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m Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 16 templates: hyphenate params (16×); del |ref=harv (1×);
→‎Background: cut down. The stuff about the "raw" recording of the band and working with Templeman is already talked about before the quote
 
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| cover = Aerosmith Done With Mirrors.jpg
| cover = Aerosmith Done With Mirrors.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1985|11|04}}<ref name="Release Date">https://www.aerosmith.com/news?n_id=2474</ref>
| released = {{Start date|1985|11|04}}<ref name="Release Date">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerosmith.com/news?n_id=2474|title = AeroHistory: Done with Mirrors}}</ref>
| recorded = Early 1985
| recorded = Early 1985
| studio =
| studio = *[[Fantasy Studios|Fantasy]], [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]]
*[[Power Station (recording studio)|Power Station]], [[New York City]]
*[[Fantasy Studios|Fantasy]], Berkeley, California
*Can-Am, [[Tarzana, Los Angeles|Tarzana]]
*[[Power Station (recording studio)|Power Station]], New York City
*Can-Am Recorders, Tarzana, California
| genre = [[Hard rock]]
| genre = [[Hard rock]]
| length = 31:59
| length = 35:42
| label = [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
| label = [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
| producer = [[Ted Templeman]]
| producer = [[Ted Templeman]]
Line 26: Line 25:
| single2 = [[Shela (song)|Shela]]
| single2 = [[Shela (song)|Shela]]
| single2date = October 31, 1985
| single2date = October 31, 1985
}}
}}
}}
'''''Done with Mirrors''''' is the eighth studio album by American [[rock music|rock]] band [[Aerosmith]], released on November 4, 1985.<ref name="Release Date"/> It marked the return to the band of guitarists [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]], who left in 1979 and [[Brad Whitford]], who departed in 1981. The band's first album on [[Geffen Records]], it was intended as their ‘comeback’. However, the record failed to live up to commercial expectations despite positive reviews.
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}} <ref Name=AM1>{{Allmusic|class=album|id=mw0000649812 |label=Review |first=Stephen Thomas |last=Erlewine |accessdate=7 April 2020 }}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
|rev2score = B+<ref name="Christgau">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=A&bk=80|chapter=A|access-date=August 16, 2020|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s]]|publisher=[[Pantheon Books]]|year=1990|isbn=0-679-73015-X|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref>
| rev3 =''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
| rev3Score = 7/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | author-link1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties | publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] | date = November 1, 2005 | location = [[Burlington, Ontario]], Canada | isbn = 978-1-894959-31-5 | page=13}}</ref>
| rev4 =''[[Kerrang!]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine| last = Russell| first = Xavier| magazine = [[Kerrang!]]| title = Smith's Krisp| issue = 107| publisher = Morgan Grampian| date = November 1985| location = London, UK| pages = 18–19}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev5Score = (unfavorable)<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/done-with-mirrors-255512/ | title = Done With Mirrors | last = Guterman | first = Jimmy | magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]| date = 1985-12-05 | access-date = 2012-05-14}}</ref>
| rev6 =''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/aerosmith/albumguide |title=Aerosmith - Album Guide |first=Greg |last=Kot |author-link=Greg Kot |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |publisher=Jann S. Wenner |access-date=November 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221501/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/aerosmith/albumguide |archive-date=June 28, 2011 }}</ref>
| rev7 = The Daily Vault
| rev7Score = A<ref name=vault>{{cite web |url= http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=322 |title=The Daily Vault Music Reviews : Done with Mirrors |first=Christopher |last=Thelen |work=dailyvault.com |year=2019 |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref>
}}

'''''Done with Mirrors''''' is the eighth studio album by American [[rock music|rock]] band [[Aerosmith]], released on November 4, 1985.<ref name="Release Date"/> It marked the return to the band of guitarists [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]], who had left in 1979, and [[Brad Whitford]], who had left in 1981. The band's first album on [[Geffen Records]], it was intended as their "comeback". However, despite good reviews, it did not live up to commercial expectations.


