Originally a distinctly Byrds-influenced duo of guitarist/vocalists Ross McGeeney and Tony Poole (and thus instantly comparable to an early R.E.M.), Starry Eyed and Laughing were one of the most individual acts to gravitate toward the London pub rock scene as the 1970s neared their midpoint. Formed in the midlands city of Northampton during 1973, within a year the band had swollen to a quartet comprising McGeeney, Poole, bassist Steve Hall, and drummer Nick Brown and were packing venues across the capital. This lineup survived only a matter of months, but did bring the band to the attention of CBS. With a new rhythm section of Iain W hitmore and the splendidly named drummer Mick Wackford, plus a cast of guests including Russ Ballard, Lindisfarne's Ray Jackson, and BJ Cole, Starry Eyed and Laughing cut their eponymous debut album in mid-1974, alongside the single "Money Is No Friend of Mine."

A second album, Thought Talk, followed in 1975, together with further singles "Nobody Home" and Good Love," and that fall, Starry Eyed and Laughing made their U.S. debut with a short, but very well-received tour. Upon returning home, however, McGeeney quit the band -- he was replaced by Roger Kelly for the 1976 single "Don't Give Me a Hard Time," before bassist Whitmore, too, departed.

Opting to continue on as a trio, the band abbreviated its name to Starry Eyed alone, but never recaptured the excitement of earlier years and broke up soon after.

(by Dave Thompson, All Music Guide)

"Where do you start? How about with the name? Yeah. Starry Eyed And Laughing, as all good Dylanophiles know, is the first line of the last verse of "Chimes Of Freedom". It's the sort of name you probably won't forget, and it's also to be a great extent onomatopoaeic (which means it sounds like it looks). They don't laugh out of context, mind you, and after all that motorway food, stars in the eyes could prove a little difficult, but the sound is basically that produced by optimists, and the songs are unlikely to lead to dispair even in the most downtrodden of lives.
It's my contention, and several tasteful writers agree, that Starry Eyed And Laughing come several miles nearer to successfully adapting that jingly jangly Californian style, complete with original material, than anyone so far. Tony Poole (12string-player) says his group's music "guaranteed to take you higher". Should I explain what he means by "higher"? Too much time and vinyl are taken up with ramblings. Here is the music that belongs to everyone - yours to enjoy."

(Covertext von John Tobler)