What a wild, strange trip was music of the 60's. On the one hand, we had Jim Morrison disrobing on a Florida stage in a drug-induced mania. On the other, we had a squeaky-clean family, complete with mom singing harmony, appearing on Sullivan and charting a couple of #2 hits.
The Cowsills started off with brothers Bill and Bob singing at local school and church dances in the 50's, at ages seven and eight. As other family members got old enough, they joined in on the fun. By 1965, they were a quartet, and had a permanent gig at Bannisters Wharf in Newport, Rhode Island, belting out Beatles tunes. They had a record contract with a small company, but in 1967 they signed with MGM. By now, mom Barbara was singing harmony, and the group was up to seven (originals Bob and Bill, brothers John, Barry, and Paul, and sister Susan). Additionally, father Bud, retired from the navy, managed the group. The Rain, the Park, and Other Things was released that year and hit #2. Add in appearances on Today, Sullivan, and other national shows, and the world was going Cowsills crazy circa 1968.
The American Dairy Association took notice of the hit family's name, and they were hired to pitch the goodness of milk on TV, radio, and print ads. And another hit single climbed the charts in 1968, Indian Lake. Two years later, the group shocked the world by releasing their version of Hair, which was their second #2 hit. But we all knew that the Cowsills hadn't crossed over to the dark side, they were just having some innocent fun. Indeed, in 1969 brother Bill had been axed from the group for smoking pot with the Beach Boys. Working for your father can be tough!
As the 70's drew on, the Cowsills began fragmenting. One by one, members left for solo careers. By 1972, they closed up shop and went bankrupt. However, Bob, Paul, and Susan eventually reunited and are in fact performing as the Cowsills today.
That leads us into our fictional family band. In 1969, Screen Gems approached the Cowsills with the idea of their own sitcom. However, the band declined when they heard that Mini-Mom's part would be played by Shirley Jones instead of Barbara herself. So instead, a faux family band was devised.
The plotline was that dad had died, leaving mom in financial straits. So the musically talented children proposed that they hit the road, with mom along, of course. So they painted up a school bus along the lines of Jesus freak colors and headed to Vegas. I particularly remember "Careful, nervous mother driving" written on the back door.
While some of the actors playing the parts of the family members did have musical ability, they faked things on TV, and the albums and singles that were cut featured professional musicians. However, David Cassidy's vocals were (eventually) real. A pro was hired to sing, but Cassidy soon convinced the show's producers to let him sing for real.
The show was a Friday night hit, with The Brady Bunch right on its tail. What was not to love? Good writing, good music, and eye candy for all. David Cassidy became a staple of teen magazines, and the males of the audience (myself included) were delighted to look at Shirley Jones and Susan Dey. It was a Boomer treat to see her make a comeback on L.A. Law fifteen years later.
The Partridge Family ran for four years. David Cassidy was burnt out and p.o.'ed, telling the world all about in a notorious Rolling Stone interview. Seeing no chance of re-signing the show's star, Screen Gems let it die a quiet 1974 death, moving its time slot to run against Saturday night giant All in the Family.
But Cassidy did have a string of hits thanks to the show. These included I Think I Love You, I Woke Up in Love this Morning, and Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted. In fact, that first song was written by Tony Romeo, who also penned tunes for the Cowsills.
So here's a raised glass to those fun, freaky, squeaky-clean family bands of the 60's and 70's, both real and imagined.
Comments (3)
Ah...the memories...but as Bob Dillon says"things are a changin'" and TV Land would have a hard time finding 6 wholesome people that Americans would believe in.
But...hope springs eternal.
Thanks for the memories.
Southern smiles and world peace,
Sharon
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
Posted by Sharon/Baby Boomer Queen | October 11, 2009 8:51 AM
Posted on October 11, 2009 08:51
Oh, you hit a subject very dear to my heart and one I had just been looking up a lot on YouTube. Thos old Johnny Cash Show clips, which included my beloved Cowsills.
Be warned readers, that as Sgt. Pepper suggested, I am motormouth and blabber mouth but really, if you honestly loved the 60s as I did, you would not be able to get enough. Clearly, Sgt. Pepper has had his fill of that decade and me, even though this was his 1st visit here. By the way, Sgt.,, which branch of the government do you work for? Or is it one of those interesting non-profits and their even more interesting social agendas? Just curious.
Anyway, The Cowsills were and are, believe it or not, very talented, at least at singing. And though they had only 3 hits, roughly (I’d say 4, Bob Cowsill says 3.5), they did have some other good material. “I need a friend” is a great song. It should have been a hit but record execs could not recognized a hit if they heard it a thousand times on the top 40 radio and saw it sell a million. “We Can Fly” is a song I remember hearing, though I do not remember where or how much but I knew it well. It may not be a big hit but it had what I call that quintessential 60s sound that practically brings tears to me eyes. I think of the 5th Dimension, the Association, Turtles and other such fair when I hear the Cowsills but maybe the Cowsills even define that genre for me. There was “Indian Lake.” Hair was so great as was so much of the music from that musical. An amazing work.
They were clean, did not need to rebel or prove they were cool. They seem to genuinely capture some of that innocence that was around back then. Trust me kiddies, it was. It was near heaven compared to now. Sorry we didn’t save any for ya. I am very sorry I was not able to being some back for you. But go watch the Johnny Cash Show clips or many of those variety shows, of which Ron has posted a topic on somewhere on this site, and you will see that innocence first hand. And if you’re a boomer, you already know you’ll need your crying towel with you.