==Background==
==Background==
"Let the Music Do the Talking" was a rerecording of the title track from [[Let the Music Do the Talking|first album]] by [[the Joe Perry Project]], with altered lyrics and melody.
"Let the Music Do the Talking" was a rerecording of the title track from the [[Let the Music Do the Talking|first album]] by [[the Joe Perry Project]], with altered lyrics and melody.


[[Brad Whitford]] revealed that producer [[Ted Templeman]] wanted to capture the band's aggressive, "out of control freight train" sound by removing the red light indicating that recording was underway (a technique he had used to capture [[Van Halen]]'s sound). Templeman told the band to run through the songs in the studio and recorded them without their knowledge. Whitford referred to the nerves generated when knowingly recording songs as "the red light blues".
[[Brad Whitford]] revealed that producer [[Ted Templeman]] wanted to capture the band's aggressive, "out of control freight train" sound by removing the red light indicating that recording was underway (a technique he had used to capture [[Van Halen]]'s sound). Templeman told the band to run through the songs in the studio and recorded them without their knowledge. Whitford referred to the nerves generated when knowingly recording songs as "the red light blues".


"I had a great time making that record," Templeman told ''[[The Washington Post]]'''s [[Geoff Edgers]], "and Steven was one of the most amazing guys. But we had to do that record in Berkeley because they didn’t want those guys to score (drugs). They didn’t want them to be in L.A. or San Francisco. I wasn’t familiar with the board. As a producer, if you know your room and the mic [[preamplifier|preamps]], you know how things are going to sound. I don’t think I made Joey’s drums sound as good as they could have, or Joe’s guitar."<ref name="WashPost">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/lifestyle/walk-this-way/??noredirect=on |title=The inside story of when Run‑DMC met Aerosmith and changed music forever |last=Edgers |first=Geoff |author-link=Geoff Edgers |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 18, 2016 |access-date=2018-08-26 }}</ref>
"I had a great time making that record," Templeman told ''[[The Washington Post]]'''s [[Geoff Edgers]], "and Steven was one of the most amazing guys. But we had to do that record in Berkeley because they didn't want those guys to score (drugs). They didn't want them to be in L.A. or San Francisco. I wasn't familiar with the board. As a producer, if you know your room and the mic [[preamplifier|preamps]], you know how things are going to sound. I don't think I made Joey's drums sound as good as they could have or Joe's guitar."<ref name="WashPost">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/lifestyle/walk-this-way/??noredirect=on |title=The inside story of when Run‑DMC met Aerosmith and changed music forever |last=Edgers |first=Geoff |author-link=Geoff Edgers |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 18, 2016 |access-date=2018-08-26}}</ref>


