Fourth Fan Club - Cowsill Connection
Volume 2 Issue 1 Summer 1991

Page 2

FROM THE PRESIDENT...
Hello, everyone! I hope all of you had an enjoyable summer and are looking forward to an incredible new year as an active part of THE COWSILLS Fan Club!

Since many of you have not been able to see THE COWSILLS in person in recent months (as they have remained in the L.A. area in order to perform for record company representatives at local nightspots), we thought we would include a few extra photos for you in this issue of The Cowsill Connection. Enjoy!

Many thanks to Jimmy Lavender of Chattanooga, TN, for compiling THE COWSILLS discography that was included with your last issue of The Cowsill Connection and to Lew Claussen of Des Moines, IA, and Sue Otto of Beverly Hills, CA, for their discography contributions.

And many thanks to all of you for your fan club suggestions and participation!! Remember — this is your club, so keep your cards and letters coming!! But most importantly, I want to thank you on behalf of THE COWSILLS for your dedication to them and your continued support of their pursuits in 1991.

Sincerely,
Marsha Jordan

A MESSAGE FROM BOB COWSILL ...

"Our record pursuit is going fine! We have our own mountain to climb — it's our past. Sometimes it helps, but sometimes it hinders. We have major record labels that are interested in us, and the locals are being very kind to us in the music trade publications. I feel that our being signed is inevitable. Patience is where it's at."

THE DIRECT LINE

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

Bob, Paul, John, and Susan,
From your new material, which songs are your personal favorites? Also, which song would you like released as your first single?
Slephanie Kallok
Levittown, PA

Dear Stephanie,
From our new material, our favorite songs would be "Rescue", "What About Love?", and "Under the Gun". With regards to the first release, I guess a personal favorite would be "Some Good Years" or "Is It Any Wonder?".
Bob, Paul, John, and Susan

Susan,
After living in the beautiful home with a swimming pool and tennis courts in Santa Monica, how did it feel after the group disbanded and the money was gone? Or weren't there any big adjustments to be made?
Deanna Carr
Frazee, MN



John and All,
Did you receive my messages at The Bitter End in April? I called twice to say "hello" and that I am proud of you all and very sorry I couldn't get there to see you.
John, I think I saw you on "Full House" today at "Jesse's reunion". Were you wearing glasses? Was that you drumming on "My Sharona"?
Debbie Joliat
Watham, MA


All,
What are the vital statistics of Bob, Paul, John and Susan? Everyone looked fit and healthy on "The Joan Rivers Show." When are you touring in the D.C. area?
Joan Gick
Alixandria, VA


Susan,
Whatever became of all those stuffed animals that fans gave you in the earlier concert days?
Mary Jane Klemm
Parma, OH





Bob Cowsill (my fave Cowsill),
I've been a big fan for over 20 years! What is your very favorite Cowsills song? Did you or Bill sing lead on "The Rain, the Park and Other Things"? Thanks, Bob!
Bob Praglin
Newhall, CA





Susan,
What is your favorite Beatles song? What is your favorite "old" Cowsills song? What is your favorite "new" Cowsills song? Who is your favorite female singer? Do you know — we love you!?!
J.J. Castellon
Gatesville, TX

Dear Deanna,
There were plenty of big adjustments to make. The money was everywhere, then nowhere. We haven't seen the inside of a house like that Santa Monica house since we left it. We all came face to face with the balancing act of trying not to stumble too chaotically on the way down.
Susan


Dear Debbie,
We did receive word of your phone calls to The Bitter End., although we were doing an interview with Goldmine at the time — so no one could take the call personally.
John did appear on many episodes of "Full House", and he did perform on the "reunion" show.
Bob




Dear Joan,
We won't be touring until next summer. We need to tend to business in Los Angeles right now. With regards to statistics, we're all old enough and some of us are young enough.
Paul



Dear Mary Jane,
The stuffed animals eventually died of neglect in the New York apartment complex where they all resided. Great attempts were made to ensure lengthy survival; however, years and the aging process eventually took their toll on most of the stuffed wonders.
Susan


Dear Bob,
It's good to see you don't deny your "Bobness". My favorite Cowsills song from the past is probably "Grey Sunny Day" with "In Need of a Friend" breathing down its neck. Favorite new Cowsills song is "What I Believe", which you haven't heard, obviously. Bill sang lead on "The Rain, the Park, and Other Things."
Bob


Dear D.J.,
My favorite Beatles song is "Get a Shot". My favorite old Cowsills song is "Poor Baby", and my favorite new Cowsills song is "You Keep Telling Those Lies". My favorite female singer is yet to be discovered, although I enjoy Katrina, Sam Phillips, and the dark-haired girl in the "Archies".
Susan

All of the Cowsills,
How did the song, "We Can Fly", come about for you?
John Crecco
Newark NJ













Bob,
What was the inspiration for the song, "Newspaper Blanket"? Is there a story behind the song? It's very touching and one of my favorites.
Andy Bishop
Weaverville, NC







Bob, Paul, John, and Susan,
Tooshoo? Sounds like cajun zilaco. But the Poison Dart Festival in Zimbabwe sounds like Paul Simon's Graceland Gang — so like what do you like to listen to when it's rock and roll??
Sandy Peoples
Kansas City area


