THE COWSILLS - The Rain, The Park & Other Things

[@GenXwarrior]

Billy's voice was gold

[@doriwiljt]

I always loved this song growing up.

[@jeffreythaw3333]

It's a sweet song that hearkens back to those imagined halcyon days of the 1960s...and it's got a great hook!

[@wallnut6666]

You should do their version of "Hair" It's great!!!!

[@wallnut6666]

The earliest use of rain sounds that I've heard is in the 1962 hit song, "Rhythm of The Rain" by the Cascades. It has rain and thunder at the beginning of the song and at the end of the song.

[@bryanforis1839]

They did a lot soundtracks and tv show and video games show love American style and to tell truth lots great song sunshine of my heart we can fly hair

[@wallnut6666]

The guys were the REAL life Partridge family. In fact, I believe the TV show was based on this band. Super talented family. Two of the brothers and the sister (Susan) still perform. Some great live performances with them on KZbin. Susan turned out to be a really talented and lovely young lady and could have had a solo career. But they had a lot of problems with a very violent abusive father who was also their manager. Saw an interview with them where they discussed it.

[@firedoc5]

True blast from the past. Susan Cowsill was a crush to many of us young boys, and still is now that we are "old". Some of their biggest hits were "Hair" and "Indian Lake", which I highly suggest. The TV family band "The Partridge Family" was based on the Cowsills. They originally wanted the Cowsill kids for the TV show but wanted to replace their mother Barbara with Shirley Jones which didn't go over too well so they turned it down causing them to get kid actors along with Shirley. Sadly, we've lost a few including Barbara, Bill, and Berry who died in New Orleans from hurricane Katrina. Bob and Susan are still playing all over the US.

[@MisterWondrous]

Still crushing on Susan. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXOZZZ97aa11f80

[@cindyp1033]

😢

[@iamstevec1656]

check out "Hair" by the Cowsills... their biggest hit. Fun song.

[@cindyp1033]

I was a teen when this came out. I’m just happy some of them are still with us ❤😢

[@tobykelly4606]

Thank you for this song! "Hair," is another great song by The Cowsills.👍

[@obiwanbenobi4943]

The lyrics of that song are so funny. It is a good song for sure.

[@debsandz]

I met the remaining Cowsills a few years back (maybe 4 years ago) outside after a reunion show. They still sound so good with their harmonies and they were so nice! There is a really good documentary about their lives. They really faced some trying circumstances in their life and journey. On another note the Cascades used rain/ storm sounds in their song "Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain" about 5 years earlier than when this song came out.

[@ShawnSalvadori]

Sad to hear they had a tragic back story 😔 but a great song here

[@debsandz]

@@ShawnSalvadori 💜

[@dennisflury6942]

THE Hippie Vib! Loved it.

[@StevesFunhouse]

You DEFINTELY need to watch the music video for The Cowsills doing the song Hair. It's a blast, and kind of funny, but the song itself is great. Not many people realize this but, they also did the original theme song to the comedy TV series, Love, American Style. After the first season, they were replaced with the Charles Fox Singers, the same group who immortalized the Happy Days theme song and WERE THE ACTUAL Partridge Family voices on their records.

[@pumpwellington6631]

Cowsills are still playing and as great as ever.

[@punkydoodle4774]

I love this song. They're great with their complex harmonies.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

A fine example of the genre "sunshine pop." Sunshine pop is light, often including orchestration, rich harmonies, and often mentions of sunshine or being outdoors. The Mamas and the Papas are the epitome, Another great example is "Sunday WIll Never Be the Same" by Spanky and Our Gang. Appeared during the late 60s, Summer of Love and after. I love it!

[@newodkin]

A near-perfect pop song. Left everything else it seems, when you find out their backstory, there's tragedy all over it but their best music still soars!

[@mikemiller3069]

Johnny Rivers used rain sounds in his song, "Summer Rain".

[@bridgettstephens5582]

And an excellent song at that!

[@robertmeyerowitz6865]

Artie Cornfeld was one of the organizers of the Woodstock festival. 9:13

[@theladyinwaiting9663]

"Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain" by the cascades had rain sounds ❤

[@donaldduck2139]

The Cascades 'rhythm of the falling rain' 1962-63, . . . . The Cowsills remaining members were performing recently, and still sound good. . .

