My sister who was literally the Cowsill's biggest fan, met them backstage at the Ohio State Fair twice. She said they were some of the nicest people she ever met. She was in a wheelchair her whole life and died at the age of 21 in 1978. I think of her often, but I can't hear the Cowsill's without thinking of her. They really were and still are an underrated group!
SO glad she got to go! Always with you. Always a part of you. (now I'll never forget her either. What's her first name if you don't mind. Just her first name so I can remember her too-you don't forget a heart warming story like that and, her name - you probably already know) Thank you for telling this story.
@@marypowers3787 Thanks for your response here name was Toni. She was an amazing person. On her grave stone it says " her courage is an inspiration to us all " She's been gone over 40 years now and I still miss her.
Just a bunch of kids put that together. From composing their own version to producing the video. All when the major record labels didn't want it. We still love and appreciate you today Cowsill family.
Caroline - kindred youtube spirit, I’ve been down the COVID rabbit hole as well and found this gem. PS: Just saw the documentary “The Cowsills”. Excellent.
what does that say for the ones of us who have been living in this rabbit hole since the sixties? I was the only white dude with an afro! Back in the day. It wasn't really an afro it was just curly as hell and.... I don't know it just stuck out everywhere in every direction. But what the hell it was hair!
Neither their record company or their (mis)manager father wanted them to record this so they did it in secret on a stereo reel to reel and pressed up a handful of 45s that they gave to the radio stations in Chicago, it shot to #1 in requests right away, at which time the record company decided it was ok after all!
C.J., Something about this video really resonated with me. The timing, the hand gestures, the hair flips are all done to perfection. Maybe the one characteristic that knocks it out of the ballpark is the energy exuded by everyone in the group. Too bad these kids did not get their due thanks to their abusive father.
Then Daddy beat them…kicked out his son out of the group who wrote the music…drunkenly tried to rape his little daughter…made his oldest son enlist and go to Vietnam…was a drunk..and beat his wife and kids on a daily basis and stole all of their money….you know…only in America.
@@Nan-59so was I…how could they be a bit before your time…they were kids singing with their Mom…known worldwide when you were going to school and could understand and speak English…I had everyone of their records…my whole neighborhood did….your parents lock you in the basement.
Nah. In the 1990s, I was part of a Rocky Horror Shadowcast and we'd play this and gleefully let our freak flags fly as a bunch of gen X and a few young millennials. It might not be long hair any more, but there's always something that youth seizes on to define their separation from what came before. It's as natural and universal as music and dance itself. The lyrics change, but the song remains the same.
Dad started cussing every time this song came on the radio,… which was all the more reason to go buy the 45. Then he absolutely forbid it ever being played in our home. Take me back to the late 60’s ! Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair !
As I recall, the intended audience (young people) at the time generally thought this satirical cover and video by the squeaky-clean Cowsills was more funny than subversive, but yeah, I could see some members of the WW2 generation not finding it particularly amusing.
@@davidcasillas285 I met the family years ago in Newport rhode Island I have relatives in Newport and the cowsills were in a restaurant there and I had the pleasure of meeting them This was around 1980
oh here it is - the idiotic "underrated" comment - this song sold millions and was a number one song in australia; canada; new zealand; south africa; united states ... hardly underrated.
The Cowsills were probably the most underrated group of musicians & singers in the industry. They were very real, genuinely great people who, at times, were years ahead of their time. Sad that their backstory wasn't very happy but they always managed to take the high road and overcome. I'm sure glad the surviving family members continue to perform. They'll always be aces in my book.
@@kennethshort2016the documentary “Family Band” is well done: honest, inspiring, endearing, frustrating, brutally sad and finally bittersweetly reaffirming. I saw it on Amazon Prime.
The " partridge family " became well known. Comparatively few knew of this band . They received no money or recognition for the " Partridge family ". @@jg6698
Their execution of this song is stunning. Perfect harmony, perfect blending. The song is actually pretty cool too, hair was a thing, my class of 1973, all the guys had fros and big muttonchop sideburns. This is great!
Class of 75. No actors in a documentary or movie about The Cowsills could ever come even close to doing them justice - in their performance in this video. The sad behind-the- scenes... I wish I could forget... They left - us... the world - a great musical legacy. This song will be mine about 50 yrs after it was copyrighted - last I checked. If my hair is still growing then... I'll be alright.
@Hank Bridges Actually, Susan has a very nice voice. The remaining siblings are still touring. Talent ran in the family, but what an unhappy family it was, thanks to their father.
@Hank Bridges He controlled everything and everyone, including not allowing one of the brothers to even be in the band. And the money. Plus physical abuse. I just watched a documentary about them on Prime. Check it out if you can.
@Hank Bridges He was alcoholic abuser. He beat the crap out of the kids and his wife. But the remaining siblings are still close. It was very sad to watch that doc, but the fact that they still consider themselves a family tempered the sadness. They survived.
I heard the original the other day . The Cowsills version is miles ahead in arrangement and production, one of the best vocal arrangements ever. They were incredibly talented people who suffered from a horrible home life, what a shame.
Sad that some of the greatest talent from this era had HORRIBLE fathers. Murray Wilson once hit son Brian (Beach Boys) so hard that it left him deaf in one ear. Joe Jackson (Jackson 5) smacked the boys around frequently and saw them as meal tickets to get out of that steel mill in Gary, IN. Bud Cowsill was physically abusive to the boys, molested Susan, and squandered the kids' earnings and left them with nothing. Bloody awful.
Yes and there’s something going on there with that. It’s like somehow the abuse drives the success. Tina Turner, The Jackson 5, Murray Wilson and The Beach Boys to name a few. Phil Specter even said that when he emotionally abused someone all day and they were just about at their breaking point that that’s when the magic happened. And that “magic” sold a lot of records with an almost incomparable sound.
@@failranch9542 It's especially apparent with the Beach Boys. Brian Wilson fired his father Murry Wilson as their manager during the recording sessions for I Get Around. The result? I Get Around became their first #1 hit. The following year Brian invited his parents to come to a session for Help Me, Rhonda. Murry emotionally abused everyone in the group, especially Brian, for almost an hour. Again, the result? Help Me, Rhonda became their second #1 hit.
Although this song was written for the musical "Hair", there were talks about cutting it. Because, nobody seems to like it when the show opened on Broadway. If it had not been for the Cowsills taking on this unappreciated gem and making it the anthem it became, this song would have been long forgotten by now. Now, how sad would that have been? As for this music video, I believe RUclips would be much sadder without it!
The Cowsills were a clean cut group that inspired the Partridge Family for pity's sake. But in the spirit of the times they went full on hippie for this. Outstanding video and one the iconic masterpieces in pop history.
The Cowsills were supposed to be in that TV series, but the producers didn't want their mother. Their father said unless their mother was in the show, they would not accept the television show. The rest is history.
My understanding is Hair was submitted to a Chicago radio station with no name for the artist, a mystery artist so to speak, the fear was The Cowsills attached to it, the song never would of got a fair chance…Fortunately and happily 55 years later, it speaks for itself, a 60’s gem!
I find this a bit hard to believe. The song was already around due to the musical “Hair”. The musical was quite controversial so that may have been a reason for radio stations to be hesitant to air the song.
@@grumpyoldlady_rants It was a story that was told on The Cowsills documentary that I watched either on Showtime or a VH1 Behind The Music, just always remembered it…
It is a true story. The four founding members of The Cowsills wanted to go back to their rock roots. Indeed, they took a record to a DJ and asked him to play it a couple of times without saying who was singing. It became a hit. And yes, to those who say the song was already famous, the answer is yes. But it was part of the show's album. It became a singles hit after the Cowsills launched it! This band could've been even more famous but their father was both a crook and a monster!
