On March 2nd, 1987, Siouxsie and the Banshees released their covers LP Through the Looking Glass. The album’s title was a homage to the Lewis Carroll theme throughout the Banshees’ career, as well as referencing track 2 on the LP, a cover of Kraftwerk’s “Hall Of Mirrors”.
Through the Looking Glass found its genesis in the Banshee’s 1983 cover of The Beatles‘ “Dear Prudence”, as well as being an homage to the David Bowie album Pin Ups.
Additionally, releasing a covers LP was a practical decision, as the previous LP Tinderbox was fraught with delays due to a knee injury, and a disagreement overproduction, so the quick release of a new record quickly was desirable.
Through the Looking Glass features two single releases:
A cover of Bob Dylan’s “This Wheel’s on Fire”:
and a cover of Iggy Pop’s, “The Passenger” a song written as a soundtrack to the Berlin Ubahn and sharing a car ride with David Bowie to Poland, from the album 1977 Lust for Life.
Other covers featured on the album include Sparks “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us”, Trust In Me, from The Jungle Book, “You’re Lost Little Girl” by The Doors, “Gun” by John Cale, “Sea Breezes” by Roxy Music, and “Little Johnny Jewel” by Television.
The album also includes a stunning cover of Billie Holiday’s lament on the sorrows of lynching in the racist south “Strange Fruit”,
Tracklist:
- This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us
- Hall Of Mirrors
- Trust In Me
- This Wheel’s On Fire
- Strange Fruit
- You’re Lost Little Girl
- The Passenger
- Gun
- Sea Breezes
- Little Johnny Jewel
