Cowsills - Silver Threads and Golden Needles

[@NKBobcat]

They were very talented. More than they ever got credit for.

[@donnabiegler6938]

Susan was such a talented little girl! Her confidence and performance was off the charts!!

[@liberty5069]

Yes, she was. Amazing to see an entire family so talented musically.

[@rickfarmiloe]

I know Bob Cowsill....he's a GREAT guy!! One of the most talented, unheralded family bands ever!!! Underrated is right!! Their music will transcend generations!! See them at every opportunity!

[@millster9389]

I love this family. Susan was the best little dancer I've ever seen!

[@1401minstrel]

John Cowsill is one of the best singing drummers ever! It's not easy to do!

[@originalsupermommy]

He is still performing his magic with the Beachboys! ❤

[@1401minstrel]

@@originalsupermommy No, he's not. He was fired by the Beach Boys in April of 2023.

[@originalsupermommy]

@@1401minstrel news to me. Honestly last I checked was about one year ago when I first learned about the Cowsills myself. Too bad!

[@1401minstrel]

@@originalsupermommy Yes, after 23 years with the Beach Boys he was let go. He hasn't let much grass grow under his feet in the last year, though. He's been performing often with his wife, Vicky Peterson and working on some album projects.

[@Jameswilliamson405]

❤❤❤❤

[@carlylewoodard269]

A reminder of the great days of the past that will never come back.

[@evanwatkins5929]

Watching this video, Susan's dancing makes me jump up and start dancing along with her, and I'm an old man. She had some cool dance moves.

[@garris74]

John made me swoon back then; still makes me swoon. I remember my grandmother telling me if I love the music now, I'll probably love it when I'm her age. How true.

[@bobf.5538]

John was my favorite Cowsill

[@learneraccount5244]

Great musical family, with precious Susan leading the way.

[@laurenkerr7557]

I love harmony. I spent all my school life being in chorus. These guys harmonize like a dream come true. So glad I can see them here still.

[@snertbird5515]

wow, what a memory this brings back. I can remember having my first crush on Susan, we are about the same age. You know what, you never forget your first crush.

[@maureenmcgovern6119]

Susan and I have the same Birthday; but she’s younger.

[@jsroadpilot]

I had a crush on Susan too..I'm 62 as well.lol

[@mottledbrain]

I would have had a huge crush too, but for me The Cowsills were just another group on my little radio. I never saw them until after we finally got Internet into our house early this century. If only I knew there was a girl a bit younger than me and that she was a pop star.

[@rodionrebenyar]

Amazing live performance. I liked it when I first saw it on MUSIC SCENE, and I love it even more today!

[@davidgibbs381]

My childhood bed had the exact same bed-spreads shown on these bunk-beds.

[@williamnelson727]

I was young (then) and now i'm pushing 60. we were lucky to have an entire family able to sing and play their own pop music. -and that BEFORE the so-called 'age of aquarius'. we realize now how hard they were all working. They made it look easy.

[@Zorn76]

Really like where this tune starts to jam at 1:24. Barry is groovin' on bass, Susan is front and center, John's unique voice and Bob steady on guitar. This was a very talented group, even if their music isn't exactly your thing. Great documentary film, too, by Louise Palanker. Highly recommend it. It covers a lot of ground, and demonstrates that in the end, the Cowsills' spirit cannot be broken.

[@marceloromero4515]

I agree!!! That's when the song really starts to kick!!!! Also, notice the microphone taped to the furniture at the beginning.

[@fwladd]

Susan at 2.54.....one two three four right on cue! What a class act for such a little girl!

[@robertbishop5357]

This group wrote some great songs that have stood the test of time.

[@Iblamedonna]

What a talented family...harmonies were fantastic..instrumentals good. Shame they were lost.

[@BobRimac]

I remember seeing them sing this at the Michigan State Fair like it was yesterday. This song and Hair were the two songs I remember the most from the concert. 💜

[@bobknob5819]

Susan was and is the most adorable girl ever

[@NoodlesEaton]

I love Susan!