@@grumpyoldlady_rants No. Radio stations did not want to take a chance on The Cowsills because they hadn't had more hits after Flower Girl. The producers of the musical Hair even congratulated the Cowsills for their single. Hair the play debuted in 1968. The single by them in 1969 and the movie Hair in 1979.
Lucky thing Mike Curb wasn't President of MGM Records when they decided to release "Hair" by the Cowsills as a single. When Curb took over MGM he had an anti-drug stance that resulted in many acts being dropped from the label, and why, until the label folded in 1976 - MGM sold the record division to PolyGram and was absorbed into Polydor - there were many "bland" acts such as the Osmonds, Sammy Davis, Jr., and C.W. McCall recording for the label. (By 1971 the Cowsills left MGM for London Records; none of their London singles and albums were hits.) By the way - loved the "shatter" effect on the last note.
@@AJ-tp9bk Very true. But after "The Candy Man," *none* of Davis' MGM singles or albums were hits. And Orbison had *only three* Top 100 hits on MGM - "Ride Away," "Twinkle Toes," and "Cry Softly, Lonely One," but after "Cry Softly" peaked at #52 in July 1967 for one week and fell off the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks later, he had *no other* hits on MGM. (One perk of Orbison's MGM contract was that he would also make three movies for the parent company. *Only one* materialized - "The Fastest Guitar Alive" - and it was a *flop,* thus killing the chances of the other two films in Orbison's MGM contract being produced.)
@@WilliamWarfield-moax429 You definitely know your stuff! I've always been a fan of Roy, but, yeah, Fastest Guitar Alive was a real stinker and an embarrassment. Always cringed when I watched it. Just realized. Sammy and Roy both had Candy Man songs!
Yes where amazing this is my favorite song by them ... This is one of the greatest songs out there and it's from a TV show no wonder they made The Partridge family in honor of the cowsills because just looking at this song and hearing it gives me chills. I remember it from when I was a child and it doesn't get better than this
@@JohnJones-ej1ux my wife and i saw them in concert a couple of years ago at Coney Island. apparently, there are only 4 of them left: Susan, Bill, John and Bob. they were fantastic, to say the least
It's a video masterpiece, a performing arts masterpiece, and a musical masterpiece all in one. As much as it embraces hippiedom, it satirizes it too. This is a veritable gold mine.
Speaking of….note one of the boys was made to change into a dress at the end…and didn’t seem too happy about it. Not all in 1969 embraced the Hippie cultire😊
A bit of trivia. This was the first song they did where they played their own instruments without studio musicians. Not only could they sing, but they could play. One of the most underrated groups of all time. They were, and are, fantastic.
Interesting story ...When I was 10 in 1970 living in Queens NY My little brother and I were in our apartment laundry mat and we met Bill Cowsills! He sang Indian Lake and Hair for us! Nicest Guy! RIP Bill!
Remember hearing this song ONCE back in the day, and the line "Oh say can you see/my eyes? If you can/then my hair's too short" stuck firmly in my head forever after.
I remember that part used to infuriate my career Navy father. He couldn’t turn the radio off fast enough when this song was out. Riding in his ‘68 GTX.
While these kids are so talented and got such a raw deal from their abusive father yet was able to showcase themselves. I'm same age and had that bad stuff in my life as well. They are a good example of how to move forward. Love y'all.
Their Mom did a great job giving them love and guidance. Brother Barry suffered the most from their Dad's abuse, and he and Susan were living here in New Orleans, and Susan was doing a great job taking care of him and making sure he got proper medical treatment for his anxieties stemming from that abuse. When Hurricane Katrina hit us in 2005, they evacuated , but Barry was worried about his cat, and went back to get it. They found Barry's remains in the attic of the house, trapped as he sought shelter from the rising waters. It was a horrible time for all of us, but especially for Susan and the family. We are so happy that Susan chose to remain here in Louisiana, and now that she's married to Russ Broussard, she is an official Rhode Island Cajun!
As much as I don't like to admit to it, I will confess that I sincerely hope that 'Bud' is burning in Eternal Hell for hurting and abusing our Cowsills. I appreciate Barbara's loving heart. She had to be one of the most courageous Women that I ever read about. RIP dear Barry and Barbara Cowsill.
Danny Bonaduce from the Partridge Family had an abusive father, too. He said Shirley Jones (the mom) was a second mother to him during his difficult childhood.
Bill and Bob Cowsill arranged and produced this great single, as well as much of the Cowsills work after the first or second albums. Quite a feat for a couple of teenagers.
It was the age of Aquarius, this is the best performance of this song, from the Broadway play of the same name. A product of the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution. The Cowsills version is the best. I watch their videos today, and I am still in awe. They were so talented, with no training, all self taught. So incredible to see live in the late 60s.
And now we know this ",counter culture" and sexual revolution was a carefully planned controlled opposition operation by various alphabet agencies. Read about how all the "hippies" converged upon Laurel Canyon (Dave McGowan). These big names: Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Cass Elliot, Beach Boys , Janis Joplin...all of them come from military and intelligence backgrounds. It was one of the most controlled eras of American history. Carefully planned. The ones who probably wouldn't stick with the script were 27'ed....
@@Hippiesquaw Because you are one of the few genuine responses I've read about the 1960s from someone who was there, I take great interest in what you have to say. When you say "what?", please tell me how I can explain further. Don't forget to read Dave McGowan material on the intelligence project that eventually became the advent of Rock and roll.
Saw them in person at Duquoin (Illinois)State Fair in August 1969. 2.00$. Fantastic performances, just as good as studio quality. I was 17,my girlfriend 15. Been married 50 years. Life was fun then.
Has it really been 50 years since this first came out? I remember those days so clearly and with undying affection. I'm so happy to have been alive at the Dawn of the Age of Aquarius.
I NEVER get sick of watching this! My cousin had the album and we played it over and over on the “console stereo” and danced around the living room. Brings me way the hell back. And I love it every time.
I don't know that that is true...they inspired the television show; "THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY"! And I had family members who were in Vietnam who loved their sweet sounding music...think; "THE PARK, RAIN, AND OTHER THINGS" (Or as I always referred to it; "THE FLOWER GIRL"). My Uncle says sometimes hearing their songs made him smile...even when there wasn't much to smile about. It wasn't like PROTEST music...it was more along the line of romantic stuff...tugged at the heart strings!!!!
I remember when I was a small kid in Vietnam years ago, with whatever English I had I wrote them a letter expressing my admiration and love, to my surprise they WROTE back, along with an LP disc, a whole set of photo of each member with their own signature! I was absolutely stunned by their kindness! And they become a treasure in my closet! I will never forget them for the rest of my life !❤❤❤❤❤
In April 69 my parents brought me to the US where I was exposed to this song. My cousin and I played the MGM 45 until it wore out. I went home to England to a land that hadn't heard of The Cowsills. I couldn't understand why this song wasn't a massive hit in the UK . I thought it was the greatest record I had ever heard. I still love it. This video is buried treasure. Unbelievable talent.
Several bands were competing for the chance to do this song, in studio . The documentary told a few things . There was much more... Barry alluded to it. But I think we know. Those who have been there, we sense it. God rest his soul . he went thru so much
I grew up with the Cowsills, loved their music, it was part of the backdrop of my youth. Here I sit 63 years old and combed out my long flowing, flaxen, waxin' down to the middle of my backsin hair. LOL
Any guy 63 that actually has hair as you describe belongs in a home, it's true and I'm older than that. However love the production, the song and of course the Cowsills.
