The Cowsills Play the Playboy Mansion

[@secertcharm]

Wow Susan out danced all the bunnies! Totally electrifying!

[@Elvisrivers1]

She is thrusting very sensually...11?

[@millenniumman75]

8:40 - that would include Janice Pennington, shown here, who would two years later, have a 28 1/2 year modeling job on the Price is RIght.

[@Miles_Hastings]

@@millenniumman75 Good pickup and trivia!

[@michaelterry1000]

@@millenniumman75 I watched this entire 2 season Playboy After Dark series. The weirdest thing to see is that one of the 'bunnies' is Lindsey Wagner (bionic Woman)

[@Luv2u01]

Susan was and still is a total rocker. Always thought she was amazing. 🤩 💫

[@countwolfula]

The vocal harmonies this family possessed were just amazing.

[@paularnold1641]

agree 100%

[@mgonzales56]

We all know who the real star was of The Cowsills...Susan! Just see how the camera follows her around. She was and is an amazing performer. Love you Susan.

[@millenniumman75]

8:40 - that would include Janice Pennington, shown here, who would two years later, have a 28 1/2 year modeling job on the Price is RIght.

[@rjc3208]

And Damn, Could She Dance! 👍👍

[@brian4605]

Is it perhaps the best dancing performance of a female under 12 dancer in the history of TV ? Especially the bits we get to see during "poor baby " ? Okay maybe im over stating this just a bit 🤔

[@rjc3208]

@@brian4605 It's A Same, Though, That Their Father Had To Be Such An Ass And Destroy And Cut Short The Cowsills Success Way To Soon!😢

[@brian4605]

@@rjc3208 thanks.. the one positive .. I listen to the cowsills podcast quite a bit. Its obvious to me they have a lot of love for each other as a result of the poor parents they had.

[@roseblake5803]

Damn Barry had a great rock and roll voice. Loved that growl he has while singing.

[@countwolfula]

I couldn't agree more! It's just AMAZING how much musical talent The Cowsill Family possessed. They were truly blessed and gifted. Little Susan really always rocked on the dancefloor!

[@Gail789]

They wanted Susan for the Partridge Family and that’s about it. They said nope.

[@dantauro4575]

Barry once again showed his talent.His stage presence was awe some, you had to see him perform live. Susan always impresses with her vocals and her dance moves. This was taped on May 14,1970. Life was so different back then.

[@virginiawalters7841]

I wish I could have seen Barry, I grew up in Georgia.

[@annaleonardi6299]

What a disgrace shame on their PARENTS the little girl want to be a GLORIFIED HOOKER Hugh Heffner is in HELL same with the rest of these perverts secular un Godly peoiple The parents were abusive to there children the children now grown talk about it they allowed that little girl ti sing and dance in this manner horrible people sick family

[@ceejayford]

@@annaleonardi6299 You are so off base on your comments. Shame on you.

[@BUSTER.BRATAMUS]

yes it was, I was 10..parent had taken us to see Oliver, so their version of Where is Love took me back.

[@cadillacblue3412]

Barry Cowsill killed it on 2x2. I have never heard The Cowsills give a poor performance. Spot on every single time.

[@cadillacblue3412]

@Nick Madness Something about your mom and a condom...

[@JOHNWLOUCKS]

And they kill it on their newest album Rhythm Of The World. A fabulous album !

[@leebarnhart9725]

That girl could dance! Had a crush on Susan when I was a kid. All these years later she's still making music and I still got a crush on her. Listen to some of her interviews on KZbin.....she grew up to be the beautiful pearson we hoped she would and has a great outlook on life, both past and present. It seems to me this video shows. a certain raw and realness not found with network or record company oversight and control. They should be in the R&R Hall of Fame as they are an important part of that era, The world will be singing about flower girls in 2067 and beyond.......we owe them thanks for making the universe just s little bit brighter and a little bit better.

