Kitty Ford Pussycat

Kitty Ford sprang to life inside Associated Recording Studios (familiarly known as “Associated”) in 1961. Located on 7th Avenue in New York, Associated was a two-minute walk from the famous Brill Building, epicenter of the American music industry that dominated the pop charts in the early 1960s.

Kitty Ford was the alter ego of singer Mimi Evans. On occasion, Mimi would cut a song and a record label would decide to put out her demo. This is how Kitty Ford was born. Smaller labels found they sometimes didn’t have to go into the studio and hire musicians and vocal talent. They simply released a demo they liked. These demos could often be of master quality, depending on how much effort and money the composers or publishers put into it.

“I used to enjoy dreaming up an exciting life for Kitty. Mimi Roman was the singing cowgirl from Brooklyn, but I imagined Kitty Ford as being a sophisticated city girl.”

After remaining in storage for more than half a century, these restored acetates and publishing demos show us another side of the Brooklyn Cowgirl Mimi Roman. Hey everybody! Here’s Kitty Ford, the “sophisticated city girl” with the heart, and voice, of gold!

- Joseph Hopkins (music historian)

Performing as her poppier alter ego Kitty Ford, these restored acetates and publishing demos show another side of country and rockabilly trailblazer Mimi Roman. Her golden voice adorns songs of teen love, angst, heartbreak and more. Highlighted by the sultry-edged title track, this cataphonic delight is pressed on pink vinyl!

Pussycat (2:53)
Think (2:17)
Harry’s Harem (2:43)
(Evans-Tobias) Lyle- Hollyjo Music, Inc., ASCAP
Poupee (1:46)
Pachanga (1:55)
My Feelings For Charlie Changed (2:33)
Sisal Twine (2:29)
(Evans-Karen) EMI Catalog Inc., ASCAP
I Love You Conrad (2:25)
(Adams-Strouse) Edwin H. Morris, ASCAP
Originally issued as Jaro International J-77035, 1960
Blue Diamond Ring (2:15)
(Gallop-DeLugg) Pauline Music Inc., ASCAP
Originally issued as Jaro International J-77035, 1960
Let It Be Me (2:47)
(Bécaud-Curtis-Delanoë) Warner Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI
Rules Of Happiness (demo) (1:48)
(Evans-Karen) Lyle Music, Inc., ASCAP
Gee Mom (demo) (2:33)
(Arthur-Regney) Darnel Music, BMI
I Can’t Run Away (2:44)
Sad, Sad, September (2:20)
Big Shot Nothin’ Bringer (2:19)
When You Hurt Me I Cry (2:10)