[@da959]

Wow...seeing these guys again sure brings back a flood of good memories! I had forgotten how much I was in love with Susan at the time. She and I are pretty close to the same age. After looking up some of their other videos on youtube, i didn't realize they had so many GOOD songs out there back then.Too bad we all had to grow up. Things seemed alot simpler back then and the music was real music..not some rehash taken from another musician.

[@owensclock]

This show aired in 1969 and was hosted by David Steinberg. John Cowsill, the lead singer and drummer on this song, is now the Beach Boys' drummer. Bob, Paul and Susan still perform as the Cowsills.

[@mjgsf1]

Susan and her husband Russ Broussard also have their own band (The Susan Cowsill Band), and Susan was a singer for another group (The Continental Drifters) for awhile along with Vicki Peterson (The Bangles).

[@bowlview]

SO COOL they were so UNDERATED , I HATE WHAT THE MUSIC BIZ DID OR IN THIS CASE DID NOT DO , god bless this great family

[@Taryngracia]

Sadly they grew up abused ..

[@simonhoddinott7243]

I look at Susan cowsills the the youngest and look how good she can play tambourine and now guitar

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Very talented family. I was not Cowsills Family in the 60s/70s. But in the last 10 years, Im a big fan.

[@RJS1974]

The original Partridge Family.

[@tomcoss-connecticutusa3941]

The Cowsills did a very good job on this song!!!!

[@ss06033]

The instrumental break in the middle is really impressive

[@JanineAllredcountrygirl27]

Look at that smile on Billy's face, He is a talent that was never given the recognition he deserved. Billy you and your brothers and sister and mom done an amazing job on this song. It was one of my mother and my favorites even as young as i was i knew talent.

[@MS-kc2je]

Couldn't have been Billy, he's not in this video!

[@hyzercreek]

The lead singer in this is actually John, the youngest of the brothers.

[@claudecat]

To see these people playing actual instruments and really singing live, and an extremely complex arrangement at that... The Cowsills family and what they went through is a tragic yet ultimately uplifting story (the documentary is great), as the survivors continue to make music and happiness wherever they can despite no longer commanding the big money, not that they ever saw much of that anyway.

[@paulvosters3372]

Boy they covered everyone. Did not realize that. Fantastic on everything.

[@pattibrooks1907]

I always had a big crush on John Bob and Barry ! I even love to hear their music songs now as they have always been awesome !

[@simonhoddinott7243]

Where as the partridge family were based on the cowsills and couldn't play the cowsills could play and write their own music😊

[@sauquoit13456]

On this day in 1969 {October 11th} "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" by the Cowsills entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #74 & spent 7 weeks on the Top 100... Three other versions have charted; The Springfields {#20 in 1962}, Jody Miller {#54 in 1965}, & Linda Ronstadt {#67 in 1974}. It was the Cowsills eighth & finally Top 100 record, with three making the Top 10 {"The Rain, The Park, & Other Things" {#2 in 1967}, "Indian Lake" {#10 in 1968} & "Hair" {#2 in 1969}.

[@marceloromero4515]

I love the details! Thank you👍

[@DA90027]

What a great set, TV was awesome back then

[@kayciecarryl3366]

John Cowsill is SO CUTE!! 💖

[@odonna17]

yes I am 53 too I live in Britain-The Cowsills were never big over here but I remember their great version of "Hair"-probably the best I have ever heard -they should do a reunion concert-donna

[@Umskiddy]

jdt882, You're right.The mother looks as though she's faking her smile and that she's planning to give her kids a beating after the show. Scary stuff.

[@rmick66]

That was a bad decision to include her, she added nothing and always looked intimidating. No Shirley Jones for sure.

[@zacharyjohnson6453]

You're both wrong it wasn't the mother who was beating her children it was their father

[@butters395]

accually.... the mom had severe stage fright and didn't want to be part of it but their record company wanted her and little sister as a gimmick so.....😒

[@theessentials450]

The producers of PARTRIDGE family wanted the boys but said no to the mom and Susan. So the boys felt obligated and loyalty and said no.

[@Taryngracia]

@@zacharyjohnson6453true but she knew

[@LoveThoseTunes11]

Susan rocks!

[@BettinaBalser]

I get a huge kick out of young Susan. Man, that kid could GROOVE. She knocks the hell out of that tambourine, too!

