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."
We Can Fly
The Cowsills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See how the morning mist can hide us away, (hide us away)
And how the day (and how it's) is so much fun!
Isn't it groovy in a daydream? (Dreaming today)
Doesn't it seem the day could never end? (Could never end)
And so, my friend, we're one.
When you're beside me, we can fly!
Oh, we can fly!
Hey, Mr. Wind, just keep us sailing. (Keep us sailing along)
High in the sky, there's no curtaining our fun,
So everyone, come on!
Hey, you on the ground!
Take a look up, and see what we've found!
Nothing to tie us, bluebirds come up to guide us.
When you're beside me, we can fly!
Oh, we can fly!
We can fly! Hey! Everyone on the ground, let's fly!
The Cowsills's song, We Can Fly is an upbeat tune that speaks to the power of imagination and the joy of feeling carefree. The song starts with a description of fluffy clouds moving past, and how morning mist can hide us away. The writers then express their sense of adventure and excitement about the day. The chorus speaks to a sense of dreaming and how in that dream-like state, there is a feeling of timelessness and happiness. The song appears to be about a special relationship, suggesting that when two people are together, they can fly.
The lyrics then speak to the wind and how it can carry and guide them, and how the freedom that they feel in the sky is unparalleled. They invite everyone below to look up and take notice of what they have found while taking flight. The song's lyrics end on a high note with an invitation to everyone to fly, "Hey! Everyone on the ground, let's fly!"
Line by Line Meaning
See how the fluffy clouds move by us
Observe the movement of clouds passing by us.
See how the morning mist can hide us away,
Notice how the morning mist can conceal us.
And how the day is so much fun!
The day brings a lot of joy.
Isn't it groovy in a daydream?
Isn't it awesome when we imagine?
Doesn't it seem the day could never end?
Doesn't the day feel infinitely long sometimes?
And so, my friend, we're one.
Therefore, my friend, we are united.
Baby, it's funny how I can feel so sunny?
Isn't it hilarious how being with you makes me feel happy?
When you're beside me, we can fly!
When you're with me, we can soar!
Hey, Mr. Wind, just keep us sailing.
Hey, gentle breeze, keep us sailing through the air.
High in the sky, there's no curtaining our fun,
Up in the sky, nothing can contain our joy.
So everyone, come on!
Therefore, everyone, let's go!
Hey, you on the ground!
Hey, you down there!
Take a look up, and see what we've found!
Look up and see what we have discovered!
Nothing to tie us, bluebirds come up to guide us.
No strings attaching us, bluebirds appear to lead us.
We can fly!
We can fly!
Hey! Everyone on the ground, let's fly!
Hey! Everyone down there, let's soar!
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, AKBESTAL MUSIC INC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ART KORNFELD, BILL COWSILL, BOB COWSILL, STEVE DUBOFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doug Smith
Captain - check out Bill's bands from his time in Vancouver.
Blue Northern was his late 70s and early 80s band. Amazing live but their recordings were a bit of a letdown because they were stifled by their idiot label and they weren't able to make the recordings like they wanted to and, that they knew would be the best way to get their songs down the way they were meant to be.
His greatest post-Cowsills band was Blue Northern though. Bill found his perfect co-conspirator Jeffrey Hatcher. They were an outstanding tandem and they assembled a fucking fantastic band that was super tight but they were just the perfect kind of loose and boozy with a phenomenal swinging element. Hatcher and Cowsill were touted as an Everly Brothers level vocal tandem (100% true) and, they produced the two excellent Blue Northern albums. They were under promoted though. Even with their live shows getting rave reviews and crazy rabid sold out hard partying gigs. Bill might have been partying too hard himself but once he and Hatcher got locked in...it was magic.
I'll leave it up to you to enjoy the experience of seeking out the Blue Northern videos on YouTube but, I am going to try to post a link to a really low quality VHS recording of an industry conference in Southern California that is championed by many but, doesn't exist in any better quality where Bill and Jeffrey melt all the attendees faces off doing a little bit of their sweet harmonizing.
Bill and his siblings were incredibly talented. John is a great drummer...Barry is a great bassist. They're freakin kids here.
I wish I had known how much you liked the Cowsills because Bill's son (a phenomenal multi-instrumentalist himself) was still living in Vancouver when you last played here and, he was at your show (Commodore). I would have introduced you to Del.
Cheers
Here's the 1st of 2 videos with Bill and Jeffrey harmonizing
https://youtu.be/PHGuhdyqyEQ
He also had a really good one off band that released one 7" shortly after he left the Cowsills...
Here's the link to the lone 7" from Bridey Murphy. It was released in 1974. I was off a few years.
One side is kinda a bit of a UK glam/old school rock and roll thingy with a pretty sweet slide guitar solo (I was hoping for you to pull out the slide guitar magic at your recent reunion shows...)
The flip side reminds me of the more rocking songs that Big Star released...definitely a little powerpop flavour
Both sides are linked to on this Discogs page.
