The Intruders, Cowboys to Girls | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 147th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Cowboys to Girls” by Philly soul collective, The Intruders.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 147^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Cowboys to Girls” performed by The Intruders.

“I remember… / When I used to play shoot ‘em up… / When I chased the girls and beat ‘em up.” Not  chased the girls and beat ‘em up, The Intruders.  Admittedly on “Cowboys to Girls”, the Philly soul collective was young – naïve to the nth degree! But, as fully grown men, they understand the purpose of girls: “I know girls are made for kissing / Never knew what I was missing / Now my life is not the same / My whole world has been rearranged.” Perhaps those lyrics ‘oversimplify,’ but The Intruders get their point across ‘loud and clear.’

“Cowboys to Girls” appears in the collective’s 1968 album, Cowboys to Girls. It was written and produced by legends: Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.  That explains the sweet orchestration: strings, brass, tight rhythm section (including vibes).  Articulated horn riffs and lush, legato strings bring sweet contrast. “Cowboys to Girls” marked the sole top 10 hit for The Intruders.  It peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, The Intruders had two additional top 40 hits including “(Love Is Like A) Baseball Game” (from the same album) and “I’ll Always Love My Mama”.

“I went from (Cowboys to girls)

Oh, yes, I did (Shoot ‘em up, bang-bang)

(Cowboys to girls).”

Paradigm shift? “Cowboys to Girls” benefits from a memorable chorus with its share of variations.  The point is that childish things have been put aside in favor of the opposite sex in all their glory! The second verse is a prime example: “And I remember /… When you got your first baby coach.” Oh, snap! What makes “Cowboys to Girls” the sugar honey iced tea are gritty, soulful lead vocals, and strong backing vocals/harmonies. Throughout, there are fabulous call-and-response moments.  Also, the melodies are tuneful throughout, most notably the chorus.  Listen to “Cowboys to Girls” and it should be no surprise why it earned The Intruders gold certification from the RIAA.

The Intruders // Cowboys to Girls // Sony Music Entertainment // 1968

The Intruders, Cowboys to Girls: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 147 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]