I have this attribute and I sleep with big cat, so stay in your homes, the woods have more of us, and we are coming back into "home", encroached, from Nam to none, we love our hairy buddies and our bald eagles too, just -no Nazi's please... the clarity of the comments, makes my heart freeze, I get it. You prefer such to be "institutionalized". Come and try. I know more laws, drawn more short straws, and still, I thrive. Lovin' the song, the substance and of course, the humor. I am only a kid, just 59, play baseball with guys half my age, they are distracted by something called an "Android"... maybe they belong at home, gets rugged in the field. I go over to the Dominican and play ball there in Punta Kana, where they play like their lives have to qualify depending and whew! nah, can't keep up with them even in my prime. Now then, I had hair down to my rugged bum. Jail was a 2nd home, until Uncle Sam found the use for me, a one man daisy cutter, so my ear M S try and live with those images in your head, had no choice, yet did I even belong where I was taken, ever been in the cages... it makes a man stand apart, outside, find out who we are, sometimes it takes a lot of women a lot of hair, I wish I could say drugs too, yet that would be in err, I have always been just trippy. My family all goes bald by 40, so my only 'splanation is let is grow and it may still want to when you find yourself mirrored in the stream water, or in your home mirror, haha, the one that is shaped oval and bent just a bit, makes us all look better. Be well M S, and please, don't diss the hairy. I live in a hippie town, I do not fit here at all. Yet I love the freaks the tourists, stay with the puma in the woods here, me and my Sweet Caroline, come visit us here of 17 down by Santa Cruz, CA, here in Wildcat Canyon or just go enjoy the 27 nude beaches, you will also see, many trim their topiary, uh- well, yet have a lot of hair, I love the taste of those particular women, so brazen and bold, such tigress for the tiger to hold and the fur flies, the waves glide, still, all that smoke that's in the air, and all that hair on the Pacific Avenue 60s Fair... damn I gotta move back to the city again, and almost cut my hair. Hmmm. Sounds too familiar... Oh well, another familiar song, haha, and the beat goes on...
You said it David. 61 and I just cut my hair for the first time in many years. Leaving 2 foot long grey hair everywhere !! I was one of those with very long hair, in my youth as well as in adulthood. Just the way it was. Now I look like every other old guy from my generation. I'm just glad I have hair these days. hehehehe.
As a teen in the 60's , of course I had long hair . And I'll never forget that boot camp haircut in THE MARINE CORPS. Soon after training in 73 I was sent to Saigon in Nam , still listening to my beloved Cowsills ! I am now 65 and letting my grey hair grow down my back ! Your good friend Vinny in good old Fla.
I'm only 50 but as a teenager in the 80's I was one of the long haired rebels but now not rebellious but still long haired. I thought about cutting it but ran into a guy who obviously was the 60's Hippie and when he saw my long locks shouted to "Don't cut the hair brother" and flashed me the peace hand gesture from back in that day.
Man could they sing harmony! Great version of this song. I remember I was in 4th or 5th grade when it was playing all over the radio. A frigging masterpiece! 101 takes to get the base track down. 2 eight track mixers tied together for 16 tracks. The kids did it all. The Beatles couldn't have done better! In addition, the choreography was outstanding. Extremely complicated shots.
May 1970. Banks High Birmingham Al. Last day for Seniors. We,myself and 2 friends, played this song and several others over the school intercom system during 2nd period. To say that the school administration was pissed would be a MAJOR understatement! They couldn't turn it off, but they knew who to summon to the office. Threatened to not let us graduate, but they couldn't prove we did it. I still smile when I think about it 50 years latter!
If anyone thinks that the late Bill Cowsill wasn't a terrific producer, then listen to the excellent production values in this song, keeping in mind that this was The Cowsills' first song that was produced by Bill Cowsill. You can also hear Bill's superb skill as a producer in his work with later bands like The Blue Shadows. The man was mega-talented!
Same here! I'm 63, and I remember this song playing on the radio all the time during my childhood, but I never knew that the Cowsills sang it until the other day, and was totally shocked to find that out.
ruclips.net/video/4NuaQetsDbk/видео.html George Harrison and John Lennon tried to get various labels to publish this, but it was 1969 and no one would touch it, so they released it themselves as a VERY limited-edition single on Apple. These naturally command a decent price now.
Mi padre que en paz descanse me presentó esta canción cuando tenía unos 20, 21 años aproximadamente, me encantó demasiado ❤️💖 ahora que la he vuelto a escuchar recuerdo a mi papá que falleció el 5 de febrero del 2022 a causa de la pandemia, pero a pesar de lo sucedido yo no dejo de escuchar las canciones que él escuchaba en vida. Hoy a mis recién cumplidos 30 años puedo decir que mi papá me dejó un bonito regalo al presentarme esta joya 💖❤️ papá dónde quiera que estés.... Te extraño mucho y sabes que te amo demasiado 💕 te mando un abrazo dónde quiera que te encuentres 😇🐦
There was a bar in Silver Lake Hollywood where I drove the bartender crazy playing this song over and over night after night. Forty years later and I still find it exhilarating.
Crazy Video. This was before what we call "Music videos". Their theatrics and voices were perfect. The Video was ground breaking and the song is timeless. They were a really good Band!
Wow! Bill is sellin' it! So good and entertaining. Watching this is so energizing and uplifting. Wasn't aware of this video before. What a gem. All of the Cowsills are good singers. Bill is exceptional so as to be almost perfect. Such a rich and clear voice. I really appreciate how each word is sung with absolute clarity and quite distinct. And there's something about the gap in Bill's two front teeth that I find charming giving him a certain mischievous playfulness.
It astounds me how such unspeakable talent never got the notoriety it deserved. To have that much talent in one family is truly a miracle. Their story is very sad and ultimately tragic-- especially with regard as to what ultimately happened to Billy, Barry and Richard. I am thankful that RUclips makes it possible for millions of new people, young and old, to be able to hear and appreciate this amazing group of talented musicians and all-around wonderful human beings. Their story needs to be made into a movie.
It actually has been made into a movie, "Family Band". Last I checked you could watch it on Amazon Prime. That inspirational documentary made me a Cowsills fan for life.
I so remember when this song came out. Everyone loved it and went around singing it. No one at that time knew it was the Cowsills. It was the rock anthem of that time period !!!!!
This is a memory from my childhood. I recall running around with my sister and singing this, laughing and slinging our hair around wildly! I thought of it yesterday when I was vacuuming and had a good dance!😂😂❤
As a child of the ‘60’s, who knew the lyrics to every song in Hair..this is just one of the greatest things I’ve ever stumbled upon on the interwebs ……..bloody marvellous.
One of the best pop songs of the 60s!! The COWSILLS were very underated talent, that were considered 'BUBBLEGUM POP", by most serious music fans. But, many of their songs have stood the test of time.
I love 'em all, I can talk for debate about the hidden social significance of the actual meaning of Yellow Submarine, yet your point is other wise well made. I love the flower girl. Only now, she is my Latina Caliente !!! Be well Davin...
This is why I love late sixties music. The Cowsills went from the wholesome clean cut poppy "Flower girl" 1967to the Rebellion of " Hair" in just two years. Wonderful time of musical change and experimentation.
Me too. Was 14 when I fell in love with this song. Even then I knew 1969 was the end of something. Maybe after years of war, assassinations, and cultural turmoil it was the final joyfull year of America's youthful adolescent innocence.
Whenever I come back from getting a haircut, my wife asks me how I like it, and I always say "There ain't no words for the beauty and the splendor and the wonder of my HAIR!"
This is so Excellent....Billy Cowsill and the Cowsills were so underrated what a GREAT BAND ...check out the rest of there music...it is AWESOME..I recently checked out the Blue Shadows with Billy Cowsill...so Great , what a great singer, he is now to me one of the GREATS!