John,
Have you ever been up to the San Francisco Bay area for pleasure, and if so, what's your favorite part of the city? And, too, how tall are you these days? Haven't seen you in 21 years!
Nanci Nagel
So. San Francisco, CA




Bob,
What was it like to work with Harry Chapin? How much work did you do on his "Living Room Suite" LP?
Jimmy Lavender
Chattanooga, TN

Dear John,
(I feel like we're breaking up when I type that.) "We Can Fly" was written by Bill, myself, Artie Kornfeld, and Steve Duboff in Artie 's apartment in New York City in 1968. We recorded it with Brooks Arthur with Artie producing; and then for whatever reasons, Artie was no longer our producer, and we re-recorded the song with Bill and I producing. I have never heard a copy of the Artie Kornfeld-produced "We Can Fly", and it would be interesting to listen to, but I can't imagine it exists in a physical state anywhere.
Bob


Dear Andy,
I was attending Pace College in New York City. I rode the subway from 54th Street down to the college. It was a cold, gray, cloud-covered winter day, and as I emerged from the subway, I saw that it had started to snow. It was a beautiful sight, except for this guy on a park bench who was using a newspaper to cover himself from the falling snow.
Bob


Dear Sandy,
We like The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, The Traveling Wilburys, The Bangles, Steely Dan, U2, and more
All of Us





Dear Nanci,
I'm 6'1", and I don't make it to the Bay area for pleasure very often, although I have in the past performed with Jan and Dean there quite often and will also with The Cowsills in the future. In fact, we are looking at some November/December weekend dates now, so we'll let you know.
John


Dear Jimmy,
On Harry Chapin's "Living Room Suite " LP, we sang a lot of backgrounds, and I played some rhythm guitar on a couple of songs. We felt kind of honored to play on a Harry Chapin album since he was such an institution and all
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!

'THE COWSILLS "UNPLUGGED" AT GENGHIS COHEN CANTINA — JULY 22,1991

WOW! Just when I think that I'm taking THE COWSILLS for granted, they blow me away again! Monday, July 22,1991,at Genghis Cohen Cantina was no exception! What an absolutely tremendous show. It is so difficult to find the words to express what a great experience it was, but here goes a shot at it!

First, let me describe Genghis Cohen Cantina. It's a little, almost 60's coffeehouse-ish place that seats maybe 100 people. THE COWSILLS' bass player, Robby Scharf, had to stand off to the side of the stage since there was no room for him on the actual stage. But, the sound is great, and the atmosphere is very intimate. And, the show ends up (mostly) acoustic since the place isn't big enough to handle an electric show. So, as Paul put it, July 22 was "THE COWSILLS ... unplugged!" (So ... where's the official bootleg?)

Without the electric guitars and drums, the Cowsill harmonies shine through! I love this type of show ... you can really hear the words and appreciate the vocals! John, who missed his drums and spent most of the night "playing" a guitar case, was totally great. He did an absolutely wonderful job on "What About Love" and "She Wants Everything" (both of which I like more every time I hear them). Then, he blew the crowd away one more time during the second encore with his cover of "Cryin"'. It was also unusual and fun to see him play the guitar for a while during the show. Paul was his typically humorous self and shone on "Shine". Bob and Susan were (as always) totally awesome. It was very interesting to hear Susan sing lead on "Maybe It's You"... it puts a different slant on the song from when Bob sings lead. (Don't give away too many songs, Bob... you're great on lead!) One "new" number was added to the show ... an "Eagle-esque" tune called "You've Got a Way (To Make Me Smile)". Susan sings the lead, and the harmonies are great on this one (so what else is new?)!

The atmosphere in the room that night was extremely positive, and the energy level was high (who needs electric guitars when the relationship between the artists and the audience generates its own electricity). Once again, "some" industry people were present, and the show is being reviewed in BAM and Billboard. I can't wait for the day when I can say that I was at "the" show that helped clinch a record deal for THE COWSILLS. I'm sure that it's only a matter of time (but, I'm an impatient person) before they get signed, and July 22 in Hollywood was just one more stepping stone to that goal!

by Vicky Mulvaney, Santa Ana, CA

At the Genghis Cantina last November, THE COWSILLS played their first Los Angeles show since 1970. This July they returned to delight an enthusiastic crowd whose numbers caused the cantina's cozy confines to nearly burst at the seams.

THE COWSILLS' "semi-unplugged" show got underway after some sound home water conservation advice from Paul. "Under the Gun" kicked things off, followed by the buoyant a cappella intro to the muscular "Cross That Line". One very impressive characteristic of new Cowsill originals is that they boast some of the best bridges in all of rock music. (For those who don't know, a bridge is a musical passage that links together two other sections in a song — i.e., chorus and verse.) Nowhere was this more evident than in "No Time". Their trademark vocal harmonies are a thing of beauty and wonder.

