Pink Pussycat by Ann Lewis (1979)

Ann Lewis is a former Japanese singer, model, and actress. While today she's semi-retired from showbusiness, her popularity in the 70s' and 80's earned her the title of the "Goddess of Japanese Rock", well known for hit songs like "Good Bye My Love", "Koi no Boogie Woogie Train", and "Roppongi Shinjuu". Lewis was born June 5, 1956, in Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Japan, to an American father and a Japanese mother. Throughout the early 70s, she was active as a gravure idol, that is an idol who banked on their sex appeal as much as (or sometimes more than) her singing. One look at some of her album covers tells you she's much more provocative than the average idol. That being said she sings as great as she looks. Most of her early career was your typical idol kayo of the time, up until she made the transition into New Music in 1978 with the release of her 7th album, Think Pink! produced by group sounds guitarist Kunihiko Kase (加瀬邦彦), and then full-on city pop with the 1979 release of Pink Pussycat.

Pink Pussycat had one hell of a lineup of musicians. First and foremost the album was produced & arranged by city pop legend, Tatsuro Yamashita (山下達郎). It also featured legendary guitarists like Masaki Matsubara (松原正樹), Kazuo Shiina (椎名和夫), and even Ann's late ex-husband and J-Rock star, Masahiro Kuwana (桑名正博). The Yellow Magic Orchestra appears on this album with Ryuichi Sakamoto (坂本龍一) on keyboards, Haruomi Hosono (細野晴臣) on bass, and Yukihiro Takahashi (高橋ユキヒロ) on drums. Other talents include bassist and singer, Akira Okazawa (岡沢章), percussionist Nobu Saito (斉藤ノブ), session drummer Yukata Uehara (上原裕) most famous for his work with Sugar Babe, and Minako Yoshida (吉田美奈子) helping with backing vocals. American songwriter, Diane Warren, also lends her talent to the English vocal song, "Just Another Night". Warren has also written songs for DeBarge, Cher, and Aerosmith.

THE MUSIC

1. Dream Boat Annie ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Love Magic ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Just Another Night ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Vodka or Rum ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Sun God/Goddess of Love (太陽神 ～恋の女神～) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. Alone In The Dark ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. Bathroom ⭐⭐⭐
8. Shampoo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. Lost In Hollywood ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. I'm A Lonely Lady ⭐⭐⭐⭐
11. Dream Boat Annie (Reprise) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE VERDICT 

Pink Pussycat leaves a great first impression with its fusion of disco, r&b, and glam rock. Appropriately its production style shares many similarities with Tatsuro Yamashita's Moonglow, which came out the same year. you can hear the similarities in songs like "Love Magic", an upbeat disco track that would fight right in alongside classics like "Funky Flushin'", and "Let's Kiss the Sun".  Both albums definitely try to emphasize their American pop roots, which can hear as soon as the opening track, "Dream Boat Annie", a near-ethereal cover of the song by American rock band Heart that's used neatly as the album's prologue and epilogue tracks.

  Ann Lewis' lush and sultry singing is a force to be reckoned with, she has a voice that really grabs you by the loins if that makes any sense, with an album name like Pink Pussycat, I'm sure that was purposeful. She definitely has an edge over other idols being American-Japanese, as her vocals sound equally beautiful in both languages. You wouldn't be able to tell she was Japanese by the way she sings in English.  My favorite songs are "Just Another Night", a sensual soul ballad that really showcases her tantalizing voice, and "Alone in the Dark", a sinister-sounding boogie number with a groovy brass section and a funky piano stride inspired by Lamont Dozier's "Going To My Roots". In all honesty, though, there isn't a single song on here that disappoints; "Lost in Hollywood" is a bluesy stride with a funky brass section that's the perfect backdrop for a strut down Sunset blvd, Vodka or Rum" is a groovy pop rock tune with smooth guitar riffs and just the right amount of cowbell. And of course, there's the original recording of "Shampoo", a song written by Tatsuro Yamashita himself and covered in his 1986 album Pocket Music, although I'll tell you right now, Lewis' is the superior version. Pink Pussycat is truly an underrated album by an underrated city pop artist. Anyone looking to become a fan of Ann Lewis should start with this album.