This video is the best anti depressant! i smile every time i watch it. They are having so much fun. Bill especially is LOVING it. I am so glad they got their sound out there ... this was their best selling record and MGM nearly didn't let them do it.
The vocal arrangements and performance is amazing and brilliant…everything about this is amazing and brilliant. I heard it took 101 takes to get the basic tracks recorded…and it was worth it cuz they’re pretty much perfect. ❤
This song’s composition and production is extremely sophisticated and next level. That’s why I love their music. Glossy and pop on the surface, but extremely deep and intense underneath.
I’m 52 and I’ve never heard this song of theirs, and all I listen to is old rock. Seems like all you ever hear of them is "The Rain, the Park & Other Things".
Listen to those harmonies. The Cowsills had an enormous amount of talent and were such an enjoyable group. Only a family could give us such sweet and flawless musical purity! What an era of music.
![The Cowsills • “Indian Lake” • LIVE 1968 [Reelin' In The Years Archive]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BdCTYiGwmFA/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Cowsills • “Indian Lake” • LIVE 1968 [Reelin' In The Years Archive]](/img/tr.png)
This version is so very very much better than "Hair" from the musical. There's a whole 'nother level of energy and music and fun here. Wow
I agree!
I agree
My sister who was literally the Cowsill's biggest fan, met them backstage at the Ohio State Fair twice. She said they were some of the nicest people she ever met. She was in a wheelchair her whole life and died at the age of 21 in 1978. I think of her often, but I can't hear the Cowsill's without thinking of her. They really were and still are an underrated group!
Literally eh? Ok
SO glad she got to go! Always with you. Always a part of you. (now I'll never forget her either. What's her first name if you don't mind. Just her first name so I can remember her too-you don't forget a heart warming story like that and, her name - you probably already know) Thank you for telling this story.
@@marypowers3787 Thanks for your response here name was Toni. She was an amazing person. On her grave stone it says " her courage is an inspiration to us all " She's been gone over 40 years now and I still miss her.
@@alanmerritt860 I'm talking about my deceased sister and you want to criticize my wording? Very disrespectful!👎
@@alanmerritt860 Twerp
Just a bunch of kids put that together. From composing their own version to producing the video. All when the major record labels didn't want it. We still love and appreciate you today Cowsill family.
When you fall down a rabbit’s hole on RUclips, sometimes you end up finding a surreal masterpiece from another time!
This is the YT comment of the year.
Caroline - kindred youtube spirit, I’ve been down the COVID rabbit hole as well and found this gem. PS: Just saw the documentary “The Cowsills”. Excellent.
right there with ya
Wow . . . great comment! You're making all the other RUclips respondents look bad. :-)
what does that say for the ones of us who have been living in this rabbit hole since the sixties? I was the only white dude with an afro! Back in the day. It wasn't really an afro it was just curly as hell and.... I don't know it just stuck out everywhere in every direction. But what the hell it was hair!
This is possibly the best "music video" ever. A bunch of siblings cheerfully goofing off to a catchy tune. It's awesome.
Neither their record company or their (mis)manager father wanted them to record this so they did it in secret on a stereo reel to reel and pressed up a handful of 45s that they gave to the radio stations in Chicago, it shot to #1 in requests right away, at which time the record company decided it was ok after all!
I had no idea they were siblings!!! They were a bit before my time I was born June 59
C.J., Something about this video really resonated
with me. The timing, the hand gestures, the hair flips
are all done to perfection. Maybe the one characteristic
that knocks it out of the ballpark is the energy exuded by
everyone in the group. Too bad these kids did not get their
due thanks to their abusive father.
Then Daddy beat them…kicked out his son out of the group who wrote the music…drunkenly tried to rape his little daughter…made his oldest son enlist and go to Vietnam…was a drunk..and beat his wife and kids on a daily basis and stole all of their money….you know…only in America.
@@Nan-59so was I…how could they be a bit before your time…they were kids singing with their Mom…known worldwide when you were going to school and could understand and speak English…I had everyone of their records…my whole neighborhood did….your parents lock you in the basement.
You have to live in that era to understand the music and the meaning to it
Amen
I remember it.
Absolutely! That goes equally for the original stage play, and the 1979 film.
I was there - high school class of 72 checking in
Nah. In the 1990s, I was part of a Rocky Horror Shadowcast and we'd play this and gleefully let our freak flags fly as a bunch of gen X and a few young millennials. It might not be long hair any more, but there's always something that youth seizes on to define their separation from what came before. It's as natural and universal as music and dance itself. The lyrics change, but the song remains the same.
If I could push a button and be transported back to 1969, I'd be gone in a split second.
It was fun for me in 69
i agree
I was only 10! I'd be gone in a split second too.
@@alondralabute2310same!! I was 10 in 1969!🎉🎉🎉
@@Nan-59 How are you enjoying 65? Quite a difference from being 10 eh??
Dad started cussing every time this song came on the radio,… which was all the more reason to go buy the 45. Then he absolutely forbid it ever being played in our home. Take me back to the late 60’s ! Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair !
As I recall, the intended audience (young people) at the time generally thought this satirical cover and video by the squeaky-clean Cowsills was more funny than subversive, but yeah, I could see some members of the WW2 generation not finding it particularly amusing.
Hell yeah!
Your dad sounds like my mother. I couldn't even have long hair then because of her . I've got it now though
all they are saying is ; we were Neanderthals at one time in the past... and now what have we become ?!
Get a life
Saw them perform this with their mom at the Heart of Illinois fair in Peoria,Illinois,1971.
This is one of the most underrated songs in rock history
Its great
Agreed! In fact, gonna check who wrote the lyrics! I was in jr. high when this came out. I love it even more now than ever! Awesome stuff!🙌
@@davidcasillas285 I met the family years ago in Newport rhode Island
I have relatives in Newport and the cowsills were in a restaurant there and I had the pleasure of meeting them
This was around 1980
Love it! Way cool, good for you! 🙌@@lendrury2771
Facts
oh here it is - the idiotic "underrated" comment - this song sold millions and was a number one song in australia; canada; new zealand; south africa; united states ... hardly underrated.
The Cowsills were probably the most underrated group of musicians & singers in the industry. They were very real, genuinely great people who, at times, were years ahead of their time. Sad that their backstory wasn't very happy but they always managed to take the high road and overcome. I'm sure glad the surviving family members continue to perform. They'll always be aces in my book.
Can you direct me to any biographies or documentaries?
Nothing says underrated like 3 top 10 hits, countless magazine cover stories and a hit TV show based on your career. Silly remark. based
@@kennethshort2016the documentary “Family Band” is well done: honest, inspiring, endearing, frustrating, brutally sad and finally bittersweetly reaffirming. I saw it on Amazon Prime.
@@kennethshort2016 'family band: the cowsills story' is a good one
The " partridge family " became well known. Comparatively few knew of this band . They received no money or recognition for the " Partridge family ". @@jg6698
Their execution of this song is stunning. Perfect harmony, perfect blending. The song is actually pretty cool too, hair was a thing, my class of 1973, all the guys had fros and big muttonchop sideburns. This is great!
Class of 75.
No actors in a documentary or movie about The Cowsills could ever come even close to doing them justice - in their performance in this video.
The sad behind-the-
scenes... I wish I could forget...
They left - us... the world - a great musical legacy.
This song will be mine about 50 yrs after it was copyrighted - last I checked.
If my hair is still growing then... I'll be alright.
It wasn't easy.It took two days and 100 takes to get this song right.
