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Note: I missed the first of this show due to computer problems. Will add the first of the show when it becomes archived.
Artie: …… (check archive) going to San Francisco with flowers in your hair. I said, “What are you telling me?” We need a title . Now why I said, “The Rain, The Park and Other Things” I don’t have the slightest idea. But you know what? Thank God I did. But even
Bob: But Artie I’ll tell you, even I thought, “That, that title, I don’t know about that. How are you going to remember that title?”
Artie: yeah, but they forced me into it. And they put out the other side and …
Susan: And the rest is history.
Artie: Remember the fun we had. That promotion thing we had at the Lake of the Ozarks? At that hotel Tantara?
Paul: Oh my God. We all had speedboats.
Susan: Oh yeah.
Artie: You guys were on the river all the time.
Paul: Oh it was incredible.
Artie: And while you guys were on the ….
Susan: ____ the best _____ that every happen. (first date????)
Artie: While you were on the river I was sitting with radio guys in my room – about 10 to 15 of them – they were friends of mine – saying, “This is one I’m really going to need your help on.”
Susan: I remember Artie had cut-offs. I remember it. (laughs)
Artie: Well, I never - you know you’re the first act that I actually ever got involved in promoting. Because I was a writer and a producer. So you know …
Bob: There was a big team and all, a big team.
Susan: Wow ______ in ____ mind, Artie.
Artie: Yeah, well but the group sounded great, you know. I’m very proud of that record. I’m very proud of you guys. I’m proud of the song. I’m proud of the mix, the whole thing was meant to be as you said. It was…..
Susan: It was. Hey Artie, …
Artie: Yes
Susan: Artie, can I ask you a question? Will you ____ to me?
Artie: Yes you certainly can.
Susan: OK, do you remember, and it’s OK if you don’t, but do you remember coming to ____ up to 888 one night at taking me in your convertible , you and Linda, and Piper, and we went to your house for a sleep over? I was like 8-years-old. It was when we lived in Manhattan.
Artie: Oh the one on the 38th floor?
Susan: Yeah, and you guys came and got me. I don’t know why, but .. cuz I wanted to sleep at your house. And so you came and got me, in the convertible. I remember it was like 8 o’clock at night. And we went over to your place and had a sleep over. (laughs) You sister remembers it.
Artie: You know what? I do remember that. I do remember that.
Susan: Do you?
Artie: I do remember that. I remember that you and – I don’t remember who else was with you – were over to the house. Linda, Linda loved you like you were nieces and nephews. And I also loved you. I also felt like I was .. I didn’t feel like an uncle, I felt like I was the oldest brother.
Susan: Yeah
Bob: Wow
Artie: And I really wanted your name on those songs because … I wanted the same thing Bud wanted. I wanted you guys to be a self-contained group that wrote songs. I ..
Bob: You helped us get on to that later, you know.
Artie: Well ….
Susan: Hey Artie
Artie: Yeah
Susan: I want another question, can I please.
Artie: OK
Susan: In your opinion, I mean we all know about Dad and we all know about what all his faults were and his character. We all know that. But when he came to you and this thing first started, did you feel a sense of sincerity and true belief in the music and the people, from him?
Artie: I didn’t when they just first told me about the group, because I hadn’t heard anything yet. But then I got the demos and …
Susan: But did Dad …
Artie: and I heard the potential and the demos. And I said, “God Almighty, at this age if they can sound like this, …”
Susan: Right
Artie: Because originally I wanted …
Susan: But did my Dad seem like he was really into it? Like he really believed in it?
Artie: Bud was a control freak. And was into controlling the whole thing.
Susan: I know that (laughing)
Artie: You didn’t see the situation when he slapped Barry in the face in the studio and I ran into the studio and I grabbed him and I took him to the door and threw him out the door and said, “Don’t ever come in the studio when we are recording again, Bud.”
Susan: Well that’s awesome.
Artie: Yeah it was sort of the beginning of my demise because he knew that I had developed a relationship with the family, that I was part of the family and because of his habits he had gone into a direction I didn’t even understand.
Bob: Artie, even later, even later Artie, that’s where he didn’t get control. In the control booth. Odd name huh? But you know what I’m saying? That’s where he lost control. He couldn’t control it there. Only you and us could.
Artie: It’s funny because you look back on … He was my best friend and when he died I cried. I still cry that he’s gone. You know … oh god I’m very proud of The Cowsills. Everybody out there listening. This is a band that you should really get into because “The Rain, The Park” is wonderful. You still like it and if you listen to the other stuff you’re going to like it too. So don’t think this is the same band, although it is. There is only one of the original four, Bob, but the family had a farm team right in the house, because there was so many kids, I lost track.
Susan: Oh Artie, that’s awesome.
Artie: When ____ because Bud wouldn’t do it, when I would go with your Mom to the commissary to buy food for the family. And she’d be getting 19 loaves of the white bread and 20 things of milk and I would go with your Mom and we would have a ball at the commissary shopping.
Susan: I love it.
Artie: I loved your Mom. In fact, when you guys played in Burbank and I came. Remember that one time I came to the show and I sat with Barbara. And we loved Barbara so much. She was such a wonderful lady, you know.