[@MrBeenastar]

Such a talented family! It's easy to see why a hit tv show was created about them. Considering their true life story, a movie could be made as well.

[@CB6028]

They were so talented. One of their later albums, GLOBAL, is just really good.

[@larrylewis5721]

I think that "Global" is the band's finest achievement.

[@aj402]

During the 60’s the nightly news wasn’t censored much so videos of Vietnam or violent riots were shown on tv. Many of my friends would hang out in my sisters room listening to music instead of watching the adults kill each other every night. The Cowsills were one of our favorites along with the other pop bands. I listened to hard rock at my high school age neighbors house, gospel at church and my mothers old country albums that i found in a box. Conway, Merle that whole bunch. It was a difficult time in history but the music helped us stay relatively sane.

[@roman14032]

they are FANTASTIC MUSICIANS that middle bit was like a rush tune

[@kvernon1]

I didn't think the domestic, lip-synced scene at the beginning worked too well. But give them points for trying to put a different "spin" on things, and the second half of the performance was great -- this is why we love & admire the Cowsills!

[@kathykay2010]

Sadly, at very young ages they were all too familiar with sorrows and hardships on the home front. For Bill and Barry that translated to battles with drugs and the bottle. I often wonder how different their lives would have been without alcoholic parents and a physically abusive dad. Self destruction is a byproduct of drugs and alcohol for too many. I'm just thankful the others were not brought down by the demons of addiction. They all deserved so much better. They were and still are incredible talents.

[@Itsmypartyonline]

Talent, talent, talent!

[@donaldchaperlo6095]

The Cowsills were excellent. Btw, this is the best sounding version of this song. Even better than The Springfields who got a gold record with this song and Dusty was a great singer.

[@pls2554]

C'mon, that's a stretch.

[@hf6546]

I like this version the best of those I've heard.

[@hmackie6823]

Lotta talent in one family...these r the real Partridge Family

[@marksupic3083]

Wow! When I was a kid iI really wanted to be a Cowsill. Or an Astronaut😱,

[@jamesewanchook2276]

that was a good mom showing up... never mind gestapo dad. Major props from Vancouver always!!!

[@deplorabledave1048]

I came to comments to see the posts about little Susan's dancing. Yeah, pretty amazing. I think this is the youngest I have seen her perform. She had the beat way back then too! No tattoos, multiple invasive piercings, or blue armpit hair back then.

[@rogertycholiz2218]

Dave - You must see little Susan do "'When I'm 64"'. The Cowsills were better than all the rest!

[@deplorabledave1048]

​@@rogertycholiz2218 I have. Many times. She flubbed(forgot) some very esoteric difficult lyrics and you would never know because she was such a pro and covered it up. Even I did not know. I read it in the comments. I looked up the lyrics she flubbed. Esoteric UK only speak. Did the song a service by leaving them out. Probably my fave Susan Cowsill video! I NEVER knew them growing up. Born in 1957. My loss. Never too late. Thanks.

[@altareggo]

The little kids in that family are SOOOOOOO cute!!!! Talented too.....

[@LuvIzAhl]

Saw them in concert during this period of time. The REAL Partridge Family!

[@jaelge]

Kind of a strange arrangement but they made it work and made the song their own. Those boys are excellent musicians, by the way.

[@jalushy16]

John (the drummer) is now the Beach Boy's drummer and sings a great many of their leads. Susan and Bob (guitarist) each have their own bands. Paul (organ) works as a green-man in Hollywood for shows like "Grimm" and Barry (bass) passed away during Katrina (eldest brother Bill died within days of Barry from various ailments). Paul, Bob, and Susan still perform as The Cowsills, joined infrequently by John when scheduling permits. All are now in their mid-50s/early 60s but none of them look it!

[@ScottJ794]

Slight correction. Barry actually survived Katrina, but is suspected to have taken his own life after witnessing the devastation that the storm caused. His body was found months later, and had to be identified through dental records. Billy lived long enough to learn of Barry's fate, and died shortly after that.

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Scott Furtado either way, a great loss.

[@tats5880]

I think bill died 95 or 96 in Canada

[@tats5880]

@Joe Comer right, found out later. I also. Found out bill died just a little after berry. And I always it was the other way around.. but thanks for the info.. but in any case what a waste of talent..