I gotta stop with the edits here and get back to my work.
https://www.discogs.com/master/1121206-Bridey-Murphy-The-Time-Has-Come
Cheers
Captain Sensible
When I first toured the USA with the Damned back in 1977 the first vinyl albums I sought out to take back home were by this fabulous band. I knew they'd be something special after hearing The Rain, The Park, etc but had no idea the album tracks would be SO good. Just crammed with beautiful psych pop.. 2 By 2 especially - so to hell with those idiot TV producers and their dreadful Partridge family - the COWSILLS will always be no1 for me. ๐๐๐
Bob Frapples
Say Wot???
PunkRockDad
I saw you guys open for Misfits in 2019 at MSG. You were amazing! I'm sure back in the late 70s early 80s they would've been opening for you! Thank you so much for your music. Punk is not dead!
helloitsmehb
Thanks Cap!
That story fills my heart
Doug Smith
Captain - check out Bill's bands from his time in Vancouver.
Blue Northern was his late 70s and early 80s band. Amazing live but their recordings were a bit of a letdown because they were stifled by their idiot label and they weren't able to make the recordings like they wanted to and, that they knew would be the best way to get their songs down the way they were meant to be.
His greatest post-Cowsills band was Blue Northern though. Bill found his perfect co-conspirator Jeffrey Hatcher. They were an outstanding tandem and they assembled a fucking fantastic band that was super tight but they were just the perfect kind of loose and boozy with a phenomenal swinging element. Hatcher and Cowsill were touted as an Everly Brothers level vocal tandem (100% true) and, they produced the two excellent Blue Northern albums. They were under promoted though. Even with their live shows getting rave reviews and crazy rabid sold out hard partying gigs. Bill might have been partying too hard himself but once he and Hatcher got locked in...it was magic.
I'll leave it up to you to enjoy the experience of seeking out the Blue Northern videos on YouTube but, I am going to try to post a link to a really low quality VHS recording of an industry conference in Southern California that is championed by many but, doesn't exist in any better quality where Bill and Jeffrey melt all the attendees faces off doing a little bit of their sweet harmonizing.
Bill and his siblings were incredibly talented. John is a great drummer...Barry is a great bassist. They're freakin kids here.
I wish I had known how much you liked the Cowsills because Bill's son (a phenomenal multi-instrumentalist himself) was still living in Vancouver when you last played here and, he was at your show (Commodore). I would have introduced you to Del.
Cheers
Here's the 1st of 2 videos with Bill and Jeffrey harmonizing
https://youtu.be/PHGuhdyqyEQ
He also had a really good one off band that released one 7" shortly after he left the Cowsills...
Here's the link to the lone 7" from Bridey Murphy. It was released in 1974. I was off a few years.
One side is kinda a bit of a UK glam/old school rock and roll thingy with a pretty sweet slide guitar solo (I was hoping for you to pull out the slide guitar magic at your recent reunion shows...)
The flip side reminds me of the more rocking songs that Big Star released...definitely a little powerpop flavour
Both sides are linked to on this Discogs page.
I gotta stop with the edits here and get back to my work.
https://www.discogs.com/master/1121206-Bridey-Murphy-The-Time-Has-Come
Cheers
SpeedViper47
Whenever I hear this song, it takes me back to my days when I was just a 21-year-old, just beginning my adult life. So much life ahead of me but wondering if I will come back from Vietnam. So many of my fellow military guys and gals didn't. That saddens me terribly! And every time I think of them the tears flow freely. Why was I spared? My heart feels better after I've shed some tears for them. I hope that they know they have not been forgotten! Listening to the music I grew up with makes me feel much better, happier, inside. This music was such a blessing to our generation. We never knew just how good we had it! Now, many years later, we know what we had and that makes it all the more special. But I must say, our generation blew it, big time! We allowed the hippies to take over our academia, and it's gone to hell in a handbasket ever since. Summers were filled with good times with family and friends. Life was easier in so many ways. How could we have known what was on the horizon? We were too young to understand the depression and WWII, even the Korean war. We were more concerned about the Vietnam war and just surviving it. I hope history doesn't judge us too harshly, although I believe we surely deserve it! Sorry for ranting! It's that time of year.
gacj2010
Everything you said I feel the same , exactly ... I just know i am going there again ... Im going there .. I know it and all the wrongs will be right and all the ones I loved and hung around and all the feelings I had will be there .. Its just that way . I have no doubts in the world .. no doubts.
SpeedViper47
@gacj2010 Like your response to my post. I live in the 50's to 70's. I am young, life is good (far from perfect because I only think of the good things, not the bad, not the problems, just the music that keeps me there!).
gacj2010
@SpeedViper47 I am your brother...
from another mother .......
gacj2010
@SpeedViper47 I Am the same as you when you say .." I am young " ... I too have failed to grow up .. and I wont and I like it that way ... I am a time traveler....I am always who I am and thats the same kid .... thinking the same way and joyful about little things like a puppy , a person of any age who shares a story or I share to them ,says a nice thing to me or reaches to touch my hand because I must have conveyed that message and the touch is love to me .....I am so happy and yes this music is a TIME MACHINE.