The Pussywillows were a group that featured Elinor Blake, Lisa Dembling and Lisa Jenio. Their recordings have appeared on the Kill the Moonlight soundtrack, and the Rutles Highway Revisited album.
The Pussywillows | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City, United States |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | circa 1980s - 1990s |
| Labels | Telstar Records |
| Past members | Elinor Blake Lisa Dembling Lisa Jenio Sheryl Farber |
Background
editThe Pussywillows were originally from New York City. It consisted of three friends—Elinor Blake, Lisa Dembling and Lisa Jenio—who liked singing together girl-group style.[1][2] With a singing style like that of 1960s groups such as The Shangri-Las and The Ronettes, they would sing on stage wearing thrift-store dresses.[3] The group originally had some help in its formation by Mike Chandler of the group Raunch Hands. Through Todd Abramson of the Telstar label they got some gigs, which led to them recording Spring Fever!, released on Telstar.[4][5] The tracks on the album were, "The Boat That I Row", "Come On Now", "Don't Say He's Gone", "Turn Her Down", "Everyone Will Know", "My Baby Looks But He Don't Touch" and "Baby Baby (I Still Love You)".[6] With "The Boat That I Row", the song was written by Neil Diamond and became a hit for Lulu.[7][8] Another song they covered was "Turn Her Down". It was recorded by girl group The Cupons in the 1960s and released on the Impact label.[9][10][11]
The group also did some recordings with Raunch Hands.[12] A big fan of the group was Ronnie Spector who would one day have them backing her on a set of recordings.[13][14]
Appearances
editIn December 1990, they played at the Funhouse in Bethlehem covering songs like Neil Diamond's "The Boat That I Row" and "My Baby Looks But He Don't Touch".[15] In January 1991 with their backing band, which included guitarist Ward Dotson on guitar, Will Rigby on drums and Spike Priggen on bass, they played at the CBGB club in Bleecker Street, Manhattan.[16]
Later years
editBlake moved to LA and by 1991 was using the name April March.[17][18] Lisa Jenio became a member of and bass player for Candypants and The Liquor Giants.[19]
The Pussywillows contributed background vocals to Ronnie Spector's 2003 album Something's Gonna Happen.[20] They sang on "Communication", "For His Love", "Something's Gonna Happen" and "Whenever You're On My Mind" which were all Marshall Crenshaw compositions.[21]
Discography
edit| Title | Release info | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Fever! | Telstar Records TR003 | 1988 | [22][23] |
| Artist | Release Title | Release info | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie Spector | Something's Gonna Happen | Bad Girl Sounds 10 | 2003 | CD[24][25] |
| Title | Release info | Year | Song title | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves Them | Gasatanka Records / Positive Music 6036 | 1990 | "Twist Barbie" | [26][27] |
| Rutles Highway Revisited (A Tribute To The Rutles) | Shimmy Disc shimmy-041 | 1990 | "Hold My Hand" | [28] |
| Attack Of The Terrible Boots | Mint Sound MSRCD4 | 1997 | "Turn Her Down" | [29] |
| Kill the Moonlight | Sympathy For The Record Industry 482 | 1997 | "Vindaloo" | CD[30][31] |
References
edit- ^ SPIN, November 1993 - Page 30 Pop tart, April March gets her Ye' Ye' Out
- ^ Mystery Island Publications, 08.01.07 - april march interview by lucy hell
- ^ The New York Times, January 18, 1991 - POP/JAZZ; Delta Blues and Girl Groups In 2 New Incarnations By KAREN SCHOEMER
- ^ New York Rock: From the Rise of The Velvet Underground to the Fall of CBGB, By Steven Blush - Page 304
- ^ Discogs - The Pussywillows – Spring Fever!
- ^ BestEverAlbums.com - Spring Fever! (album) by The Pussywillows
- ^ The Forward, October 23, 2014 - Culture» Neil Diamond's 32nd Album Is His Best in 40 Years By Dan Epstein
- ^ Brit Girls of the Sixties Volume Three: Cilla Black, Sandie Shaw & Lulu, By David Bret - -
- ^ WFMU - Fringe Factory with DJ Vikki V: Playlist from November 11, 2015
- ^ FreeMusicLib - The Pussywillows
- ^ Popsike - Great 1964 Girl Group 45 CUPONS Turn Her Down IMPACT
- ^ Mystery Island Publications, 08.01.07 - april march interview by lucy hell
- ^ Yé-Yé Girls of '60s French Pop, By Jean-Emmanuel Deluxe - -
- ^ Billboard, October 25, 2003 - Page 52 Retail, The Indies By Chris Morris
- ^ The Morning Call, December 15, 1990 - PUSSYWILLOWS HAVE FUN AT THE FUNHOUSE BY MELANIE NOVAK
- ^ The New York Times, January 18, 1991 - POP/JAZZ; Delta Blues and Girl Groups In 2 New Incarnations By KAREN SCHOEMER
- ^ CMJ New Music Monthly, January 1999 - Page 20 on the verge, april march
- ^ New York Rock: From the Rise of The Velvet Underground to the Fall of CBGB, By Steven Blush - Page 304
- ^ Billboard, October 29, 1994 - Page 72 to 73 Retail, House Of Punk/Flipside Set Un- Masques Legendary Club by Chris Morris
- ^ Billboard, October 25, 2003 - Page 52 Preservation Hall Label To Serve Up Jazz History - By Chris Morris
- ^ Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life as a Fabulous Ronnette, By Ronnie Spector, Vince Waldron - 1989
- ^ Discogs - The Pussywillows – Spring Fever!
- ^ AllMusic - The Pussywillows, Spring Fever!
- ^ Billboard, October 25, 2003 - Page 52 Preservation Hall Label To Serve Up Jazz History - By Chris Morris
- ^ AllMusic - Ronnie Spector, Something's Gonna Happen
- ^ AllMusic - Various Artists, Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves Them, Releases
- ^ AllMusic - Various Artists, Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves Them, Credits
- ^ Discogs - Various – Rutles Highway Revisited (A Tribute to the Rutles)
- ^ Discogs - Various – Attack Of The Terrible Boots
- ^ AllMusic - Various Artists, Kill the Moonlight, Overview
- ^ AllMusic - Various Artists, Kill the Moonlight, Releases