch of bands and artists from my childhood and they were a real highlight. tight, bright, just wonderful :)
First concert I went to!
I saw them perform at the Utah State fair. Very professional family group
Very nice job. I have seen the Cowsills recently and they are incredibly good.
Their 1998 album, Global, is one of the best albums I've ever heard. And I'm not lying.
THE best band of the 60's! What am I saying? The best band EVER! I fell in love with the Cowsill family the very first time I heard The Rain, The Park, & Other Things! On WLS BTW! 😉 I saw them in concert in '69. Unfortunately, Bill was no longer with them & Susan & Barbara were sick & didn't perform, but it was still the best night of my young life! Perhaps my entire life. Nah, my babies were both born at night! 😁 But anyway...it seemed I lost them fairly soon after that. I didn't learn about Global & the other albums until recently. I just couldn't understand why they disappeard! NOW I understand a bit better, but I was heartbroken at the time! I discovered that they were still performing around 4 y/ago & was thrilled! I'm not a big fan of technology, but thank goodness for the internet! Without it I'm sure I wouldn't have found them! I can truthfully say that after 50+ years & the loss of 3 voices, they have NOT lost their touch! That wonderful family harmony is still abundantly clear & present. I consider them America's Original Family Band! They were before the Osmonds & the Jacksons, & the Beach Boys were only partly family. The Cowsills, as a band, were untouchable in my opinion! I'm turning 68 in a couple of months, a few weeks after John will, & I still love them! I sure wish I could see them one more time, & maybe meet them! THAT would be a dream come true! May God hild them close & richly bless them!
Some truly fine deep cuts to go along with their hits! Thank you for commenting.
Your history here of their early incarnation was illuminating, I know they did have talent but when I first heard them they already had their MOM in the band. Nothing against her but having your mom in the band in the late ‘60’s was about as un-hip as you can get! I was 14 in ‘68 and to me they were a corny show biz confection, I probably did not give them a chance. I did follow SUSAN COWSILL when she grew up and was in the band CONTINENTAL DRIFTERS in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s . The band had VICKI PETERSON of The Bangles in it, great band and Susan contributed some great songs..check out Continental Drifters. This was interesting, cool video.
Thank you, I will have to check out more Continental Drifters music!
Wow. Good video. The Cowsills were before I was born and I always figured they were lightweight pop but this doc shows me they were actually pretty good. I love quite a few of these songs. Really good stuff. I'm gonna have to go digging into them on Spotify and other places.
Thank you for the feedback. I've always said the true depth of the band depends on the quality of their album tracks.
Wow, great presentation of a truly underrated band. I never realized that they wrote so much great material. On their “Cowsills in Concert” album, they actually tackled “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream, “Paperback Writer” by The Beatles and a few other numbers, a feat that they successfully nailed!
OK....Where do I start.....You did a wonderful job on this....Billy Cowsill and I were close friends for years....You should look up particularly The Blue Shadows, Billy's Canadian band in the '90's...Billy didn't get kicked out for smoking grass...He got kicked out for not allowing Bud to assault him... period...As far as "Hair" Billy thought that it was a one shot joke of an idea, until Bud let everyone know how opposed to the record he was, then Billy more than warmed up to the prospect....I've got a million of them, but I'll let you go with this ...I told Billy that if I ever had a boy, he would be named after him...Well, my friend passed away in 2006....Our Billy was born in 2015....Billy: now you know I wasn't joking... Peace and Love, Terry Tutor
Right - The Blue Shadows were excellent.
Thanks for sharing this, Terry!
I've mentioned this before, Matt reminds me of a younger Jon Cowsill
I finally got to see the Cowsills last Summer at the Indiana State Fair