The inspiration for the TV series The Partridge Family, The Cowsills started off as brothers Bill (guitar), Bob (guitar), and Barry (drums). Later, brother John joined them, taking over on drums while Barry moved over to bass. When they started gaining popularity, they were joined by brother Paul, sister Susan, and mother Barbara (“mini-Mom”) as vocalists. The siblings ranged in age from 8 to 19, and sang outstanding harmonies together. They made lots of TV appearances in the 1960’s and 1970’s, disbanding in the early 1970’s but never actually dropping that far out of sight. In the early 1990’s, Bob, Paul, John, and Susan reformed the group, ostensibly to hit the oldies circuit (e. g. The “Happy Together” tour), but started performing new material written by Bob and his wife, Mary Jo, in nightclubs as well.
An effort is being made to get The Cowsills inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Given the list of achievements listed on their website, I don’t see how they can be kept out, apart from the fact that family acts aren’t generally well-received. They were nevertheless a very popular act that made some good music together.
Our first selection today is “The Rain, The Park, and Other Things,” their first record on MGM Records. Released in 1967, it rose to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second selection is their second hit, “Indian Lake,” which rose to #10 on the Hot 100.
The Cowsills, your Two for Tuesday, February 3, 2015.
The Sound of One Hand Typing 
I think the Cowsills would have a better program than Partridges.
It was a strange time, Beatles, Stones, DC5, Eric Burden… Cowsills? They were so sweet. Nice to hear them again, John.
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The Seventies were the really strange time. You might hear Led Zeppelin, followed by Barry Manilow… Glad you enjoyed it, and tune in tomorrow…
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I remember that group but I never realized the Partridge Family was based on a real family group.
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I did, I just didn’t realize it was the Cowsills.
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I had such a crush on John and Barry! Ah, young love. Oh, yeah, I liked the music, too.
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I’ve found, the older I get, the more I can appreciate music I really didn’t like when I was twelve or so. The Cowsills are one example of that.
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I liked the Cowsills back then and still like listening to their music. They were an outstanding group.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
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They were, but it wasn’t the sort of thing you said around my friends in grammar school.
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I remember these guys! 🙂
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I had almost forgotten them, then I saw the poster for the “Happy Together” tour and saw they were on it, and I remembered.
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