Until this evening, I had yet to hear John sing lead in concert. Tonight would prove to be a treat in that, before the final chord was struck, he would sing three songs. He has a remarkable vocal range, aside from being a master behind his drum kit "What About Love", a new song to these ears, featured him at the mike. John continued to impress as he sang Susan's "ooo's" on the bridge of their set's token "guy fantasy song" called "She Said to Me". Susan, resplendent in her Joplin-esque rasp, has shown steady improvement at her rhythm guitar duties with each concert.

Acclaimed "Ninja Bass Player" Robby Scharf anchored the arrangements, fleshed out by acoustic guitars from Bob and Susan and Paul's keyboard. Later, John added a percussive element to the mix by keeping the beat on an unsuspecting guitar case.

"Shine" was next, sparked by Paul's lead vocal and the explosive group harmonies on the refrain, "Shine, shine, shine". In a surprise move, Susan sang a snarling vocal on what is usually Bob's "Maybe it's You". John's second lead, the country-ish "She Wants Everything", followed.

Bob's grammatically conscious "I Be Low" has been a highlight for me since I first heard it in November. Has anyone else noticed how Bob seems to sing his leads in a key that pushes his voice to the apex of it's range? I think that's what helps create the wonderfully urgent and earnest nature of his vocals.

While Bob replaced a broken guitar string, Susan led the masses in "Mercedes Benz" as an impromptu sing-along. After a driving version of "Free Fall", Bob declared, "You've got a memory — we've got a song for it", and launched into the poignant "Some Good Years".

But wait — there's more! The first encore brought top-notch renditions of "Is It Any Wonder", one of Bob's finest vocal performances, and 1979's "You've Got a Way" featuring some mighty agile picking from Bob.

Just when it seemed like THE COWSILLS had given their all, the crowd was treated to yet another encore. I'd read letters to The Cowsill Connection praising John's performance of "Cryin"', but tonight I finally got to witness it myself. I'd wager that no one has delivered the Orbison classic this beautifully since Roy himself! "Be My Baby" and a letter perfect "Nowhere Man" continued this oldies "super-set" capped by their very own "Hair". THE COWSILLS, joyous as they nailed the harmony on the opening line, "She asked him why", paused for jubilant high fives among themselves!

The Genghis Cantina is an excellent venue for THE COWSILLS as their cordial rapport with the audience meshes wonderfully with the living room atmosphere of the building. Wouldn't it be great to hear this glorious music on a compact disc? I believe it'll happen — not soon enough for any of us, but just wait I'm ready for some more good years.

by Paul Bailey, Fullerton, CA

THE COWSILLS ROCK AT THE ROXY!

On Sunday night, August 11, 1991, THE COWSILLS — Bob, Paul, John, and Susan — made a cameo appearance at The Roxy, that sizzling showcase on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.

Bob and Susan Cowsill sang harmonies as Vicki Peterson (former Bangle and long-time Cowsills fan) performed a new pop tune entitled "Never Never Boys", which was co-written by Vicki and Bob.

Introduced by — and accompanied on guitar by — Vicki Peterson, THE COWSILLS band presented four of their original contemporary compositions, "Under the Gun", "Rescue", "She Wants Everything", and "Is It Any Wonder", to the packed house. Needless to say, THE COWSILLS new music was enthusiastically welcomed by The Roxy crowd, and the group was invited back onto the stage for an encore, another 90's Cowsills number entitled "I Be Low". L.A.'s 8/16/91 weekly Reader publication acknowledged THE COWSILLS as the "best part" of the musical portion of the evening!

Editor

CLUB LINGERIE - AUGUST 29,1991

Some twenty years ago, I never could have imagined myself at a nightclub in Hollywood in August of 1991 waiting to see THE COWSILLS. Yet, that is exactly where I was on August 29, 1991, .. and was I glad that I was! It is tough to describe the feeling of anticipation that takes over a room as the time approaches for THE COWSILLS to appear... an electricity fills the air. Eleven p. m. on a week night is late when you have to work the next day, but people kept arriving to share in the experience that is a Cowsill concert. Not only were "normal" people arriving, but quite a few "celebrities" as well... among them: Vicki Peterson and Michael Steele (both former members of The Bangles), Jeff and Steve McDonald (currently the core of Redd Kross), and Barry Cowsill.

An absolutely tremendous show began at approximately ten after eleven. From "Rescue" through to "Free Fall", the music just kept coming. John was a powerhouse on "What About Love"... so much so that he broke his bass drum pedal. Susan was great, as always, on her solo efforts including "Cross That Line", "Under the Gun", and "She Said to Me". Paul added his special touch, both musically and in humor. And, then there was Bob, who was as magical as always on stage.

The highlight of the night came with the encore. As THE COWSILLS took the stage again, the microphones were rearranged so that everyone could be out front. With just a guitar and bass for accompaniment, a "blow your mind" version of "Some Good Years" was performed. This was followed by another "unplugged" tune (or as Susan put it... "our country tune"), "You've Got a Way (To Make Me Smile)". The night ended with a new song, "What I Believe"... this is sure to be a hit when THE COWSILLS get signed. It is an absolutely tremendous tune!

Speaking of being signed, I really believe that the time is almost here. THE COWSILLS are the best and soon the entire world will know!

by Vicky Mulvaney, Santa Ana, CA