Cowsills – Cocaine Drain

This is a band I never really thought about posting, although they had some huge hits in the ’60s. This is NOT what I was expecting from the Cowsills.  This song has a Linda Rondstadt/Clapton 1970s feel to it. The album Cocaine Drain Plus 6 was recorded in 1978 but not released until 2008. Paul, John, Barry, Bob, and Susan Cowsill are on this one and worked with Chuck Plotkin. Billy or his mom wasn’t on this album. Susan does most of the singing, and when you hear her grown up…you understand why. 

Susan Cowsill was just a little girl when she joined her brothers in the ’60s. Here she is, just 19 years old, and she belts out this song and others. Like I said, it does have a Ronstadt feel, and she is a very good singer. The band sounds really good. John Hall wrote this song. Critics at the time caught them live playing this song and really liked it. 

Since the band was pigeonholed, they would perform under different names like The Secrets and The Critics in the 1970s. They got together in 1978 after playing in Los Angeles at the time. The album was never completed, and at some point, the master tapes were lost. For almost 30 years, the album existed only as a scratchy acetate. An acetate played like an old 45. They were created for demo or publishing purposes NOT for selling.

In March 2008 a version of the album was finally released, remastered from that acetate under Bob Cowsill’s direction. Several other previously unreleased tracks were included in the 2008 release. After the Cocaine Drain sessions, the Cowsills did some reunion shows in 1979–1980 but returned to their separate careers after that.

Audiophiles here will not be happy, as these are obviously recorded from acetate, and the hisses and pops of any 30-year-old LP are apparent. If they couldn’t get it released when it was recorded, they obviously couldn’t afford high remastering to clean it up, and the value in this release is that we finally get to hear these songs AT ALL. But there are only so many things you can do now, though it probably COULD be cleaned up. I like that the proceeds went straight to the band, as it was released to Apple via their self-owned Robin Records label. It was released as MP3s only. 

They have some good songs on there, and the album is not bad at all. Spotify doesn’t have it, but HERE is a link to the album on YouTube. I added a bonus song called That Particular Way from the same album. 

Cocaine Drain

I remember you,
When you were the talk of town.
You always said,
Hello and goodbye.

You looked me right in the eye.
I could be sure of you,
You’d never lie.
You’re so different now.
Are you going down that Cocaine Drain.

Now you’re up all night (up all night),
Feelin’ like a shining star.
But with the Lord in mind,
Let you forget who you really are (really are).

You’re a fragile thing after all.
Remember that even a heavenly body can fall.
And I’m afraid you’re fallin’, (fallin’)
Falling down that Cocaine Drain.
(I’m afraid, afraid you’re fallin’)
Falling down that Cocaine Drain.
(Cocaine Drain)

Now you’re keeping up,
With some pretty fancy company. (fancy company)
But if things get rough,
You know you can always come to me.
(Come to me)

But please don’t wait too long.
I’ve known a few before you who are already gone.
And I don’t want to see you (I don’t want to see you)
Slipping down that Cocaine Drain.
(Cocaine Drain)

I can’t stand by to see you
Slipping down that Cocaine Drain.
I don’t want to see you
(I don’t want to see you)
Slipping down that –
(I don’t want to see you) Cocaine Drain.
Slipping down that Cocaine Drain.
(I don’t want to see you)
Slipping down that Cocaine Drain.
(I don’t want to see you)
Slipping down that Cocaine Drain.
(I don’t want to see you).

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

44 thoughts on “Cowsills – Cocaine Drain”

    1. Thanks Carl…I’m damn exhausted! I just got back from Atlanta….we drove back and then I had to follow him to return the car…then take him home across Nashville home on the other side…then I got home lol.

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  3. People will laugh, but I don’t care…I like The Rain, the Park and Other Things. I think it’s a perfect example of its genre…squeaky clean, AM radio hit playing up to the hippie sensibilities of the day. There are other such examples that don’t display any vestiges of artistry whatsoever–but The Rain, the Park and Other Things does.

    The Cowsills have a very dark back story–dominant, abusive husband/father that forced his family of gifted musicians into a pigeonhole of a musical style they didn’t want to play.

    I’ve never heard anything from the Cocaine Drain Album…didn’t even know it existed. I think it’s excellent. This is the music they wanted to play and they play it well. Good stuff.

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    1. They did have some very good pop songs…and yea…I’ve just been reading and watching some documentaries on them. Their father was a piece of work. A few of them died young like Billy Cowsill with drug problems that had a root in dear old dad.

      She sounds really good in this Pam. Like I said in the post…a mix between what Clapton was doing musically and her voice game me a Ronstadt feel.

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      1. A more restrained Ronstadt feel, I think. Ronstadt can show off, but I don’t get that from Susan Cowsill. She not trying to prove anything. It’s more organic to me.

