For those not in the know, The Cowsills’ story is now one of legend. From their beginnings as a pop-vocal group (and the inspiration for The Partridge Family), to their emergence as Alt-rock/Americana heroes, there’s always a surprise in there. The “Cocaine Drain” Album is no exception.

From their acclaimed 2022 release Rhythm Of The World, to the reissue of 1998’s Global in 2024, it has become obvious that the group is more than “The Rain, The Park, And Other Things.” And, how so much music was “lost” when it should have been in everyone’s ears all this time.

In 1978, the band began recording demos with Chuck Plotkin, after an introduction from Jackson Browne, and eventually moved into studios to record a full album. In addition to Bob Cowsill originals, the band recorded songs by John Hall (Orleans), future Grammy-winner Wendy Waldman, and “Buzz” Feiten.

It was all going smoothly until Plotkin moved on to mix Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness On The Edge Of Town. Future multiple Grammy-winner Val Garay (Kim Carnes, James Taylor, The Motels) stepped in to sequence and master the recordings, yet, an expected major-label deal never materialized. The masters disappeared, and (another) great album languished in obscurity—save semi- and unofficial releases of the material.

Finally, The “Cocaine Drain” Album (“named” after Hall’s composition) sees a proper release. Garay’s original sequence sits next to five bonus recordings.

Restored and remastered by multiple Grammy-winning engineer Michael Graves, the album feels as fresh and vital as it would have upon intended release. Liner notes from Bob Cowsill and Brett Milano outline the story of its almost fantastical creation, and what happened after the dust settled.

1. Cocaine Drain
2. Give Me A Chance
3. Thinking Of You
4. Is Your Love Alive?
5. I Will Always
6. Gettin’ Ready
7. Bitter Jest
8. That Particular Way
9. Part Of Me
10. Dance In A Dream
11. You’ve Got A Way [Bonus Track]
12. Couldn’t It Be Love [Bonus Track]
13. The Next In Line [Bonus Track]
14. Say You Love Me [Bonus Track]
15. Fallen For You [Bonus Track]

Their storied 1978 album opens on the all-embracing sounds of Cocaine Drain and then we get the upbeat and free flowing Give Me A Chance, the easy going Thinking Of You, with both the guitar-drive pop-rocker Is Your Love Alive? and the low slung pop sounds of I Will Always along next.

Along next is the guitar rocker Gettin’ Ready which is in turn backed by the emotive Bitter Jest, the melodious rocker That Particular Way, the original collection rounding out on the impassioned Part Of Me, closing on the forthright Dance In A Dream.

This delightfully sculpted newly expanded album continues onward with five bonus tracks in the form of the pop-rock tumbling You’ve Got A Way, the dutifully harmonized Couldn’t It Be Love, the fun pop-rock of The Next In Line, and both the soft rocker Say You Love Me and the propelled guitar-synth rock of Fallen For You.

So, it isn’t a dream anymore. The “Cocaine Drain” Album by The Cowsills makes a triumphant return to the marketplace—even if it’s actually for the first time!

Official Purchase Page

www.cowsill.com