When Fish signed his two-album deal with Polydor a potential covers album was mentioned in passing and the label was positive towards that. However, when they came asking for a follow-up to 'Internal Exile' Fish felt there wasn't enough time to write and record a proper studio album. So he suggested the covers option to give his supporters something before the next real deal was ready. At the same time it would give him a lot more time to come up with the best possible album. Polydor was much less keen on the idea this time around but after some negotiations they relented. They had after all exclusive rights to extended Fish's contract up to 180 days after the original contract was up, so if 'Songs From The Mirror' did well no one could touch the Scotsman. As it turns out Polydor never triggered that clause meaning Fish was eventually free making this the last time the singer worked with a major label.
Wanting to record songs that influenced and shaped him as a youngster before becoming a singer Fish got to work and eventually narrowed it down to 9 songs in all. The title is something most of us can relate to as it refers to impersonating your childhood idols in front of a mirror, dreaming of fortune and fame. The standout tracks for me are 'Boston Tea Party', 'Fearless', 'Hold Your Head Up', 'Solo' and '5 Years'. Apart from Pink Floyd's 'Fearless' I don't recall having heard any of the other songs prior to this recording but that was of course rectified after a few spins of 'Songs From The Mirror'. 'Boston Tea Party' was originally written and recorded by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band but the way Fish performs this song it could have written by him for 'Internal Exile'. The phrasing, the subject matter and the way it is executed it would have a perfect fit for that album. This version doesn't stray too far from the original but Fish being Fish it definitely comes out as ”his” song. 'Fearless' could have been on 'Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors' both in sound and words. A touch more faster than the original and more focused and rocked up and less trippy and spaced out. Argent's 'Hold Your Head Up' is another composition where Fish makes minimal changes but the tweaks done are more than enough to fit the giant Scotsman's repertoire perfectly. The way Fish and his band performs Sandy Denny's 'Solo' is rather breathtaking. Her version is wonderful and he honours it in the best possible way. I've always been so back and forth with David Bowie, I either like his music or I don't, there's no in between. Bowie's version of '5 Years' does little for me while Fish on the other hand turns the song into something brilliant.
As a whole this is a good album and if you didn't know all the songs are rebirths of other artists' songs 'Songs From The Mirror' could easily be taken as a Fish-penned album. Obviously he didn't write a single one of them but he turned them into his own and that's how covers should be done in my opinion. In some cases his versions are better than the originals. Yes, I'm definitely sticking out my chin but that's what I feel. To each their own! Regardless, Fish did well with this album which turned out to be a nice farewell to major labels and the beginning of a whole new chapter for the giant Scotsman.
- Swedebeast
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