Looking Glass

• Genre: Classic Rock

About

Looking Glass will forever be known for the soft-rocking single, "Brandy." One of the great moments of 1970s radio, "Brandy" tells the story of a lonely, beautiful barmaid who works in a pub on the waterfront where sailors come and go. All the sailors pine after her, but she of course yearns for the one sailor who cannot give up his love of the sea for her. So she serves drinks and waits for her sailor's return, an event everyone knows will never happen. The sweet and sad feel of the song, along with one of the most memorable choruses of all time and a rhythm that builds on itself most effectively, has made the song a staple of '70s collections, as well as a favorite among countless people who grew up during the decade. Interestingly, the rest of Looking Glass' material is nothing like "Brandy" -- it's mediocre Southern Rock at best. Still, the band has always maintained that it hated the song that effectively pigeonholed them as a Lite Rock one hit wonder.

- Mike McGuirk