This episode we are talking the most pivotal film and soundtrack of 2001- at least in our opinion. Josie and the Pussycats is a film co produced by Universal and Metro-Goldwyn-Myer that sadly didn't have the box office clout at the time as it does cult status today. Starring Rachel Leigh Cook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson as a rebooted feline inspired rock band of the Hannah Barbara universe, the soundtrack is comprised of the biggest heavy hitters in pop and rock of all time. We dive deep into the contributions of Ana Waronker of That Dog, Kay Hanely and Micheal Eisenstein of Letters to Cleo, DeeDee Gipson, Baby Face, Adam Schelsinger of Fountains of Wayne, Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, Cancon hero Bif Naked, Matthew Sweet, along with the films directors Deb Kaplan and Harry Elfont among others that made up this fictitious super group.

This episode dives deep not only into the history of the Josie and the Pussycats franchise- talking about who was supposed to be cast as Josie initially, and some of the big names that auditioned for the part of Val- but we also wax and wane nostalgia on what this film meant for teens and girls playing music in a post grunge, current end of the manufactured boy band/ girl band era.

Some articles we mention:

"Josie and the Pussycats predicted influencer culture we are living 20 years ago" by BJ Colangelo; https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/josie-and-the-pussycats-predicted-the-influencer-culture-were-living-in-20-years-ago

"Meet the OG Singing Voice of Josie- Dee Dee Gipson" Maria Lewis https://graffitiwithpunctuation.com/opinion/meet-the-og-singing-voice-of-josie-dee-dee-dionne-gipson

We also mention the episode of "This Ends at Prom" where BJ Colangelo and, wife, Harmony Colangelo, they discuss Josie and the Pussycats: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-ends-at-prom/id1527896223

Tracks we talk about from the Epic Playtone released soundtrack:

1. "3 Small Words" Deborah KaplanHarry ElfontDave Gibbs Josie and the Pussycats  2. "Pretend to Be Nice" Adam Schlesinger Josie and the Pussycats   3. "Spin Around" Gibbs, Adam Duritz Josie and the Pussycats 4. "You Don't See Me" Gibbs Kaplan Babyface Jason Falkner Steve Hurley Dee Dee Gipson Elfont Jane Wiedlin Duritz Josie and the Pussycats 5. "You're a Star" Duritz Gibbs Anna Waronker Josie and the Pussycats 6. "Shapeshifter" Kay Hanley, Michael Eisenstein Josie and the Pussycats 7. "I Wish You Well" Waronker Josie and the Pussycats  8. "Real Wild Child" Johnny O'Keefe Johnny Greenan Dave Owens Josie and the Pussycats 9. "Come On" Gibbs Kaplan Elfont Babyface Falkner Hurley Gipson Wiedlin Schlesinger Hanley Josie and the Pussycats 10. "Money (That's What I Want)" Berry Gordy, Janie Bradford Josie and the Pussycats 11. "DuJour Around the World" Kaplan Elfont Brainz Dimilo Anthony President DuJour12. "Backdoor Lover" Kaplan Elfont Dimilo President Guliano Franco DuJour  13. "Josie and the Pussycats" Joseph Barbera William Hanna Hoyt Curtin Josie and the Pussycats

As always, chat with us on instagram @sidetrackedwithabbieandjonpod or drop us a line sidetrackedwithabbieandjon@gmail.com

Writing: Abbie

Editing: Jon

Intro and Outro music: Artie Wosko