The Pussywillows


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.

Background

The 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. With a singing style like that of 1960s groups, The Shangri-Las and The Ronettes, they would sing on stage wearing thrift-store dresses. The group originally had some help in its formation by Mike Chandler of the group, Raunch Hands. Through Todd Adamson of the Telstar label they got some gigs. This in turn led to them recording Spring Fever! which was released on Telstar. 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 ". With "The Boat That I Row", the song was written by Neil Diamond and became a hit for Lulu. 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.
The group also did some recordings with Raunch Hands. A big fan of the group was Ronnie Spector who would one day have them backing her on a set of recordings.

Appearances

In 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". 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.

Later years

Blake would later move to LA and by 1991 was using the name April March. Lisa Jenio would later become a member and bass player for The Liquor Giants.
The Pussywillows contributed their vocals, singing background on Ronnie Spector's Something's Gonna Happen album which was released in 2003. They sang on "Communication", "For His Love", "Something's Gonna Happen" and "Whenever You're On My Mind" which were all Marshall Crenshaw compositions.

Discography

ArtistRelease TitleRelease infoYearNotes #
Ronnie SpectorSomething's Gonna HappenBad Girl Sounds 102003CD

TitleRelease infoYearSong titleNotes #
Every Band Has a Shonen Knife Who Loves ThemGasatanka Records / Positive Music 60361990"Twist Barbie"
Rutles Highway Revisited Shimmy Disc shimmy-0411990"Hold My Hand"
Attack Of The Terrible BootsMint Sound MSRCD41997"Turn Her Down"
Kill the MoonlightSympathy For The Record Industry 4821997"Vindaloo"CD