Susan: Awww
Artie: She didn’t have a bad bone in her body. She was really a … she deserved, she deserved better treatment from her husband. In my opinion.
Susan: Yeah I think everybody agrees.
Bob: Hey Artie, can I ask you about a song? So tell us how you came up with the idea for “Beautiful Beige” because “Beautiful Beige” is a beautiful song.
Artie: Right
Susan: Good question Bob
Artie: The idea was … you should read my book, The Piped Piper Woodstock because it’s not a Woodstock book, it’s about the whole trip. It’s about your trip and my trip and everybody who lives. There’s only … There’s no pictures of me with artists at Woodstock. It’s not a Woodstock picture book. But … what did you ask me Susan cuz I got involved …
Bob: It’s Bob. I’m asking about “Beautiful Beige.”
Artie: If you read my book you’ll find out that my mother was the founder of the Freedom Riders. OK because in my book is a letter from the Congress on Racial Equality saying that every black American owes a big Thank You to Shirley Kornfeld because without her forming the Freedom Rides and ___ them out, integration would have been pushed back 20 years.
Bob: Cool
Artie: So I had that growing up, always fighting for freedom. When I sat down with Steve, it was my idea because I wanted to make a statement about everybody should not look at people and see colors. They should see their souls and if they are nice people, you know. And that’s how “Beautiful Beige” was. It just seemed to flow.
Bob: Did you enjoy it when they picked it for a furniture commercial?
Artie: Yeah Never got paid on it, but I’m glad they did.
Bob: That was cool, wasn’t it.
Susan: You didn’t get paid either Artie?
Artie: No, I couldn’t believe when I ended up owning the “The Rain, The Park” “Beige” – the whole thing and – what’s his name – Fox (???) and his assistant Myrna went out when I owned the song and were selling and making foreign deals when they didn’t own the song. And …
Bob: Did you get paid for Dumb and Dumber? Did you get anything for Dumb and Dumber?
Artie: Oh yeah, I did get paid on …
Susan: Good
Artie: … as a writer and publisher, but, but … you should have been getting paid too.
Bob: Well we got paid with a lot of attention for that movie, so we got paid.
Artie: No, yeah, I was really proud. I mean I watch that movie every time it’s on because I always wait for that one part to come on because it gives me such a kick.
Bob: It’s a kick, I know.
Artie: Because millions of people saw you and ..
Bob: I know.
Artie: I get just as much kick out of that, you know, as I get when I see ….
Susan: Hey Artie
Artie: I don’t watch the Woodstock documentary, by the way. I’ve only seen it twice.
Susan: Arte, I need to ask you something. Did you come to Barbados with us?
Artie: No, no, but
Susan: You did not?
Artie: No but I did live in the West Indies with Linda and Jane. And I have been …. We lived on Dominique by St. Lucia and we lived down in St. Croix.
Bob: We stayed in a Holiday Inn Express …. Hey Artie, what’s your take on some of … after we, after we got separated, what did you think when you heard some of our hits? Were you OK with there? Like what did you think of “Hair”? Were you proud of us?
Artie: I just … I was proud of you. I would have done it differently. I would have made it more rock and more now, but you did a great job. I just didn’t like the one section “Oh say can you see …” I didn’t like that section.
Bob: You didn’t, huh? OK
Artie: I didn’t like that section but don’t forget my friends wrote the show Hair. So, I knew the songs.
Paul: Hey Artie, interesting that you mention that because we’re going on April 23 to Rochester, New York, to induct James Rado into the Hall of Fame there.
Artie: Really?
Paul: Yeah
Artie: Rado and Ragni I knew very well.
Paul: Oh, yeah.
Artie: It was before I got sober. Now I got sober September 14, 1983. I’m the founder of Cocaine Anonymous
Paul: Really?
Susan: I did not know that Artie. That’s a big deal.
Artie: Oh no, right now I have 300 kids that are in detox – that I helped get in detox in the cities, you know. Just to help them escape the fact that they don’t have a shot. But what we do have a shot is because now is the time.
Bob: Yeah
Susan: Yeah, now is the time.
Artie: And it should be playing
Song: The Rain, The Park and Other Things
Artie: … set it up and we can talk some more …
Kevin: And we’re back.
Artie: Yeah, you know everybody out there, Caroline has heard every show, you know, has just come out and said this is one of the best shows you’ve done.
Susan: Awww, yeah !!!
Paul (or Bob): Awesome
Artie: Which is great because I just said you know was it two – was it last week or the week before that we had the drummer and the lead of Fog Head.
Kevin: A few weeks ago Artie.
Artie: Two weeks ago we had the drummer and the lead of Fog Head.
Susan: Wow. Did you work with Fog Head, Artie?
Artie: No, I just had him on the show. I knew them but you know, my first record came out, my first solo record came out when I was in the 10th grade in 1958.
Susan: What?!! Are you kidding?
Artie: Yeah it was on Paramount records. It was a demo I made and someone on Facebook put the label up and there it was and the stage name I gave myself was Just Wild. And I see this label and it says Paramount Records. This is now 35-40 years later. I never knew the record came out. It was a demo I did and it said Just Wild written by …. I think in that one I gave Steve credit first. I don’t give Steve credit first all the time. Most of the time I give myself credit first .