Like so many acts of the 60s and 70s, the Cowsills were victims of Madison Ave. investment firms and the like which took all their money. Its very hard to reachteh top and then fall nearly all the way back down. But the Cowsills should know that at least they have something few others do. They touched hearts with music and their adorable sister, who I had a little bit of fancy for at the time, though I would not admit it to myself, since I had a crush on a local school girl back then and could never be unfaithful you know. But now you all know I was a lying cheat. How will I ever live it down ;-)
Their music was beautiful and to me, even timeless. And really, if you can touch people and move people and leave them feeling better, few will ever have a chance to do that on a mass scale. The Cowsills became a part of the 60s and we who lived then will carry them in our hearts and memories. How long they and our generation remain as a legacy is hard to say but like all generations before us, we will be pretty much forgotten sooner or later, save some possible divine will.
I wish the Cowsills had accepted the offer to be the Partridge family. I know they loved their mom and wanted her with them but TV execs wanted Shirley Jones, which was understandable. You couldn’t argue with that face, could you? And it would have given the kids a chance to perhaps get some more mileage out of their careers or maybe even migrate to acting. But regardless, that they inspired the Partridge Family is unique, all by itself.
I find the Partridge Family (PF form here on in) interesting for things did not quite develop as they had planned and maybe worked out much better than could have been hoped for. David Cassidy, with that good Irish blood in him (I’m only Scots Irish myself and possibly got some Viking blood back in the line somewhere given my last name and that I look Scandinavian), turned out to have a very good singing voice that turned the trick and girls and young women found him uncontrollably desirable and cute. Even then, studio execs did not fully understand the teen heart throb phenomena fully and David’s appeal woke them up. From then on, they would routinely crank out one heart throb after another.
Danny also worked in his part and really, I find him very entertaining now wish him success. He had plenty of adversity in his life and that he was able to cope at all is remarkable and a credit to him. And now for confession number 2. I was about 11 when PF came out fall of 70 was it, or 71? In 71 I would be 12. But Susan Dey did not do that much for me. You know what that means, don’t you??? That’s right, I must have been gay and did not know it for how else could you explain someone being that incredibly gorgeous and me not suddenly go through puberty at hyper speed. After all, Nancy Sinatra did it for me. Why not Sue? Well, the gay thing evidently passed for when I look at her pictures from back then, I marvel that anything could be so beautiful. And Shirley Jones was not exactly hard to take, either, though I found her more attractive back then. So there was something for everyone in that show.
But what was interesting as I watch more Monkees documentaries and clips and songs on YouTube, is that David was going through this thing that he wanted to rock like Hendrix and have some credibility and respect as a musician, even as the Monkees did. Its understandable but then again, to want to reach the level of Hendrix is no small thing to ask. Almost any great guitarist I have ever heard has credited Hendrix as the best and that would be my opinion, too. David had good tasted but did seem to be aiming a bit high. That would be like wanting to be as great as the Beatles. It probably won’t happen. They weren’t no Jesus, but in music, they are pretty unassailable.
So David was frustrated. But I say, rather than fight and struggle with life, trying to make it what you want, which I have found pretty much impossible, it is better, easier to just go along with the ride accept what life hands you, if it gives you anything at all. Change what you can easily change and accept the rest.
I look at it this way, to have so many teens and young women going crazy over you, well, how many men would love that? And the money was brief but good. Yes, its fickle and soon over with but the biggest problem was that they did not know and understand this going into it. They were pioneers blazing anew trail and did not know what to expect. But in hindsight, enjoy it while you can and prepare for stage two after. And also figure out what you could have done differently so maybe the next one to come along can do differently, right?
To have experience and not learn fro it, why, what a waste of experience, which cost someone somewhere dearly. Since they paid the price for it, you might as well gain from it so that what they paid will not be in vain.
So the Monkees, PF, and the Cowsills all suffered what we will call the great let down, the great fall from grace. It was fake, false and unrealistic to begin with but it sure felt good while they were up there in the clouds. But it was so artificial, contrived by media lords. MY heart goes out to my fellow boomers who got a taste of something delightfully intoxicating but so false and fickle.
It brings up this question. It it better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all? Or to become rich and then go back to poverty? To have it all and lost it all? Me? I say no. If you are on or near the bottom and have never known anything else, you don’t know anything else and do not miss what you never had. But it you had it, and lost it all, you know how much you really lost and how bitter than loss was, especially if by chance, it was preventable.
Which brings us back to being Baby Boomers. We had so much, did we not? And did we not lose every last scrap of it, too?! For me, it was a very bitter pill to swallow. In fact, I think it is still lodged in my throat and won’t do down.
But thankfully, there are sights like this where we can gather around the fire and remember those good times and damn good times they were. And maybe we can pass on just a little bit of wisdom, if any will listen from our painfully acquired wisdom. I say little for really, to have lost so much, we could not have been that bright but be that as it may, hindsight counts for at least something and to ignore it would be silly and senseless.
AS for SHARON, the Baby Boomer Queen, I say, thanks for wishing and promoting peace. There are more than enough advocates for war, killing and miseries. Bless you for being a peacemaker.
And now, it is the turn of the nasty ones to see if they can grind me up yet more for wishing any good will or saying anything decent or just enjoying the past. By their fruits you will know them and where they come from. I bid you all peace and love!!!
Posted by Scott Irv | October 11, 2009 3:53 PM
Posted on October 11, 2009 15:53
Drugs, Disrobing and Morrison! What's not to like? Heck, the only family we watch on television was The King Family! Ok, yes the Partridge Family! I hat to admit it, but I do like the music of the Partridge Family. I have a couple of there albums. I was a little disappointed that the Partridge Family really had a studio band playing most of the instrument parts on the songs. The Cowsils is so retro! To Cool!
Posted by Riversend | February 1, 2010 5:44 PM
Posted on February 1, 2010 17:44