[@terri2494]

You mentioned Scott Mackenzie’s “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)”. You should listen to it. It captures the flower child, peace ✌ and love vibe of 1967, the “Summer of Love”.

[@stephenulmer3781]

I love this song ❤

[@wallnut6666]

Shawn, another popular instrument tat was used in the sixties is the Harpsichord. You can hear it on many hits of the mid sixties, One that come to mind is the hit, "I Think I Love You" by the Partridge Family. You'll hear it clearly throughout and during the solo in the song. It's kind of a light breezy string sounding keyboard instrument. It's a very typically "sixties sounding" instrument in pop music that harkens back to the sounds of 17th and 18th century Europe. Check it out when you can. Great song too! Vocals by the late David Cassidy.

[@philpartynski3125]

How can you not smile when you hear this song! Pure joy!

[@827dusty]

Their song "Hair" is insane. From the Hippie era of the late 1960s, and the video of them singing it on a tv show, just like this video. Such a talented family.

[@j.jennings1722]

The most Hippie song ever! And, I've loved it since it was first released! The Flower Child Movement was real but didn't last long; however, there sure were a bunch of beautiful women back then who wore flowers in their hair. ❤✌

[@Russ-gy7tx]

There was an earlier use of thunder and rain in 1963 by the Cascades “Rhythm of the Rain” Big hit!

[@DrewG-wd8ql]

Their song "Hair" was their biggest hit and became an anthem back in the 60's. I could probably still go word for word with that song if I sat and thought about it for a minute. Great find and blast from my younger days.

[@jodyjackson5475]

Sweet and kind❤

[@flubblert]

"I Want to go Outside in the Rain" - The Dramatics 1971 (soul). Nice use of sound effects. The Cowsills cover of "Hair" from the iconic 1960s Broadway play of the same name, is itself iconic.

[@thomastimlin1724]

This is totally a popular "Hippie" song, flower power and all that...about 1967. they were great singers and musicians. Little Susan was only about 8 years old! For me, Susan will always be the actual flower girl...

[@kimmomaki]

'Indian Lake' was another big hit for these kids.

[@joecveteticccvetetic4068]

My favorite hippy song!!!

[@PaulLea]

Excellent reaction clip Shawn, I enjoyed it. That song is simply a beautiful masterpiece, to me it sounds as beautiful as Penny Lane by the Beatles, both just sound beautiful and are a pure pleasure to listen to.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Sixties Sunshine Pop ! I love it. Maybe try “Kites are Fun” by Free Design for another little dab of Sunshine. They were also a family band and have incredible harmonies and wrote their own songs. Great reaction

[@SpuzzyLargo]

The Beatles also made a big use of the harp in 1967 with "She's Leaving Home."

[@marksilverman4537]

One of the best psychedelic pop songs ever

[@StevesFunhouse]

I absolutely love/loved The Cowsills. They taught themselves how to play and did their own arrangements, some sooner and some later. Their lives are such a tragic story ... it makes me cry any time I go more than a bit into it. The "Family Group" that you mentioned you had heard were meant to emulate them was The Partridge Family. The Cowsills WOULD'VE played the parts but they refused because the producers had already picked Shirley Jones to play the part of the mom, and they said that if their mom couldn't play the part, then they weren't interested. However, the show went on with a different cast, including David Cassidy, step-son of Shirley Jones, who played the role of Keith Partridge, a direct nod to Bill Cowsill who was the lead singer and guitarist of The Cowsills.

[@pumpwellington6631]

How they are not in rock n roll hall of fame is mind boggling. Love them so much.

[@StevesFunhouse]

@@pumpwellington6631 I'm right there with you on that !!!

[@bella-xp7qd]

A family with a troubled life. Saw the surviving members last years. Still sounded good. I still have their 1st original album. William "Bud" Joseph Cowsill, Sr., father of the clan died of leukemia on September 29, 1992 Barbara Barbara C. (Russell) Cowsill, mother of our faves died of emphysema in Tempe, Arizona on January 31, 1985 Bud and Barbara were the parents of seven, the grandparents of eighteen, and - as of 2011 - the great-grandparents of twelve. ... Both were cremated, their ashes mixed and scattered in the Pacific ocean. Billy William "Billy" Joseph Cowsill, Jr. died in Calgary, Canada on February 18, 2006 of multiple illnesses. Billy was cremated and his ashes scattered in the ocean off Indian Avenue in Middletown, Rhode Island. Billy was the father of two and grandfather of two (as of 2014). Richard Richard "Rich" "Dick" James Cowsill passed away from lung cancer July 8, 2014 in New Mexico where he had been retired. Rich was cremated and his ashes scattered in several places. Richard is a father and grandfather. Bob Robert "Bob" Paul Cowsill lives in southern California, plays occasional solo gigs around the area and continues as the leader of The Cowsills. Bob is joined by Paul and Susan in doing The Cowsills Podcast. Bob also works for a computer company with systems in hospial emergency rooms. Bob is a father and grandfather. Paul Paul Mitchell Cowsill is a farmer and part time Safeway worker in Oregon. Paul has done construction and worked with movie teams in construction and greens. Paul also travels and performs with The Cowsills. He also joins Bob and Susan in The Cowsills Podcast shows. Paul is a father and grandfather. Barry Barry Steven Cowsill died in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans approximately September 2, 2005. His body wasn't found until December 2005. Barry was cremated and his ashes were scattered - part in the ocean off Indian Avenue in Middletown and part in Newport Harbour - both in Rhode Island and part in the Mississippi River in New Orleans. Barry was a father, grandfather, step-father, and step-grandfather. John John Patrick Cowsill lives in southern California and toured as the drummer with The Beach Boys for nearly 23 years until April 2023. He now works on various projects with his wife and others. John is a father. Susan Susan Claire Cowsill lives in New Orleans and is still VERY active in the music scene. Susan has her own band, The Susan Cowsill Band, and also tours with The Cowsills. Susan, along with Bob and Paul, hosts The Cowsills Podcast. Susan is the mother of a beautiful daughter and has a step-son.

[@bradsense7431]

The drummer has been playing drums with Beach Boys for some time now.

[@chitownlee]

This is one of my guilty pleasures. 😆

[@mikerichards67]

Artie Cornfeld was an absolute genius writer and producer of this song for the Cowsills. After that he went on to become the driving force behind Woodstock.

[@peachbottom2010]

Great pop hooks, harmonies, et. al. A real guilty pleasure. Great tune.

[@ExpatBear-58]

Such a talented family! I like to just focus on that, not they turmoil they faced.

[@hmichaelr1]

I love 'rain songs' and there are quite a few which were big hits, from different genres, too. In 1952 Gene Kelly sang a cover of the 1929 song Singing In The Rain for the musical film of the same name.; Dee Clark had a hit with Raindrops in 1961; The Ronettes killed it with Remember Walking In The Rain, and the Serendipity Singers did the calypso genre hit Don't Let The Rain Come Down (Crooked Little House) in 1964; 1966 saw a deluge of rain songs! Lou Christie got to #16 with Rhapsody In The Rain; The Lovin' Spoonful hit the top 10 with Rain on The Roof, The Beatles released their song Rain which was a top 25 hit, and Bob Dylan taught us the party anthem Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (aka Everybody Must Get Stoned); In 1967 Johnny Rivers sang the very dreamy love song Summer Rain; B.J. Thomas hit #1 with Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head in 1969; Brooke Benton hit gold with the soulful Rainy Night In Georgia in '70; your man Burton Cummings and Guess Who rocked it with Rain Dance in '71; Neil Sadaka reminisced about Laughter In the Rain (and more, lol) in '74: Gordon Lightfoot did Rainy Day People in '75; I'm sure I missed some but these are all worth a listen and you'll adopt some to your playlists.

[@JimboUSAF007]

Thanks for using this video I created for this song, Shawn. (KZbin channel: Georgy Porgy's Favorites). Thanks!

[@jeffmande4671]

Who knows where this talented group would have went if they weren't held back. The story makes me sad and wondering.

[@Rhiannon011]

Sigh...hear the sweetness and innocence of times gone by.. The Cowsills did a great version of the song "Hair' from the play and movie "Hair"..

[@Noelle0026]

Very talented but troubled family. This song is wonderful.

[@robsutherland5744]

Thanks Shawn. It's always fun to hear your thoughts. You would love hearing kd lang doing Crying on a live MTV Unplugged session. Keep up the great work.

