Fourth Fan Club - Cowsill Connection
Volume 1 Issue 3 Winter 1991

"CAN WE TALK?"
Tune in to the Joan Rivers Show schedules to air on
March 26th & find out just what THE COWSILLS have to say!!
(Check local listings for times in your area)
(Photo by David Strick)

Page 2

FROM THE PRESIDENT...

Dear Fellow Cowsills Fans,

THE COWSILLS and I would like to say a special "thank you" for the beautiful Christmas cards that you sent us, and John and Val want you to know that they really appreciate the cards and baby gifts for Tenaya!

Please forgive me for any long delays in responding to you in recent weeks. For those of you who do not know, my dad died on January 1. In November he attended THE COWSILLS At My Place show in Santa Monica, along with my mom and me, and had a great time! I would like to thank THE COWSILLS and you for your patience and support during these difficult days.

Again, I want to express thanks to you for all of the articles, questions, comments, and photos that you have submitted for The Cowsill Connection.

Let's all continue to spread our enthusiasm for THE COWSILLS and their comeback!

Sincerely,
Marsha Jordan

THE DIRECT LINE

Here are THE COWSILLS' personal answers to your Direct Line questions:

Bob, Barry, Paul, or John,
Why did you try a comeback under the name "Bridey Murphy"?
Sandy Peoples
Oak Grove, MO (Kansas City area)






All,
Technical: What brand name musical equipment are THE COWSILLS using for stage performances? Drums (Ludwig, Pearl?), amps (Fender?), guitars (Strat, Telecaster, Les Paul?), keyboards (Korg?)?? And can you send me a photo of your stage show?
Phil Sollar
San Francisco, CA

Susan,
Do you know what's in the future for 1991, outside of the new Cowsills album, such as making an appearance or two in Atlantic City? I'd really like to see you again with the rest.
John Crecco
Newark, NJ

(CONTINUED FROM FALL NEWSLETTER)
Sandy,
The name "Bridey Murphy" came from a movie about a girl with multiple personalities. I guess they used that name because many different personalities were members of the group.
Bob


Phil,
Any guitar or amp will do. Paul plays a Roland D50 synthesizer - Bob a Telecaster (Fender) through a Music Man - Susan a Les Paul (Bob's son Jason's guitar) through a Fender and John has a set of British Racing Green Pearls.
Bob


John,
We love Atlantic City? Do we love Atlantic City! Some of our fondest memories are there. Of course that means the Boardwalk the way it used to be, and that isn't the way it is. But you bet we'll be there!
Sue

All of you,
Are Barry and Bill going to join eventually? Also, I'm donw South. When are you coming to South Carolina?
Penny Brannon
Shaw Air Force Base, SC



John,
As a child growing up, who did you feel closest to? And now that you are grown up, who do you feel closest to (besides your wife and new daughter)?
Naci Nagel
So. San Francisco, CA


Cowsills,
How long were each of you married? Can I see pictures of your wives and children?
Carol Rizzo
Jersey City, NJ


To the new daddies, John and Barry,
How good are you at 2 a.m. feedings and diaper changing? Or should we ask your respective wives?
Karen Mormando Klein
Amityville, NY


John,
Did you do the drumming years ago on the albums? You're gorgeous! Do you read your fan mail, John?
Debbie Joliat
Waltham, MA






To the Cowsill who knows,
Any chance of your old stuff being reissued on cassettes or CD's? I think you should be included in the Rhino Records Catalog!
Kim Twohig
Nashua, NH


Anyone,
What has to be done to get you to come and perform in Cleveland? Have you ever been here? Interested in a tour when you get here?
Mary Jane Klemm
Parma, OH

Hi Penny,
Eventually anything is possible. We stay in touch with Barry, Bill & Richard and keep them posted on our progress. The future is unpredictable, but 'possibles' can become 'probables'.
Bob


Nanci,
Are you the one who married a Barry? Growing up I honestly felt closer to Ringo Starr than any of my brothers and now I feel closest to my wife Valerie and our daughter Tenaya.
John


Dear Carol,
Amongst the six Cowsill sons there have been twelve wives (we all did much better the second time around), 84 years of marriage and 15 children.
Bob