Bob: Artie, Artie, I have a question. I have a question about the Mercury years, OK?
Artie: OK
Bob: 1966, OK now Shelby Singleton. Now he gets credit … on our Mercury recordings he gets credit. It says “Vocals produced by Shelby Singleton”
Artie: And he was never
Bob: He was never …. I knew it. I knew it.
Artie: He was never
Bob: I knew that. I was going I think I would remember working with Shelby Singleton
Artie: Naw, I mean I was right under Shelby
Bob: He signed us. That’s what he did. But you… yeah, OK I just wanted to get that straight.
Artie: When you signed . He had nothing to do with the records at all.
Bob: Right
Artie: Nothing to do with the records.
Bob: So, do you remember “Most Of All” and “Party Girl” and all those
Artie: No, I don’t remember those because don’t forget when …. The way it ended with us was so weird because it was as weird to me as it was to you. Cuz when you said that you had said to Bud, “Where’s Artie?” you know …
Bob: I know but this was before that anyway OK I just wanted to get on the Mercury stuff. I was really young then, you know. I wasn’t really paying attention. All I know is that we used studio musicians. I don’t know. Why did you decide on “The Rain, The Park and Other Things” to take us into the studio and we don’t play our instruments. We didn’t like wouldn’t it be nice kind of recording sessions. Who made that decisions? Was that you?
Artie: yeah, of course. I was the producer.
Bob: OK so you figured we’re going to do it that way because we didn’t resist it. We thought it was awesome.
Artie: I figured the song was a hit but even when I spoke to Johnny, he couldn’t play … he kept contact with Buddy Saltzman who played the drums all these years. This was a shot. I knew the song was a hit and why take a chance. Why not take guys that I had already cut a couple hits with in the studio. That I know are friends of mine. That would give me everything that they had. I had given you everything that I had because I wanted the best on, all the connections I made. I had to pass on all the connections to you because I had to do that so that The Cowsills would be an entity.
Bob: Sure
Artie: Because my name was already there. I didn’t care where my name was. I was just happy to be a part of the record, you know. Sorry I blew your mind and I’m not going to talk about “The Rain” right now so I’ll leave that out.
Bob: What?
Artie: When I told you the story about how I got the rain.
Bob: Sizzling bacon?
Artie: Yeah, you know that I sat for nine hours probably listening to 100 different bacons that I got from SIR and then I said to myself “What am I going to do because the whole song is based on rain and I can’t find a …” I was so anal about everything that you guys did that I …
Bob: Right
Artie: And then they are wheeling the cart out and I see a box and it says ‘bacon sizzling in a pan’. So, I just said to the engineer and what was also done was something that wasn’t done often because you couldn’t slow down things in those days. There were no electronics.
Bob: You got what you got.
Artie: So I just said to the engineer, “Take the two tracks and let’s put ‘em .. a mic pole over there .. and let’s stretch it out around and record this bacon and now we can slow it down.” And it was just luck because when it came back it was the rain that I was looking for.
Susan: Wow
Bob: There you go. The rain at the beginning of “The Rain, The Park and Other Things” is sizzling bacon.
Paul: Hey I like bacon.
Artie: Bacon, bacon, bacon. So let me ask you something, Kevin, where do you stand with “Now Is The Time”
Kevin: Still retrieving that Artie. I do have “Beautiful Beige” lined up
Artie: Oh well, you know what? Do we all vote for “Beautiful Beige”?
Paul: Yeah I want to hear it.
Susan: Yeah
Bob: We love it.
Artie: My … probably my second favorite Cowsill song.
Bob: It’s a great civil rights song. Go
Song: Beautiful Beige
Artie: My Christine and I wrote this song for The Turtles, yeah.
Susan: Right We’ll talk to ‘em. We’ll mention that to them
Artie: Yeah, tell them I said hello.
Kevin: You’re on now.
Artie: I would bowl with them every Tuesdays in Studio City and I freaked them out because we met on one Tuesday and I ___ my bowling ball and so I picked one up and I started out by bowling a 277, then I got 224, and then I bowled a 219. Now I don’t know what … how … we all know there’s a power greater than ourselves, so I have no trouble dealing with God when I think God is a power greater than me.
Susan: And you think he got you those scores, huh?
Artie: Yeah, well you know I think that I listen. I think that I’m a messenger. Even when I talk about Woodstock, I give everyone in the field the same credit as I that Michael Lang and I get. Everybody who was out in the field and even the people who came after that got into what Woodstock meant, everybody sharing and no violence and all because there was music to hold it together.
Susan: It was an awesome, awesome …
Bob: Artie, here’s the one mistake you made about Woodstock, OK. You should have made the New York State Freeway Toll Booth, the ticket booth.
Artie: Oh God I couldn’t because when I spoke to Rockefeller … because I did the whole promotion. Michael Lang had nothing to do with the promotion. It was me and the staff I had. And what was I going to say? …. I’m talking to The Cowsills, come on, it’s got me nervous. ______________ I had Janis’s boyfriend. David Lawrence from Big Brother who was Janis’s boyfriend for seven years. But this is a special show to me.
