This isn't the sort of concept
album that you might expect
from the title, but rather an
attempt by the family band to
grow up a tad with a more adult
set of songs. All the vocals and
arrangements are fine, though
the lyrical topics vary, from the
sad tale of a tramp in the snow,
bridges, to the fantasy world of
one Harry Faversham.
Perhaps consequently the
album didn't crack the US Top
100, though the bubblegum inclined
single Indian Lake did
make it to No 10 on Billboard,
even though the band weren't
over-keen on it. The main
impression is of a distinctly
mixed bag of commercialism
and experimentalism; outside
writers alongside group-penned
songs. The Cowsills' sound (with
their several vocal leads
including eight-year-old little sis)
and certainly their clean-cut
matching suits image, wasn't
really ready for the musical
transition that they attempted.
This reissue includes six
bonuses, of which five are mono
versions of album tracks, with
the Indian Lake follow-up, Poor
Baby, standing out with its
strong multi-vocal lines.
Interesting but not essential.
|