Check out the story of the song and how the Cowsills "got it". Pretty neat story. That's right, I said neat.
They are amazing. Love every song!!
You couldn’t recreate this if you rendered all of hip-hop/pop-culture into one greasy pile, and poured a billion dollars over it…
Bill's voice- AMAZING
Bill Cowsill was a hell of a singer. The whole family could harmonize but Bill was a fantastic lead.
They were incredibly talented. I just thought they were a packaged band, packaged by their father. They were not.
@Hank Bridges Actually, Susan has a very nice voice. The remaining siblings are still touring. Talent ran in the family, but what an unhappy family it was, thanks to their father.
@Hank Bridges He controlled everything and everyone, including not allowing one of the brothers to even be in the band. And the money. Plus physical abuse. I just watched a documentary about them on Prime. Check it out if you can.
@Hank Bridges He was alcoholic abuser. He beat the crap out of the kids and his wife. But the remaining siblings are still close. It was very sad to watch that doc, but the fact that they still consider themselves a family tempered the sadness. They survived.
Seriously great harmonies!
I heard the original the other day . The Cowsills version is miles ahead in arrangement and production, one of the best vocal arrangements ever. They were incredibly talented people who suffered from a horrible home life, what a shame.
Their father was sadly mentally ill. Abusing his sons.
Sad that some of the greatest talent from this era had HORRIBLE fathers. Murray Wilson once hit son Brian (Beach Boys) so hard that it left him deaf in one ear. Joe Jackson (Jackson 5) smacked the boys around frequently and saw them as meal tickets to get out of that steel mill in Gary, IN. Bud Cowsill was physically abusive to the boys, molested Susan, and squandered the kids' earnings and left them with nothing. Bloody awful.
I was 6 when this song came out but I remember it so well my aunt had this record and played it a lot. I love The Cowsills.
Yes and there’s something going on there with that. It’s like somehow the abuse drives the success. Tina Turner, The Jackson 5, Murray Wilson and The Beach Boys to name a few. Phil Specter even said that when he emotionally abused someone all day and they were just about at their breaking point that that’s when the magic happened. And that “magic” sold a lot of records with an almost incomparable sound.
@@failranch9542 It's especially apparent with the Beach Boys. Brian Wilson fired his father Murry Wilson as their manager during the recording sessions for I Get Around. The result? I Get Around became their first #1 hit. The following year Brian invited his parents to come to a session for Help Me, Rhonda. Murry emotionally abused everyone in the group, especially Brian, for almost an hour. Again, the result? Help Me, Rhonda became their second #1 hit.
This never gets old...and I'm OLD!
If you think this song never gets old, you're younger than you think.
Me too lol.... The song gives me chills specially after hearing it 50 years after it first came out
I don't think of us as old but instead think of us as Classic, Antique or Vintage depending on which generation or decades we fall into.
@@thomascampbell5633 beautiful 🎉
Ditto!
I hope the Cowsills still alive read all these comments. Reading the comments myself chokes me up.
You people are all great fans.
Thank you, and for being a fan of the fans
Although this song was written for the musical "Hair", there were talks about cutting it. Because, nobody seems to like it when the show opened on Broadway. If it had not been for the Cowsills taking on this unappreciated gem and making it the anthem it became, this song would have been long forgotten by now. Now, how sad would that have been? As for this music video, I believe RUclips would be much sadder without it!
The Cowsills were a clean cut group that inspired the Partridge Family for pity's sake. But in the spirit of the times they went full on hippie for this. Outstanding video and one the iconic masterpieces in pop history.
It was the lead tune on KHJ back in the day. (LA's dominant top-40 rock station in 1968.) It was quite the anthem that Spring.
Check out the clean cut Cowsills on this vid: ruclips.net/video/MjlML0HvpPU/видео.html
The father was a demanding stage dad who destroyed the group. Such a shame
I remember KHJ!!! Yay LA!
The Cowsills were supposed to be in that TV series, but the producers didn't want their mother.
Their father said unless their mother was in the show, they would not accept the television show. The rest is history.
Never knew a video existed. Fabulous memory.
Saw them tonight at the Minnesota State Fair. What an honor to see them live. They still got it. Pitch perfect. I had tears in my eyes.
SO COOL!!!! 🙂
Everyone has to visit that fair at least once. good times!
The best rendition of Hair ever. Loved it from the first day it hit the airwaves
I had forgotten this wild but nice song. So many years have passed of not listening it, I was surprised to watch it again.
My understanding is Hair was submitted to a Chicago radio station with no name for the artist, a mystery artist so to speak, the fear was The Cowsills attached to it, the song never would of got a fair chance…Fortunately and happily 55 years later, it speaks for itself, a 60’s gem!
I find this a bit hard to believe. The song was already around due to the musical “Hair”. The musical was quite controversial so that may have been a reason for radio stations to be hesitant to air the song.
@@grumpyoldlady_rants It was a story that was told on The Cowsills documentary that I watched either on Showtime or a VH1 Behind The Music, just always remembered it…
It is a true story.
The four founding members of The Cowsills wanted to go back to their rock roots. Indeed, they took a record to a DJ and asked him to play it a couple of times without saying who was singing. It became a hit.
And yes, to those who say the song was already famous, the answer is yes. But it was part of the show's album. It became a singles hit after the Cowsills launched it!
This band could've been even more famous but their father was both a crook and a monster!
@@grumpyoldlady_rants No. Radio stations did not want to take a chance on The Cowsills because they hadn't had more hits after Flower Girl.
The producers of the musical Hair even congratulated the Cowsills for their single. Hair the play debuted in 1968. The single by them in 1969 and the movie Hair in 1979.
Great song! Thanks to WLS Chicago for playing this and making it a hit when their recording studio didnt even want to release it!
Lucky thing Mike Curb wasn't President of MGM Records when they decided to release "Hair" by the Cowsills as a single. When Curb took over MGM he had an anti-drug stance that resulted in many acts being dropped from the label, and why, until the label folded in 1976 - MGM sold the record division to PolyGram and was absorbed into Polydor - there were many "bland" acts such as the Osmonds, Sammy Davis, Jr., and C.W. McCall recording for the label. (By 1971 the Cowsills left MGM for London Records; none of their London singles and albums were hits.)
By the way - loved the "shatter" effect on the last note.
We could only get WLS AM at night cuz we were way down South. You better believe all us kids had the radio tuned to WLS from the 4th grade on!
@@WilliamWarfield-moax429 Well, let's be honest. Drugs ARE bad, aren't they? Sammy Davis, Jr. wasn't exactly bland. Roy Orbison was on MGM.
@@AJ-tp9bk Very true.
But after "The Candy Man," *none* of Davis' MGM singles or albums were hits.
And Orbison had *only three* Top 100 hits on MGM - "Ride Away," "Twinkle Toes," and "Cry Softly, Lonely One," but after "Cry Softly" peaked at #52 in July 1967 for one week and fell off the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks later, he had *no other* hits on MGM. (One perk of Orbison's MGM contract was that he would also make three movies for the parent company. *Only one* materialized - "The Fastest Guitar Alive" - and it was a *flop,* thus killing the chances of the other two films in Orbison's MGM contract being produced.)
@@WilliamWarfield-moax429 You definitely know your stuff! I've always been a fan of Roy, but, yeah, Fastest Guitar Alive was a real stinker and an embarrassment. Always cringed when I watched it. Just realized. Sammy and Roy both had Candy Man songs!
My god not only are they excellent musicians but that is some serious showmanship they did. Excellent group.
Yes where amazing this is my favorite song by them ... This is one of the greatest songs out there and it's from a TV show no wonder they made The Partridge family in honor of the cowsills because just looking at this song and hearing it gives me chills. I remember it from when I was a child and it doesn't get better than this
@@heavnnnsent Oh cool.