Susan: Awwwwwmm
Artie: Yes it’s a very special show to me and that’s why I said to Caroline. I said, “This is a very … I’ve nervous and I’m never nervous, but this is a very special …”
Susan: Awww Artie
Artie: But as soon as I hear your voice it was like ‘God Almighty, this is like my ….’
Susan: Do we sound the same to you? Do we sound the same?
Artie: Yeah, I have the same feeling.
Paul: Hey Artie, we’re singing “The Rain, The Park” better than it was ever sung.
Susan: Yeah, you’d be proud of us Artie. We’re really singing the hell out of it.
Artie: Well, I can’t wait to hear it, you know, when you’re down here.
Susan: Artie can you … listen Artie .. so the Happy Together Tour is going to come. Can you come and see us?
Artie: Of course I’ll come and see you.
Susan: In Florida
Artie: I’ll be there.
Bob: We’re going to Daytona Beach, Clearwater, somewhere else.
Artie: I’ll have to drive about four hours but Daytona Beach is about …
Paul: We’re in Jacksonville, Clearwater, Melbourne, and Daytona Beach.
Artie: Yeah, Daytona Beach is probably the closest, or Melbourne because they are about 4 ½ hours away from me.
Susan: Do you have somebody to drive you or are you a driving guy?
Artie: Oh well Caroline will drive me. But I could drive, you know I’m not … I’m OK. I’ve had back surgery and I’m OK, you know. It’s something ….
Susan: I’m glad.
Artie: I’m still very young. I’m still feeling ….
Susan: You were young. You and Bill … how much older than Bill and Bob were you?
Artie: I’m not that much older. I was only …. I think I was only 22 when I did “The Rain, The Park”
Bob: Artie, Artie when you’re 16, someone who is 22 is like 42.
Artie: Oh I know.
Bob: (laughs) Yeah
Artie: You know it’s depressing when those people out there get a little older. Caroline was talking about someone who was getting a new job, having a thing with getting a new job and stuff and she said, “Well she may be too old for the job” and I said, “How old is she?” and they said 50. And I said, “50! That’s a baby.”
Bob: Yeah. It’s all relative now.
Artie: I could be the great-grandfather at least
Susan: Artie, I’m going to be 60 in a few years. What do you think of that?
Artie: I can’t even believe it. Because I can still see little Susan, two-years-old. Hanging around.
Susan: Hanging around trying to get in that damn band. Did you know I wanted in that band, Artie?
Artie: No, that all came up. It was like _____ with me. You know, cuz what I had set up was I wanted to … I was friends with Graham Nash and I was the first person to bring the Hollies to America. And I really thought that the four guys, you know, with the next album could wind up being another Kinks or Hollies.
Susan: Right. Don’t say that. It’ll kill Bob.
Artie: And I had been around, it would have been The Cowsills. It wouldn’t have been The Partridge Family.
Susan: Who wanted Mom in the band?
Artie: I would have stopped that.
Susan: Who wanted Mom in the band?
Paul: Who wanted Mom in the band, Artie?
Artie: Mom …. Well it was brought up to me and I loved Barbara so I …
Susan: Who wanted it? Whose idea?
Artie: It was sort of just me talking to Bud. And he said, “I’d like to get some more of the family in.” I said well, you know, I’ve heard Barbara sing along and she can certainly carry a tune so why don’t we put Barbara, you know, on a couple of the cuts and see how it sounds. You know, and it worked.
Susan: So Dad is the guy you remember bring it, that concept to you.
Artie: Well, Dad
Susan: And the record guys ______
Artie: Dad wanted to see royalty checks (laughs) you know.
Susan: I’m sure
Artie: I think he wanted to make himself lead singer.
Susan: Oh come on
Artie: But he was a good fisherman, right?
Bob: Yeah
Susan: A good fisherman for sure.
Artie: So just out of curiosity, do we have a song up, Kev in?
Kevin: I have not been able to source that tune Artie. The way that I get it, we’re on air, so I’m kind of hampered that way.
Artie: Well we don’t have to go through the whole thing. Do you have more going on?
Kevin: I hav… we could go to “Could It Be, Let Me Know” or “We Can Fly”
Bob: Hey Artie, that’s something you and Steve wrote , OK. And that was part of the demo sessions I think that you mentioned when we went into the studio and recorded “Could It Be, Let Me Know” and
Susan: Can we hear it?
Bob: “A Most Peculiar Man”
Artie: So which song was this?
Bob: You and Steve worked with us. “Could It Be, Let Me Know” This is a Kornfeld/Duboff original 196…..
Artie: I don’t remember the song.
Bob: Listen to your great work right now, then
Song: Could It Be, Let Me Know
Artie: So that’s The Cowsills. That is The Cowsills back in 196…
Bob: Circa 1965
Artie: 1965 that came into my life I got heat from off the hippie musicians in New York, “What are you doing producing a kid group. A kid group couldn’t happen.” And I actually said on a couple of radio interviews I did where guys ask me. I said, “America was built on apple pie and milk.” You know I said, “There’s nothing wrong with family. And family is good. So I think if we could only come up with the song I promise you this group will go to #1 because of their talent and their vocal techniques.” And I was right.
