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The most famous band to ever come out of Rhode Island? A case could certainly be made for Newport's own The Cowsills. If the billboard charts are a deciding factor, this family group that gave us such smash hits as "The Rain, The Park, and Other Things," "Indian Lake," "We Can Fly," and of course, "Hair," sure gives them bragging rights. The group hung it up as a recording act in the early 1970s with the members each going their own ways. They did reconvene for a new recording in the early 1990s, but that has been all she wrote until just recentlky with the release of Rhythm of the World, the first Cowsills album in 30 years. Whereas tragedy beset the family in the time in between with the passing of original members Bill and Barry Cowsill, the latter in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina, Bob, Susan and Paul Cowsill have continued to carry the torch with reunion performances and now, a long-awaited new album. It is in the Ear Bliss spotlight this week along with the release from Chicago-based singer and songwriter Nora O'Connor called My Heart . . . .
The Cowsills
Rhythm of the World
Omnivore Recordings
It has been 30 years since the last new album from family band The Cowsills and 50 some odd years since the group called Newport, Rhode Island home and gave the world pop hits like "We Can Fly," "Indian Lake," and "Hair." For a refresher on this family band that inspired the Partridge Family television show, the 2011 documentary film "Family Band: The Cowsills Story" is highly recommended viewing. These days, the remaining members - Bob, Susan, John and Paul - are scattreed around the country. With the exception of John, they have made time for reunion shows and now, a new recording. The newly released Rhythm Of The World breaks a dry spell of nearly 30 years. Much has transpired in the time since including the passing of original members Bill and Barry Cowsill, the latter in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina and whose death is the inspiration for the heartfelt closing song of the album titled simply, "Katrina." With the exception of a few, the songs comprising Rhythm Of The World were written or co-written by Bob, Susan and Paul during their Happy Together tour runs. It was a tour featuring various '60 pop music acts, including The Cowsills. Says Bob Cowsill, "We wrote them in our hotel rooms, on our tour bus, and in our dressing rooms. From Howard Kaylan's (of The Turtles) exuberant plea with the audience each night of the tour giving us inspiration for 'Ya Gotta Get Up!' to 'Katrina' and all the songs in between, we used melody and harmony to bring some love and the hope of peace to the world." Featuring the aforementioned original members plus Bob's son Ryan and Paul's son Brendan, as well as Susan's husband Russ Broussard and her bandmate Mary Lasseigne, like The Cowsills music of yore, harmony and allluring melodies are the hallmarks of Rhythm Of The World resulting in an album with plenty of pop appeal. Visit www.omnivorerecordings.com.
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