Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill

Long After The Fire

Label 51 Recordings

Vicki Peterson was a founding member of the 1980s group The Bangles, one of the most successful bands of that decade, with over 6 million gold and platinum albums sold. Their music has been on screen in everything from “Austin Powers” to “Stranger Things” and has transcended generations with more than 6 million current listeners, and over half a billion views on YouTube. Peterson later wrote and performed with her sister-in-law Susan Cowsill in both “The Psycho Sisters” and the acclaimed New Orleans songwriter collective “The Continental Drifters.” She has appeared on albums with Tom Petty, Hootie and The Blowfish, and Belinda Carlisle, and also toured with The Go-Go’s.

John Cowsill began playing drums in clubs with his family, The Cowsills, and became a worldwide sensation in the late 1960s, playing The Ed Sullivan Show and The Johnny Carson Show both three times, and The Johnny Cash Show twice. He enjoyed several Top 20 hits, including the song “Hair.” He toured with Jan and Dean, before becoming a mainstay of the Beach Boys touring band, playing guitar, piano, and drums. During his career, John has performed or recorded with Bob Dylan, The Mamas and Papas, Harry Chapin, Herman’s Hermits, and Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees. He is currently one of the lead
singers for The Smithereens and the touring drummer for Peter Perrett. Vicki & John have recently gained attention by playing at LA’s “Troubadour” nightclub.

This new album, “Long After The Fire,” features mostly vocal duets with guitarist and songwriters Vicki and John. John also plays piano and drums. They open with “Fool Is The Last One To Know” as they sing, “I’m just a workin’ man, doin’ all I can…it takes a fool to do the things that I do…oh, the fool is the last one to know…I’m so in love with you, I’m the fool and I’m the last one to know.” The overall sound is twangy, as they sound like a combination of The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison. On “Vagabond,” the lyric grabs you: “Vagabond, you never settle down, you’re a vagabond, you’re like a rollin’ stone…like a wayward wind…just spin your wheels like an endless merry-go-round, you’ll never have a place of your own, you’re like a rollin’ stone.”

“Come to me.” “If your feelin down & out, baby, come to me…if your feeling sad and lost, come to me…if your feeling down & out, come to me, come to me.” “Is anybody here?” “And I’ll be lying here all night…is my guitar the only one to strum along…where the people used to meet…because everybody knows right from wrong. Is anybody here to hear this song?” “Sound On Sound” is another beautiful duet. On “You in My Mind,” Vicki takes the lead as she chimes, “I got you, you, you, in my mind, I do, do, do, think of you, you, you, it true, true, true, all the time, no, nobody, but you.”

“A Thousand Times,” “I told you no a thousand times, don’t try to make me change my mind… I’ve been a fool before; don’t get me wrong, it crossed my mind…I don’t fool around anymore. When it comes to understanding why, I told you no a thousand times.” On the infectious title track “Long After The Fire,” they sing, “All the memories return again…and the embers keep burning long after the fire.” “Downtown,” “I’m going downtown, going downtown tonight; won’t you come along with me…going to be taking you all night…downtown, downtown.” “When Hearts Collide,” “early morning with nary a breeze, my love will arise…feel your sun closer, when hearts collide…”

“Don’t Look Back” is another song with Vicki taking the vocal, “When you drive away from here…we will miss you when you go…don’t look back, baby, don’t look back.” The song reminds me of Crosby, Stills, and Nash. On the closer, “Ol’ Times,” played with a viola, they croon, “Take me to your dreams, ’cause I have to know, where I want to go…onward…I’ll be on my way tomorrow.”

When Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill perform, it’s hard for them to hide the affection that they feel for each other. It adds to their gorgeous harmonies. This album is a priceless gem.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor/Making A Scene

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