The Rain, The Park And Other Things

by

The Cowsills

Album: The Cowsills

Released: 1967

Charted:

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This was co-written and produced by Artie Kornfeld who later went on to be one of the concert promoters of Woodstock.

This was the breakthrough hit for the family group, The Cowsills, who were the forerunner of The Osmonds, a group that would appear on the same record label a few years later. Unlike the Osmonds, the boys' mother Barbara also features on the recordings. The Cowsills also made many television appearances during the late 1960s and the early 1970s and they were an inspiration for the Partridge Family.

This song is known to many as "The Flower Girl." Studio musicians were brought in for the recording, a practice that continued until 1969, when the Cowsill family were allowed to play their own musical instruments.

This reached #1 in Canada in the week of November 13, 1967.

A British rock group, Vanity Fare, poked fun at the Cowsills by naming their 1968 album The Sun, the Wind, and Other Things.

After the success of this single 2 more siblings - Paul and Susan - joined the group. In 1968 they had an American #10 hit with "Indian Lake."

Susan Cowsill had just had her 9th birthday when this reached the Top 10, making her the youngest Rock performer to have a Top Ten hit in the States. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above)

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Comments (14):

I bet Keith Partridge couldn't have sung lead a bit better.

- esskayess, Dallas, TX

This is in pretty much the same vein as another fall 1967 hit, Spanky and our Gang's "Lazy Day", and the Fifth Dimension's song from the summer of that year, "Up, Up, and away.".

- Steve, Whittier, CA

I'm the same age as Susan the baby!

- Marlene, Montreal, QC

Peaked at No. 2 and stayed there for two weeks; also had another record peak at No. 2 & that lasted for two weeks. The song was "Hair"!!!

- Barry, Sauquoit, NY

"Was she reality, or just a dream to me?" Amazing how much depth this song has. Haunting.

- Tim, Granite Falls, WA

Bubblegum? I don't think so. Pure psychedelia to my ears!! Yes it is a happy song sung by a happy family way back when in '67. But the imagery, sound effects and out-there lyrics point to one direction.... post-Sgt. Pepper psychedelia. Sounds great in a pair of Bose headphones.

- Barry, New York, NC

Fantastic song! The Cowsills actually had two really great pop songs--this one and Indian lake. Check it out.

- Guy, Woodinville, WA

I live in the suburbs of Maryland and herd this song on a local oldies station. It flashed me back to a Christmas with my first portable radio in Australia when I was 14. This song is my old time favorite. Even at 55 years of age I still feel this song was before its time and is still my all time number one song.

- Eveline, Sydney, Australia

I love this bubble gum sound...I also love the flower girl!

- steve dotstar, los angeles, CA

Great song! I first heard it after my family had returned from Okinawa (Dad flew in Vietnam). It stuck in my head, and after we moved to New Orleans, I heard of a rare record store called "The Gold Mine." When I had my own transportation, I drove to the store and asked if they had a copy of the song "The Flower Girl." The owner knew what I was referring to, and immediately informed me of the correct title. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I bought a copy of the 45. I've had a copy in my vehicle ever since.

- Scotty, Cheyenne, WY

My 20 year-old cousin was playing this song this past Saturday (2/16/08). A few nights later, I had the most beautiful dream of me at the age of 11, swinging on a swing in a lovely Chicago neighborhood in the early 70's, surrounded by old brownstones, large windows, and English gardens. I was in the front garden...it was a warm day and it was just beginning to rain slightly. In my dream, sadly, I felt that my brother and my husband would never see me again because I would be going on to another life. The whole time, "The Rain, the Park, and Other Things" was playing in the background. I wasn't sure if I was phsyically going to die, or I was just leaving an old life and approaching a new one. Anyway, I woke up crying and feeling so happy and sad at the same time. This song is just so beautiful that it invokes bittersweet dreams and memories...

- GDG, Chicago, IL

This record was a production marvel very ahead of its time. Listening on headphones really brings out the many layered vocals, intruments and the beautiful stringed harp riffs (are stringed harp parts called riffs?). Fantastic recording.

- Richard, Talladega, AL

Wow! This song is beautiful! This sounds so much like old-time poetry - except for the much more modern slang. I have one reason to think that an old-time poet inspired the Cowsills in some way.

- andrew, birmingham, United States

I saw her sitting in the rain,
raindrops falling on her.
She didn't seem to care.
She sat there and smiled at me.

And I knew (I knew, I knew, I knew, I knew)
she could make me happy (happy, happy).
Flowers in her hair, flowers everywhere.

I love the flower girl, oh, I don't know just why.
She simply caught my eye.
I love the flower girl, she seemed so sweet and kind.
She crept into my mind.

Suddenly the sun broke through (see the sun).
I turned around she was gone (where did she go).
And all I had left was one little flower from her hair.

But I knew (I knew, I knew, I knew, I knew)
she had made me happy (happy, happy).
Flowers in her hair, flowers everywhere.

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