CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS

Alex Kluft

The Happy Together Tour returned last year after a three year hiatus from the Covid-19 Pandemic. and stopped at the Pacific Amphitheater at the OC Fair last night. The tour hosted by the Turtles features six iconic groups from the 60’s that all had major hits. With this many acts the sets were kept to 20 minutes of four-five songs with the Turtles playing seven songs and an encore. Also there was a house band backing each group consisting of guitarist/musical director Godfrey Townshend, keyboardist Manny Faocarazzo, and drummer Chris Camilleri. This was also a comedy show, not just music. There was also a pre-recorded announcement for each group and a few important things were mentioned about each. Last year’s tour included The Association and The Buckinghams and this time around The Classics IV and Little Anthony. The Happy Together tour goes back to 1984 after the Turtles became the Turtles Featuring Flo & Eddie. The Association and Gary Puckett were two of the acts on the original lineup. 

The first act was family vocal group the Cowsills. Once made up of six siblings the Cowsills are now a trio of Bob, Susan, and Paul Cowsill. John Cowsill was the drummer for the Beach Boys 2007-2022. Barry Cowsill passed in 2005 and Bill Cowsill passed in 2006. It was Cowsills that inspired the hit TV show the Partridge family. The Cowsills were originally together just seven years then reunited again between 1978-1980 then again in 1990 and have been active since. The Cowsills had over 10 charting singles. They appeared on the Ed Sullivan show twice, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, American Bandstand, and the Johnny Cash Show. Their set included hits like “The Rain, the Park, and Other Things,” and “Hair.” 

Next up were The Classics IV who formed in 1965 in Jacksonville, FL and broke up just 10 years later. In that time they had 13 Top 200 hits. They would not form again until 2001. Founder Dennis Yost passed the group onto Tom Garrett prior to passing in 2008. Garrett and saxophonist Paul Weddle performed four songs with the house band including the hits “Spooky” and “Stormy.” It has been 50 years since they last released an album, but they will always remain one of the greatest groups to emerge in the 60’s. 

The Vogues were the third group appearing in matching shirts and jeans. The Vogues were once a quartet and now a trio. Co-founders Bill Burkette and Don Miller passed in 2018 and 2021. The group is now Troy Elich, Royce Taylor, and Bo Wagner, Filling in for Wagner is actor/singer Shawn Stevens (Days of Our Lives). Although it’s been 50 years since a Vogues album was released, the music stands the test of time. Their TV performances included The Ed Sullivan show, Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and American Bandstand. The Vogues were inducted into the Vocal Hall of Fame back in 2001. 

The fourth performer was Gary Puckett is known for his group the Union Gap, however Puckett is performing solo with the house band. The group was around just five years but produced a number of major hits like “Woman Woman,” “Young Girl,” and “Lady Willpower” all part of his set. Puckett has been a solo artist since 1971 and a regular performer on the Happy Together Tour. 

Second to last was none other than Little Anthony, the only artist on the tour to be a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2009) and one of the only living artists to have started their career prior to 1960. Little Anthony’s four song set was “Tears On My Pillow,” “Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop,” “Hurts So Bad,” and “Goin’ Out Of My Head” which were all recorded with group the Imperials. Little Anthony joked why he is still called Little now that he has nine kids, 15 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren and that he should be “Big Anthony.” 

Lastly it was the Turtles which were co-founders Flo & Eddie together up until 2017 when Howard Kaylan (Eddie) was forced to retire from touring for health reasons. In his place was Ron Dante, singer of fictional band The Archies and The Cufflinks. Last year Mark Volman (Flo) did not tour and Godfrey Townshend who’s been the Musical Director/Guitarist for every Happy Together tour sang with Dante. This time around Volman is back even after being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. The Turtles set was seven songs including the Turtles cover of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe,” and ending with “Happy Together” before bringing out all the performers. Also performed was the Cufflinks “Tracy” Archies “Sugar Sugar,” and of course “Happy Together.” The finale re-introduced all the previous acts one by one to perform a snippet of one song each (two for Classics IV) performed earlier making up a medley that ended on everyone singing “Happy Together.” 

The Cowsills

1. The Rain the Park and Other Things 

2. Indian Lake

3. We Can Fly

4. Love American Style

5. Hair- Galt MacDermot

Classics IV

1. Everyday With You Girl
2. Stormy
3. Traces of Love
4. Spooky

The Vogues 

1. Five O Clock World

2. My Special Angel

3. Turn Around Look at Me

4. You’re the One

Gary Puckett

1. Lady Willpower

2. Over You

3. This Girl is a Woman Now

4. Woman Woman- Jim Glaser

5. Young Girl

Little Anthony

1. Tears On My Pillow
2. Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop
3. Hurt So Bad
4. Goin’ Out Of My Head

Turtles 

1. She’d Rather Be With Me

2. You Baby

3. It Ain’t Me Babe- Bob Dylan

4. Tracy-Cufflinks

5. Sugar Sugar- The Archies

6. Eleanor 

7. Happy Together 

Finale

8. The Rain, the Park & Other Things, Spooky & Five O’Clock World, Young Girl, Goin’ Out of My Head, Happy Together.