Looking Glass is an American pop rock band formed in New Jersey that were active during the early 1970s. They are known for their chart-topping 1972 hit song "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)", which reached No. 1 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 charts, remaining in the top position for one week. They were part of the Jersey Shore sound.
History
The group was formed in 1969, at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The original version of the band broke up after college, with original members Elliot Lurie (born August 19, 1948) and Larry Gonsky (born October 20, 1949, Paterson, New Jersey) recruiting two new members to form the classic Looking Glass lineup, Jeff Grob (born December 6, 1950) and Pieter Sweval (born April 13, 1948 — died January 23, 1990), on drums and bass.
The group had the #1 hit single for the week of August 26, 1972, with "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)", written by Lurie;
Gonsky became a music teacher in Morris Township in 1994 and still teaches as of 2017.
Sweval left Starz in 1978 having succumbed to AIDS.
Members
- Elliot Lurie — lead vocals, guitar (1969—1974, 2003—present)
- Larry Gonsky — keyboards (1969—1975)
- Pieter Sweval — bass guitar (1969—1975<small>; died 1990</small>)
- Jeff Grob — drums (1969—1975)
- Brendan Harkin — guitar (1973—1975)
- Michael Lee Smith — lead vocals, guitar (1974—1975)
- Richie Ranno — guitar (1975)
Discography
Albums
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
|-
! style="width:40px;"| <small>US</small><br>
! style="width:40px;"| <small>AUS</small><br>
|-
| 1972
| Looking Glass
| style="text-align:center;"| 113
| style="text-align:center;"| 56
|-
| 1973
| Subway Serenade
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|}
Singles
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Song
! scope="col" colspan="6"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications
|-
! style="width:40px;"| <small>US</small><br>
! style="width:40px;"| <small>AUS</small><br>
|-
| "Golden Rainbow"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 75
| style="text-align:center;"| 37
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1973
| "Rainbow Man"
| style="text-align:center;"| 104
| style="text-align:center;"| 94
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| "Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne"
| style="text-align:center;"| 33
| style="text-align:center;"| 31
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
| style="text-align:center;"| 75
| style="text-align:center;"| 21
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| 1974
| "Sweet Somethin'"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| colspan="9" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
|}
Notes
References
External links
- Lyrics to "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)"