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By the time this album was released in 1971, the Newport, Rhode Island family act had already peaked, chart-wise, and lost member Bill Cowsill to a solo career (and almost to the Beach Boys), while the band's former label, MGM, was having its own structural crisis, and the band was dropped before the release of the album, leading to a short-lived deal with London. Nevertheless, it remains a strong collection of mostly original songs showcasing the group's strengths: sweet vocal harmonies and tuneful sunshine folk-pop with some dark edges and occasionally philosophical lyrics that explored myriad facets of the human experience. The opening title track, co-written by Waddy Wachtel, is an effective psychedelic rocker (the album's only single) with a great lead vocal by youngest brother and drummer John Cowsill and Crosby, Stills & Nash-inspired backing vocals. "If You Can't Have It, Knock It" (written by Bob and Paul) is a similarly stirring folk waltz about unrequited longing, with dramatic 5/4 breaks; its kiss-off lyrics protest too much, and too proudly, like Bob Dylan at his most petulant. A country influence prevails on the two Barry-penned songs, the charming "Down on the Farm" (think John Denver crowing about being a country boy) and the stately and poetic "Dover Mines." Susan Cowsill takes a turn on lead vocals on the disturbing folk ballad "Heather Says," about a class bully. Despite the subject matter and Susan's innocent vocals, the song is commendably un-cute and not meant as a novelty kid's number. At the other end of the age spectrum, mom Barbara sings lead on the touching "There Is a Child," a song written by her sons that extols the virtues of, well, being a good mother. The haunting "Can You Love?," written by Bob, is about coming to terms with -- and finding room in one's heart to love -- society's outcasts. (Years later, Bob revealed that the lyrics were inspired by the pre-gay pride film The Boys in the Band.) The album was out of print for years, and then available as a two-fer with the popular live album that preceded it. In 2010, Cherry Red Records reissued the album in its first incarnation as a CD, with three previously unreleased bonus tracks.
© Paula Carino /TiVo
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Waddy Wachtel, ComposerLyricist - The Cowsills, MainArtist - John Cowsill, Drums, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Judi Pulver, ComposerLyricist - Bob Cowsill, Producer - Barry Cowsill, Producer - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - John Cowsill, Drums, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Cowsill, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Cowsill, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Barry Cowsill, Producer - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - Bob Cowsill, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Cowsill, ComposerLyricist - Barry Cowsill, Producer - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - Bob Cowsill, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Barry Cowsill, Producer - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - Bob Cowsill, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Cowsill, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Cowsill, Producer - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - Bob Cowsill, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Barry Cowsill, Producer - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Waddy Wachtel, ComposerLyricist - The Cowsills, MainArtist - Judi Pulver, ComposerLyricist - Bob Cowsill, Producer - Barry Cowsill, Producer - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Susie Cowsill, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - Bob Cowsill, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Cowsill, ComposerLyricist - Barry Cowsill, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Barbara Cowsill, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - Bob Cowsill, Producer - Barry Cowsill, Producer, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - John Cowsill, Drums, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Cowsill, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Cowsill, ComposerLyricist - Barry Cowsill, Producer - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - Bob Cowsill, Producer - Barry Cowsill, Producer, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Usher, ComposerLyricist - The Cowsills, MainArtist - Bob Cowsill, Producer - Barry Cowsill, Producer, Bass Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Dick Campbell, ComposerLyricist - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Waddy Wachtel, ComposerLyricist - The Cowsills, MainArtist - John Cowsill, Drums, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Judi Pulver, ComposerLyricist - Bob Cowsill, Producer - Barry Cowsill, Producer - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Cowsills, MainArtist - Bob Cowsill, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Cowsill, ComposerLyricist - Barry Cowsill, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ben Jordan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Barbara Cowsill, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1971 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
By the time this album was released in 1971, the Newport, Rhode Island family act had already peaked, chart-wise, and lost member Bill Cowsill to a solo career (and almost to the Beach Boys), while the band's former label, MGM, was having its own structural crisis, and the band was dropped before the release of the album, leading to a short-lived deal with London. Nevertheless, it remains a strong collection of mostly original songs showcasing the group's strengths: sweet vocal harmonies and tuneful sunshine folk-pop with some dark edges and occasionally philosophical lyrics that explored myriad facets of the human experience. The opening title track, co-written by Waddy Wachtel, is an effective psychedelic rocker (the album's only single) with a great lead vocal by youngest brother and drummer John Cowsill and Crosby, Stills & Nash-inspired backing vocals. "If You Can't Have It, Knock It" (written by Bob and Paul) is a similarly stirring folk waltz about unrequited longing, with dramatic 5/4 breaks; its kiss-off lyrics protest too much, and too proudly, like Bob Dylan at his most petulant. A country influence prevails on the two Barry-penned songs, the charming "Down on the Farm" (think John Denver crowing about being a country boy) and the stately and poetic "Dover Mines." Susan Cowsill takes a turn on lead vocals on the disturbing folk ballad "Heather Says," about a class bully. Despite the subject matter and Susan's innocent vocals, the song is commendably un-cute and not meant as a novelty kid's number. At the other end of the age spectrum, mom Barbara sings lead on the touching "There Is a Child," a song written by her sons that extols the virtues of, well, being a good mother. The haunting "Can You Love?," written by Bob, is about coming to terms with -- and finding room in one's heart to love -- society's outcasts. (Years later, Bob revealed that the lyrics were inspired by the pre-gay pride film The Boys in the Band.) The album was out of print for years, and then available as a two-fer with the popular live album that preceded it. In 2010, Cherry Red Records reissued the album in its first incarnation as a CD, with three previously unreleased bonus tracks.
© Paula Carino /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:39:19
- Main artists: The Cowsills
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1971 Universal Music Operations Ltd. ℗ 2011 Universal Music Operations Ltd.
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