Karen,
Admitting that it was a shock learning that anything went on at 2 A.M., we're doing just fine. But don't ask our respective wives!
John & Barry


Hello Debbie,
We finally meet in the Newsletter. I appreciate your letters (and I know I'm lousy at writing back).The first record (other than the early demos) I drummed on was "Hair". I was the recording drummer from that point forward. Thanks for all your support, Debbie.
John


Kim,
Polygram put out a "Best of The Cowsills" CD a few years ago.
Bob





Mary Jane,
We lived in Canton, OH for three years (Meyers Lake). Dad was a recruiting officer in Cleveland. We used to go in with him and hang around his office as kids. We look forward to playing Cleveland - see you there soon.
Bob

If your question wasn't answered this time, don't be dismayed. Just stay tuned for the next issue of The Cowsill Connection!
If you haven't sent us your Direct Line entry, you may use the enclosed card to do so!

WE HEAR FROM YOU
All letters and articles used in The Cowsill Connection are subject to editing and/or condensation.

THE COWSILLS PLAY IN L.A.

A great big, dopey, ear-to-ear grin ~ that's my initial reaction to talk of THE COWSILLS. It's tough to be articulate, but you can read my face like a book. These days, I have lots to smile about. THE COWSILLS are back, and their new music must be heard!

Throughout last summer, Bob, Paul, John, and Susan, with bassist Cecil Duke, toured the East Coast creating new fans and memories at every stop. I've had the pleasure of seeing Bob and Susan at Pickwick's Pub several times but was anxious to witness a real "live" Cowsills concert. That wish came true on November 3 at Genghis Cohen in L.A., where they gave a semi-acoustic sampling of new material. The emphasis was on original songs. The only covers came during the encores when they performed a loose-limbed version of "Going Down to Liverpool" and their 1969 hit "Hair".

The new songs are instantly likeable and hummable. They stick in your head long after the music has stopped. Many a program director's radio play list would be greatly enhanced by the inclusion of any of these! The thread of continuity that runs throughout these songs is a strong sense of melody, augmented by THE COWSILLS' trademark, goose-bump-inducing harmonies. I was pleased to hear "Couldn't It Be Love" and "Bitter Jest" from their criminally aborted 1979 CBS debut project. (How 'bout letting "Gettin' Ready" into your set - please?) "Maybe It's You" is deliciously Petty-esque. "Freefall" recalls early Who. "Shine" boasts explosive vocal harmonies at the chorus. Other new favorites include "Cross That Line", "I Be Low", and "Is It Any Wonder". Masterpieces all!

The new material was wonderfully fleshed out with a full electric band treatment when THE COWSILLS took the stage on November 15 at At My Place. I was impressed by Cecil's nimble expertise on the difficult bass part in "Hair". (Did Barry play on the record?) Fortunately, the vocals still managed to rise above the instrumental mix.

THE COWSILLS enjoy themselves on stage and have a terrific rapport with the audience. At Genghis Cohen, they acknowledged a request for the ancient "Siamese Cat" with a short impromptu excerpt. The toy piano near the stage brought to mind "Ask the Children", and, sure enough, they sang several lines of it for an old friend in the audience. You just never know what to expect from them!

I wish John had sung at least one lead vocal. I've read that he sang the Roy Orbison classic "Crying" during the summer tour. I can understand the omission in that their set is a reflection of their present day tunes. I hope a song is written with John in mind. He's got a great voice in addition to being a fabulous drummer.

I'm excited about the future for these guys. It's only a matter of time before some record company executive comes to his senses and signs them. Meanwhile, there are concerts to look forward to and new songs to enjoy. THE COWSILLS are incredibly nice folks and deserve nothing but the best from life. Here's to their success.

by Paul Bailey, FuIIerton, CA

Last fall I flew out to Los Angeles from New York to visit my brother as well as some friends. On Thursday evening, November 15, my buddy Bob and I were driving down Sunset Boulevard deciding on what we were going to do. When he asked if I had any suggestions, I replied (in jest), "Let's go to a Cowsills concert" At point, he screeched on his brakes and said, "I can't believe you just said that!" Bob proceeded to tell me that, earlier in the day, he had heard on the radio that THE COWSILLS were going to be appearing at a nearby club that very night! ("Twilight Zone" theme begins to play.)

