Lifesong utilized as much of their in-house talent as they could for this project, which included rockers Crack the Sky, producer Terence P. Minogue, teenage songwriter Mike Ragogna, some guy from Manhattan Transfer, and Barry Manilow’s keyboardist. With credits like that, it’s no surprise that Rock Reflections of a Superhero is one of the most generic, overwrought pieces of seventies pap ever recorded. The punchy spirit of the beloved 1960s Spider-Man cartoon theme song is nowhere to be found on this half-baked attempt at the Doobie Brothers. A big part of the problem is how much focus is put on Peter Parker’s emotional and social struggles when he’s not gliding over rooftops and fighting crime in his blue and red pajamas. We get it – he’s a nerd, girls don’t like him, his life sucks. One tune laying all this out would have been enough.
The back cover of Rock Reflections features panels depicting various Marvel superheroes jamming in the studio. Hulk’s on drums, Black Panther’s on guitar, and Captain American is… playing the tambourine? That seems a little demeaning. He’s Captain America. He should be playing a double-necked red, white, and blue guitar adorned with Hitler’s skull and a giant “Speak English or Die” sticker. Okay, maybe that’s a little intense, but seriously, couldn’t they have delegated fey percussion duties to a hero a little less pivotal? At least he was spared the indignity of hand clapping. Apparently they couldn’t even trust the Falcon with a pair of maracas.
Spider-Man is also shown in this collection of cute drawings, wearing headphones and holding a microphone. However, the Web-head doesn’t appear to be singing. Head tilted back, Spider-senses clearly tingling, our hero looks like he’s writhing in a great deal of physical pain. Maybe he knew from day one this album was going to be his greatest foe. That would explain why he’s not looking his alter ego in the eye on the front cover. He’s just too ashamed.
James writes every Wednesday at Den of Geek. Find his last column here.
