Genre: pop
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Pink Lady
Company: Elektra
Catalog: 6E 209
Year: 1977
Country/State: Japan
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: gatefold sleeve; cut out notch along bottom
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 1415
Price: $30.00
Cost: $1.00
Here's a weird one
... Billed as Pink Lady (the name came from a Japanese alcoholic drink),
Mitsuyo "Mie" Nemoto and Keko "Kei" Masuda were
discovered when they took part in Star Tanjo (a Japanese television Star
Search-styled talent show). Cute and modestly talented, by the mid-'70s they
were one of Japan's biggest pop acts, having rung up a stunning streak of 10
hit singles and sold millions of records (as well as a hawking a huge list
of commercial endorsements)
God only knows why (perhaps hoping to replicate the late-'70s successes
enjoyed by Honda and Toyota), radio programmer Paul Drew somehow convinced
executives at Elektra that the pair of Japanese cuties might score big in
the States. Elektra agreed and Kie and Mei were quickly teamed with veteran
producer Michael Lloyd. While the pair proved cute and sweet (nice legs),
judging by anonymous quasi-dance material such as "Strangers When We
Kiss", "Love Countdown", and their cover of the Alessi
Brothers' "Dancing In the Halls of Love", their musical talents
proved minimal. Image a cross between ABBA, muzak, and Silver Convention and
you'll get a feel for their basic sound. To be truthful, the women deserved
at least a nod of acknowledgement for having the courage to go through with
this endeavor. Forced to sing the English lyrics phonetically, the pair were
also forced to fight their way through amazingly ham fisted disco
arrangements, as well as waves of overpowering backing singers ("Show
Me the Way To Love"). Given those obstructions they managed to turn in
some halfway decent performances (ABBA certainly sang with heavier accents).
You also had to admire their willingness to take on some oddball selections
- notably The Left Banke's "Walk Away Renee" and a weird discofied
cover of the Tom Jones lounge piece "Love Me Tonight". Released as
a single "Kiss In the Dark" b/w "" (Elektra catalog
number 46040), somehow managed to go top-40. Unfortunately, while they were
more than willing to purchase Japanese cars and stereo equipment, American
consumers refused to have anything to do with the parent album, "Pink
Lady" peaking at a dismal #203. (The album was
originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)
"Pink Lady" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Kiss In the
Dark
2.) Dancing In the Halls of Love
3.) Show Me the Way To Love
4.) Walk Away Renee
5.) Strangers When We Kiss
(side 1)
1.) Love Me
Tonight
2.) I Want To Give You My Everything
3.) Deeply
4.) Give Me Your Love
5.) Love Countdown
Even though their album vanished without a trace, an appearance on a Lief
Garrett television special brought Kei and Mei to the attention of NBC
television president Fred Silverman. Inexplicably Silverman offered the duo
a contract to host a summer replacement variety show for the network. Teamed
with comedian Jeff Altman, the show "Pink Lady and Jeff" was
fascinating in the same way a nasty traffic accident captures your
attention. Cancelled within a month (a decision perhaps having something to
do with the fact neither could speak English, nor display a semblance of
talent), the duo returned to Japan. They briefly resumed their singing
careers, enjoying several modest hits, but by 1981 they'd formally called it
quits.
Naturally, there are a slew of websites devoted to the duo (most naturally in Japan). Here's one established by a devoted American fan:
http://www.pinkladyamerica.com/