Recent single from Americana duo Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill, ‘Is Anybody Here’, is an engaging, melodic song built around the interplay of the pair’s guitars and their voices, which work together beautifully. The single appears on the brand new duo album ‘Long After the Fire’, out now. This finely-crafted collection of Americana songs was written by John’s late brothers, Barry and Bill Cowsill and is the pair’s first album together. However, both Peterson and Cowsill have already enjoyed considerable success in their music careers. Peterson was a member of The Bangles, responsible for such well-known hits as ‘Manic Monday’, ‘Eternal Flame’ and ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’. Meanwhile, Cowsill was the drummer and a vocalist for The Beach Boys for over 23 years and also a member of the platinum-selling family band The Cowsills. From appearing on the Johnny Cash Show in the 1960s to playing and recording with the likes of Chuck Berry and Bob Dylan, Cowsill has had a remarkable career. With this musical pedigree behind them, their collaboration was destined to be songwriting of the highest quality.
Peterson says of the single: “It is the song that kicked off the entire ‘Long After The Fire’ record. John and Paul Allen recorded this track at Sun Studios in Memphis, without me, in the spur of the moment and absolutely set the template for the album. At this stage, John and I were considering calling the project Dead Brothers!”
Cowsill adds: “I was playing with the Beach Boys in Memphis. Paul Allen called me up and asked if I wanted to record at Sun Studios, reminding me that I had been talking about recording an album of my late brother’s songs. We recorded ‘Is Anybody Here’ that night and it is the most Roy Orbison-sounding song on our album. It was so fitting and magical to be in that room with all the photos of Elvis, Orbison, Jerry Lee and Cash on the walls and being surrounded by the whole vibe. It was exciting to sing on all the old ribbon mics.You could almost hear all the other artists’ voices coming thru the slap echo tape machine. I could certainly feel all that history when I was out in the tracking room singing.”
Exciting news for Vicki – she is soon going to be inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. The inductee ceremony occurs on June 21st and will be held at Mead Center in Washington DC.
The duo’s blend of Americana and rock, delivered here with heartfelt harmonies and ranging vocal melodies, is immediately absorbing. Enjoy.
