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YouTubeMeet Bob, Paul and Susan Cowsill
The Cowsills reached the Top 40 four times in the 1960s with “The Rain, The Park & Other Things,” “We Can Fly,” “Indian Lake” and “Hair.” Additionally, their 1969 flip side “Love, American Style” was used as the theme for the television show of the same name. Bob, Paul and Susan Cowsill have toured often in recent years with their Cowsills show, including the next generation of Cowsills in the band, and have entertained so many oldies fans with their sibling harmonies on The Happy Together Tour.
The all-American singing group hail from Newport, Rhode Island. They were six siblings noted for performing professionally and singing harmonies at an early age, later with their mother. The band was formed in early 1965 by brothers Bill, Bob, and Barry Cowsill; their brother John joined shortly thereafter. Originally Bill and Bob played guitar and Barry played the drums. When John learned to play drums and joined the band, Barry began playing bass. After their initial success, the brothers were joined by their siblings Susan and Paul along with their mother, Barbara. A seventh sibling, Bob’s fraternal twin brother Richard, was never part of the band during its heyday, although he occasionally appeared with them in later years. When the group expanded to its full family membership by 1967, the six siblings ranged in age from 8 to 19. Joined by their mother, Barbara Cowsill (née Russell), the group inspired the 1970s television show The Partridge Family. Watch my interview with the trio below.
Latest Album: Rythm of the World
Some of the best music made in the last 60 years has been delivered by musical families. Think about it… The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, Bee Gees, The Jackson 5, The Staple Singers, Pointer Sisters, Kings Of Leon, Oasis… and The Cowsills! As all families do, the group went through a series of changes, disbanding in 1972. But music never left the soul of this tuneful and melodic kin. Over the years, the group, as individuals, continued to make music and even reunited in 1978 and 1993 to make historic records that are woefully out of print. Now, nearly 30 years after their last recordings as a group, The Cowsills have returned with new music for the new wSome of the best music made in the last 60 years has been delivered by musical families. Think about it… The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, Bee Gees, The Jackson 5, The Staple Singers, Pointer Sisters, Kings Of Leon, Oasis… and The Cowsills! As all families do, the group went through a series of changes, disbanding in 1972. But music never left the soul of this tuneful and melodic kin. Over the years, the group, as individuals, continued to make music and even reunited in 1978 and 1993 to make historic records that are woefully out of print. Now, nearly 30 years after their last recordings as a group, The Cowsills have returned with new music. It’s 11 new songs written by the band.
McEnroe - on digital download now
This is an awesome documentary! John McEnroe personally reflects on his epic, tumultuous career and personal life – an intimate documentary about one of the most explosive and compelling sporting icons of all time. He was an era-defining talent, #1 in the world 4 consecutive years, but also a man prone to self-destruction. It’s this internal conflict that drove John to the very top, and very nearly broke him too. “completely unseen film archive home video footage Contributions from his kids and his wife Patty Smyth provide a level of intimacy that takes the film beyond a mere sports biopic and into the realms of something deeply personal and confessional. Featuring icons such as Billie Jean King, Bjorn Borg and Keith Richards, the film brings to life a golden age of tennis.
KT Tunstall on the road to success
Kate Victoria Tunstall, better known as KT Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. She broke into the public eye with a live solo performance of her song “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” on Later… with Jools Holland. KT has enjoyed commercial and critical success since, picking up three nominations before winning a BRIT Award, and a Grammy Award nomination. She is also the recipient of an Ivor Novella award. KT started her career in 2000 and throughout her twenties, played in indie bands and focused on songwriting.
The buzz surrounding her performance pushed a reissue of the album, Telescope in the U.K., though it wasn’t until 2006 that it was released in the U.S. In addition to winning Best British Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards, she was nominated for a Mercury Prize and a Grammy. Meanwhile, singles “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree” and “Suddenly I See” continued to fare well on American adult alternative radio. The album was later certified multiplatinum and sold millions of copies worldwide. Later that year, KT Tunstall’s Acoustic Extravaganza came out. She has released seven albums internationally all up. KT has written music and songs for film soundtracks including “Boy” for The Kid, “Miracle” for Winter’s Tale, “We Could Be Kings” for Million Dollar Arm; “Float”, “Strange Sight” and “1000 Years” for Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast; “Fit In” for About Ray; and “Bad Moms (Suite)”, “Enough is Enough (Suite)” and “Get Your Tits Up (Suite)” for Bad Moms.
Latest album 'Nut'
For all of the music on NUT, KT wanted to give stylistic boundaries to the songs based on patterns, and the idea of pattern learning and repetition. She says “I wanted to try and emulate the way that our brain works with what you are hearing. I knew from the outset that the album would centre around rhythm.” Drawing on her love of West African grooves KT focused on music with straightforward riffs and grooves. The bustling, beat-heavy “Synapse” and the urgent, synth-driven “I Am The Pilot” in particular burst with explosive rhythms”. You can check out the album and our interview in this week’s show.
Pavlov's Dog - David Surkamp
Pavlov’s Dog was originally composed of vocalist David Surkamp, guitarist Steve Levin, keyboardists David Hamilton and Doug Rayburn, bassist Rick Stockton, drummer Mike Safron, and violinist Siegfried Carver (born Richard Nadler). Levin left the band during their inaugural year and was replaced by Steve Scorfina (formerly of REO Speedwagon). Carver departed the band following the release of the band’s debut album Pampered Menial. Pampered Menial was released in 1975 and reached cult status. For their second album At the Sound of the Bell (1976), a raft of guest artists contributed to the album, including jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker and Roxy Music’s Andy MacKay. This line-up of the band remained until their dissolution in 1977.
The band recorded a third album in 1977, but due to poor sales of the first two albums, Columbia refused to release it, hastening the band’s split. The third album appeared as a bootleg in the 1980s, a limited edition pressed from stolen master tapes. It was released under the name The St. Louis Hounds, without Pavlov’s Dog credited on the sleeve. The third album finally was titled Has Anyone Here Seen Sigfried?, remastered, appended with 10 bonus tracks of unreleased material from the 1970s, and released legally in 2007 by German label Rockville Music. The German label TRC bootlegged the album, under the title Third, but this version does not include the bonus tracks. When the band split up in the late 1970s, Surkamp was rumored to be dead, although in fact he was working with Ian Matthews on a band named Hi-Fi. While living in Seattle, this group was successful on the club scene. Today they are reformed and playing once more. Take a listen to my chat with David Surkamp – it’s fascinating stuff!