[@bettyparker3317]

And now, in 2024, John has left Mike Love Beach Boys (reportedly kinda forced out) and is playing some with his wife. Susan, Bob, and Paul are still touring, on their own as well as anchoring the Happy Together package tour. They released a new album “Rhythm of the World” last year. Their own music, some great tunes.

[@kathykay2010]

WOW!!! Thanks so much for posting the full version of this. I've only seen snippets of this. I LOVE EVERYTHING THE COWSILLS HAVE DONE!!! AWESOME VIDEO!!!

[@LDSFunnyBoy12]

great, these kids are one of the best bands

[@lauriepayne341]

Not only were they screwed by a record company they were also screwed by their father...he was a real piece of work, all of those kids owed a lot of money to a lot of people....

[@DavesNotHere56]

John plays drums for the Beach Boys now.

[@corinneyaworski5274]

He is excellent too! Went to a Beach Boys concert recently.

[@fredandpj]

On January 24, 2020, John appeared with his Family at the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas where they sang Hair. John did the Solo that he did in 1969. Somehow, he sounded just like he did in 1969. He does not sound like that with the Beach Boys.

[@bettyparker3317]

Not now, in 2024. He was reportedly more or less forced out last year. Now he performs some with his wife, lead singer of the Bangles. There’s always talk of his rejoining the others, but he’s indicated he wants a break from serious touring-and the Cowsills anchor the Happy Together package tour every summer, as well as doing their own shows in between.

[@evanwatkins5929]

This song should have, at the very least, made the top 20. They say it was ahead of it's time. To me, it is my favorite Cowsills song of all time, along with Indian Lake.

[@divaloca9575]

lovely song. i love this cover.

[@jpmerrick8886]

Lovely work here

[@richardlandis793]

One of the great bands of the time.

[@beatlebob1918]

The Cowsills appeared on The Music Scene on Nov 17, 1969, Season 1, Episode 9

[@davidmoseley2849]

John always seemed to go with those country type songs as Ringo did and he sat up high on his drums as Ringo did.But HE had a better voice.

[@faschuck]

Speaking of John’s voice: does it not remind you of Maurice Gibb’s? Paul sounds quite a bit like Robin Gibb as well…

[@georgeblack3185]

A goldie oldie :)

[@GroovyPKP]

God they were great! And I had that exact lunch box

[@christianmitchell8460]

Me toooo! I had the same one!

[@j1thom]

Susan counting the break...:)

[@larrycourtney5638]

They got a Hammond B-3 organ, the best.

[@rosemorningangel]

For some reason I favor this one to the one they actually recorded on the CD... They did really well live! X3

[@Txboy85A]

That's a killer beat that they use right from the opening. Really great!

[@TopJimmyWinn]

The Cowsills appeal to me more than say, the Osmonds.

[@Lee.Higginbotham]

What you talking about Willis!! Crazy Horses! One Bad Apple! Down By the Lazy River! Love Me For A Reason! Next your gonna say The Partridge Family were ..... 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@x00p3]

@@Lee.Higginbotham The Osmonds were talented but just a little too cheesy for me.

[@deplorabledave1048]

@@Lee.Higginbotham No, it is "WACHOO talkin' 'bout Willis!"

[@deplorabledave1048]

@@x00p3 Diabetes sweet. I agree.

[@musicman201047]

@@Lee.Higginbotham Whut CHU talkin' 'bout Willis? Cowsills BETTER than the Mormosmonds.

[@barrydelisle8655]

The groovest kids of the 60z

[@evanwatkins5929]

I've always loved this song... I can argue that the Cowsills version is the standard.

[@AmberRae9559]

I love watching Bob and Barry play pool ❤

[@hifijohn]

the inspiration for the partridge family

[@donaldchaperlo6095]

And I still say this one sounds better than all the others!

[@horarwgt]

"Silver Threads and Golden Needles" was the last of The Cowsills' eight 1967-9 hits, first charting 10/11/69 and peaking at #74 nationally over a seven-week run. More interesting was the flip side: The Cowsills' superb recording of the theme from the TV series "Love American Style." Their version was heard over the opening credits originally but was eventually replaced by a second version by studio singers -- simply to avoid paying The Cowsills performance royalties!