The At My Place show was nothing short of superb. The group sounded incredibly tight, and the sound system was crystal clear. The audience was quite responsive as well. My first thought, as a musician, was that someone better grab THE COWSILLS quick and sign them. The new tunes were fantastic (great harmonies with a punchy pop/rock instrumental backing). The icing on the cake was the encore "Hair". Even my friend Bob, who lives in L.A., said he'd definitely go to see them again.

I also had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Bob and his wife, Susan, Paul, and bass player Cecil Duke (sorry, John). They were all very friendly, and we chatted about New York and their appearance on "The Howard Stern Show". At one point in between songs that night, Paul told the audience that he had to be up very early to install a cast iron bathtub the following day. When I later mentioned to him that my family's business was plumbing contracting, he got a big kick out of that, and we spent a few minutes talking about the trade. In addition, I had the pleasure of meeting Marsha Jordan and her folks. All in all, it was a great evening, and if THE COWSILLS are playing in your area, do not miss them!

by Barry Kesten, Hewlett, NY

My impression of THE COWSILLS At My Place show on November 15 is that I have never been so proud of any four people in my life!!! This was the first time that I had seen the reunited Cowsills perform "live". This band has tremendous talent and personality plus!!!

Bob, Paul, John, and Susan performed all original compositions, with the exception of the Bangles' "Going Down to Liverpool" and the encore of "Hair". They introduced two new Cowsills compositions, "Maybe It's You" (sung by Bob) and "Under the Gun" (sung by Susan), both of which are excellent contemporary tunes which fit in well with their new repertoire. The new Cowsills tunes were so powerful that this diehard fan of yesteryear didn't even miss the old Cowsills classics!

Many Cowsill family members were in the audience that night: Bob's wife and co-lyricist Mary Jo; Bob's son Jason; Paul's wife Lou Ann; Paul's sons Shane and Brendon; and John's wife Val, who was "with child" at the time. (By the way, during the show that night, Paul jokingly remarked to Val that she was in "good hands" should she go into labor before the show was over because he had delivered his son Shane! Ha!) Also in attendance were Malcolm Wiseman, THE COWSILLS' attorney, and Randell Kirsch (formerly of Jan and Dean's Bel Air Bandits Band of which John Cowsill was a member for several years) and his wife.

I was delighted to meet some of our fan club members at the show: Sue Otto, Vicky Mulvaney, Paul Bailey, and Barry Kesten (who lives in New York but happened to be in L.A. — what incredible timing!) I also was pleased to meet Gary Strobl, who is the designer of the T-shirts bearing the classic Cowsills logo which we are presently marketing, and Cecil Duke, who played bass for the band.

After thoroughly enjoying the exceptional performance of the reunited Cowsills, I returned home to Mississippi with a much deeper commitment to helping these special and talented people to attain their rightful place in the music world today.

by Marsha Jordan, Lexington, MS

You wouldn't think that it's possible, but they get better every time I see them. The Club Lingerie show on February 6 was definitely awesome! And, I wasn't the only one who thought so. The crowd of 300 at the Hollywood club enthusiastically embraced THE COWSILLS of the 90's.

All eight shows that I've attended in the past few months have had tremendous audience responses. However, I was definitely impressed that the Hollywood crowd was every bit as excited by the music as the hometown crowds in Newport, RI.

It was difficult to know what to watch...THE COWSILLS themselves (always my first choice), the crowd, or the big screen projecting video images of the show complete with special effects. I mean how often do you see John on the drums in between Susan and Bob and in slow motion yet? A definite highlight of the show was when Susan (who looked tremendous) was joined by Vicki and Debbie Peterson (formerly of the Bangles) on "Going Down to Liverpool"...simply awesome! And, of course, as a long-time fan, I loved the encore of "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" and "Hair". But, the new material and the current Cowsills were the stars of the night and deservedly so...from the incredible harmonies on "Cross That Line" to Paul's solo on "Freefall", THE COWSILLS once again demonstrated how incredibly talented they are to the delight of everyone in attendance.