Joe Perry recalled recording in a 2022 interview: "[...] with the rest of the songs, there was a vibe to them where they were just raw and dirty. I still wish I could have maybe polished a few more things or maybe put a couple more overdubs on it, but all in all, I think it did what it was supposed to do. I think it kind of showed me what we needed to do, what we were, and where we needed to be for the next one. I think we had to do that record to get to the next step and really take ourselves out of the usual way we were writing and recording."<ref>Daly, Andrew. An Interview with Joe Perry of Aerosmith. July 2, 2022. VWMusic. July 2, 2022. https://vwmusicrocks.com/2022/07/02/an-interview-with-joe-perry-of-aerosmith/.</ref>
On [[VH1 Classic]]'s ''[[That Metal Show]]'', [[Joey Kramer]] expressed his dislike of ''Done with Mirrors'', claiming that the band "never really finished it".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.vh1classic.com/view/playlist/1627078/459708/That_Metal_Show_Season_3_Episode_8_Ratt/That_Metal_Show_Season_3_Episode_8_Ratt_Part_2/index.jhtml | title = That Metal Show Season 3 Episode 8: Ratt | access-date = 2011-09-01 | year = 2009 | work = [[That Metal Show]] | publisher = [[VH1]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100410135948/http://www.vh1classic.com/view/playlist/1627078/459708/That_Metal_Show_Season_3_Episode_8_Ratt/That_Metal_Show_Season_3_Episode_8_Ratt_Part_2/index.jhtml | archive-date = 2010-04-10 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Joe Perry was similarly dismissive: "''Done with Mirrors'', as far as I'm concerned, is our least inspired record. But I've heard fans really like it, so I'm not gonna stand there and tell 'em, 'No, it sucks.' We had to do that record to get to the next one, so it served its purpose. I just don't think it's up to the standard of some of our others."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Heavy Load |magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] |date=February 2015 |last=Yates |first=Henry |issue=206 |page=138 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Epting|first=Chris|title=Joe Perry Reveals Which Aerosmith Albums He's Not a Fan Of (Exclusive)|url=http://www.noisecreep.com/2012/12/06/joe-perry-aerosmith-albums/|work=[[Noisecreep]]|publisher=[[AOL]]|access-date=27 December 2012}}</ref>


[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]] (MTV & VH1) executive [[Doug Herzog]] recalled that, after this album, "Aerosmith was done… They were a little bit of a joke."<ref name="WashPost"/> However, they would revive their career in 1986 with a landmark remake of 1975's "[[Walk This Way]]" with hip-hop group [[Run DMC]], followed by an album that would eventually go 5× Platinum – ''[[Permanent Vacation (Aerosmith album)|Permanent Vacation]]'' – in 1987.
[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]] (MTV & VH1) executive [[Doug Herzog]] recalled that, after this album, "Aerosmith was done… They were a little bit of a joke."<ref name="WashPost"/> However, they would revive their career in 1986 with a landmark remake of 1975's "[[Walk This Way]]" with hip-hop group [[Run DMC]], followed by an album that would eventually go 5× Platinum – ''[[Permanent Vacation (Aerosmith album)|Permanent Vacation]]'' – in 1987.


''Done with Mirrors'' is the last Aerosmith record written without the aid of outside songwriters, as of ''[[Music from Another Dimension!]]''
Despite the band's views, the album earned mostly positive reviews, and is a cult favorite among fans.<ref>http://ultimateclassicrock.com/aerosmith-done-with-mirrors/</ref>

To date, ''Done with Mirrors'' is the last Aerosmith album written without the aid of outside songwriters.


==Packaging and title==
==Packaging and title==
In keeping with the title, all the text (bar the catalog number and UPC) on the original releases were written back-to-front – to be read by holding it to a mirror. Rereleases flip the artwork so it can be read without a mirror, and add the band's logo. As a result, the original CD (which came in a [[longbox]]) is collectable. (All text in the booklet of the first CD pressing is also back-to-front.)
In keeping with the title, all the text (bar the catalog number and UPC) on the original releases, including all text in the booklet of the first CD pressing, were written back to front, to be read by holding it to a mirror. Re-releases flip the artwork so it can be read without a mirror, additionally adding the band's logo. As a result, the original CD (which came in a [[longbox]]) is a collector's item.


The title refers both to illusions that are "done with mirrors", and the laying out of drugs such as [[cocaine]], traditionally snorted off a mirror.
The title refers both to illusions that are "done with mirrors", and the laying out of drugs such as [[cocaine]], traditionally snorted off a mirror.