        Don’t get me wrong…I’m a big fan of Linda Ronstadt. But to me Susan has more of a Karla Bonoff feel, which is a huge complement. And, of course, Bonoff sang back up for Ronstadt for years. But yeah, Clapton, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris…

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      2. Randy just mentioned that Susan has a solo album in 2010…I’m going to check that out.
        I get what you are saying about restrained. She sings for the song not for the effect. I’m a huge Ronstadt fan as well.
        I never heard of Karla Bonoff …I’ll check her out.

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      1. Oh I had a bunch of those back in the day. I listened to Top 40 radio until I was a freshman in high school; then I became a rocker and anything Top 40, R&B and Disco was anathema. (New Wave, I made an exception for.)

        But that was a long time ago. I’m to old for that stuff. I like what I like. 😊

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  4. This is news to me Max. A couple of great tunes. I love Susan’s voice and bought her album Lighthouse from, and I had to check this, 2010. Which it seems she did well after this was recorded. Quite the amazing find, but that’s what you do. Hope you get rested up!

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    1. Randy…it’s good to talk to you again! Yes I really like both songs and her voice is absolutely right on the mark.
      Well now I want to check her album out. I only knew her as a little kid…her voice is so strong and confident on both of these. Thanks Randy

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  5. for some reason I’ve been on the fence about learning musicians, or really anyone’s history, especially written by someone else, but the Cowsill’s story is horrifying, but well, then there was the Jackson brothers, Britney Spears…and not even this stuff, the stories about the Monkees and how important Don Kirshner thought he was…good tune though…

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    1. Yea…Warren I liked the song when I heard it…it does change it to know he basically threw his kids to the wolves…that is horrifying.
      I just recently learned their history…it all started with you reccomending Cowsill’s Canadian band…I never knew much about the Cowsills except the hits..

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  6. A surprise Thursday post of a surprise album! I don’t know much about the Cowsill – 1) gave idea for Partridge Family, 2) one good hit with the weird title (the rain, the park, the girl…or whatever it’s called. Nice pop song, forgettable name), 3) one of them, John I believe is married to The Bangles Vicki and now sings with Smithereens. I probably should learn more. Not a bad voice on this one. Good job digging up a ‘lost ‘ album!

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    1. Yea it’s very obvious what era it was recorded in but compared to their other earlier stuff…you really can’t! But it’s a good solid song and I love her vocals Dave.
      Oh yea…I read about Vicki…I think she plays with them some also when the Cowsills play places….but I could be wrong.

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      1. seems like something she would do – she and John seem to be a happy couple and she is a huge fan of Beatles (as the SMithereens are/were), plus, left to their own devices the Bangles had a big power pop sound much like the Smithereens

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      2. I would consider the Bangles power pop no doubt. Thats pretty cool when you can play with two bands…the Cowsills and Bangles…hey life is pretty good.

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    1. I posted this…yes I like the song Steve but the main reason is it’s so different from their sixties stuff…I mean night and day. But yes their songs were nice to hear and all are catchy.

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      1. I saw in a documentary that they had to fight with their father to release Hair because it was so different from their other music. I remember hearing that they were the basis of The Partridge Family TV show. I can imagine Cocaine Drain was another big departure for them, breaking away from the sixties’ sound.

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      2. Yea…their father wasn’t father of the year for sure. I just saw a documentary as well..probably the same one. Interesting and sad story. I do like Billy Cowsill’s music on his own.

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    1. Yea you have probably hear two of their older songs…this song is NOT even in the same style AT all. Here is one of their huge hits of the sixties…completely different!

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  9. I always loved the sunshine pop of “The Rain, the Park…” (written by Artie Kornfeld). But these two songs are hot! Love that harmony hook in “That Particular Way.” This family band had the goods, and it’s a shame they got blacklisted. Do you think “The Partridge Family” hurt their musical efforts?

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    1. Finding this out of the blue was just wild. I never knew it existed. I agree with you completely! They are in a great groove on these. The album has some really good songs on it.
      They were musically talented…I never realized how much so until I saw a documentary. Yes…I do think the Partridge Family did hurt their chances for more hits. A band that is basically copying you and are more well known while doing it.

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  11. Pingback: Cowsills – Cocaine Drain – MobsterTiger

  12. Not only shades of Linda Ronstadt, but a bit of Little Feat in the slide guitar and percussion. Definitely sounds like ’70s LA. I thought of the Cowsills as a bubble gum joke – what are they doing singing about cocaine? I guess more evidence of Robin Williams’ famous joke: “Cocaine is god’s way of saying you make too much money.”

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    1. I feel better now…so it kind of surprised you as well. They did a great job on it especially Susan singing. I guess they were trying to get out of that mode.
      I LOVE that Williams quote.

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  14. Good background info. The band is only a name to me other than these songs. Cocaine Drain is very good. What a horrible thing to only have shabby copies and then to lose them for 30 years.

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    1. Yea you know a couple of their 60s hits…the Partridge Family was made based on them…they did sunshine pop in the 60s….this is something totally different

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