On this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack is joined by Jeff Grob, Drummer of Looking Glass. Jeff first heard rock and roll on a car radio in the ‘50s, and it captured him like no other music before. After playing in various groups, while in high school, Jeff’s psychology teacher would put him in contact with a band from Rutgers University. This band was called Looking Glass, and Jeff would soon become their drummer. At the turn of the ‘70s, the band would begin making demos in a rented farmhouse before being signed to CBS Records. The band's first single "Don't It Make You Feel Good" would not chart for the group, however, the band’s second single would forever secure their place in music history.

The group's 2nd single, "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)", traces its origins back to the farmhouse the band were renting before their signing to CBS. After recording the song a few times with different CBS producers to no avail, Looking Glass decided to record the song themselves alongside recording engineer Bob Liftin. This would be the version of the song that would see Looking Glass reach number one in the US and number 10 in Australia. In 2017, the song would see further success when it became a main feature in the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Today, the song remains an enduring classic.

Looking Glass would go on to release two studio albums before disbanding in 1974. Jeff continued doing music and today is playing in a band called Starz and is still doing gigs playing the music of Looking Glass.

Jack phoned Jeff to talk about the impact of hearing rock and roll for the first time, how he came to join Looking Glass, the early gigs of Looking Glass, the band's time as a popular campus band at Rutgers University, the band's early demos, how the band got signed to CBS Records, the recording process of "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)", the success of "Brandy", the recording of the group's 2nd album Subway Serenade, the group's work after the departure of co-frontman Elliot Lurie, and his work with Starz today.

"The very first sound you hear (in the movie) is my bass drum foot...there's one scene where the space guy Kurt Russell is driving along and he stops the car to take a leak in the bushes and he starts whistling my song, now when you got Kurt Russell taking a squirt whistling your song...that's when you know you've made it" - Jeff Grob on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" being in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins