Over in another thread,


I'm intrigued by this performance - mostly at how spectacular the harmonies are. There are 4 original members in the Cowsills' current touring lineup (Bob, Paul, John and Susan), but I have read that they use backing tracks on some songs. I don't know if that's true or not.

The kink in that is that on this version, they sing the "lost" third verse, which was in the stage musical but left off the single (they repeated the first in its place) so as not to offend those who didn't like being reminded that Jesus was a hippie.


That verse packs more emotional and rhetorical punch than the rest of the song put together.

So that leads to my main question:

Did the Cowsills record and/or release a version of "Hair" with all three verses?

Hank, no, there's never been an official release with that missing verse. The only release was the original single, and that same studio version was used as the opening track on the "Cowsills In Concert" LP. I have a live version from their (full 7 sibling) reunion concert in Newport RI in 2000, but would have to go back and check to see if they used that verse then or not. In any case, my source is audio lifted from an audience video recording of the show, so the sound isn't so great anyways (not as good as on this recent clip you linked). Not all know that it was this group of (then) teenagers who did the re-arrangement on their version of "Hair", far more elaborate than the original cast recorded version. And it holds up today as well as it did then. A nice illustration of the magic of genetic hamonies. Hey, that could be a thread; a History Of Genetic Harmonies in popular music recordings....


Beach Boys, Cowsills, Finn brothers, Neville Brothers, Andrews Sisters, Mills Brothers,


Or even Groups That You Would've Swore Had Genetic Harmony

CSN, Poco, Rubinoos,

I think you should apologize for leaving the Gibbs off that list.



Thanks for the info!

I had such a "kid crush" on Susan when I was a youngster. I even took one of my sisters "16" magazines to swipe a entry form for a contest to meet them.

BTW, I believe the lyric is actually "my toga made of blonde, brilliantine biblical hair." When I played the Hair cast LP as a kid, 35 years ago, I wasn't sure what they were singing, because I didn't know "brilliantine" was a word.

I'll have to listen closely, but I think the Cowsills even changed "long as God can grow it" to "long as I can grow it," to completely sanitize the lyrics.

I wonder how much time Susan Cowsill has spent in therapy over the fact that so much footage exists of her as a 10 year old dancing, well, like a 10 year old.

I wish I could dance like that.

I'd love to know Susan's reaction to having her demo of Twilley's "Little Bit of Love" credited to Kim Carnes when it was mistakenly included on the reissue of "Voyeur" a few years ago. I know Kim thought it was sadly typical of the clueless staff at EMI.

I didn't know about that. That is quite a mistake to make.
If you haven't already, check out Susan's excellent solo album,"Just Believe It", released in 2005, I think.

OK, this is just weird.

The Cowsills hanging out at the Playboy Mansion.

Hank, for the record, those strings of names (the genetic harmonies and could've been genetic harmonies) were 100% off the cuff/spur of the moment listings, by no means meant to be complete by my standards nor anyone else's, hence the Gibbs brothers ommission. They were just to get that thought/idea "out there". One of my happiest music collecting moments came when i finally tracked down what appears to be a comprehensive Gibbs brother's Aussie years collection, the 2-cd "Brilliant From Birth". I was finally able to gather all of the tracks from my childhood vinyl "Rare Precious and Beautiful Vol. One", as well as a lot of similar music from that era for them. Even the more infantile "kid" pop songs they recorded prior were revelations. And you can imagine my relative joy with the 2-cd deluxe editions of the first three Atco LPs by Reprise last year. So don't worry, no Gibbs Brothers dissing from this camp. And i still think their love songs from "Saturday Night Fever" are among the best ever by anyone, and i have never been a disco fan whatsoever, that aside.

Just flipping you crap, there, Rick...hence the smiley.

I got the excellent "Painting The Day" anthology in the mail last week. It has 12 early tracks, followed by the "II x II" album in its entirety.

I also got their 1998 album "Global" off of iTunes (Although it sounds like it was recorded much earlier, like the early '90s - how long did they shop for a record deal?).

Excellent stuff all around.

Hank, thanks for the clarification, i did notice the smiley which followed the (Gibbs brothers) remark, but had to officially go on (and on and on and on) the record, just to be sure.

I'm familiar with (but do not - yet - own) "Painting The Day", didn't realize it had the entire "II x II" lp on it, though. Have you heard the final LP they did for London Records, "On My Side"? It's been available on a series of dubious origin "import" 2-cd sets on "Cowchip Records", but which have decent enough sound. And then there was the never-released late 1970's LP "Cocaine Drain, on which Susan was handling most of the lead vocals, and had that album been released it might have re-established the Cowsills way back then as forces to be reckoned with in the re-emerging Power Pop scene. There are at least a half-dozen absolute Pop gems from that project, and i daresay not a bad song in the bunch, even the few dance-beatish tracks included therein.

I don't know how many years they shopped Global around, but prior to forming Robin Records on which to ultimately release it, one of the tracks "Is It Any Wonder" had appeared in the earlier 90's on one of the first (Vol. 1 or 2?) "Yellow Pills" discs.

Inasmuch that they have managed to leave a decent musical legacy from the 1960's to "Global" (and beyond), the Cowsills are truly one of those American Music Stories where what could've been, would've been and should've been are all staggering thoughts.

Prime example:

What do you mean, dancing like a 10 year old? Everybody danced like that in the 60's, except for "adults."

You're right...she's dancing pretty well there. Maybe this is a better example, when she breaks into the Funky Chicken at the 1:45 mark.

Weird, I was looking at Susan's web site and realized that her bass player is an old friend of mine from college, Rob Savoy of Cowboy Mouth. I may have to go to New Orleans to check out one of their gigs.

I won't tell her about the crush that I had on her when I was eight.

I wish people would dance like that now.

Funky Chicken aside, I wish people would dance like that now, too.

Now I'm really starting to sound like an old man. "In my day, people could really dance, not this nonsense that kids do these days..."

I got this 2-fer (with The Cowsills In Concert) in the mail last week - love it love it LOVE IT. Especially the title track. It's the best song Blue Rodeo never did. Seriously, Jim Cuddy really needs to be covering this.

And as silly as Susan's "Heather Says" is at first blush, it's a pretty creepy look at how cruel kids can be to each other.

Great, great album.

"Cocaine Drain" has FINALLY been released! On iTunes, anyway.

It's recorded from an old acetate, so lots of hisses and pops, but I'm just happy that A) I get to hear these songs, and B) it's a LEGAL release, with the band getting the proceeds.

I posted another thread in the Vault subforum: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=30250

Premiering on Showtime, March 6th:


All Upcoming Airings of Family Band: The Cowsills Story:
Wed, Mar 06, 8:00 PMSHO 2
Fri, Mar 08, 7:30 PMSHOWTIME SHOWCASE
Sat, Mar 09, 7:45 AMSHO 2
Mon, Mar 11, 10:00 PMSHOWTIME SHOWCASE
Tue, Mar 19, 7:00 PMSHOWTIME
Thu, Mar 21, 6:30 PMSHOWTIME SHOWCASE
Fri, Mar 22, 4:30 PMSHO 2
Sun, Mar 24, 9:45 AMSHOWTIME
Mon, Mar 25, 5:00 AMSHOWTIME
Mon, Mar 25, 3:00 PMSHO 2
Tue, Mar 26, 3:10 PMSHOWTIME SHOWCASE
Wed, Mar 27, 7:00 PMSHOWTIME
Thu, Mar 28, 9:00 AMSHO 2
Sat, Mar 30, 5:35 PMSHOWTIME