Susan: And we did. You were right.
Artie: I was right. I never doubted it, I mean, I never doubted it enough to that when Mercury dropped you, I had a family to support and I quit my job.
Bob: You paid for the recording sessions to go in and do it.
Artie: Yeah I did. I did.
Bob: I know you did.
Susan: I bet Linda wanted to ring your neck.
Artie: No, no, Linda was so fine. She was as much behind you as I was, believe me.
Susan: She was such a sweetheart, Artie, I remember her so well. She was so sweet to me.
Artie: She was magic.
Susan: And Piper. Yes, she was.
Artie: Piper ….
Susan: Remember Piper.
Artie: How could I forget Piper, God Almighty. You know we had Piper, I had Piper before I wrote the song.
Susan: Cute song
Bob: Really?
Artie: I had Piper before I wrote the song and …
Susan: And is name was Piper?
Artie: Yeah, the black and white toy poodle.
Susan: Oh yeah man. I’ll never forget him.
Artie: That was Piper and then we had a white cat that was Himalayan and we called him PuppyCat. Now I remember a dog in your life, but I don’t remember where.
Bob: Curley
Susan: Yeah, the one we came to New York with, was Curley. The one we brought from Newport. That was Curley Francis.
Artie: And he was in 888, right?
Susan: Yeah, they sent him away as soon as we moved to 888, but then we …
Bob: Suba lived at 888
Artie: You didn’t know this but I pushed 888 and I actually ____ you guys, I actually with my last pennies I actually took and office in 888 so I could be near you guys in the building.
Paul: Wow
Bob: Cool.
Artie: Yeah and I hired a lady to take care of the stuff – because you were the only project that I was working on because I’m a tunnel vision producer and I think you have to really have something you love and put everything towards that. You can’t disperse yourself.
Susan: Artie, when my Dad came to you – it must have broken your heart.
Artie: Well, you know, the way it went down was so weird that - the whole clan was in the studio – including Jimmy Wisner was with me – and the time for you guys to show up had past and you just never showed up and no one even called. It was so weird.
Bob: Wow
Artie: So that’s how I got a hint something wasn’t right. Then the next day I got a call from the lousy lawyer – whatever his name was
Susan: Neil Rus_____
Paul: Oh I remember the guy. John something
Artie: Yeah, yeah saying that … was the first. I didn’t even know there was a problem. They said ______
Susan: I was going to say – was there negative energy leading to …
Artie: No, no because Bud and I were friends.
Susan: What in the hell happen?
Artie: Well he wanted, he wanted … Bud was a typical control freak and he was.
Susan: Right What was he going to do without you.
Artie: Well he thought he could write, produce, mix, sing the songs, you know ….
Susan: Dad did? (laughs)
Artie: You know he did support you guys, you know and in many ways there was probably a lot of pressure on him with so many kids, you know, keeping it all going, so
Bob: Right
Susan: Do you think he thought he could handle the producing the records and doing all those other things?
Artie: Yeah, and he thought I was …. He didn’t realize what he wanted, I was already doing. And I was working on Billy and Bob because I thought they had the talent to write hit songs, you know. And I was doing what he wanted only he was talking about it and I was already doing it.
Susan: Got ya
Artie: And he was afraid that I was so close with Billy that he was afraid he had lost Billy. You know time …
Susan: OK Now that’s where I understand. Dad’s not going to lose control of his outfit. OK
Artie: And I never wanted control. I just wanted to have a good time, because we always had good times together.
Susan: Yeah, we did.
Artie: And I’m not talking about me and Bud. I had good times with Barbara because Barbara was so much fun to be with, you know. But Bud had that other thing, you know, because I was never a drinker. And you could know it. That’s why I say on the show a lot of times, yeah there’s drugs, but the #1 killing drug is alcohol.
Bob: Yeah
Susan: Absolutely I’m sober three years, Artie.
Artie: Really? Congratulations
Susan: Yeah Thank you very much.
Artie: I have one of those on my key ring left over from multiple decades.
Susan: Yeah, but you got a real big one. You got a lot of bling.
Artie: Well I haven’t taken a cake since my 20th birthday.
Susan: I’m still taking cakes
Artie: And now they make jewelry and it’s funny because the first CA book was a small book and they only printed 200 because there was only 20 of us at the first meeting.
Susan: Oh my God.
Artie: And that’s how Cocaine Anonymous started. And within a month – and as a matter of fact – in LA I was the speaker at the first anniversary dance and I was the speaker at the second and then I was the speaker at the first Arizona convention . And I was ____ program and without the program I don’t think I could have survived when Jamie …. When I found Jamie dead on the floor.
Susan: I bet
Artie: And you know what I talk about it to everybody out there. Look at the glass half empty / half full. I could live with the fact that I lost my daughter until this year, 27 years after she passed away, when I realized to just say, “God thank you sooo much for the 16 wonderful years you gave me.” Now once I crossed that barrier – it’s not that I don’t cry once in a while or I don’t think back – but I think back and I smile now.
Susan: Awww that’s great Artie.