If you have yet to see THE COWSILLS of the 90's, do it at the first opportunity you have. And to Bob, Paul, John, and Susan...thanks...you're the best...THE COWSILLS rule!

by Vicky Mulvaney, Santa Ana, CA

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM

Keiko Kawada, Japan: "For the first time, I knew THE COWSILLS at the Monkees Convention in Chicago...their playing and songs was terrific...my friends and I was attracted with John's playing immediately...I have two obstacle...language and I can't see THE COWSILLS inconcert; therefore, I envy people who live in America."

Fred Olbrecht, Arlington, VA: "I had to go see THE COWSILLS when I heard they were coming to town...I've always regarded 'The Rain, The Park and Other Things' as one of the greatest songs of all time...from the opening chords to the song's last note, there wasn't any way I could take it all in, so stirring was it to hear that masterpiece 'live'...the vocals especially were very strong, far outshining most bands you hear nowadays...but this is a BAND, and the playing, too, was great."

Stephanie Kallok, Levittown, PA: "THE COWSILLS are in People at last...four pages devoted to them complete with pictures, although they did miss Barry...it was great...I hope it leads to more publicity for them and ultimately the recording contract...I plan to write People for the outstanding job they did!"

Stephen Leuty, Whittier, CA: "My mother and I attended the Genghis Cohen acoustic show and had a good time before, during, and after the show...I got a lot of my LP's signed by THE COWSILLS...my opinion of the new material is that it is better than any of the old albums."

We love hearing from you, so keep those comments coming! Send them to:

Cowsill Connection
P.O. Box 83
Lexington, MS 39095

What nationality is the name Cowsill?
Susan Porter
Richmond, VA

Susan,
English (although there were rumors it was shortened from the Italian root Cowsillario. There was still another rumor that the name is a shortened version of Cowsillientamente, a family who migrated north from Mexico in the early 1800's).

I remember reading in one of the articles that Bill had given the others necklaces of a heart with wings. Is that what John is wearing in the photos (from the Monkees Convention)? I noticed he wore it regularly, and I wondered if it had special significance.
Pam Krahmer
Roseville, MN

Pam,
John was wearing the wings & heart & they were given to everyone by BILL. I know Richard received one, but I don't know if Barry did. They're significant in that they symbolize love and support.

I've found a lot of conflicting birthdates on THE COWSILLS. Can you set me straight (day, month, & year)? The dates come from fairly reliable reference books, and usually there aren't so many differences!
Jeanne Andersen
Alexandria, VA

Jeanne,
Bill 1/9/48
Bob 8/26/49
Ricdhard 8/26/49
Paul 11/11/51
Barry 9/14/54
John 3/2/56
Sue 5/20/59

Are any of THE COWSILLS ever recognized on the street? Have they ever thought about releasing some footage from "the first time around" TV specials, etc. for VH1 videos?
Jimmy Lavender
Chattanooga, TN

Jimmy,
We would rather concentrate on something new rather than something old so, although we love seeing the old footage we don't push for it being shown. We are rarely recognized on the street, although there has been an increase due to the television and publicity we have been generating lately.

Where can I get a copy of the lyrics to "Anything Changes" from the "IIXII"LP?
Donna Stamatin
Springdale, CT

Donna,
Is that the song about the moon? My dad suggested Paul & I write a song about the moon. It was 1969 and once they landed there, our dad thought it was just a matter of time before we wrecked the place. I guess you 're gonna have to listen and copy them because no music sheets exist

What happened to Subar? Is there a Cowsill Lane in Newport?
Deanna Carr
Frazee, MN

Deanna,
Subar became neurotic living in New York City being owned by a young girl who had six brothers who's sole intent in life was to drive their sister's mangy little poodle WACKO!!

COWSILL QUICKIES
THE COWSILLS were featured in the 12/17/90 issue of People Magazine and in the 2/08/91 issue of Daily Variety. They were also featured in the 2/22/91 issue of BAM Magazine and the 2/23/91 issue of Billboard. .. Susan Cowsill sang harmony and background vocals on two of the songs contained in the new Redd Kross "Third Eye" ILP ... Did you know that THE COWSILLS are included in two home entertainment games - Trivial Pursuit and Win, Lose, or Draw!!

KEEP SPREADING THE WORD!
Special thanks from Deanna Carr of Frazee, MN, to David Thompson of Fergus Falls, MN, for making calls to local radio personalities informing them of the reunion of THE COWSILLS!