Hanspostcard recommended this song to me, and it stuck with me. I guess I’ll never forget the name of this band. I heard of the band before because I remember reading about them opening for The Kinks and Tom Petty. John Entwistle played on a few tracks on their first album and produced it. On this second album, Muff Winwood produced it. This song and Chicago Boxcar (Boston Back) are probably their best-known songs.
The band was influenced by The Who and The Kinks, and you can tell. After listening to them a little, they have some pub rock, the punch of it, combined with really good pop songwriting. They formed in London in 1975, with Tony de Meur (vocals/guitar), Richie Robertson (bass/vocals), Bobby Valentino (violin/vocals), and Bryan Wernham (drums). From the start, they had a knack for mixing good pop songwriting with theatrical humor, with some British music hall thrown in. This song was written by Tony De Meur and John Parsons.
Like a lot of late ’70s UK pop/rock, Mirror Star didn’t tear up the charts, but it found a loyal following, especially when the band opened for The Kinks on their U.S. tours. American audiences who were expecting another punk band got this odd pop/rock band.
They released 3 albums between 1977 and 1979. This one was on their second album, Unsuitable, released in 1978. I’ve searched, and they didn’t seem to chart in the UK, which surprised me. This song did peak at #81 on the Billboard 100 in 1979.
Mirror Star
He was a lonely boy, no good at sportsHe couldn’t run, his legs were shortHe walked the streets inside his headAnd spent a lot of time in bed
He practiced on his way to schoolHis friends all said, you’re off the wallHe played a tight elastic bandHis mic was just his empty hand
Mirror, mirror, mirror starHe posed in front of every carThey all called him crazy kidHe ran up to his room and hid
He greased his hair with VaselineAnd practiced looking really meanHe saw a face that’s going farHe posed right there with his guitar
Head’s in the clouds on school reportsHe’s always lost in other thoughtsMade no difference, shut them outHe’d be a star someday, no doubt
Mirror, mirror on the wallYou never treat him like a foolHere in his room, he is the kingThe wild applause is deafening
You see his face on every wallFrom Camden Town to LiverpoolHe lays a groupie when he’s downAnd rents the best hotel in town
The kids hang round to see his faceAnd wish that they were in his placeReflections paid, the mirror made‘Cause posing’s helped him make the grade
Mirror, mirror on the wallYou never treat him like a foolHere in his room, he is the kingThe wild applause is deafening
Mirror, mirror, mirror starMirror starMirror, mirror starMirror, mirror, mirror starMirror, mirror starMirror, mirror
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