Artie: And Linda just left and she was gone. Of course Jamie comes around and it was really weird because I always saw her the age I remember her before she died. But about a month and a half ago, I had a vision and in the vision there was Jamie at the age she would be now and she was dressed in a suit, like a business woman’s suit and she was gorgeous. And I said, “God so I have seen Jamie grow up.”
Susan: Oh that’s very cool
Artie: Yeah well I sort of psychic, I mean, I’m super psyched. (Susan laughs) But I – the best thing is not in the 12 steps. To me, the best thing is in the principles and that the payability. Ever minding us to place principles before personalities.
Susan: Absolutely
Artie: Too many people put personalities and even in the business. And they forget the principles come first. So, I took that out of the program and bring it into my everyday life. Just a hint from an old timer to a newbie.
Susan: Awww I appreciate it. You guys listen up too, yeah, see
Artie: Congratulations Susan
Susan: Thanks Artie. Thanks a lot.
Artie: And I … do you have another band that you working with too, now?
Susan: Oh I always have a little Susan Cowsill project going on.
Artie: You got to send me something so I can hear it. Or if I just go to youtube.
Susan: I’d be glad to
Paul: Hey Artie, sorry I was just going to say that Susan she goes to her place and she gets clean and when I saw her after all of that, she looked like she was pregnant. And not at the belly but she glowed. You know when you always see a pregnant gal, you always go “Wow, man, she’s just glowing.” And Susan, I mean you saw that the change in her immediately.
Susan: Awwwwww
Artie: You know what
Bob: Not to mention 10 years younger.
Paul: Yeaahhhh
Artie: Susan, for 15 years I can’t tell you the amount of the white stuff that I did. Then I was in LA and Jamie was sleeping and I did a whole ounce in about two hours. And I had nothing to come down and I actually got on my knees and I said, “God, please help me. I can’t take this drug controlled way of life and this ___ way of life anymore. Please help me.” And I went to sleep for an hour, Susan, and this is the miracle. I woke up, never had a craving, never went through detox, to rehab, never had a desire, and right now I have 20 people, I have about 20 people that I help and have for over 10 years.
Susan: That’s great.
Artie: We got hospital stuff in LA and I went to Chino State Prison and Pitchess Honor Ranch with the – for the use of … Anyway, what do you have that we can play, Kev?
Susan: yeah, what do we got?
Kevin: “We Can Fly” I think would be appropriate.
Artie: Oh yeah Well “We Can Fly” is great because it’s
Bob: Hey Artie this is one of those songs where I was support ________ and gave you guys water from the kitchen.
Artie: Yeah right (laughs all around) Well at least it wasn’t rum
Bob: Listen I was soaking it all up Artie. I was soaking it all up.
Artie: So if you hadn’t done that, it might have come out like “Deep Purple”
Bob: (laughs) Yeah
Paul: We’ll do that with Bob and the sibling choir Susan
Artie: Well you know what, we’re all together and the fact is the last time we were all together “We Can Fly” and you know what? We CAN fly.
Song: We Can Fly
Paul: … Children’s Professional School
Artie: You’re kidding.
Paul: No and there was a time that we were in class and all all these kids were busting up on me about you know the family and the bubblegummy thing and this and that and we were like in English class and Tony Sales stood up and says, “Hey you guys. Back off from this guy cuz they’re the real deal,” he said. Just like that.
Artie: Wow and then I ended up producing Tony Sales and the Tigers.
Paul: That’s crazy. Hey Artie, I had a question about “We Can Fly” So then “Love American Style” comes out by us for the TV show. And it’s a double of “We Can Fly”
Artie: I know. I know. I know, but I never got uptight about it. I was just happy that you got the gig.
Bob: Artie, it’s closer than you think. It’s a clone.
Artie: Yeah I picked up on that too, but it didn’t get me uptight. I was just happy for you guys because of what was going on behind the scenes.
Bob: It was cool to get that one. It was cool. That was a lot of fun.
Artie: The people on this line right now all together we made probably 50 million dollars. We didn’t collect anything but we made it. (everyone laughs)
Paul: Somebody collected it.
Artie: They farmed me out to something that was probably 1/20th of what I should have gotten to get out. But I was so heartbroken and when I spoke to Bill later on he was heartbroken too because he said “All I know is I said to Dad, ‘Where’s Artie?’” Bill was a wonderful guy and that take that you took out --- that he’s said was just for Artie and when he said that Artie was the grooviest, nicest and I love him more than any other man that I’ve met in my life. And I felt – I started to cry when I heard that.
Susan: Awwwww
Artie: I got it two weeks before he died and then I heard Barry died right after that. So, I just prayed for them and you know, do miss them. And do miss Billy a lot. Billy was like a kid brother and so were you Bobby because you and Bill …
Bob: I know.
Artie: That you were almost adults. Even though you were in the 2nd Grade Sue. (everyone laughs)
Susan: And I was only 2.
Artie: Anyway “We Can Fly” I take it the record is over and we’re back live.
Kevin: Oh we have been. Yes sir.
Artie: Yeah, well that’s good Everybody out there. Remember to vote. And also, you know what, if you don’t vote you can’t fly. And together we can fly. And we can get this country back. We can get this country back flying again. So don’t believe the people who promise you the world but just believe your own heart.
