SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC: TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS "MIRAGE"

 

From 1967-this group formed in Niles, Michigan and had a number of hits. This is an odd song-the psychedelic era was filtering into mainstream and there are little trippy sonic bits (check out the unusual percussive high-pitched beat and the spacey organ) and curious subject matter. Sharing the album was the monster hit "I Think We're Alone Now."

Original copies feature a black album cover with two pairs of yellow bare footsteps walking side by side, then facing each other near the top of the cover. This was deemed too controversial for the time and was changed to a yellow cover with a photo of the group. Gosh, you know what happens when hormone-crazed teens get alone now. Nevertheless, a clever and inventive cover for the times