Although
Pussycat scored just one major hit in the English-speaking world, with the U.K. chart-topping "Mississippi" in April 1976, the group's Continental European career was considerably more sparkling, as evidenced by this weighty collection of (predominantly) Dutch and German smashes. Spanning the mid- to late-'70s peak of
Pussycat's career,
Mississippi highlights the depth of songwriting talent that the group could call upon. With such a wealth of material from which to choose, it's not a surprise that just one cover raises its head, a delightfully airy rendition of the Motown chestnut "It's the Same Old Song." Elsewhere, guitarist John Theuniessen's pen leads
Pussycat across the soft rock spectrum, with nods towards disco, power pop, and AOR. Notwithstanding the title track, present in both English- and German-language versions, "Smile" (which gave the group a number 24 U.K. hit), "My Broken Souvenirs," and "If You Ever Come to Amsterdam" offer genuine highlights and, while comparisons with U.K. hit-makers
the Brotherhood of Man spring to mind, there's also a warmth and depth on display that belies the band's reputation for bubblegum.