Origins And Early Successes
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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."
Start To Love
The Cowsills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I walk by her window,
Does she know that I watch her?
Has she heard that I want her.
How do I start to love her?
Maybe if my friends knew her,
Tell her for me she's pretty.
How do I start to love?
When I see her, with all her friends in town,
Want to show her, that I'm alive and well when she's around.
How can I make her notice?
Know that her eyes are bluer?
How can I get close to her?
How do I start to love?
When I see her with all her friends in town,
Want to show her that I'm alive and well when she's around.
How can I make her notice?
Know that her eyes are bluer?
How can I get close to her?
Hard to begin to love.
It's so hard to begin to love.
Yes, it's hard to love.
In the song "Start To Love" by The Cowsills, the singer is expressing his desire to be with a girl whom he admires from a distance. He wonders if she knows that he watches her and wants her. He is unsure of how to begin to love her, but thinks that if his friends knew her, they could facilitate an introduction. He is drawn to her when she is around her friends and wishes to prove to her that he is alive and well when she is near.
The lyrics illustrate the universal struggle of wanting to be with someone but not knowing how to approach them. It highlights the fear of rejection and the uncertainty surrounding starting a new romantic endeavor. The line "hard to begin to love" is a reflection of the challenges that come with falling in love and how it's not always an easy process.
Overall, "Start To Love" is a relatable love song with a catchy melody that captures the excitement and nerves that come with developing feelings for someone.
Line by Line Meaning
When I walk by her window,
As I stroll beside her house, gazing through the window panes, I ponder if she is aware of my yearning affection.
Does she know that I watch her?
Is she cognizant of my surveillance, observing her every move and expression?
Has she heard that I want her.
Has she been informed of the fact that I desire her company and adore her deeply?
How do I start to love her?
What steps should I take to foster a blossoming relationship and cultivate mutual feelings of love?
Maybe if my friends knew her,
Perhaps if my companions were acquainted with her, they could introduce us and facilitate a potential romantic encounter.
Someone could take me to her.
If someone could escort me to her presence, it would alleviate my anxiety and nervousness.
Tell her for me she's pretty.
Could you kindly convey to her that I find her breathtakingly beautiful and captivating?
When I see her, with all her friends in town,
Whenever I catch a glimpse of her in the company of her friends in the vicinity,
Want to show her, that I'm alive and well when she's around.
I wish to demonstrate to her that my existence is meaningful and fulfilling when she is near me.
How can I make her notice?
I wonder what measures I should undertake to make her aware of my existence and stand out amidst the crowd of other potential admirers.
Know that her eyes are bluer?
Is there a way to let her acknowledge that I perceive her dazzling blue eyes to be the most alluring feature of her captivating persona?
How can I get close to her?
What steps can I take to approach her in a way that does not come across as intrusive or unwelcome?
Hard to begin to love.
It is a strenuous endeavor to start loving someone when the likelihood of reciprocity is uncertain or elusive.
It's so hard to begin to love.
It requires immense courage and fortitude to commence the arduous journey of falling in love.
Yes, it's hard to love.
In reality, the process of loving someone is not easy and involves confronting various uncertainties, fears, and vulnerabilities.
Contributed by Logan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tom Coss - Connecticut USA
I first saw Susan on The Ed Sullivan Show! I still LOVE HER TODAY! Keep Up The Good Work!!!!
USMC Veteran
Tom Coss she's still good looking in her 50s
Beatles❤Girl
Great song ~ wonderful job on this 7liswoc!
Steven Orsinelli
Love this! i had a crush on her when i was a young man. The band was totally boss!
Veneta Shepherd
Love the bit at 0.36 when her brothers drag her away from the microphone, prompted by her answer of "Miss February" to Hugh Hefner's question of "who do you want to be when you grow up?" "Not THIS year!" said one of her bros (Paul?) as he grabbed her by the collar lol! The whole episode is from their appearance on Playboy After Dark which is available on youtube.
Janet Mavis
She's adorable than and now never stopped.
Beth Wade
So talented!
Royalchess1
I had only limited exposure to the Cowsills on my poor quality radio back when the group came out, which I think was monaural. Just recently, I've discovered that the Cowsills were ACTUALLY A REAL FAMILY! I honestly thought they were a group of people put together by a producer so the public would be convinced they were a family. Oh Well! And now I find that they actually have still stayed together making music. And I didn't know how talented (and cute) AND POPULAR Susan was back then. I understand she has to be close to 60?!!
Royalchess1
Les Paul , Let me clarify...I know your choice of BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, then there is CUTE, Grace Vanderwaal and Jackie Evancho are CUTIFUL...cute+beautiful (my conjugation). Suzie Cowsill was cute!
Royalchess1
I was also there for the PARTRIGE FAMILY, I have NO CONFUSION between them and the COWSILLS. And Susan Dey was also cute!