== Reception ==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}} <ref Name=AM1>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000649812 |label=Review |first=Stephen Thomas |last=Erlewine |access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
| rev2score = B+<ref name="Christgau">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=A&bk=80|chapter=A|access-date=August 16, 2020|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s]]|publisher=[[Pantheon Books]]|year=1990|isbn=0-679-73015-X|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
| rev3Score = 7/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | author-link1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties | publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] | date = November 1, 2005 | location = [[Burlington, Ontario]], Canada | isbn = 978-1-894959-31-5 | page=13}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Kerrang!]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine| last = Russell| first = Xavier| magazine = [[Kerrang!]]| title = Smith's Krisp| issue = 107| publisher = Morgan Grampian| date = November 1985| location = London, UK| pages = 18–19}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev5Score = (unfavorable)<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/done-with-mirrors-255512/ | title = Done With Mirrors | last = Guterman | first = Jimmy | magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]| date = 1985-12-05 | access-date = 2012-05-14}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/aerosmith/albumguide |title=Aerosmith - Album Guide |first=Greg |last=Kot |author-link=Greg Kot |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=November 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221501/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/aerosmith/albumguide |archive-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref>
| rev7 = The Daily Vault
| rev7Score = A<ref name=vault>{{cite web |url= http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=322 |title=The Daily Vault Music Reviews : Done with Mirrors |first=Christopher |last=Thelen |work=dailyvault.com |year=2019 |access-date=16 February 2019}}</ref>
}}
On [[VH1 Classic]]'s ''[[That Metal Show]]'', [[Joey Kramer]] expressed his dislike of ''Done with Mirrors'', claiming the band "never really finished it".<ref>{{cite web |year=2009 |title=That Metal Show Season 3 Episode 8: Ratt |url=http://www.vh1classic.com/view/playlist/1627078/459708/That_Metal_Show_Season_3_Episode_8_Ratt/That_Metal_Show_Season_3_Episode_8_Ratt_Part_2/index.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410135948/http://www.vh1classic.com/view/playlist/1627078/459708/That_Metal_Show_Season_3_Episode_8_Ratt/That_Metal_Show_Season_3_Episode_8_Ratt_Part_2/index.jhtml |archive-date=2010-04-10 |access-date=2011-09-01 |work=[[That Metal Show]] |publisher=[[VH1]]}}</ref>

Joe Perry was similarly dismissive: "''Done with Mirrors'', as far as I'm concerned, is our least inspired record. But I've heard fans really like it so I'm not gonna stand there and tell 'em, 'No, it sucks.' We had to do that record to get to the next one so it served its purpose. I just don't think it's up to the standard of some of our others."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Yates |first=Henry |date=February 2015 |title=Heavy Load |magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] |issue=206 |page=138}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Epting |first=Chris |title=Joe Perry Reveals Which Aerosmith Albums He's Not a Fan Of (Exclusive) |url=http://www.noisecreep.com/2012/12/06/joe-perry-aerosmith-albums/ |access-date=27 December 2012 |work=[[Noisecreep]] |date=6 December 2012 |publisher=[[AOL]]}}</ref>