[@paularnold1641]

agree 100%

[@iowa61]

And she can still dance:)

[@1090609]

I got to meet 3 of The Cowsills last night it was great.

[@TadSanDiego]

Love the Cowsills. Pure talent

[@karendegraaf1146]

Barbara had a fantastic voice, they all do, and their harmony...wow. Susan, even as a kid, great performer!

[@opusnone1]

Barbi Benton looking amazing!

[@charlesfoutch1132]

Hef's hottest girlfriend maybe the hottest girl in history.

[@blackmore4]

@@charlesfoutch1132 Haha, he was such a sleazeball.

[@TSquare7741]

Susan can dance better than most of the adult women!!

[@BrooklynAvenue]

You can just go ahead and say all of them, it's not even close.

[@maureenmcgovern6119]

She’s a Great dancer. She and I share the same Birthday.....;)

[@rickr442]

From that era of Playboy they usually had silicone addendums to.contend with.

[@cracklinrosie11]

All I see praised here is Susan’s dancing. What about her singing? At such a young age, she already had a stellar voice. That duet she sang with her mother was stunning.

[@ss06033]

I like Susan's groovy dance style

[@univibe23]

KZbin is such a wonderful time machine!!

[@moontheloon5]

Damn! Barry could sing! God bless him.

[@BettinaBalser]

Barry for the win. He just kills that second song.

[@MrPow19]

I agree with ya, man he really rocked it.

[@kirbygene]

He really nails it doesn't he? Just a touch of growl and gravel. Love it!

[@jduff59]

Barry wearing that bass strap low, but he still had to endure the TUX! After hearing their story, I felt for these guys. Tyrannical father who ruined them one and all. Poor Barry and Billy especially, but the surviving members still get together and make great music.

[@dantauro4575]

I met Barry in 1968 at Disneyland when I was 15, I was in total awe of his presence. I could tell he was a very incredible person. RIP Barry.

[@ronaldrime5286]

@@dantauro4575 Didn't you once say you met Susan at that same time? If so, what was she like? I was only a year old in '68. I didn't learn much about the Cowsills until many years later. But the more I learn, the better I like them.

[@BrinaMarySeattle]

My favorite part is "Poor Baby" from 7:10 to the end, just great to watch everybody grooving to the Cowsills.

[@janetmavis6796]

This is so special with Mother and Daughter singing and Barry taking lead amazing.

[@celeste7532]

John is such a kick ass drummer

[@ronaldrime5286]

I absolutely LOVE the Cowsills! Susan's singing in this is like an angel. I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again; I believe God was strutting His stuff when he created the Cowsills. They're just too damned awesome! Love 'em, love 'em love 'em!!!

[@williegordon9188]

The Cowsills should have had their own TV show.

[@ronaldrime5286]

@@williegordon9188 In a way they did. The Partridge Family was loosely based on the Cowsills.

[@anthonycrowley2778]

The mother has a stunning voice!

[@virginiawalters6174]

I can't get over how good Barry looks here. What a doll !!

[@karenfields-sb4cq]

I'm 67 and loved Barry❤ I had a póster of him on my bedroom wall😊So sad he passed away during Katrina😢

[@kirbygene]

Damn this is a side of the Cowsills I had never heard before. They just killed, especially the 2nd & 3rd songs. And this was 100% LIVE

[@anthonycrowley2778]

Their musical talent and amazing potential was something I never knew. I was born in 1962. How was it lost in me?

[@annaleonardi6299]

Greetings from the great state of Arkansas they are a sick secular worldy family the parents were abusive drunkards marijuana users loosers this playboy crap exploits women sick perverts men who look at that pornography and trash

[@millenniumman75]

@@annaleonardi6299 8:40 - even more ironic - there's Janice Pennington....two years before she would appear on our televisions daily for 28 years.....as a model on The Price is Right with Bob Barker. The show let her go in the fall of 2000 after all the drama with Dian Parkinson and Holly Hallstrom.

