Looking Glass is the self-titled debut album released by the band Looking Glass in 1972.
Contents
Background
The group had been playing all up and down the East Coast in clubs, and one night they were spotted by Clive Davis at the Whisky a Go Go. Davis, who at the time was the president of Columbia Records, signed them to the Epic Records label. After trying to record two times (once with Steve Cropper in Memphis), the band began working with Bob Liftin and recorded "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)". It was not released as the single's A-side, but as the B-side to "Don't It Make You Feel Good" in early 1972. The song went unnoticed by most, but not by Harv Moore, a disc jockey in Washington, D.C. The song would go on to peak 6 months after its release, and the album charted for 16 weeks in the U.S.
Critical reception
In his review of the album, Robert Christgau said simply: "This automatic good time doesn't even have the courage of its own slickness."
Track listing
Original LP order listed. The cassette listing differs in that "From Stanton Station" replaces "Brandy" on the A-Side while "Brandy" opens the B-Side.
Personnel
Looking Glass
Elliot Lurie – guitars, lead vocals
Pieter "Piet" Sweval – bass, lead vocals, harp on "Catherine Street" and "From Stanton Station"
Larry Gonsky – keyboards, background vocals
Jeff Grob – drums
Additional personnel
Chuck Connolly – Backup vocals on "Brandy"
Tasha Thomas, Barbara Massey, Carolyn Davis – Backup vocals on "Don't It Make You Feel Good" (credited as Tasha Thomas and the Feel Good Girls)
Eddie Hinton – Guitar (with Elliot Lurie) on "Golden Rainbow"
James Giampa – Congas on "Brandy"
Larry Fallon – Horns/Strings arrangements
Tim Geelan, Wayne Tarnowski, Pete Weiss (on "Brandy", uncredited), Billy Radice – Engineer
Ed Lee – Cover design
KLN Photos Inc. – Cover photo
Bob Liftin – Producer/Audio Consultant
Mike Gershman – Executive producer
Steve Paley – Special thanks/Back cover photo
Don Ellis, Steve Baron, Sandy Linzer, Karmic Guardians – Special thanks