It’s always weird when knock offs end up gaining more notoriety than the originators of whatever schtick. And for the Cowsills, it must have been doubly bothersome considering the musical and theatrical implications of their career. Instead of becoming one of the first cross over stars, each of the group members eventually moved on after the group to lead relatively normal lives if not for a few brief stints with the Beach Boys’ travelling band. But that’s show business. And unfortunately, a few chance decisions probably led the brothers and sisters that made up the Cowsills to their end.

When Billy and Bob, two of the eldest siblings, learned guitar in Canton, Ohio as their father, Bud, was stationed there as a Navy Recruiter, they probably wouldn’t have guessed that they would soon wind up on a Cleveland morning show to perform. They did though. And upon relocating to Rhode Island and enlisting a few more of their brothers and sisters, the Cowsills began performing at various parties, functions and even secured a weekly gig at some watering hole. The following half decade or so was comprised of various relatives being enlisted – including their mother, Barbara – as the group occasionally kissed the top of the charts with a series of slight, albeit sound and enjoyable singles and albums.

Based upon the Cowsills’ relative success and the fact that marketing the group wasn’t going to be too difficult with that built in familial hook, Columbia Pictures’ TV department sent some Hollywood types around to see if they’d be able to work up a sitcom. But based upon the corporate decision to replace mother Barbara with an actor, the family balked at the offer only to have The Partridge Family rear its head a few years later.

Despite not making it to the small screen, the group, whose first period could be considered to be from ’67–’71 or so, was able to release about two full lengths per year during this time. All may not have been chart topers and most included more than a few covers, but some of the material released seems as strong today as other bubble gum related rock getting slung at the time. This is no Beach Boys replacement and while the Cowsills might only be a step removed from the Monkees, the music is no less enjoyable. Towards the end of the group’s career, the 1970 disc II x II even presented some rockers amidst the veritably expected shimmering pop.

The Cowsills’ disc still isn’t a hard rock effort, but the brief inclusion of organ on “Anything Changes” exhibits the fact that the group’s principals were paying attention to what was transpiring in the psych scene that was in the throngs of morphing into a more obnoxious prog rock. That’s not represented here, but anyone interested in material of that sort is going to wanna get an ear full of “Signs,” which comes across as something befitting of The Notorious Byrd Brothers. Unfortunately, this disc was the group’s penultimate offering, soon splintering while a few siblings made a swipe at solo careers or even some normal lives.