Who from the group still exist I know the Mom died
@@JohnJones-ej1ux my wife and i saw them in concert a couple of years ago at Coney Island. apparently, there are only 4 of them left: Susan, Bill, John and Bob. they were fantastic, to say the least
@@loveableurbanlemur what year was it like 2000
I can remember listening to the Cowsill's, drinking a coke & reading my favorite teen magazine Tiger Beat!
I don't remember them having many hits this is my favorite song from the cowsills imo definitely one of their best❤😊
Absolutely! And all the posters inside that magazine.. David Cassidy, Bobby Sherman and Donny Osmond! Great teen memories!
I know it was suppose to come off as goofy, but MAN... it's so clever at the same time.
One of the best produced songs of all time. Multiple tempo and key changes, and it flows seamlessly.
I must have watched and listened to this song twenty times this week. So good!
It was recorded without tape edits too. The had to lay down the instruments first with no editing. It was played live, no edits.
Never a fan of lip syncing. Loves the song. Childhood memories
Totally!!! !
@@thomastimlin1724 Just watched an interview with Bob. There was a LOT of editing that went into this production.
It's a video masterpiece, a performing arts masterpiece, and a musical masterpiece all in one. As much as it embraces hippiedom, it satirizes it too. This is a veritable gold mine.
Speaking of….note one of the boys was made to change into a dress at the end…and didn’t seem too happy about it. Not all in 1969 embraced the Hippie cultire😊
@@rogergleason
That isn’t one of the boys at the end. That’s the mom lol.
@@rogergleason There would be no problem with that today LOL
@@robertthacher-ro6bhunfortunately 😮
@@rogergleason Cross dressing wasn't a hippie trait or issue.
A bit of trivia. This was the first song they did where they played their own instruments without studio musicians. Not only could they sing, but they could play. One of the most underrated groups of all time. They were, and are, fantastic.
Shayla Knight
Here baby there mama everywhere daddy daddy never got that line
agreed Michael,every bit as good as the association,harpers bazaar or any harmony pop band of the sixties,classic stuff.jpj
The also produced it themselves.
Shayla..Didn't get it? They worked a whole family into the lyric..mother father and child
John Johnson imo .. the best harmony ensemble!
Interesting story ...When I was 10 in 1970 living in Queens NY My little brother and I were in our apartment laundry mat and we met Bill Cowsills! He sang Indian Lake and Hair for us! Nicest Guy! RIP Bill!
Not that interesting, but thank you for sharing, lol.
That IS interesting! how cool!
Definitely interesting and cool. Swamp Dweller is jealous of you
Not a chance. I doubt that story ever happened.
@@SwampDweller67 because it didn't happen to you
Those harmonies!
Remember hearing this song ONCE back in the day, and the line "Oh say can you see/my eyes? If you can/then my hair's too short" stuck firmly in my head forever after.
and spaghetti 😂😂
@@buckleysdead I know I walked around all day yesterday saying that lol.
I remember that part used to infuriate my career Navy father. He couldn’t turn the radio off fast enough when this song was out. Riding in his ‘68 GTX.
While these kids are so talented and got such a raw deal from their abusive father yet was able to showcase themselves. I'm same age and had that bad stuff in my life as well. They are a good example of how to move forward. Love y'all.
Their Mom did a great job giving them love and guidance.
Brother Barry suffered the most from their Dad's abuse, and he and Susan were living here in New Orleans, and Susan was doing a great job taking care of him and making sure he got proper medical treatment for his anxieties stemming from that abuse.
When Hurricane Katrina hit us in 2005, they evacuated , but Barry was worried about his cat, and went back to get it. They found Barry's remains in the attic of the house, trapped as he sought shelter from the rising waters.
It was a horrible time for all of us, but especially for Susan and the family.
We are so happy that Susan chose to remain here in Louisiana, and now that she's married to Russ Broussard, she is an official Rhode Island Cajun!
As much as I don't like to admit to it, I will confess that I sincerely hope that 'Bud' is burning in Eternal Hell for hurting and abusing our Cowsills. I appreciate Barbara's loving heart. She had to be one of the most courageous Women that I ever read about. RIP dear Barry and Barbara Cowsill.
I watched their story and man was it sad and abusive. Their father was not a good person and that's putting it lightly.
Danny Bonaduce from the Partridge Family had an abusive father, too.
He said Shirley Jones (the mom) was a second mother to him during his difficult childhood.
@@kellydoub9462 I saw that too. They were so good, and got the wrong end of the stick
I was 10 in 69 and wasn't allowed to watch Hair. Finally got to my freedom and my sister gave me her album after I saw the movie when I reached 18.❤
I was 12 in 69 the song is still great
Bill and Bob Cowsill arranged and produced this great single, as well as much of the Cowsills work after the first or second albums. Quite a feat for a couple of teenagers.
With that intensity of vocal sounds you'd think Phil Spector was involved but no...all themselves.
It was the age of Aquarius, this is the best performance of this song, from the Broadway play of the same name. A product of the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution. The Cowsills version is the best. I watch their videos today, and I am still in awe. They were so talented, with no training, all self taught. So incredible to see live in the late 60s.
Love the Cowsills.
I listen to Hair every day!
And now we know this ",counter culture" and sexual revolution was a carefully planned controlled opposition operation by various alphabet agencies. Read about how all the "hippies" converged upon Laurel Canyon (Dave McGowan). These big names: Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Cass Elliot, Beach Boys , Janis Joplin...all of them come from military and intelligence backgrounds. It was one of the most controlled eras of American history. Carefully planned. The ones who probably wouldn't stick with the script were 27'ed....
@@Hippiesquaw
Because you are one of the few genuine responses I've read about the 1960s from someone who was there, I take great interest in what you have to say. When you say "what?", please tell me how I can explain further. Don't forget to read Dave McGowan material on the intelligence project that eventually became the advent of Rock and roll.
It was the song Aquarius that was released the same week as Hair that kept the Cowsill version out of the number one spot.
Saw them in person at Duquoin (Illinois)State Fair in August 1969. 2.00$. Fantastic performances, just as good as studio quality. I was 17,my girlfriend 15. Been married 50 years. Life was fun then.
Wow you you guys married young. Congrats to the longevity!
Compared to the world today the 60s, 70s, 80s are looking pretty good to me and Lord please take me back!
The music back then was in a different league and so much better then today in so many ways.
Wait til you get to 2024…!
Has it really been 50 years since this first came out? I remember those days so clearly and with undying affection. I'm so happy to have been alive at the Dawn of the Age of Aquarius.
i was alive, but very young. i wish i had been born a little sooner....
I NEVER get sick of watching this! My cousin had the album and we played it over and over on the “console stereo” and danced around the living room. Brings me way the hell back. And I love it every time.
I love this, I'll be 65 on St Patrick's day and yes I still have long hair
Back when stereos were a piece of furniture !!!!
This was without a doubt the Cowsills at their best.
Jimbo 0117 Sorry to hear that.
Jimbo 0117 - That's a tough call between "Hair" or "The Rain, the Park, and Other Things".
Jimbo I agree, great song, great group, so much talent.
I liked "Indian Lake." I'm a sucker for a clever pop song
@@TheScunion Even though I disagree with your sarcastic comment, you still made me laugh.
The Cowsills never got the recognition they so deserved..... amazing and so extremely talented!
What the hell you talking about? The TV series ( Partridge Family) was based on them. Get an education.
