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Susan Cowsill was the youngest member of the Cowsill family who had a million-seller back in the 60s with "The Rain, the Park and Other Things". They followed that with "Indian Lake" and "Hair" (from the "American Tribal Musical"). The Cowsills were the inspiration for TV's Partridge Family. Then in the 90s she was part of The Continental Drifters with Peter Holsapple and Russ Broussard. In 2005 she released her first solo album Just Believe It. She lost her home and her brother Barry in Hurricane Katrina, and this new album is partly a reflection on the losses of home and family -- her brother Bill also passed away in Calgary.
Lighthouse features special guests Jackson Browne, three Cowsill siblings, Vicki Peterson (from the Bangles and the Continental Drifters) and guitarist Waddy Wachtel. All that big name talent is strictly backup. This album is all Susan.
She wrote or co-wrote ten of the songs (and covers brother Barry's "River of Love" and Jimmy Webb's "Galveston"). Her voice is strong and the band rocks out. There's definite passion in these tracks. On "River of Love" she plays brother Barry's guitar while brothers Bob, John and Paul provide vocal support, and Waddy provides stinging lead. It could be Springsteen's E-Street Band it is so powerful, but it's Susan's vocal that drives the whole thing!
"Could This Be Home" is a slower but equally potent song with great dynamics. The title track is a piano based ballad. "ONOLA" (Oh New Orleans) is a love song to the city where she still lives. Webb's "Galveston" is done in tribute to another flood ravaged city on the Gulf. The whole album has layers of meaning, and emotion. A beautiful, powerful CD.
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