After the departure of co-lead vocalist
Mike Harrison, it seemed that the already-declining
Spooky Tooth had suffered a creative deathblow. Fortunately, replacement
Mike Patto brought new life to the aging rock outfit on
The Mirror. The accomplishments of this, the group's final offering, pales in comparison to their masterpiece,
Spooky Two, but there are still some fine moments. A careful examination of the credits might explain the cool musicality of the 1974 Island release. Guitarist
Mick Jones (of
Foreigner fame) is listed along with vocalist/keyboardist
Gary Wright as co-producer.
Jones' ascension within the band proves to be a blessing. The
Wright-penned power ballads ("Kyle," "The Mirror") and
Jones/
Patto rockers ("Fantasy Satisfier," "The Hoofer") benefit from substantial production and songwriting skills. Elements of pop and gospel/R&B are all combined into a seamless rock delivery on
The Mirror, giving the record a depth that is rare in the
Spooky Tooth catalog. ~ Vincent Jeffries