what Frank is listening to #86 – THE COWSILLS – On My Side – (London) – 1971
I bought this "way back when" and I am pretty sure I have even sold a copy of it once before at a record fair. The Cowsills were quite popular in the US (they had a couple of tTp 10 hits in 1967 and 1969, and even a prime time TV special, as well as many TV appearances) but they never really hit anywhere else.
For those who don't know: from allmusic.com: The real-life inspiration behind the hit television series The Partridge Family, the Cowsills — comprised of teen siblings Bill, Bob, Barry, John, Susan, and Paul in tandem with mother Barbara — were one of the biggest pop acts of the late '60s, scoring a series of hits including "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" and "Hair" with their angelic harmonies and sun-kissed melodies.
The Cowsills (there were seven of them – five brothers, one sister and a mother), not surprisingly maybe, given the music, are from Rhode Island, one of the richest states in the USA. They played bubblegum pop (with a bit of sunshine pop and straight pop in the mix) much like The Archies except that they were a real life family as opposed to a studio recording band. The concept of a family band was not (and still isn't) that uncommon in the US: The Osmonds, The Jackson 5, The Isley Brothers, The Everly Brothers, The Carter Family, Hanson, The Jonas Brothers, Kings of Leon.
The Cowsills have always been a proper group despite being related. By that I mean they play their own instruments, write their own songs (vocals were shared between the family members), and usually arrange their own material. This album was produced by Bob and Barry Cowsill.
Bubblegum pop is underrated but the pop is pleasant and easy on the ears, and, as I've said (many times) before – if you are going to pick any MOR pop, pick it from the 60s (though bubble gum was going strong in the early 70s also). The Cowsills though may have seen the writing on the wall and decided to become a bit more "serious" on this their 7th album (in 4 years). There is a tendency to "meaning" in the lyrics as well as overall mood of pessimism, which is quite jarring given the band made their name with up-beat pop. Even so, the whole album is infused with the spirit of late 60s Beatles, and maybe a bit of the the late 60s Hollies. There are some country overtones also which is not surprising given the rise of urban country in the early 70s and even mainstream acts like the Beatles had adopted some country sounds (especially Ringo in his "Beaucoups of Blues" album from 1970). That aside, there is no better way (or easier way) to increase melancholia, or the "dark" in a music, than through introducing country overtones. All it takes is a twang and you know there will be some tale of woe.
There are quite a few pleasant songs on the album (and quite a few duff ones), but the public may not have been keen on a melancholy Cowsills … this album made #200 on the US Charts. It was their last album.
Best Tracks
- On My Side – co- written by Waddy Watchel (who must have done session work on this album – link below).
- Contact Mae – a "dirge"on growing old – backward guitar and everything.
- Heather Says – another song co- written by Waddy Watchel. Very Beatles – a bit of "Penny Lane" – in its reminiscing type structure though this is about a school bully. Sung by Susan Cowsill who was 12 at the time.
- Cheatin' on Me – a country lament done in deadpan style – reminiscent of some of Ringo Starr's country tunes.
And …
Its hard to dislike this LP – but I'm not sure if I will keep it … maybe but probably not?
Sounds
On My Side
Heather Says
attached
Other clips:
and you can see Susan seeing with the legendary Buddy Ebsen here at about 4.00min
a good clip:
Review
Trivia
- Subsequent to the disbandment of the Cowsills ( ust after this album in 1971) – allmusic: Bill Cowsill (who was briefly considered to replace Brian Wilson in the Beach Boys' touring lineup) issued a solo LP, Nervous Breakthrough, but otherwise the siblings were musically inactive for much of the decade. In the late '70s, Bob, John, Susan, and Paul recorded a batch of original material with producer Chuck Plotkin, but the sessions were never unreleased. Barbara Cowsill died on January 31, 1985, and her children spent the '90s in regaining some of their former musical prominence. Barry mounted a solo career, Bill founded the country group the Blue Shadows, and Susan joined the Continental Drifters, an all-star New Orleans-via-Los Angeles combo also featuring her husband, ex-dB Peter Holsapple, and onetime Bangle Vicki Peterson. In 1994, the "core four" — Bob, John, Susan, and Paul — contributed a newly recorded Cowsills track, "Is It Any Wonder," to the Yellow Pills, Vol. 1 pop compilation. A new studio album, Global, followed in 1998.
- Susan has also made guest appearances on many albums, including Hootie and the Blowfish's 2003 self titled release, Paul Sanchez's 2008 album Exit to Mystery Street, Giant Sand's 1992 release Glum, and A Fragile Tomorrow's 2008 release Beautiful Noise
- Cowsill deaths: In January 1985, Barbara Cowsill died of emphysema while living in Arizona. Bud, the father of the Cowsill children, died of leukaemia in September 1992, while living in Mexico. Barry Cowsill was living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck on August 29, 2005. Susan survived whilst Barry's badly decomposed body was recovered from waters on December 28. Sister Susan was also living in New Orleans at the time – she survived. Bill Cowsill died on February 17, 2006 in Calgary from emphysema, osteoporosis and Cushing syndrome, associated with drug and alcohol abuse.
(originally posted:12/09/2009)
