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FOR THREE YEARS The Cowsills have been one of the very top groups. They've turned out fantastic hits, one after another, and their live performances just get better and better. The Cowsills have everything they could want—or do they? Is it possible that there's something The Cowsills are very much afraid of?
WHAT IS IT?
At one time or another, almost every major group has the fear that its popularity won't continue and that fans will get tired of its music. The Cowsills are no exception.
The music scene is continually changing. One year's sound may seem old-fashioned the next year. Many groups break up or disappear because their particular music can't stand this kind of change. But a few groups, such as The Cowsills — so far, at least — actually grow in popularity, because their music grows and develops.
An important ingredient in The Cowsills' success has always been their very special kind of sound. And no matter how much they've changed, The Cowsills have still managed to keep their own individual musical style.
But the group realizes that their style might not always be popular. Someday fans might find their music boring and stop listening to it. The problem is how to keep that from happening.
WHAT CAN THEY DO?
There's only one thing The Cowsills can do to keep that from happening. It's the very same thing they've been doing all along—just continuing to make the very best music they can.
Naturally, their music changes a lot in the process. As Bob puts it, "None of our songs sounds like the last one we recorded
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THE
COWSILLS -
AFRAID OF ...?
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I hate the very idea of 'success formula!' You can't be afraid to go on the next step. That's one of The Beatles' secrets. We grew up with their influence. I like to believe we grew with them, too."
"You know, if you stay with one thing too long you get a mental block and you blow it," John adds. "We're like that, always trying something new simply because the other way would be a bore."
Being able to change with the times is important. But so is wanting to! It's no secret that if a person doesn't love the work he does, he probably won't do very well at it. The same holds true for entertainers. Audiences sense when an act really enjoys being up on stage and when it's "just another job." And chances are pretty good that the audience won't be back for seconds (or won't line up to buy their records) when that "just another job" attitude shows. Wanting to please an audience is just as important as having the ability and talent to do it!
As far as The Cowsills are concerned, singing together is sometimes more fun than work! And it shows!
Barry says, "Concerts are most exciting for me. I get just as psyched up as the audience does!"
And Susie adds, "We always sang, harmonized, fooled around. It was just a thing we always did together for laughs. It's still fun to sing together."
As long as The Cowsills manage to keep that attitude — and get it accross to their fans — they have nothing to worry about in the popularity department. And those three years of success we mentioned earlier will stretch - possibly into three hundred!
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