As far as flea market scores go, grabbing the Cowsills' Best of for a mere five bucks was one of those moments that could be categorized as both subtle and sublime. Sure, such a find doesn't have that visceral, spine-tingling thrill of spottin a 99-cent double-live Clash bootlet: Nor does it approach that Holy Grail, the White Album on white vinyl, which always seems to be just a few dollars out of reach.
But, the one thing the record's got going for it - besides the delicious '60s bubblegum content - is that little charge you feel when you discover something almost forgotten, yet truly groovy, that intersects pop-culture with our own regional history.
First off, the album art is rendered by the distinctive hand of famed (in certain circles, anyway) Mad Magazine artist Jack Davis (check out his work for a very different kind of group - Anthrax, on their State of Euphoria release). And it's Davis' caricatures that tell the story: five semi-mop-topped boys bashing about their instruments, along with their sister and eyes-a-sparkling, blonde Shirley Jones/Florence Henderson-ish mom of the type that sparked Oedipal desires amongst the second generation raised by television.
Apparently, the similarities between Mama Barbara Cowsill and her boob tube counterparts were no coincidnce; according to cowsills.com "[The Cowsills] were approached to do a TV series, but the producers had already signed an actress to play the mother." Yup, it was Ms. Jones and the program eventually became known to millions as the Partridge Family. Perhaps it was for the best, as any one who's followed Danny Bonaduce's post series career can attest to.
But, what does any of this have to do with Alberta, you ask? Well, eldest brothr Bill is one and the same as Billy Cowsill who has been wowing local audiences with his haunting, Roy Orbison-like voice in the Co-Dependents.
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