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The Cowsills
On My Side R 1971
New Sounds
***
Not-so-sweet sunshine pop
Dubbed "America's First Family Of Music" in 1967, brothers Bill, Bob, Paul, Barry and John plus sister Susan and Ma (Barbara) were the wholesome blueprint for The Partridge Family, and the Osmonds. Bill was kicked out (for smoking dope) before this, their final LP - which saw Ma banished from the cover. Musically, they'd grown up. Lyrically it's surprisingly dark. "Contact Mae" and "Can You Love" have harmonies reminiscent of CSN, while "If You Can't Have It - Knock It" with it's ringing guitars, wouldn't disgrace a Buffalo Springfield album. Mick Houghton
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