Despite the band's views, this album earned mostly positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Aerosmith Got Their Wings Back on 'Done with Mirrors' |date=9 November 2015 |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/aerosmith-done-with-mirrors/}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| title1 = [[Let the Music Do the Talking (song)|Let the Music Do the Talking]]
| title1 = [[Let the Music Do the Talking (song)|Let the Music Do the Talking]]
| writer1 = [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]]
| note1 = [[The Joe Perry Project]] cover
| writer1 = [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]]
| length1 = 3:48
| length1 = 3:48
| title2 = [[My Fist Your Face]]
| title2 = [[My Fist Your Face]]
Line 84: Line 85:
| writer4 = Tyler, [[Tom Hamilton (musician)|Tom Hamilton]]
| writer4 = Tyler, [[Tom Hamilton (musician)|Tom Hamilton]]
| length4 = 4:13
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = [[Shela (song)|Shela]]
| writer5 = Tyler, [[Brad Whitford]]
| length5 = 4:25
| title6 = Gypsy Boots
| writer6 = Tyler, Perry
| length6 = 4:16
| title7 = She's on Fire
| writer7 = Tyler, Perry
| length7 = 3:47
| title8 = The Hop
| writer8 = Tyler, Hamilton, [[Joey Kramer]], Perry, Whitford
| length8 = 3:45
}}
}}
{{track listing
{{track listing
| headline = Side two
| headline = All CD, cassette, and certain vinyl pressings
| title1 = [[Shela (song)|Shela]]
| writer1 = Tyler, [[Brad Whitford]]
| length1 = 4:25
| title2 = Gypsy Boots
| writer2 = Tyler, Perry
| length2 = 4:16
| title3 = She's on Fire
| writer3 = Tyler, Perry
| length3 = 3:47
| title4 = The Hop
| writer4 = Tyler, Hamilton, [[Joey Kramer]], Perry, Whitford
| length4 = 3:45
}}
{{track listing
| collapsed = yes
| headline = All CD, cassette and certain vinyl pressings bonus track
| title9 = [[Darkness (Aerosmith song)|Darkness]]
| title9 = [[Darkness (Aerosmith song)|Darkness]]
| writer9 = Tyler
| writer9 = Tyler
Line 111: Line 108:
==Personnel==
==Personnel==
'''Aerosmith'''
'''Aerosmith'''
*[[Steven Tyler]]{{snd}}lead vocals, piano, harmonica, percussion
*[[Steven Tyler]]{{snd}}lead vocals, piano, harmonica, percussion
*[[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]]{{snd}}guitar, [[slide guitar]], backing vocals
*[[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]]{{snd}}guitar, [[slide guitar]], backing vocals
*[[Brad Whitford]]{{snd}}guitar, acoustic guitar
*[[Brad Whitford]]{{snd}}guitar, acoustic guitar
Line 126: Line 123:
*Kent Ayeroff – album cover concept
*Kent Ayeroff – album cover concept
*Norman Moore – art direction and design
*Norman Moore – art direction and design
*Jim Shea – photography
*Jim Shea – photography
*[[John Kalodner]] – A&R
*[[John Kalodner]] – A&R


==Charts==
== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
===Album===
[[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] (North America)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/done-with-mirrors-r177/charts-awards | title = Done with Mirrors Billboard Albums | access-date = 2011-09-01 | work = [[Allmusic]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Chart
!Position
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |1985
! Chart (1985)
! Peak <br/>position
|[[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]
|align="center"|36
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Canada|72|chartid=0621|artist=Aerosmith|album=Done with Mirrors|rowheader=true|accessdate=22 April 2018}}
|[[Oricon|Japanese Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/46082/ranking/cd_album/|title=エアロスミスのCDアルバムランキング、エアロスミスのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE |publisher=Oricon.co.jp |access-date=2013-05-02}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|41
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]]|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref>
|}
| align="center"| 41

===Singles===
Billboard (North America)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.billboard.com/artist/278098/aerosmith/chart?page=3&f=376 | title = Aerosmith - Chart history - Billboard}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Single
!<small>US Main<br>Rock</small>
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|36|artist=Aerosmith|refname=Billboard 200|rowheader=true|accessdate=22 April 2018}}
| 1985
|"[[Let the Music Do the Talking (song)|Let the Music Do the Talking]]"
|align="center"|18
|-
| 1986
|"[[Shela (song)|Shela]]"
|align="center"|20
|}
|}


==Certifications==
==Certification==
{{certification Table Top}}
{| class="wikitable"
{{certification Table Entry |region=United States |type=album |artist=Aerosmith |title=Done with Mirrors |award=Gold}}
!Organization
{{certification Table Bottom |nosales=true}}
!Level
!Date
|-
|[[RIAA]] - USA
|Gold<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Done%20with%20Mirrors&artist=Aerosmith&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25
| title=Gold and Platinum Database Search
| access-date=2009-11-24}}</ref>
|July 21, 1993
|}


