“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
Have you ever stumbled across a song that completely changes how you see a band? That’s what happened to me with The Sweet’s cover of “Reflections.” Most people know The Sweet for their glam rock anthems like “Ballroom Blitz” or “Fox on the Run” – those high-energy, theatrical hits that defined the glitter-soaked 1970s. But there’s this whole other side to them that gets overlooked, and “Reflections” is the perfect window into it.
Released on their 1971 debut album “Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be,” this cover of The Supremes’ classic shows a band at a fascinating crossroads. The Sweet hadn’t yet fully embraced the hard rock sound that would make them famous. Instead, they were experimenting, trying to find their voice, and in the process created something unexpectedly beautiful.
What strikes me most about their version is how they transform a Motown classic into something that feels both respectful of the original and entirely their own. Brian Connolly’s vocals are tender and emotional – a far cry from the theatrical wails he’d become known for later. There’s a vulnerability there that catches you off guard if you only know their bigger hits.
The Story Behind the Song
The Sweet’s journey to recording “Reflections” is part of their fascinating early history. Before they became glam rock icons, they were a band called The Sweetshop, playing covers and trying to find their footing in London’s music scene. Their debut album was largely comprised of covers and bubblegum pop songs written for them by others.
According to my research, “Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be” was released in November 1971 and contained a collection of the band’s recent singles (including their first hits “Funny Funny” and “Co-Co”), supplemented by some new Chinn/Chapman tunes and pop covers like The Supremes’ “Reflections.”
What’s particularly interesting is that this album came out during a transitional period for the band. They were working with songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who would help craft their commercial sound, but they hadn’t yet fully developed the harder rock edge that would define their later work. The album itself didn’t chart in the UK, despite containing their early hits – a strange quirk of timing as the band was just beginning to find commercial success.
A Different Kind of Sweet
Listening to “Reflections,” you hear a band capable of nuance and emotional depth. The original by The Supremes (released in 1967) was itself groundbreaking – one of Motown’s first psychedelic-influenced songs with its innovative use of electronic effects and introspective lyrics about lost love and memory.
The Sweet’s version maintains the song’s melancholic core while adding their own musical sensibilities. The arrangement showcases their ability to harmonize – something that would become a hallmark of their sound even in their heaviest rock songs. There’s a dreamlike quality to their interpretation that feels both of its time and somehow timeless.
What makes this cover particularly significant is how it represents a bridge between musical worlds. The Sweet were helping to pioneer glam rock, a genre that would influence everything from punk to heavy metal. Yet here they are, paying homage to Motown’s sophisticated pop craftsmanship. It’s a reminder that great musicians are often students of diverse musical traditions.
The Legacy of an Overlooked Gem
“Reflections” never became one of The Sweet’s signature songs, but it offers valuable insight into their musical development. The band would soon move toward a harder sound with hits like “Blockbuster!” (1973) and “The Ballroom Blitz” (1973), eventually writing more of their own material and pushing against the bubblegum image their early producers had crafted for them.
Yet this early recording shows that beneath the glitter and platform boots was a group of serious musicians with diverse influences and the ability to convey genuine emotion. Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott, and Mick Tucker were skilled performers who could handle tender material just as effectively as they could rock anthems.
For fans who only know The Sweet’s biggest hits, discovering their version of “Reflections” can be a revelation – a glimpse into the band’s versatility and the musical journey that would eventually lead them to glam rock stardom.
The next time you put on “Ballroom Blitz” or “Fox on the Run,” consider taking a detour to hear “Reflections.” It might just change your perspective on a band that helped define an era but had more dimensions than their glittery image might suggest.
Video
Lyrics
Through the mirror of my mind
Time after time
I see reflections of you and me
Reflections of the way life used to be
Reflections of the love you took from me
Oh, I’m all alone now, no love to shield me
Trapped in a world that’s a distorted reality
Happiness you took from me
And left me alone with only memories
Through the mirror of my mind
Through the tears that I’m cryin’
Reflects the hurt I can’t control
‘Cause although you’ve gone, I keep holding on
To the happy time, ooh, when you were mine
As I peer through the window of lost time
Looking over my yesterdays
And all the love I gave all in vain
(All the love) All the love that I’ve wasted
(All the tears) All the tears that I’ve tasted
(All in me) All in me
Through the hollow of my tears
I see a dream that’s lost
From the hurt that you have caused
Everywhere I turn
Seems like everything I see
Reflects the love that used to be
In you I put, oh, my faith and trust
Right before my eyes
My world has turned to dust
After all these nights
I sat alone and wept
Just a handful of promises
Are all that’s left of lovin’ you
Reflections of the way life used to be
Reflections of the love you took from me
In you I put
All my faith and trust
Right before my eyes
My world has turned to dust