Bob: (singing to tune of We Can Fly but can’t understand the words)
Susan: Thanks Bob
Artie: And Bernie is a copy of Al Gore. Cuz Al Gore was for the green earth and stop the fracking and stuff 20 years before Bernie said anything about it. As you can tell, I’m not going to get into it but I have to do a political show tomorrow and another show ….
Susan: No, we can’t do it here. We have family hour here.
Artie: Yeah, no. This is music and family and I hope everybody out there feels like you’re part this. If you’re listening, you’re part of The Cowsill family and this is, tonight is, this is what do you call it, the family group.
Susan: The family group.
Artie: But this is … well right now there a lot more in the family but really like just us. Just us again against the world and just us where we’re at and where we go we don’t go. But we had this moment and I’m sure some of us are going to keep in contact.
Susan: Absolutely
Artie: And you know we may even get together commercially, wouldn’t that be a trip.
Paul: That would be.
Susan: That would be.
Artie: Yeah, that would be a trip. That would be like the idea ….
Susan: We need to start with you I think we’re in Florida is it like June,Bob, that we’re in Florida?
Bob: Yep
Paul: June 9th is Melbourne , Susan, June 9th is Melbourne and June 5th is Daytona Beach.
Susan: OK Well Artie, we’ll get with you privately and we’ll make sure you put that on the calandar.
Artie: Yeah and you have my number but I can’t give it out because I’m Artie Woodstock I’d have 9,000 people calling.
Susan: Everybody asking you how to make it peaceful again.
Artie: Well you know I think anybody who says that they are going to do a Woodstock is totally out of their mind because only … Michael tried twice and people were raped and there were riots and y9ou know Woodstock was a magic moment I don’t even take credit when I speak at colleges. I always say that I was not the creator, I was just the messenger. And that’s how I look at myself. I came to Woodstock, I was the messenger.
Bob: You can’t duplicate, you can’t duplicate what was special about Woodstock.
Artie: Like we can’t duplicate “The Rain, The Park”
Susan and Bob: Right
Artie: No you can’t do it and I can’t write another “Dead Man’s Curve” I just can’t do it. But that just means there are other things to be done, you know.
Susan: That’s right.
Artie: I’m not totally addled yet you know.
Susan: Do you play golf?
Artie: I was a great golfer. I was a 10 handicap but then my back really _____. Then two years ago I went to play and I swung on the second hole and fell over and so I haven’t played in two years. But after this surgery, I’m giving myself another couple of months and I’m going to try again.
Paul: Are you having another surgery?
Artie: No, no I hope not.
Bob: No, you had one and you’re going to let that heal before golf.
Artie: Oh yeah when the surgeon tells me its OK then I’ll give it a try, you know.
Paul: OK
Susan: We love to golf, Artie. We love to golf.
Artie: You love golf?
Paul: Yeah, we all play.
Bob: We all play.
Artie: I have a set. I have Taylor made woods. Taylor made woods.
Bob: Wow
Susan: Very nice, very nice.
Artie: Then I switched to the – what do they call them –
Paul: Hybrids
Artie: Yeah I had the original hybrids
Bob: Big Bertha or …
Artie: No, What’s the company? It’s not a good company that puts them out. But they’re the first ones to do the hybrid sets of golf. And if you just swing with it really easy. You’re shocked how the shot really takes off.
Susan: ____________ Sounds great.
Artie: And I have a … believe it or not .. the week before I fell, I had just spent 390 bucks to get a new Ping putter.
Paul: Oooooooohhh
Artie: So I have a whole new set of clubs sitting in my garage now good to use.
Susan: Oh Artie, that’s a sad story.
Artie: Yeah, well, but we have tonight so they do balance out. I’d rather have tonight then to play golf today. So, what other Cowsill music do we have now?
Kevin: “River Blue”
Bob: Artie, let me ask you about “River Blue” Now you said that “River Blue” was the first song that you heard that really got your attention.
Artie: Right
Bob: And that was just something we brought to you? Was that what happen?
Artie: Yeah You had done the demo.
Bob: OK so
Artie: And I actually wanted to put in on the first album, but your Dad didn’t want it.
Bob: Hummm I wonder why?
Paul: Bob, is that the one where Biggie’s on?
Bob: Yeah, Biggie told us _____
Paul: Maybe that’s why Dad didn’t want it.
Susan: Do you remember Biggie, Artie?
Artie: Of course I do. When he had Biggies on the pier.
Paul and Bob: Yeah
Artie: Oh I remember going to the Pier and I remember when I turned and you were playing at Biggies and the opening act was the Pigeons. And the Pigeons wounded up being The Vanilla Fudge.
Bob: Right
Paul: They did
Susan: Oh my god.
Artie: And they came to the ask me if I would produce them and I said I’m not going to produce a group that dresses like pigeons. And only sings pigeon songs. However, your version of “Set Me Free” you know, why don’t you babe, is a … you do a great job and you should really work on that and I sort of advised them to get a record deal and I was sort of happy when that happen. Because I passed on them because I didn’t really like them as a band. For my own tastes, not that they weren’t a good band. But they did a great job on that one record and made that a career.
