The Cowsills were a singing group from Newport, Rhode Island specializing i… Read Full Bio ↴The Cowsills were a singing group from Newport, Rhode Island specializing in what would later be defined as bubblegum pop. The band was formed in the spring of 1965 by four brothers — Barry, Bill, Bob, and John Cowsill. After their initial success, the brothers were later joined by their siblings, Susan and Paul and their mother, Barbara. Rounding out the group was remaining brother Richard, who did not sing with the group, but was assigned as road manager and advisor.

Origins And Early Successes
----------------------------
Originally inspired by The Beatles, the Cowsills developed their musicianship and harmonized vocals in performances at school dances and churches in their hometown. They were encouraged by their parents, Barbara and Bud Cowsill, who drove them around to shows in the family's station wagon. Bud had retired from a long career in the US Navy to manage his children's career together with his wife.

The band drew increasing attention through the 1960's as their musical proficiency improved. In late 1965, the initial four members were hired as a regular act on Bannisters Wharf in Newport where they would sing "The Beatles" songs hour after hour. They also produced their first recordings, and released them on Mercury Records. Despite their appeal, the company passed on a record contract for reasons never specified. In 1966, the band was signed by MGM records, and shortly after Barbara - who would become known to their fans affectionately as "Mini-Mom" due to her diminutive stature - joined the group to record The Rain, The Park and Other Things. Shortly thereafter the band was expanded yet again to include siblings Susan and Paul.

With the success of "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" the band quickly became a popular act in the U.S., and achieved significant airplay in England and other parts of Europe. "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" wound up reaching #2 on the Billboard charts, and sold some three million copies in its first release.

Bob Cowsill is quoted as follows on the band's early days:

"Although Bill and I performed at a very young age, and Bill, myself, Barry and John did a lot of frat parties at Brown University and clubs in Newport ... the most memorable performance of what I would view as the precursor of what The Cowsills would be was at King's Park in Newport (right at the foot of Halidon Hall) at some carnival. The family angle just evolved ... first Bill and me, then Bill me and Barry, then Bill, me, Barry and John, then Bill, me, Barry, John and Mom, then Bill, me, Barry, John, Mom and Paul, then later, me, Paul, John, Barry, Mom and Susan, then back to Bill, me, Barry and John (very briefly in the end) and then to me, Paul, John and Susan. Our first real break came when we were playing the MK Hotel in Newport (in the basement there) and a guy from the Today show saw us and asked if we wanted to be on the Today show. We weren't famous or anything but we were young and we were related and we were quite good. So we went on the Today show (I doubt a tape exists of that but if it did it would be priceless to see) and someone from Mercury Records saw us which ultimately led to our signing with that label and putting out "Most Of All" (a great "school's out" song that should have been our first hit in my opinion) which led to Artie Kornfeld and Steve Duboff. Mercury dropped us, but Artie and Steve had written "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" and we went in and recorded that song at A&R studios in New York and took the whole package to MGM who decided wouldn't it just be terrific if their mother performed with them and, voila, the rest, as they say, is history. "

In 1969 they had another number two hit with their version of the title song from the musical Hair.

The Cowsills are often cited as the inspirtation for TV's "The Partridge Family."

In Need Of A Friend
The Cowsills Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Cowsill

Ahhh....
You say you know somebody
Someone who feels down when you're feeling sad
Who's up when you're glad
But I don't know anybody
Haven't a person, don't know where I stand

Gee you're a lucky man
Hey, I need a friend
Not just a wall that I talk to
But a mind having doors I can walk through
I need a friend
Yes, I do
You say you know somebody
Someone who shows you the way when you're lost
At any cost
But I don't have anybody
I grope in the dark and I'm totally blind
Hey don't you think that's unkind?

Hey, I need a friend
Not just a wall that I talk to
But a mind having doors I can walk through
I need a friend
Yes, I do
I think I know somebody
Someone who feels just the way that you do
He reminds me of you
But, you'll have find that body
I'm sorry there's nary a thing I can do
You see it's all up to you
But, you'll find a friend
Not just a wall that you talk to
Just show him the door he can walk through
You'll find a friend

Yes, you can
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Cowsills's "In Need of a Friend" convey a yearning for companionship and a sense of isolation. The singer hears about people having supportive friends who they can lean on during tough times and looks for the same sort of relationship, but seems unable to find someone to connect with. The verse "I grope in the dark and I'm totally blind / Hey don't you think that's unkind?" highlights the frustration of feeling alone and unsupported.

The chorus asserts the need for a friend who is more than just a sounding board or someone to pass the time with - they want a person they can truly confide in and who will be available to them when they need support. The line "But a mind having doors I can walk through" emphasizes the desire for a friend who is open and who will allow the singer to be vulnerable and seek guidance.

Overall, the song speaks to the universal human need for connection, and the pain of feeling unable to find it. It is a poignant and relatable message that is presented with sincerity and vulnerability.

Line by Line Meaning

You say you know somebody
You claim to have a friend

Someone who feels down when you're feeling sad
A friend who empathizes with your sadness

Who's up when you're glad
A friend who shares your joys and triumphs

But I don't know anybody
I don't have any friends

Haven't a person, don't know where I stand
I feel lost and disconnected without companionship

Gee you're a lucky man
You're fortunate to have a friend

Hey, I need a friend
I deeply desire companionship

Not just a wall that I talk to
I need a friend who listens and responds

But a mind having doors I can walk through
I need an open-minded friend I can confide in

Yes, I do
My need for friendship is real and urgent

Someone who shows you the way when you're lost
A friend who provides guidance and direction in times of confusion