BLOOD, SWEAT  &  TEARS

Mirror Image sadly didn't have much of a chart history. It was released in August of 1973 (COLAMBIA PCQ-32929). It peaked a month or so later at #149 on the U.S. Album Charts. The only single, "Tell Me That I'm Wrong" / "Rock Reprise" reached #83 on the Singles Chart. It's not in print, anywhere in the world, however, "Tell Me That I'm Wrong" appears on the What Goes Up! compilation and the French release Collection. "Love Looks Good On You" also appears on the compilation Found Treasures.

Billboard's Review, August 24, 1974 read:

With Bobby Colomby being the only original BS&T member left, amazingly the group once again comes through with another winning package. The material is fresh, yet still carries the unmistakable BS&T musical stamp. New directions are also indicated, notably on the R&B and progressive fronts, and they undoubtedly point to additional success for the group. Jerry LaCroix, now sharing lead vocal duty with Jerry Fisher, proves to be a solid plus. Musicianship througout the disk is excellent. Best cuts: "Are You Satisfied", "Love Looks Good On You", "Mirror Image" and "Look Up To The Sky".

Ross Boissoneau of the All Music Guide writes:

Without question, Mirror Image is the most atypical BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS album ever. The last disc recorded before David Clayton-Thomas' return to the fold, Mirror Image features three lead vocalists (Jerry Fisher, Jerry LaCroix and George Wadenius), three saxes (LaCroix, Bill Tillman and guest artist Arnie Lawrence) and only one trumpet (Tony Klatka). The album is uneven, but still has its moments, including "Tell Me That I'm Wrong" (a minor hit), "Are You Satisfied" and its "(Rock) Reprise", and the concluding "She's Comin' Home", where Klatka's trumpet echoes Wadenius' mournful vocal. It's no "Hi-De-Ho", but it's got some surprisingly strong material nonetheless.

© 1996 All Music Guide

Jeremiah Rickert writes:

In doing the research for this web page, I came across the reviews that Billboard Magazine gave out for each of the albums upon their respective releases, and it always surprised me how they almost always are the complete opposite of the other rock critics that I quote. Billboard gives a favorable review to just about every BS&T album, and it seems to me that if they consistently received the backing of COLAMBIA RECORDS, these albums would have performed a lot better in the charts. Also, it should be noted that in the What Goes Up! compilation the guy who wrote the liner notes, Al Quaglieri really messed up when it came to this album. He says that Jerry Fisher left the band after No Sweat and LaCroix was his replacement for this one. However, the photograph on the EXACT same page as his notes on Mirror Image contains both Jerry Fisher (On the far left) AND Jerry LaCroix (Second from the right). Not only that, but they sing duets on the album!! How can he call it "A collection of tunes faintly echoing the legacy of BS&T ... A decent single, "Tell Me That I'm Wrong ... etc", when it's obvious he hasn't listened to the record ? His notes, as well as the track selection, were a real disappointment to me and a lot of other BS&T fans. I also happen to think that portions of this album are truly high points in the history of BS&T. Particularly the "Mirror Image Suite", which was composed entirely by the members of the band. Just about everyone gets into the act, and it's one of the most interesting pieces of jazz-rock or fusion I've ever heard. Despite the hint of disco on the album, there is still a southern rock feel as well, which is an odd combination if you think about it, but somehow BS&T makes it work.

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