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 181: Line 150:
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
*{{cite book| last = Huxley| first = Martin| year = 2015| title = Aerosmith: The Fall and the Rise of Rock's Greatest Band| publisher = [[St. Martin's Publishing Group]]| isbn = 978-1250096531}}
*{{cite book| last = Huxley| first = Martin| year = 2015| title = Aerosmith: The Fall and the Rise of Rock's Greatest Band| publisher = [[St. Martin's Publishing Group]]| isbn = 978-1250096531}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
{{cite book|title=Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music|first1=Ted|last1=Templeman|first2=Greg|last2=Renoff|pages=387-94, 404-6|publisher=ECW Press|location=Toronto|year=2020|isbn=9781770414839|oclc=1121143123}}
{{cite book|title=Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music|first1=Ted|last1=Templeman|first2=Greg|last2=Renoff|pages=387–94, 404–6|publisher=ECW Press|location=Toronto|year=2020|isbn=9781770414839|oclc=1121143123}}


{{Aerosmith}}
{{Aerosmith}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Done With Mirrors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Done With Mirrors}}

Latest revision as of 16:53, 28 April 2024

Done with Mirrors
Studio album by
Aerosmith
ReleasedNovember 4, 1985 (1985-11-04)[1]
RecordedEarly 1985
Studio
GenreHard rock
Length35:42
LabelGeffen
ProducerTed Templeman
Aerosmith chronology
Rock in a Hard Place
(1982) 		Done with Mirrors
(1985) 		Permanent Vacation
(1987)
Singles from Done with Mirrors
  1. "Let the Music Do the Talking"
    Released: September 16, 1985
  2. "Shela"
    Released: October 31, 1985

Done with Mirrors is the eighth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 4, 1985.[1] It marked the return to the band of guitarists Joe Perry, who left in 1979 and Brad Whitford, who departed in 1981. The band's first album on Geffen Records, it was intended as their ‘comeback’. However, the record failed to live up to commercial expectations despite positive reviews.

Background[edit]

"Let the Music Do the Talking" was a rerecording of the title track from the first album by the Joe Perry Project, with altered lyrics and melody.

Brad Whitford revealed that producer Ted Templeman wanted to capture the band's aggressive, "out of control freight train" sound by removing the red light indicating that recording was underway (a technique he had used to capture Van Halen's sound). Templeman told the band to run through the songs in the studio and recorded them without their knowledge. Whitford referred to the nerves generated when knowingly recording songs as "the red light blues".

"I had a great time making that record," Templeman told The Washington Post's Geoff Edgers, "and Steven was one of the most amazing guys. But we had to do that record in Berkeley because they didn't want those guys to score (drugs). They didn't want them to be in L.A. or San Francisco. I wasn't familiar with the board. As a producer, if you know your room and the mic preamps, you know how things are going to sound. I don't think I made Joey's drums sound as good as they could have or Joe's guitar."[2]

Joe Perry recalled recording in a 2022 interview: "[...] with the rest of the songs, there was a vibe to them where they were just raw and dirty. I still wish I could have maybe polished a few more things or maybe put a couple more overdubs on it, but all in all, I think it did what it was supposed to do. I think it kind of showed me what we needed to do, what we were, and where we needed to be for the next one. I think we had to do that record to get to the next step and really take ourselves out of the usual way we were writing and recording."[3]

Viacom (MTV & VH1) executive Doug Herzog recalled that, after this album, "Aerosmith was done… They were a little bit of a joke."[2] However, they would revive their career in 1986 with a landmark remake of 1975's "Walk This Way" with hip-hop group Run DMC, followed by an album that would eventually go 5× Platinum – Permanent Vacation – in 1987.

Done with Mirrors is the last Aerosmith record written without the aid of outside songwriters, as of Music from Another Dimension!

Packaging and title[edit]

In keeping with the title, all the text (bar the catalog number and UPC) on the original releases, including all text in the booklet of the first CD pressing, were written back to front, to be read by holding it to a mirror. Re-releases flip the artwork so it can be read without a mirror, additionally adding the band's logo. As a result, the original CD (which came in a longbox) is a collector's item.