Susan: Well you guys Is the “River Blue” that we’re about to hear the demo that the guys brought to Artie?
Bob: It’s the only recording that I know of.
Susan: Ok
Artie: Well why don’t we (dead air) the only one that I know of.
Song: River Blue
Artie: We don’t know what to play
Bob: It’s getting late guys. I’m going to have to go soon.
Artie: So why don’t we not play “Hair” and let’s play “Troubled Roses”
Bob: OK cool. Did you pick that one Artie?
Artie: What?
Bob and Susan: “Troubled Roses”
Artie: Yes I did.
Bob: OK Cool. Why did you pick that one?
Artie: Because I thought it was a really greatsong.
Susan: Oh I haven’t heard this in years you guys.
Bob: I know
Artie: Didn’t you and Bill write this?
Bob: Oh yeah, loved it. Are you kidding?
Artie: Who wrote it?
Susan: Artie ask if you wrote it
Bob: Some guy named John I think
Artie: Oh John the hippie.
Bob: Yeah the hippie type I can’t remember his last name.
Artie: John the hippie. He probably wasn’t sober well he had smoked grass for 20 years in 1963. (laughs) You know the funny thing is that you Dad said Artie had to go because he got Bill high on weed. That’s not a true story. I never got Bill high on weed. Ever.
Susan: Huh
Artie: He used to see Bill and I…remember Belson had that walk and you could go outside and look up Broadway and Billy and I would go just to get some relief, you know, from Bud being around. And to just talk about what was going on in the studio. Never, because I wasn’t even really smoking in those days.
Bob: Artie, Artie, I kind of remember it. It was more, it was more you came out and said, “There it is” You didn’t promote it, just “yeah it’s there.”
Paul: You know what I think, you guys, I think that Dad’s idea was to have Bill and Bob be the producers. Again Artie to your point about the royalty checks or the money. He felt maybe if they were producing that that money would be going to him.
Artie: Yeah, well all he had to do was say to me honestly, “Artie you know what why don’t you be executive producer and watch over the kids and sort of guide them.” And you’re a great writer because I had already written twenty-four songs that made the Top 100 and just work with you guys. He could have said that to me. I wouldn’t have been uptight.
Paul: Yeah
Susan: Yeah I think you’re probably right
Artie: We were a team. I was definitely a team, even though I was running the team. I was a team player on this one.
Bob: Yes
Artie: I didn’t have to be _____ and everything. I ….
Susan: Artie I can’t even imagine being you and having to deal with my Dad. Artie, I just can’t imagine it.
Artie: Well, he didn’t make it easy.
Susan: Yeah
Bob: Speaking of ….
Artie: It could have been easy. That album was, for me, even though it was so, everything was done so well on it, to me it was the easiest album I’ve ever, ever worked on because it all fit. Our rehearsals and everything. Remember we worked for a year getting ready for this. And I told everybody when they were putting me down, I said, “Hey, Duboff and I are writing a lot. If we write the songs then I promise you …” And I even bet you that they are going #1 and since I turned down the Monkees and have producer Davy Jones I was so happy the week we knocked “Daydream Believer” out of #1 in November of 1967, right?
Susan: Yep
Artie: Alright well let’s play the song
Susan: Let’s play “Troubled Roses”
Artie: And we’ll not say goodbye, but see you later.
Susan: Sounds good.
Bob: Rather than goodbye, I like it.
Song: Troubled Roses
Kevin: We’re back
Artie: We’re back and here I am with the Cowsills and to me they are still the Cowsills that I met. I met them in the mid-60’s and what a great night for me. And what a great reunion for all of us I think everyone of us would give it a “Yea!”
Paul: Yea!
Susan: Absolutely yea!
Artie: And what a wonderful way to spend a night with dear friends and also creatively locked together forever.
Paul: Absolutely
Artie: And that’s the way the world should be and fortunately this show has reunited the Cowsills with their other Cowsill, me.
Susan: Yeah, my biggest brother.
Artie: I am. I am the oldest brother. The very oldest brother. (laughs)
Paul: That’s for sure. We’re catchin’ We’re catchin’ you Artie, don’t worry.
Artie: Is there any place that you want to talk about that you’ll be playing at that you want to talk about now?
Paul: Well just that the Happy Together Tour is starting up on June 3 in Biloxi and we’re headed all over the United States. All through June, July, August and into September. So, we’re probably going to have like 55 shows or something.
Artie: Well you should post the ones because I _______ Facebook
Paul: Yeah, yes
Susan: We will do that, Artie. We will do that.
Artie: ______________ and write something about it. ____________ here. It’s called Love for Money and Money for Music.
Paul: Yes, indeed
Artie: All we’re missing in this equation is the money part, but you know what? We have generation a lot of money but you know what, we did it for the music.
Paul: Absolutely Still doing it for the music and the love.
Artie: So the song I’m going to play, so you guys will know, was Burt Summer who got the only standing ovation ________ that I produced at Capitol, and the song was great. It was called “We’re All Playing In The Same Band” And it really fits tonight because everybody on the line right here, everybody listening, we ARE all playing in the same band. And we’d make the world a lot better if we believed that.
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