[@laneyday7943]

This episode had to be after Bud, the father, fired Billy from the singing group and the family, since Billy was NOT present on this special. Plus, considering that Billy did most if not ALL the lead vocals for The Cowsills it started their downward spiral thanks to their vindictive and abusive dad. May you R.I.P. Billy and Barry...you've earned it!!!

[@shaylaknight1123]

I think the special would have been a little bit better with Bill in it

[@75claymont]

If that stinking drunk laid one hand on that beautiful child he needs to be crucified

[@lasktdave]

@@75claymont I seriously doubt he'd be stupid enough to do that on TV.

[@ericponce8740]

The father mismanaged the band's finances big time.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

@@ericponce8740 That's a very kind way of saying he robbed them blind.

[@williegordon9188]

Love Susan's dancing 💃😍❤.

[@danielmcdonald8201]

They were ( lOVE TO BARRY AND BILL ) are and always be my all time favorite band ( man those harmonies ) they were all exceptional musicians ( John Cowsill OWNS the percussion) Barbra's voice is sooo lovely- they deserved SO MUCH MORE than they got- saw them live 4 times at the STEEL PIER....They were MAGNIFICENT!!! I. J. S.

[@scottmonfort]

Wow, this Video is about as clear as can be. Feels like you are there! A great sample of their live back-up vocals by Paul, Barry and Jon in the 3rd song "Poor Baby".

[@ChildOfThe1970s]

Susan was adorable, mom had a beautiful voice, and the brothers were groovy = great family band!

[@rickmaggie1]

I always thought Hugh Hefner was kind of creepy but I do love the Cowsills, thanks for the video

[@jimg6261]

This is all just a bit creepy--especially when this child says she wants to grow up to be "Miss February"!

[@seerstone8982]

Bill Cosby was probably in the audience with some qualude's borrowed from Hefner, he called them thigh openers.

[@brucepowell9252]

They're just as good now. Susan rules.

[@tp10488]

David Cassidy wanted to do songs like this with the Partridge Family and the producers of the show told him no. They weren't about to mess with the formula. It's rather ironic that the group they modeled themselves after did take that direction.

[@cheechalker8430]

The mom did have a beautiful voice And the kids were incredibly talented and composed

[@apocalypseplough8089]

Susan blows everyone else away with her dancing. This was 1970, so she was only 11 years old.

[@ronaldrime5286]

Apocalypse Plough Susan's singing was also pretty terrific!

[@Pimp-Master]

The Cowsills were great. Geez I wouldn’t put my name in the credits for director on this thing. I’d never get a job again. I swear some KZbinrs run their channels technically better than this show did.

[@cindysue5474]

Its crazy at that age she would be allowed to be on that show.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

@@cindysue5474 Why what happened on that show?

[@cindysue5474]

@@Jay-vr9ir It about the bands story and how much people didn't know what was going on behind the scene.

[@johnc7833]

Susan was such a pro, even at that young age. I love that groovy little dance she does, the camera can’t keep off her.

[@poobum9857]

creepily an 11 year old in the playboy mansion is probably why !!!

[@normanmeharry58]

There may have been pros galore in that whore-house but Susan is a child.and as them singing biblical stuff in the Playboy Mansion? Yuk.

[@larrycourtney5638]

This was an amazing family; the mother had a really great voice, the family and they played their own instruments as well, really amazing family.

[@larrycourtney5638]

This was probably the boys favorite gig of all time.lol

[@tod3msn]

Barb had a great voice. The band members starting to marry clearly spelled the end of an era but it is cool to have the Cowsills on tape as their hit making time waned. They were great and still sing well today!

[@kevingamache1512]

Could you imagine an 11 year old saying they want to be Mrs February today? Haha. Susan was adorable. I must say however that Barbi Benton was truly one of the most physically attractive humans to have existed. Man i miss those days. Getting old sucks.

[@pookycat1626]

Yes, it was very cringey.

