Dream of Life
Dream of Life is the fifth studio album by Patti Smith, released in June 1988 on Arista Records.
Dream of Life | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 1988 | |||
Recorded | 1987 | |||
Studio | The Hit Factory, New York City; A&M Studios, Los Angeles | |||
Genre | Art punk | |||
Length | 42:01 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Producer | Fred Smith, Jimmy Iovine | |||
Patti Smith chronology | ||||
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Singles from Dream of Life | ||||
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Recording and release
Dream of Life was her first album after the dissolution of The Patti Smith Group, and the only album that she made with her husband Fred "Sonic" Smith. Lead single "People Have the Power" received some album-oriented rock airplay at the time, and later was revived by Michael Stipe as a theme song for the 2004 Vote for Change concerts. "People Have the Power" was performed live for the first time by Patti and Fred Smith at the Arista Records 15th Anniversary Gala at Radio City Music Hall on [1] March 17, 1990. "Paths That Cross" is dedicated to the memory of Samuel J. Wagstaff. The cover photograph is by Robert Mapplethorpe.
Reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Chicago Sun-Times | [3] |
Chicago Tribune | [4] |
Los Angeles Times | [5] |
Mojo | [6] |
NME | 6/10[7] |
The Philadelphia Inquirer | [8] |
Rolling Stone | [9] |
Spin | [10] |
The Village Voice | A−[11] |
Dream of Life received generally favorable reviews from critics, who ranked the album number 31 in The Village Voice's 1988 Pazz & Jop critics' poll.[12] It was also ranked number 49 on Sounds magazine's list of the best albums of the year.[13]
Track listing
All songs were written by Patti Smith and Fred "Sonic" Smith.
Side one
- "People Have the Power" – 5:07
- "Going Under" – 5:57
- "Up There Down There" – 4:47
- "Paths That Cross" – 4:18
Side two
- "Dream of Life" – 4:38
- "Where Duty Calls" – 7:46
- "Looking for You (I Was)" – 4:04
- "The Jackson Song" – 5:24
CD reissue
- "People Have the Power" – 5:09
- "Up There Down There" – 4:49
- "Paths That Cross" – 4:19
- "Dream of Life" – 4:39
- "Where Duty Calls" – 7:48
- "Going Under" – 6:00
- "Looking for You (I Was)" – 4:06
- "The Jackson Song" – 5:25
- "As the Night Goes By" (bonus track) – 5:04
- "Wild Leaves" (bonus track) – 4:03
Personnel
Additional personnel
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Charts
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
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Austria | 26 |
Netherlands | 47 |
Norway | 9 |
Sweden[14] | 15 |
Switzerland | 9 |
UK Albums Chart | 70 |
U.S. Billboard 200[15] | 65 |
References
- "the Patti Smith Setlists". Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- Ruhlmann, William. "Dream of Life – Patti Smith". AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- McLeese, Don (July 18, 1988). "Nine-year sabbatical pays off for Patti Smith in new album". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
- Kot, Greg (June 17, 1996). "Back For More". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- Cromelin, Richard (July 10, 1988). "Smith's 'Dream': Strong, Simple, Spruced Up". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- Aston, Martin (October 2015). "Dancing with Ghosts". Mojo. No. 263. p. 83.
- Solanas, Jane (July 9, 1988). "Dreamtime". NME. p. 33.
- Moon, Tom (July 24, 1988). "Patti Smith issues bold statements". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Palmer, Robert (August 25, 1988). "Dream of Life". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- Marchese, David (September 2008). "Discography: Patti Smith". Spin. Vol. 24, no. 9. p. 108. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
- Christgau, Robert (August 30, 1988). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
- "The 1988 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. February 28, 1989. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- "Sounds Top 50 Albums". Sounds. December 24–31, 1988. p. 53. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
- "European charts". Retrieved 2008-02-29.
- "Billboard chart". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-02-29.