"Done with Mirrors" is the eighth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 4, 1985. This album marked the return of guitarists Joe Perry, who had left in 1979, and Brad Whitford, who departed in 1981. It was the band's first release on Geffen Records and was intended as a comeback. Despite positive reviews, the album did not meet commercial expectations.
Producer Ted Templeman aimed to capture the band's aggressive sound by removing the red light indicating recording was in progress, a technique he had used previously with Van Halen. He recorded the band without their awareness, a process that Brad Whitford referred to as the "red light blues." Templeman later expressed that while he enjoyed working with the band, the recording conditions were challenging, as they had to be done in Berkeley to avoid drug issues.
Joe Perry reflected on the recording process, noting that the songs had a raw and dirty vibe. He felt that while some aspects could have been polished further, the experience helped the band understand their direction for future projects. The track "Let the Music Do the Talking" is a reworking of a song from the Joe Perry Project, featuring altered lyrics and melody. Other tracks, such as "The Reason a Dog," draw comparisons to The Police, while "Shela" takes on a syncopated, almost disco-like feel.
The album's packaging was notable for its mirrored text, requiring a mirror to read. This mirrored theme extends to the title, which refers to both the idea of illusions and the drug culture associated with cocaine. The original CD release is now a collector's item due to its unique design.
Although Done with Mirrors did not revive the band's career as hoped, Aerosmith found significant success in the following years, notably with their collaboration with Run DMC on "Walk This Way."