I don't know that that is true...they inspired the television show; "THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY"! And I had family members who were in Vietnam who loved their sweet sounding music...think; "THE PARK, RAIN, AND OTHER THINGS" (Or as I always referred to it; "THE FLOWER GIRL"). My Uncle says sometimes hearing their songs made him smile...even when there wasn't much to smile about. It wasn't like PROTEST music...it was more along the line of romantic stuff...tugged at the heart strings!!!!
I remember when I was a small kid in Vietnam years ago, with whatever English I had I wrote them a letter expressing my admiration and love, to my surprise they WROTE back, along with an LP disc, a whole set of photo of each member with their own signature! I was absolutely stunned by their kindness! And they become a treasure in my closet! I will never forget them for the rest of my life !❤❤❤❤❤
As a bald man, I approve of this.
Not bald, follicly challenged. 😁
ha ha good 1 bro...
As a bald guy? Me too.
Cousin IT also approves 😄
I'll keep my hair long for you.
In April 69 my parents brought me to the US where I was exposed to this song. My cousin and I played the MGM 45 until it wore out. I went home to England to a land that hadn't heard of The Cowsills. I couldn't understand why this song wasn't a massive hit in the UK . I thought it was the greatest record I had ever heard. I still love it. This video is buried treasure. Unbelievable talent.
I can't hear this song without a tinge of sadness. My hair's been gone for about 45 years now. Such beautiful hair. I miss it so much.
I Just LOVE Being Around Back Then..Wanna Go Back!
John Cowsill did a fine job on the drum track. I think he was 12 when they recorded this.
Several bands were competing for the chance to do this song, in studio .
The documentary told a few things . There was much more... Barry alluded to it. But I think we know. Those who have been there, we sense it. God rest his soul . he went thru so much
I grew up with the Cowsills, loved their music, it was part of the backdrop of my youth. Here I sit 63 years old and combed out my long flowing, flaxen, waxin' down to the middle of my backsin hair. LOL
Any guy 63 that actually has hair as you describe belongs in a home, it's true and I'm older than that. However love the production, the song and of course the Cowsills.
I have this attribute and I sleep with big cat, so stay in your homes, the woods have more of us, and we are coming back into "home", encroached, from Nam to none, we love our hairy buddies and our bald eagles too, just -no Nazi's please... the clarity of the comments, makes my heart freeze, I get it. You prefer such to be "institutionalized". Come and try. I know more laws, drawn more short straws, and still, I thrive. Lovin' the song, the substance and of course, the humor. I am only a kid, just 59, play baseball with guys half my age, they are distracted by something called an "Android"... maybe they belong at home, gets rugged in the field. I go over to the Dominican and play ball there in Punta Kana, where they play like their lives have to qualify depending and whew! nah, can't keep up with them even in my prime. Now then, I had hair down to my rugged bum. Jail was a 2nd home, until Uncle Sam found the use for me, a one man daisy cutter, so my ear M S try and live with those images in your head, had no choice, yet did I even belong where I was taken, ever been in the cages... it makes a man stand apart, outside, find out who we are, sometimes it takes a lot of women a lot of hair, I wish I could say drugs too, yet that would be in err, I have always been just trippy. My family all goes bald by 40, so my only 'splanation is let is grow and it may still want to when you find yourself mirrored in the stream water, or in your home mirror, haha, the one that is shaped oval and bent just a bit, makes us all look better. Be well M S, and please, don't diss the hairy. I live in a hippie town, I do not fit here at all. Yet I love the freaks the tourists, stay with the puma in the woods here, me and my Sweet Caroline, come visit us here of 17 down by Santa Cruz, CA, here in Wildcat Canyon or just go enjoy the 27 nude beaches, you will also see, many trim their topiary, uh- well, yet have a lot of hair, I love the taste of those particular women, so brazen and bold, such tigress for the tiger to hold and the fur flies, the waves glide, still, all that smoke that's in the air, and all that hair on the Pacific Avenue 60s Fair... damn I gotta move back to the city again, and almost cut my hair. Hmmm. Sounds too familiar... Oh well, another familiar song, haha, and the beat goes on...
You said it David. 61 and I just cut my hair for the first time in many years. Leaving 2 foot long grey hair everywhere !!
I was one of those with very long hair, in my youth as well as in adulthood. Just the way it was. Now I look like every other old guy from my generation. I'm just glad I have hair these days. hehehehe.
As a teen in the 60's , of course I had long hair . And I'll never forget that boot camp haircut in THE MARINE CORPS. Soon after training in 73 I was sent to Saigon in Nam , still listening to my beloved Cowsills ! I am now 65 and letting my grey hair grow down my back !
Your good friend Vinny in good old Fla.
I'm only 50 but as a teenager in the 80's I was one of the long haired rebels but now not rebellious but still long haired.
I thought about cutting it but ran into a guy who obviously was the 60's Hippie and when he saw my long locks shouted to "Don't cut the hair brother" and flashed me the peace hand gesture from back in that day.
Man could they sing harmony! Great version of this song. I remember I was in 4th or 5th grade when it was playing all over the radio. A frigging masterpiece! 101 takes to get the base track down. 2 eight track mixers tied together for 16 tracks. The kids did it all. The Beatles couldn't have done better! In addition, the choreography was outstanding. Extremely complicated shots.
100%
Unfortunately they don't make songs like this anymore. That's so much better than the shit they call music today.
Isn't that the truth?
May 1970. Banks High Birmingham Al. Last day for Seniors. We,myself and 2 friends, played this song and several others over the school intercom system during 2nd period. To say that the school administration was pissed would be a MAJOR understatement! They couldn't turn it off, but they knew who to summon to the office. Threatened to not let us graduate, but they couldn't prove we did it. I still smile when I think about it 50 years latter!
You can tell they had a blast doing that song. Very underrated group!
If anyone thinks that the late Bill Cowsill wasn't a terrific producer, then listen to the excellent production values in this song, keeping in mind that this was The Cowsills' first song that was produced by Bill Cowsill. You can also hear Bill's superb skill as a producer in his work with later bands like The Blue Shadows. The man was mega-talented!
How about John Cowsill laying down the drum track? He was what, 12 here?
@@HankFinkle11 These days he's touring with The Beech Boys touring band.
My fifth grade buddy and I would listen to this song ten times in a row and not get sick of it! It was a real hit in ‘69! Still love it!🥳
In the 1980s I used to watch Billy Cowsill play in the house band at the Fairview pub in Vancouver. I also saw him in Blue Northern. Terrific singer.
I saw John Cowsill performing with the Beach Boys many years ago in Benton Harbor, MI. I was so thrilled!
A gem. These guys were talented! What a trip down memory lane. Life goes by so fast.
Here I am at 69 and didn't even know this song was done by the Cowsills. Whoa, I must have been isolated!
Same here! I'm 63, and I remember this song playing on the radio all the time during my childhood, but I never knew that the Cowsills sang it until the other day, and was totally shocked to find that out.
@@ancilladomini6553I never knew they sang the title song to “Love American Style”.
This is perhaps the single greatest, most bizarre, hilariously entertaining, un-freakin'-believable video that I have ever seen!
I admire how Bill and the Cowsills stepped outside of their box to create this song! Absolutely one of their best songs!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
ruclips.net/video/4NuaQetsDbk/видео.html George Harrison and John Lennon tried to get various labels to publish this, but it was 1969 and no one would touch it, so they released it themselves as a VERY limited-edition single on Apple. These naturally command a decent price now.