[@KoovinCartoons]

@@pookycat1626Yes, I hate the modern woke shit, but I really hate the sexualization of kids, which we are coming back to now. Poor Susan was abused by her shit parents too. Thank god for her brothers.

[@aylward48]

Omg the boys kicked ass on that last song

[@rocketsredglare2298]

I play The Cowsills for my daughter. Lot of good songs. I had every 45 and lp. Loved them

[@robertpattison7988]

What a kick ass garage band! They should be in the RnR hall of Fame!

[@Mace2theO]

This is worth it for "Poor Baby" - pity the talkover during the vocal break, but this is still gold. Many thanks for sharing this

[@keppela1]

I just love when Susan puts the moves on.

[@olivegreen2887]

Barbara has such an amazing voice. I could listen to her to the moon and back. Susan is unbelievable...she was what, 12 years old. I love how she is so comfortable in front of a crowd. I would love to hear her thoughts on this performance. I have a CD of this and she actually jumps into the crowd to dance. LOVE her confidence. Susan, you are amazing.

[@kensellers4082]

Yes, Susan had/has great stage presence.

[@strawberryseason]

Susan was 11. Awesome performer!

[@BluesDaddy411]

I never knew "Scout Finch" could sing and dance so well.

[@keithmills778]

Scout Finch was played by Mary Badham.

[@sofia-hk2gj]

omg bobs face when Susan said she wanted to be Mrs February, and the way Barry just says, not this year and drags her away

[@gvxrlole]

Hallelujah! For the past 5 years the only version of this performance that's been running on youtube has been a poor quality one lifted from the Bedazzled blog. This improved version finally gives justice to one of the Cowsill's better performances, even including 'Poor Baby' at the end! This'll definitely help keep the Cowsill's name on the map by showing their versatility.

[@Wooley689]

Susan was such a sweet heart. Thanks for posting this great video that takes me back in time. Sad the group had all that anger from their father going on, yet here they were entertaining us and making us all happy. Billy was fired because he was the brother who stood up to Bud and he wasn't going to have that .

[@leebarnhart9725]

I always loved that song Poor Baby. I used to blast it all over the house when my ex- wife was in one of her "moods."

[@davidmoseley2849]

Sweetness leads to a progressively grittier set and Barry takes over.Two by two.

[@elliottsmama03]

One of my favorite songs as a kid

[@jamespicklehead5610]

That second song. Jesus they were crazy talented. If they weren't mismanaged and abused and if they had some decent music to record they could have been huge.

[@Citizen1910]

That damn nasty father of theirs!

[@trfesok]

"Miss February?"!!!

[@cathymeyer3760]

That little Susan really had rhythm. I remember trying to move like her but it was not to be. I was 10 when I saw them on TV and really liked their sound. Nice to hear them again years later via Happy Together Tour. Good stuff!

[@Brsbeach]

Thanks so much!! They were a favorite of mine back in my teen days....And- this reminds me that on a scale of 1- 10, Barbi Benton was a 26!!!! One of the all time great lines: When Hef first asked her out (she was about 18) she said "Gee, I don't know, I've never been out with anyone older than 22" and Hef said "That's OK, neither have i!" Classic!;->

[@jhamtramck4569]

Saw them when they were doing the "State Fair" circuit minus Billy in 1970.Peoria, Illinois.

[@CadillacL]

Awesome! This really shows how versatile they were.

[@dspero4534]

so luv mama cowsill's voice...it's addicting.......quite calming and refreshing,....susan is s so amazing

[@LarryKelly]

Half of the Cowsills are gone, Playboy Clubs gone, TWA gone. I was fortunate the have visited them all.

[@suzvalentino1901]

Me too, lucky people.

[@DutchComedian]

This is the most epic version of "2 X 2" I can find.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

I like The Cowsill's music, hmmm gospel style music on Playboy After Dark.

[@catw6998]

Miss February:) Such a witty one. This is a great family that should have seen more air time.

