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NEW YORK - Most pop concert performers use their hit record as the capper of the evening, but MGM Records' Cowsills lead with "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" and continued to reach peak after peak with each following number.
The Cowsills are the latest of MGM's stable of clean-cut, apple pie, rock groups; Herman's Hermits and Every Mothers' Son being the others. The image was the vehicle with which MGM launched the Cowsills, but when the embellishments are shed as they were in the second half of their concert, Thursday, Dec. 28, at Town Hall, the group's natural talents rocket to the forefront.
The first half of the performance was devoted to a presentation of each member of the family singing a number or two. Susan Cowslll proved not only to be the cutest and sweetest eight-year-old in the business, but probably the most talented. Singing "Sweet Talkin'Guy" as she held hands with tall WmCA deejay Dan Daniel, and "To Sir, With Love," Susan displayed a surprising amount of showmanship as did her 11-year-old brother, John, as drummer and singer on "Act Naturally." Barbara (Mom) Cowsill's forte is a folk song, and with her relaxed but emotion-packed manner she also puts on a gem of a show.
The four boys, John, Barry, Bill and Bob, settled down for some man's business in the second half" as Barbara Cowsill and Susan left the stage and this is where the real show began. The group's "momism" was cast aside for some blues and hard rock. Songs such as "Mr. Postman" and "Hello Hello" which were done in the first half, gave way to songs on the order of "Come On Up" and "Anyone Who Had a Heart," a slow bluesy song backed by a powerful accompanying electric organ.
In a tribute to what they called their "inspiration," the four Cowsills performed medleys of songs made popular by the Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits, the Beach Boys and the Beatles. Here is where the group's versatility rang clear as a bell. It is rare for a group to ever approach the original performer's hit recording as to acceptance from an audience well acquainted with the original. But With almost devastating resemblance, the Cowsill boys sang and sometimes improved on songs such as "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "The Last Time" and "Paperback Writer." For the most part, it was early '60's rock, which is what the group does the best. Bill Cowsill's solo (the second to closing number) of "Buddy Can You Spare a Dime?" was a standout dramatic performance.
The Cowsills cliosed the show (one of their two performances) with their new single, "We Can Fly" — a show which is one of the year's best pop concerts.
- HANK FOX
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