[@KevinRCarr]

Oo! Oo! Another song that hits right smack in the middle of my pre-adolescence. Hearing this group sing together always takes me back to my elementary school years. For an earlier use of rain/storm sounds in the beginning and ending of a recorded song, I recommend a song called Rhythm of the Rain by a band called The Cascades. Speaking of more "innocent times" in music, I think that there's a reason for that that you touched on in your remark about restrictions. Limits make art. More restrictive limits make for more intense art. I can say, for instance, that "it's a beautiful day outside and I like how the sky looks," and then write many paragraphs describing what I see and mean, or I can apply some limits to line lengths and line breaks, limit syllable counts to force a reading rhythm, and limit the number of connective words (and, the, a, etc...), limit the amount of direct statements in reference to how I feel, and now that same statement becomes a poem. It's the same in any form of art, it's the limits the artist applies that turn the mundane into art. Also: The Osmond Brothers came before The Cowsills, as a family of singing siblings.

[@terri2494]

Interesting insight about limits making art. I’ve often thought that the limits on TV shows back in the sixties and seventies forced sitcom writers to actually be funny. When those restrictions were relaxed a lot of the later sitcoms just took the easy route and relied on sexual innuendos for cheap laughs.

[@KevinRCarr]

@@terri2494 Yes, that's exactly it. I mean, if Louie Louie were released today, everyone would shrug, instead of having many years of great fun trying to decide if it was unacceptable or not. 😇

[@hmichaelr1]

That was a good one and Dan Fogelberg recorded it and rode it to #3 in 1990! During the outro, you can faintly hear the Beatles' song 'Rain'. Nice homage!

[@fast4wood]

The Ronnetts ,Walking in The Rain , The Cascades, Listen to The Rhythm of The Falling Rain, Yes , Close to The Edge has alot of bird/nature sounds at the beginning and at the end. Layla the studio version has a bird sound at the end also . The Beatles Good Morning Good Morning has a roaster in the beginning. Also The Beatles , Piggies has pig sounds.

[@dennispower5362]

Mate loved your reaction.. l brought this song in 67 loved it still love it today good to see how you liked it .. just a side note your channel is one of the best ☮️🇦🇺

[@KJ-4321]

Another great reaction! I met the remaining Cowsills also a few years back. They were so nice and let us take pictures with them! We waited for them outside by their bus after the concert. They have been in the “Happy Together” tour for a number of years now. Just saw them again this summer. They sounded awesome! “Indian Lake” is a really good song… they also sang “Hair” (interesting video with it) Other songs too. Thank you Shawn!

[@jackempson3044]

I saw that tour a number of years back . I can't believe it's still going. They change up the acts all the time

[@KJ-4321]

I don’t know how much longer it will go…Mark from the Turtles has lewy dementia. He’s the only Turtle member in the act. We’ll see what happens.

[@jackempson3044]

I didn't know that. I saw them about 12 years ago and they both were doing well and sounded good. I just looked up Lewy Dementia. Sounds bad. They live five to eight years usually after diagnosis but some have lived as much as 20 years. @@KJ-4321

[@Pushindazees]

You should check out "Rhythm of the Rain" by The Cascades from 1962. I was fascinated by and loved the sound of the thunder and rain in the song. Just found your channel and love your reactions. I really appreciate that you look into some of the background of the songs you do.

[@joelliebler5690]

Good choice and a forgotten and talented vocal harmonies!Sixties flower power, peace,love and understanding. It was a very complex tune with fear of nuclear war, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights upheaval, major drug problems of heroin , LSD. As many things going on a today.

[@subwaygoddess1]

This is one of my favorite songs. I still love it after all these years. Thanks for reacting to this one, and your smile made me smile!

[@obiwanbenobi4943]

Thank you! :) It is hard to hear this song and not sing along or smile. Great start to Monday morning.

[@gpxo11]

Walkin In The Rain-Ronettes and the Cascades rhythm of the Rain from 1963-I'm sure there's more. Make sure to check out the Cowsills performance of Hair-funny video. This Song is pure psychedelic sunshine pop-the essence of the 60s.

