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
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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."

The Cruel War
The Cowsills Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'The Cruel War' by these artists:

Alasdair Roberts Before the cruel war was on, I was so strong. Now…
cher The cruel war is raging Sonny has to fight I want to…
Dolly Parton The cruel war is raging, Johnny has to fight I want…
Dolly Parton & Alison Krauss The cruel war is raging, Johnny has to fight I want…
Dolly Parton (Featuring Alison Krauss Mindy Smith & Dan Tyminski) Oh The cruel war is raging, Johnny has to fight And I…
Dolly Parton feat. Alison Krauss Mindy Smith & Dan Tyminski Oh The cruel war is raging, Johnny has to fight And I…
Dolly Parton Featuring Alison Krauss Mindy Smith And Dan Tyminski Oh The cruel war is raging, Johnny has to fight And I…
Peter Paul & Mary The cruel war is raging, Johnny has to fight I want…

We have lyrics for these tracks by The Cowsills:

A Time For Remembrance It's a time for remembrance Time to recall the things I coul…
Act Naturally They're gonna put me in the movies They're gonna make a…
Anything Changes B. Cowsill-P. Cowsill Poor old moon lost its lease. Now …
Ask the Children Wonderling-Goldfuss-Allane When you're down and you're fe…
Beautiful Beige Cowsill-Kornfeld You told me, my friend, what's on you mi…
Captain Sad and His Ship of Fools Cowsill-Cowsill La la la la la la la la la (Ha…
Couldn't It Be Love It hurts to be in love, when the only one…
Don't Look Back B. Cowsill When you leave us far behind in the morning, …
Dreams of Linda Kornfeld-Cowsill In a gingerbread house 'neath a willow t…
Father B. Cowsill-P. Cowsill Traveled for many years, He travel…
goodtime charlie Price-Walsh Staring through the window, Old man Charlie …
Gotta Get Away From It All Up at eight; Down at five Can't be late; Be on…
Gray Sunny Day Cowsill-Cowsill-Powers-Sheppard Gray, sunny day Bright o…
Hair She asked him why, Why I'm a hairy guy I'm hairy…
Hello Hello (Would you like some of my tangerine) You know I'd never…
Hello, Hello You know I'd never treat you mean (Oh no not mean) Hello,…
I Be Low Now if you feel that you can't go on Because…
I Got You Now you say every time you need some affection The one…
I Love The Flower Girl I saw her sitting in the rain Raindrops falling on her She…
I'm the One You Need Now you say every time you need some affection The one…
II X II B. Cowsill (Chorus) We'll go two by two, Lord. Open up …
In Need Of A Friend Cowsill Ahhh.... You say you know somebody Someone who …
Indian Lake You take a bus marked "Lakewood Drive" And you keep on…
Is It Any Wonder Soon as she looked my way All I wanted to do…
La Rue Du Sole In a little café out La Rue du Soleil She happens…
La Rue du Soleil Cowsill-Kornfeld-Cowsill In a little cafe a La Rue Du Sol…
Love American Style Love, Love, Love {CLAP} Love, Love, Love Love, American St…
make the music flow Cowsill-Kornfeld-Powers Tune us a sitar neither high nor …
Meet Me At The Wishing Well Do doo doo doo do, Do doo doo do Da doo…
Mister Flynn Wearing a crinkled coverall Waiting by the backstage door We…
Newspaper Blanket Cowsill-Cowsill Sad old man nobody loves him Every morni…
Night Shift B. Cowsill-Pulver Evan by the light, She waits to hear m…
Painting the Day Barberis-Longa Painting The Day. When I woke up, All of…
Path of Love Well come on, follow down the Path of Love. Come on little…
Pennies Cowsill-Kornfeld-Cowsill Well, it seems that someone told…
Please Mr. Postman Wait, oh yes wait a minute mister postman Wait, wait mister…
Please, Mr. Postman There must be some word today from my (boy) girlfriend…
Poor Baby Poor Baby, something always bringing you down If you look fo…
Rain The Park & Other Things I saw her sitting in the rain Raindrops falling on her She…
Reach Out Now if you feel that you can't go on Because…
River Blue Cowsill-Kornfeld-Cowsill Flowing, flowing, slowing down, …
Signs B. Cowsill-B. Cowsill-P. Cowsill Hey you, traveler, I've …
Silver Threads And Golden Needles I don't want your lonely mansion With a tear in every…
Start To Love B. Cowsill-B. Cowsill-Pulver When I walk by her window, …
That's My Time of the Day Duboff-Kornfeld The sun comes up And awakens the flowers…
the bridge Gluck There's a bridge in Brooklyn someone sells every da…
The Fantasy World of Harry Faversham Millrose-Hess Harry O !! She was waiting for him in th…
The Path Of Love Well come on, follow down the Path of Love. Come on little…
The Propecy of Daniel & John the Divine And when they saw her Rising from the ocean Her name was…
The Rain The Park & Other Things I saw her sitting in the rain Raindrops falling on her She…
Thinkin' About the Other Side B. Cowsill-P. Cowsill Is it just a fantasy, that and noth…
Troubled Roses Keelan Always going from town to town But trying to beli…
Walk Away Renee And when I'll see the sign that points one way,…
Walk Away, Renee And when I'll see the sign that points one way, The…
We Can Fly See how the fluffy clouds move by us (See how…
What Is Happy? Everybody is talking about the things I have to live without…
Wild Thing Wild thing, you make my heart sing You make everything groov…

You on My Mind Won't You Be My Neighbor? Words & Music by Fred Rogers Do…

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