Mirage (Tommy James and the Shondells song)

"Mirage" is a song by the American rock and roll group Tommy James and the Shondells, released as a single on 5 January 1967^[2] on the Roulette Records label.

"Mirage"
Single by Tommy James and the Shondells
from the album I Think We're Alone Now
Released	5 January 1967
Genre	Bubblegum pop[1]
Length	2:30
Label	Roulette 4736
Songwriter(s)	Ritchie Cordell
Producer(s)	Bo Gentry
Tommy James and the Shondells singles chronology
"I Think We're Alone Now" (1967) "Mirage" (1967) "I Like the Way" (1967)

Background

"Mirage" was recorded for the I Think We're Alone Now album.

During a songwriting session producer Bo Gentry accidentally inserted a master copy of the "I Think We're Alone Now" song backwards in his reel-to-reel tape player. Tommy and the group instantly liked the reverse chord progression and recorded it as "Mirage" with new lyrics by Ritchie Cordell, who had also written "I Think We're Alone Now".

Charts

"Mirage" debuted on the Hot 100 on Tommy's 20th birthday, eventually reaching number 10^[3] on 17 June 1967, number 2 on the Canadian charts on 24 June 1967,^[4] and number one on Chicago AM radio stations WCFL on 18 May 1967^[5] and WLS on 19 May 1967.^[6]

Cover versions

Pop-punk band The Queers covered "Mirage" on their 1994 album Beat Off.