The Blue Shadows

The country-rock group Blue Shadows released two albums during its laborious existence in the '90s. The first album drew strong positive reviews by most critics, surpassing even the above-standard hopes that were placed on the debut release. Members of the group were singer and guitarist Jeffrey Hatcher, drummer J. B. "Jay" Johnson, bassist Elmar Spanier, and popular singer and guitarist Billy Cowsill. Cowsill brought name recognition and a ready-grown batch of loyal fans with him from his years of working with members of his family in the bubblegum pop-style group, the Cowsills, which lasted from 1966 to 1971. The famed band was actually the motivation for the popular television series, the Partridge Family. Cowsill worked and recorded with other groups before starting the Blue Shadows. After putting together some impressive numbers, the band signed with the major label Sony Music. In 1993, the Blue Shadows completed its debut album, On the Floor of Heaven. The full-length offering carries tracks like "When Will the Heartache End," "The Fool Is the Last One to Know," "Coming on Strong," and "A Thousand Times." During that same year, Spanier departed from the lineup. His spot was filled by a new bassist, Barry Muir. In 1995, Blue Shadows recorded its second and last album, Lucky to Me. The sophomore release was not a failure, but shone a little dim in the light of the substantially successful debut. By the next year, the band had called it quits. Some of the members went on to perform as a group called the Sugar Beats, others went on to try a little solo work. ~ Charlotte Dillon