[@lisamoore5552]

Rhythm of the Falling Rain by the Cascades (great song) was earlier...62 or 3 ish. I imagine there are others even earlier than that. Love this song, also.

[@rubroken]

I was mid-teens when this came out, and you're right, very innocent

[@F1carsguitar]

Great job Shawn you really get it man!

[@kowindsurf1590]

actually buddy holly used strings to create a rain sound maybe on the song " it doesn't matter anymore "

[@captainscarlet6682]

Hair has to be the next song you do by the Cowsills

[@robertcartier5088]

This one, and "Rhythm of the Rain" by The Cascades, were the first to come to my mind that had rain sounds... Check out 'Rhythm' if you get a chance... make sure it's the original 1963 version, others have done the song since. It is in the same, poppy style as this song but with a little melancholy thrown in.

[@PaulRoehl-fi1iw]

After this hit, my 2nd favorite of theirs is "We Can Fly". Not a big hit, but I still enjoy it.

[@joannerichards1750]

The Andrews Sisters in the 1940s and the McGuire Sisters and the MIlls Brothers and the Ames Brothers in the 1950s were also famous sibling singing groups.

[@bryanforis1839]

They did love America style they used fireworks

[@alpetrocelli4465]

A real guilty pleasure. Bubble Gum is what we called these tunes. They sure sounded good, with no nutritional value. ✌️❤️🎶

[@jessicalee7119]

It's still a nice song ~ 🙂

[@onsesejoo2605]

They definitely have to have listened Beach Boys ! This style is also called Sunshine pop. Some other groups under that umbrella were Spanky & Our Gang and 5th Dimension, Mamas & Papas. Please check out Spanky & Our Gang song "I'd Like To Get To Know You".

[@terri2494]

Your comment made me smile. The image of groups under the umbrella ☂of sunshine ☀ pop. 🤔

[@onsesejoo2605]

@@terri2494 ✌️Perhaps parasol is the right word.

[@maureenwilliford4380]

I could be wrong, but I think there were weather sounds in Lightning Strikes by Del Shannon which was early sixties?

[@jackempson3044]

This was a nice song. I wouldn't have admitted it back them

[@johnthegreek5836]

Great song I’ve heard this in years

[@elizabethbrown6384]

An early use of rain,etc. sounds would be Walking In the Rain by the Ronettes.

[@clebergstudio1574]

A Flower Girl was part of the iconography of the drug culture. Probably why it was classified as psychedelic rock.

[@kentclark6420]

The tragedy in the family mostly came from the father, who was abusive to the kids, and took the money for himself. Btw, the instrument you heard wasn't the keys- it was a harp.

[@will-x9c]

You are correct, the 'Sills were the template for the TV "family band" The Partridge Family who were not a real family. Unlike the Cowsills. They were from Rhode Island. Cowsill is an awesomely cool name IMO although back in the day us Kool Kidz dismissed them as "bubblegum". That was a mistake, they were extremely talented. Bill in particular had a great singing voice and John the drummer eventually played drums for the Beach Boys. You should react to Hair, a mild parody of hippie subculture but doubled over with wholesomeness. A 60's anthem, it is part of my DNA. And how many rock groups had enough self-confidence to have Mom as part of their band?

[@joecveteticccvetetic4068]

Fire

[@chitownlee]

The Beach Boys were 3 brothers 1 cousin and 1 neighbor.

[@robertmeyerowitz6865]

To get the rain sound they recorded bacon frying and then sped it up.

[@thomasripley1548]

Psychedelic doesnt necessarily .mean drugs ,

[@pete3883]

Ain't innocent, LSD song ?

[@pablomazzeo8540]

the syle of the song a little to the Beach boys

[@craigreid7178]

I recall an instrumental from 1959 by Martin Denny called "Quiet Village" that had nature sounds in it -- here's a link to it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r37Sqn-updGsZsU

[@joannerichards1750]

Quiet Village was a big radio hit in 1959. I loved the sultry sound of vibraphone and macaws.

[@MisterWondrous]

This is my reward for doing good deeds this week. I was just gonna suggest this song to you...today! In return for this gift, here they are as grown-ups playing this great song most beautifully. I love me some flower girl, Susan Cowsills. Thought you might resonate with it. A real flower child anthem, in all its innocence. Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXOZZZ97aa11f80