[@musickeys8]

Poor Baby Live wow, wish I could here it all to the end without a voice over, good clip thanks

[@MrPow19]

Wow! for by the seat of your pants live performance these kids really rocked it. I was 15 then in 1970 and remember how impressed I was back then with them.

[@erikt454]

I had this on a vhs comp of Playboy After Dark music and nobody I knew could figure out who this family band might be - my vhs copy, a boot, cut in for the between-song interview. We guessed maybe the DeFranco family, as this was pre-internet. Glad to see this and read the crazy story in the description cracked me up. Thanks.

[@johnnygalvan845]

That family have pipes!

[@34airflow]

Partridge Family eat your hearts out!! But seriously, this is amazing. I'm really impressed.

[@garyrasberryjr.552]

The Cowsills were the inspiration for the Partridge Family and were initially asked to star. But the producers wanted to replace Barbara with Shirley Jones and the family balked

[@lburrell1965]

I feel like i just fell down the rabbit hole and entered an alternate universe. One more thing , was Susan not the greatest Go Go dancer on the planet !

[@DaryMatera]

+Stolichnaya 1 She was rocking it out! Starting at 4:30.

[@osagecountyruralwaterdist.2364]

That girl could dance! She kinda steals the stage.

[@gordonignatowitz-e1z]

@@osagecountyruralwaterdist.2364 was that jesse jackson dancing with her...wow

[@holzapfelstein]

@@gordonignatowitz-e1z - Susan still owes that guy five!

[@robertyancey4867]

She was 11 years old here ya hearttless SOB!!!🤔🤔🤔😎😎

[@johnny10301968]

Susan Cowsill rocking out on two by two.

[@brianmoon1058]

That patience and timing on the drums was great

[@madelefant05]

They knock that second one out of the park.

[@kirbygene]

They sure do. Which one of the Cowsills is doing that great growl & gravel vocal?

[@jalushy16]

kirbygene That be the late, great Barry.

[@apocalypseplough8089]

That's Barry, the one who died in Hurricane Katrina.

[@fuckedoveredbyincest]

i work as a mechanic in vernon valley new jersey[payboy] in 1971.this was a great family.

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Man they could play and sing. Those records should have sounded like this!

[@setpunks13]

Amazing. Feels so immediate and live, like you're watching it on some old analog tv in the early 70s. Their music was good, but it seems part of their appeal was in having this little sister who was such a confident and magnetic presence onstage. She always kind of steals the show, if you watch clips of their performances, just by dancing and singing back-up.

[@danwilliams1920]

Pick up an old Websters dictionary and look up the word "groovy." Somehow you'll find a GIF of Susan Cowsill dancing.

[@tomk3620]

MOM had a great voice!!!! She and Susan together on the first song...very Moving and Heartfelt .....at the Playboy Mansion!!!

[@Almost_Famous_Ryan]

I believe this was filmed at CBS Television City.

[@mottledbrain]

Two by Two. What a song to play here. A condemnation of everything that Mr. Hefner stood for. No one who embraces porn, hard or soft, will ever enter heaven without first amending their lives and going to the confessional.

[@Royalchess1]

Even though young Susan may not be the most professional singer of this time, she was very honest in her heart. By the way all, I was pleasantly surprised with this song because Leonard Nimoy (Spock) sang this (where is Love) on one of his 3 Lp's, and I really like Susan's vocals, this was a VERY BEAUTIFUL SONG FOR HER TO SING, esp. at this time in her life. Just thinking about it, I think Cowsills should have been at WOODSTOCK..!!

[@fidelaraya929]

Que hermosa familia de cantores orgullo del siglo 20. Exelente.