They were ahead of their time 👏
Mi padre que en paz descanse me presentó esta canción cuando tenía unos 20, 21 años aproximadamente, me encantó demasiado ❤️💖 ahora que la he vuelto a escuchar recuerdo a mi papá que falleció el 5 de febrero del 2022 a causa de la pandemia, pero a pesar de lo sucedido yo no dejo de escuchar las canciones que él escuchaba en vida. Hoy a mis recién cumplidos 30 años puedo decir que mi papá me dejó un bonito regalo al presentarme esta joya 💖❤️ papá dónde quiera que estés.... Te extraño mucho y sabes que te amo demasiado 💕 te mando un abrazo dónde quiera que te encuentres 😇🐦
There was a bar in Silver Lake Hollywood where I drove the bartender crazy playing this song over and over night after night. Forty years later and I still find it exhilarating.
Such a great country America once was so much creativity and imagination in the population
More optimistic.
Once.
Yep.
😔
Yeah, but our parents thought it was going to hell back then because of all the damned hippies and their long hair!
Susan Cowsill steals the show in every clip! My two older brothers are _still_ in love with her!
I generally don't like heavily produced songs, but this is just an outstanding exception!
The harmonies give me chills every time I listen to the Cowsills
easily remedied: don't listen
Me too got real
Me too....for real. When I was a kid I didn't realize how incredibly amazing this song is. Everything about it is perfect
I actually bought this song as a single when it fist came out. I'm falling in love with it again + video, here and now! : - )
Crazy Video. This was before what we call "Music videos". Their theatrics and voices were perfect. The Video was ground breaking and the song is timeless. They were a really good Band!
Agreed!
Kudos to whoever directed this little gem.
Dead skunk
you know this was lip synch shot on a single cameras and multiple takes right?
@@tabletopwarrior nope these boomers fantasy flashbacks don't process facts.
The Beatles had done it from a few years before, but, among the earliest, yes.
This is just great. I loved this as a ten year old and love it at 63.
Wow! Bill is sellin' it! So good and entertaining. Watching this is so energizing and uplifting. Wasn't aware of this video before. What a gem. All of the Cowsills are good singers. Bill is exceptional so as to be almost perfect. Such a rich and clear voice. I really appreciate how each word is sung with absolute clarity and quite distinct. And there's something about the gap in Bill's two front teeth that I find charming giving him a certain mischievous playfulness.
Agree, Billy worked Vancouver clubs and was friendly. Total talented depth throughout the clan!
Billy was on guitar at the beginning.
Reminds me of Jim Carey in "Dumb and Dumber." They played the Cowsill's biggest hit, "The Rain the Park and Other Things" in that movie anyway
Very much a British look, even though American. Loved this song. Didn't realize their real lives were such a nightmare
Bill was the eldest and leader of the group until their father/manager kicked him out in 1969.
It astounds me how such unspeakable talent never got the notoriety it deserved. To have that much talent in one family is truly a miracle. Their story is very sad and ultimately tragic-- especially with regard as to what ultimately happened to Billy, Barry and Richard. I am thankful that RUclips makes it possible for millions of new people, young and old, to be able to hear and appreciate this amazing group of talented musicians and all-around wonderful human beings. Their story needs to be made into a movie.
Yup, so much amazing talent in one family, and wonderful people too!
There is an older documentary here on YT. But a new version would be very welcome.
It actually has been made into a movie, "Family Band". Last I checked you could watch it on Amazon Prime. That inspirational documentary made me a Cowsills fan for life.
i would not want that. you would have to include their drunken,abusive father in it
I so remember when this song came out. Everyone loved it and went around singing it. No one at that time knew it was the Cowsills. It was the rock anthem of that time period !!!!!
I remember hearing this on the radio when I was a kid.
This is a memory from my childhood. I recall running around with my sister and singing this, laughing and slinging our hair around wildly! I thought of it yesterday when I was vacuuming and had a good dance!😂😂❤
Masterpiece. The sound makes you think there is a stage full of singers. Truly amazing
As a child of the ‘60’s, who knew the lyrics to every song in Hair..this is just one of the greatest things I’ve ever stumbled upon on the interwebs ……..bloody marvellous.
One of the best pop songs of the 60s!! The COWSILLS were very underated talent, that were considered 'BUBBLEGUM POP", by most serious music fans. But, many of their songs have stood the test of time.
Songs like Yellow Submarine are goofy as it gets plus it sounds like shit. The media probably made the Cowsills seem not serious or not authentic.
I love 'em all, I can talk for debate about the hidden social significance of the actual meaning of Yellow Submarine, yet your point is other wise well made. I love the flower girl. Only now, she is my Latina Caliente !!! Be well Davin...
amazing writing!
A song hardly "stands the test of time" when it NEVER gets played on radio.
The Cowsills had talent and performed some excellent tunes, like this one.
One of the best songs of it's time, God, they were so talented!
I still remember all the words, always loved that song.
This is the greatest thing I've ever seen!!!
This is why I love late sixties music. The Cowsills went from the wholesome clean cut poppy "Flower girl" 1967to the Rebellion of " Hair" in just two years. Wonderful time of musical change and experimentation.
All these years of loving this song and only today I searched in RUclips and I saw this masterpiece.
Me too. Was 14 when I fell in love with this song. Even then I knew 1969 was the end of something. Maybe after years of war, assassinations, and cultural turmoil it was the final joyfull year of America's youthful adolescent innocence.
Whenever I come back from getting a haircut, my wife asks me how I like it, and I always say "There ain't no words for the beauty and the splendor and the wonder of my HAIR!"
ROFL!!!! Hilarious! And your wife probably just rolls her eyes. Am I right?? ;-)
@@tracycapilot2002 How'd you know? ;-)
😄
Lol
First time I've seen this clip. Outstanding harmony, but Bill takes it to another level...just wow!
Absolutely Brilliant. Wonderful song . Reflects the time I was growing up in the 60’s . They really did this well.
This is so Excellent....Billy Cowsill and the Cowsills were so underrated what a GREAT BAND ...check out the rest of there music...it is AWESOME..I recently checked out the Blue Shadows with Billy Cowsill...so Great , what a great singer, he is now to me one of the GREATS!
I dunno why im here just watching my grandpa's song (yes, billy is or "was" my grandpa, but im ten so i never got to meet him.
@@swi_z8822 You have something to be very proud of! He was a part of music History....one of the Greats!!
I saw them live in 1969 in Texas. I've seen many famous groups but they made the biggest impression on me. And this video is an all-time classic.
This video is the best anti depressant! i smile every time i watch it. They are having so much fun. Bill especially is LOVING it. I am so glad they got their sound out there ... this was their best selling record and MGM nearly didn't let them do it.
They were good friends with someone I know and often played at my high school in the early 60's as they started off.
RIP Barbara, Bill and Barry. Gone but not forgotten.
My son is 6, 2019. He loves this song. My mom introduced it to me. I introduced it to him. The hippies got the music right.
I remember my parents had this 45. The b side was a song called "What is happy?" l loved that song too!
That song instantly bring me back to the 60s when i was growing up. So awesome.
this is a brilliant work of art
Agreed! Song & video are perfect. Love it!!!!
I find something refreshing every time....that's Art
When I was very young I did not like this song because it seemed too harsh - but today I love it !
The vocal arrangements and performance is amazing and brilliant…everything about this is amazing and brilliant. I heard it took 101 takes to get the basic tracks recorded…and it was worth it cuz they’re pretty much perfect. ❤
This song’s composition and production is extremely sophisticated and next level. That’s why I love their music. Glossy and pop on the surface, but extremely deep and intense underneath.
I’m 52 and I’ve never heard this song of theirs, and all I listen to is old rock. Seems like all you ever hear of them is "The Rain, the Park & Other Things".
Listen to those harmonies. The Cowsills had an enormous amount of talent and were such an enjoyable group. Only a family could give us such sweet and flawless musical purity! What an era of music.