1/23/07 The Cowsills “Beautiful Beige” (1968)[UPDATED with way more accurate lyrics,
thanks to a helpful Cowsills fan in the comments]Technically, we only lost one of the Cowsills in 2006. Billy Cowsill—one of the creative forces behind the band’s best work—passed away from natural causes. His troubled brother Barry had died in 2005 amongst the chaos of Hurricane Katrina, although his body’s identification wasn’t announced until January of last year.
The entire family is a pretty strange tale. It’s no secret that The Cowsills were the models for the Partridge Family. They could have just as easily been the models for the
Loud Family. Most people will assume that we’re saluting The Cowsills for being a wholesome presence amongst a decadent rock scene. In truth, their transition from sunshine pop to bizarre psychedelic made them unlikely countercultural heroes.
The band’s take on the hippie Broadway anthem “Hair” was a rare case of bubblegum blowing up in the face of the record industry. It’s reportedly the only song to have ever been banned from airplay for the Vietnam troops. The Cowsills weren’t trying to impress their detractors, though—as best demonstrated with 1968's “Beautiful Beige.”
The opening lines alone are fighting words. The rest—as composed by Bill, Bob, and frequent collaborator Arthur Kornfeld—is a celebration of the band’s unrelenting positivity. Simply ponder the significance of that song title. The Cowsills are claiming their own sweet ghetto, dismissing both day-glo fantasy and folksy brooding. See for yourself (
although we can't guarantee our transcription of two lines in the final verse; psychedelia’s a difficult language):
You told me, my friend, what’s on your mind
Now I’ll tell you what’s on mine
Black is black and white is white
You're so hung up on day and night
Is it that important to you?
Can you let the dark come shinin' through?
A searchin' hand says come and greet me
Be a friend and don't defeat me
You say that the day is lighter
I say that the stars can be bright, too
Let Beautiful Beige come into your mind,
Beautiful Beige come into your mind
Let Beautiful Beige come into your mind
Like it came into mine
A violet in the field is growing
You're afraid to touch, not knowing
That its petals cannot hurt you,
Don't you think it's time you learn to love?
Your windowsill is lined with lilies
And other white assorted sillies
Planted within golden cups
But is there any diff'rence up above?
Let Beautiful Beige come into your mind
Like it came into mineThe Cowsills broke apart, but never truly broke up. The self-proclaimed “Core Four”—Bob, Paul, John, Susan—persevered as an underheard power-pop outfit through the ’80s and ’90s. Susan, Bob, and Paul reunited for an oldies bill at a New Year’s Eve show last December in Las Vegas. We’ve been in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve. We still would’ve gone back for that.
Make it your own: “Beautiful Beige” is from 1968's uniformly fine
We Can Fly. For the best of the Cowsills, though, go with 2006’s
Painting The Day: The Angelic Psychedelia of the Cowsills. This 23-track comp pairs The Cowsills’ vital singles with a complete reissue of 1970’s gorgeous concept album
II x II. Both of these CDs include "Mr. Flynn," a touching song where The Cowsills join the ranks of
The Kinks in complaining about union men.
Susan Cowsill also released her debut solo album in 2005 at the age of 46 (!).
Just Believe It was a smart move, as the popular New Orleans artist ditched her earlier Americana for a wiser take on ’60s-influenced pop.