[@gymnastix]

This is a great example of how The Cowsills sounded live (or at least live vocals). Actually, as one may clearly see cables along the floor of the band's stage area, this may be one of those genuinely live-on-television performances by a rock & roll band. By the way, "isorindu," your description of the battle between The King Family and our beloved Cowsills is hysterically funny, and not necessarily without a bit of truth, as those family configurations of singing vocal groups were raging by the early '70s, what with all variations of Cowsills, DeFrancos, Jacksons, Kings, Lennons, Osmonds, Wilsons, and, dare I say it, "Partridges" (in or out of pear trees)! And thank you, for explaining this program was recorded at CBS Television City in Hollywood, not at an actual Playboy Club or Mansion. One wonders which studio of CBS-TV City was actually used for Hef's syndicated show, if the "Playboy Mansion" parties-of-the-airwaves were staged in the same studio where Art Linkletter once held court with his "House Parties," or perhaps where later Gene Rayburn played all sorts of "Match Games" in between his "Encino Excursions" (of cocktail soirees) with Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly? If ever you find out the precise location (studio #) of this "Playboy Mansion," please let us know.

[@RayNDeere]

Playboy After Dark was mostly live performances. One of the only cases where it was sync was when Three Dog Night was on and it was just Danny, Cory and Chuck and not the full ensemble. The great story was when the Grateful Dead appeared (one of the classic episodes), Owsley Stanley (who was handling sound for the group at the time) got ticked because the producers wouldn't let him set up the sound system his way. His revenge, dropping some Owsley Purple into the coffee pot. Everybody except Hef (who drank about a case of Pepsi a day back then) got obviously dosed, which made for a scene at the end of the show.

[@tamjac10]

Barbara Cowsill had such a beautiful voice x

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

Wow , I grew up with this , different Times :) QC

[@mckinleymorganfield8494]

Awestruck, I mean how powerful was that performance! Susan just owns the stage.

[@ryancole90]

RIP Barry

[@dlanodrelda]

Talent will out. Susan, in 2024, has now been performing in 7 different decades is a treasure. This band got unfairly bunched into bubblegum music then but the talent here is extraordinary.

[@jim2lane]

Watching a ten year old Susan tell forty-three year old Hugh Hefner that she wants to be Mis February is just about creepiest thing I've ever seen

[@strawberryseason]

Wow, Susan's voice is amazing for her young age!

[@joey1127]

I think their LIVE stuff was so much better than the album versions. This is rockin' and the album cut is rather ho-hum. They were restricted WAY too much in the studio. They are rockin' here...well, Cowsill Rockin' at least.

[@TheMorrisonClan]

After seeing the documentary and learning about how Bill was kicked out of the band by their monstrous father, I can't help thinking how different this appearance would have been if it included Bill.

[@fanorama1]

Bill, the original lead singer, was kicked out/resigned in 1969 after a brawl with his abusive father Bud. It went downhill fast after that.

[@explorermike19]

Susan Cowsill was always a Groovy Dancer, but I like the way all these jet setters are free style dancing - everybody with different moves. Barbi Benton and Hugh Hefner were the cool cat couple of the day and knew how to groove on the dance floor too.

[@VictorKPanda]

I love how Susan danced. I couldn't do that even if I had to find a restroom for an hour downtown.

[@ajaman8825]

BEST DESCRIPTION EVER!!! I tip my hat to you. Hilarious!!!

[@wandarask8444]

This so sad the parents, beaten, controlled, deprived them of love Joy, and protection and they spent all the money they made as children. Hope the parents suffered all the pain they did to there children. They children have grown into real nice people,

[@SalonGuru1961]

Barbara had a really pretty voice. So does Susan... They are the voice of my generation. This is a great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@ryancole90]

Great harmonies very talented family yet. Also, I heard in interviews. They practiced very hard.

[@ParchedPinemarten]

great stuff

[@rdo1231]

Mom had a terrific voice

[@cracklinrosie11]

Did she ever!! Sad that she was pushed to the background most of the time.

[@robertbishop5357]

A great group that has written some great songs.

[@mejustme6944]

❤ Very cool ... back then I was enamored with Susan Cowsill- hey, she is only 2yrs older than I 😊