[@jwhammond1]

Is it really a hit if it only reaches #74?

[@garytheroux9526]

@@jwhammond1 It means it was a hit but only is certain markets -- not all or even most of them at the same time.

[@buzzaki]

We lost Barry to Hurricane Katrina, and we lost Billy to drugs & hard living, but the others soldier on. Success and adoration followed by bankruptcy and obscurity... not an easy way to grow up. I agree with the others here; it is astounding how well they can all sing. The mom had a beautiful voice; she wasn't just there for effect.

[@dannyabe6452]

Love the Cowsills

[@SeanSudolD]

That was a drag. Yes the Tube Tunes CD that contains the Cowsills' Love American Style mentioned that this was the flip side song. I wanted to hear it as I never had. Great stuff. Thanks.

[@lestorhaslam]

A interesting version of this classic folk song.

[@bubu345]

Unique and innovative family band 🎉

[@CadillacL]

My favorite version of this song. Susan was sure rockin it.

[@williamcisson2294]

Amazing 👏

[@bsully9219]

Susan had.that back and. Forth slide shoe modified go go dance.

[@VideoNOLA]

Can you hear the Partridge Family tour bus coming down the road?? Check out those outfits!

[@THE-HammerMan]

The original "Partridge Family"! Gotta love 'em!

[@rocknjac58]

This was probably a difficult segment to tape. The first part was John singing to a pre recorded track with no ear buds or monitors. Probably why he was a little out of sync with the backing track. It was a feat to grab their instruments and play live from the bridge to the end. Network TV ala 1969

[@richieboy6825]

rocknjac58 no doubt! It looks like a ton of work went into this set for something that lasted only a few minutes. I don’t think I’ve ever see anything quite like this production...

[@NewsHistorian]

@@richieboy6825 Well people are still watching the set 50 years later so there's that.

[@richieboy6825]

R M I’m sure they saw this coming whilst working on the set in 1968- goofballs like us watching on our smart phones in 2021…

[@da959]

Ok..I admit that I had a HUGE crush on Susan as well...and we are the same age. It's tough dealing with your first "true" love when you're just 9 years old!...lol But, I guess that's just how life is...

[@snertbird5515]

no fair, she was my first crush. We are about the same age also. You never forget your first crush. As I watch some of the Cowsills later videos I still think she is as cute now as when we were 10.

[@janetmavis6796]

They really are gifted

[@dannydavis2724]

Lucky for those guys they had a SISTER!!!!!

[@luke3807]

They weren't happy about mom and sister in the band at that time.

[@serious22]

They all look so much alike it's like several clones at varying stages...

[@thatmuse76]

Having mostly been familiar with "The Park, The Rain and Other Things" and "Hair" I was really quite shocked at the bridge between 1:38 and 2:25. That teenybop band could actually rock out when they wanted to.

[@SydneyGreenstreet1227]

Evidentially not familiar enough to know the name of the song.😟😟

[@philhatfield8905]

Not only was Susan the cutest little girl of the late 1960's, she was also one of the best tambourine players ever!

[@Brdj010]

@humblepiebrianblair The episode with The Cowsills aired November 17, 1969 according to IMDB.

[@garyschwartz1958]

John kicked ass

[@doriangraypulliam940]

Wow , reminds me leave it to beaver, brady bunch, combined skit.

[@andymoore9977]

2:56 Susan counting to the beat, aww bless.......

[@rugerscout308]

I was saddened to learn that Barry died during Hurricane Katrina. His body was not found until shortly after Christmas 2005. Bill has also passed away.

[@johnbrown8059]

In the dictionary under "enthusiasm" it should say, "see "Susan" from the Cowsills.

[@57highland]

@navarone82 - No blame. But, judging from the Cowsills' TV appearances & performances, they were tailor-made for a TV show of their own, yet they said no to it and consequently slipped into oblivion. David Cassidy became a teen idol through that show; there's no debating that. And Susan Dey got an acting career out of it. And it seems that Susan Cowsill would have out-shone "Tracy Partridge" by a country mile.