The Cowsills were a large family from Newport, Rhode Island who formed a musical group composed of five brothers, a younger sister, and an attractive mom who handled key harmonies. The Cowsills are best known for being the real-life inspiration for “The Partridge Family” and for being the first celebrities to earn a million-dollar endorsement contract from the American Dairy Association to endorse milk. (With a name like Cowsill, one can certainly understand the ADA’s thinking!)

The Cowsills’ wholesome image did not endear themselves to the hip music audience of the time, and the bulk of their fans were pre-teens heavily influenced by their rock n’ roll fearing parents. Nonetheless the Cowsills’ musical talent, particularly their fine multi-part harmonies, could not be denied. Practically every one of the Cowsills’ hits, like “The Rain, The Park & Other Things,” “We Can Fly,” “Hair,” and “Indian Lake,” reflected a delightful, sunny optimism. For my money, though, the Cowsills’ best vocal performance was their singing of the theme from old hokey ABC-TV Friday night comedy series, “Love, American Style.” (I wish that Nick At Nite would start showing these again!) The song, though addictive and poppy, was not deemed so by MGM Records, who made it a b-side.

Orpheus was one of the first rock groups to incorporate symphonic strings into their music. In an era when all too many acts turned up the amps for no reason, Orpheus took the opposite approach. They had an unhurried sound that featured acoustic guitars and gentle vocals reminiscent of contemporaries such as the Association and the Happenings.

And while it is inexplicable that Orpheus had only record that cracked the Billboard 100 (the romantic “Can’t Find The Time,” which Hootie & The Blowfish recorded for use in the 2000 Jim Carrey film, “Me, Myself & Irene”), this record of their best work remains a treasure trove of undiscovered gems.