The title refers both to illusions that are "done with mirrors", and the laying out of drugs such as cocaine, traditionally snorted off a mirror.

Reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [4]
Christgau's Record GuideB+[5]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal7/10[6]
Kerrang![7]
Rolling Stone(unfavorable)[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]
The Daily VaultA[10]

On VH1 Classic's That Metal Show, Joey Kramer expressed his dislike of Done with Mirrors, claiming the band "never really finished it".[11]

Joe Perry was similarly dismissive: "Done with Mirrors, as far as I'm concerned, is our least inspired record. But I've heard fans really like it so I'm not gonna stand there and tell 'em, 'No, it sucks.' We had to do that record to get to the next one so it served its purpose. I just don't think it's up to the standard of some of our others."[12][13]

Despite the band's views, this album earned mostly positive reviews.[14]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let the Music Do the Talking" (The Joe Perry Project cover)Joe Perry3:48
2."My Fist Your Face"Steven Tyler, Perry4:23
3."Shame on You"Tyler3:22
4."The Reason a Dog"Tyler, Tom Hamilton4:13
5."Shela"Tyler, Brad Whitford4:25
6."Gypsy Boots"Tyler, Perry4:16
7."She's on Fire"Tyler, Perry3:47
8."The Hop"Tyler, Hamilton, Joey Kramer, Perry, Whitford3:45
All CD, cassette, and certain vinyl pressings
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Darkness"Tyler3:43
Total length:35:42

Personnel[edit]

Aerosmith

Production

  • Ted Templeman – producer
  • Jeff Hendrickson – engineer, mixing
  • Tom Size, Gary Rindfuss, Stan Katayama – assistant engineers
  • Howie Weinberg – analog mastering engineer at Masterdisk, New York
  • Ken Caillat – digital mastering
  • Joan Parker – production coordinator
  • Kent Ayeroff – album cover concept
  • Norman Moore – art direction and design
  • Jim Shea – photography
  • John Kalodner – A&R

Charts[edit]

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[15] 72
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[16] 41
US Billboard 200[17] 36

Certification[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "AeroHistory: Done with Mirrors".
  2. ^ a b Edgers, Geoff (May 18, 2016). "The inside story of when Run‑DMC met Aerosmith and changed music forever". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  3. ^ Daly, Andrew. An Interview with Joe Perry of Aerosmith. July 2, 2022. VWMusic. July 2, 2022. https://vwmusicrocks.com/2022/07/02/an-interview-with-joe-perry-of-aerosmith/.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "A". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved August 16, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
  6. ^ Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
  7. ^ Russell, Xavier (November 1985). "Smith's Krisp". Kerrang!. No. 107. London, UK: Morgan Grampian. pp. 18–19.
  8. ^ Guterman, Jimmy (1985-12-05). "Done With Mirrors". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  9. ^ Kot, Greg. "Aerosmith - Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  10. ^ Thelen, Christopher (2019). "The Daily Vault Music Reviews : Done with Mirrors". dailyvault.com. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  11. ^ "That Metal Show Season 3 Episode 8: Ratt". That Metal Show. VH1. 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-04-10. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  12. ^ Yates, Henry (February 2015). "Heavy Load". Classic Rock. No. 206. p. 138.
  13. ^ Epting, Chris (6 December 2012). "Joe Perry Reveals Which Aerosmith Albums He's Not a Fan Of (Exclusive)". Noisecreep. AOL. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  14. ^ "How Aerosmith Got Their Wings Back on 'Done with Mirrors'". 9 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0621". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  16. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  17. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  18. ^ "American album certifications – Aerosmith – Done with Mirrors". Recording Industry Association of America.

Bibliography[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Templeman, Ted; Renoff, Greg (2020). Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music. Toronto: ECW Press. pp. 387–94, 404–6. ISBN 9781770414839. OCLC 1121143123.

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