Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
From Freepedia
| Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:TheEurythmicsSweetDreams(AreMadeofThis).jpg | ||
| Album by Eurythmics | ||
| Released | January 1983 | |
| Recorded | ??? | |
| Genre | New Wave | |
| Length | 41 min 59 sec | |
| Record label | RCA | |
| Producer | David A. Stewart, Robert Crash & Adam Williams | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| AMG | 4.5/5 | link |
| Eurythmics Chronology | ||
| In the Garden (1981) | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983) | Touch (1983) |
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) is a New Wave album by British synth pop duo Eurythmics, released in January of 1983 (see 1983 in music).
After two years of initial commercial failure for their Eurythmics project, this album became was a commercial breakthrough for the duo on both sides of the Atlantic, with the title track being especially popular: it remains one of Eurythmics' most recognizable songs, and its music video, popular on MTV in the United States, is memorable for Annie Lennox's gender-bending psycho-sexual imagery. In the wake of this success, the single "Love is a Stranger", previously a flop, achieved hit status as well. It too was accompanied by a striking video, which featured Lennox dressed both as a man and a woman.
Stewart produced the album himself in Eurythmics own relatively primative 8-track studio, winning awards for the quality of the end result which belied its low-budget origins. Sweet Dreams saw the duo move away from the psychedelic, guitar-tinged band-orientated sound of In the Garden, instead focussing on raw analogue synthesizers (including the Oberheim OB1 and EDP Wasp) and drum machines. However whilst the 'synth pop' genre had grown in popularity in the preceding years, it was often associated with all male groups and somewhat clinical, emotionless music. Eurythmics (particularly with Lennox's vocal stylings) brought a soul music twist to the electronic sound, which proved popular with broader audiences.
The title track was covered by Marilyn Manson in 1995, on his album Smells Like Children. The title track is also the theme song for The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.
Contents |
Track listing
- "Love Is a Stranger" (Lennox, Stewart) - 3:43
- "I've Got an Angel" (Lennox, Stewart) - 2:45
- "Wrap It Up" (Hayes, Porter) - 3:33
- "I Could Give You (A Mirror)" (Lennox, Stewart) - 3:51
- "The Walk" (Lennox, Stewart) - 4:40
- "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (Lennox, Stewart) - 3:36
- "Jennifer" (Lennox, Stewart) - 5:06
- "This Is the House" (Lennox, Stewart) - 4:56
- "Somebody Told Me" (Lennox, Stewart) - 3:29
- "This City Never Sleeps" (Lennox, Stewart) - 6:20
Personnel
Eurythmics
- Annie Lennox - vocals, keyboards/synthesizers, flute
- David A. Stewart - guitar, keyboards/synthesizers/sequencers, backing vocals
Additional personnel
- Green Gartside (of Scritti Politti) - guest vocal duet on Wrap it Up
- Dick Cuthell - trumpet
- Adam Williams - bass guitar, syntheziser ?
- Andy Brown - bass guitar
- Reynard Falconer - synthesisers
- John Turnbull - guitar
Note: musician credits are not printed on the album sleeve, however some additional info can be gained from the sleeves of the Touch album and "This is the House" single.
Production
- Producer: David A. Stewart
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Billboard 200 | 15 |
| 1983 | Top R&B Albums | 36 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Love Is A Stranger" | Club Play Singles | 7 |
| 1983 | "Love Is A Stranger" | Pop Singles | 23 |
| 1983 | "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" | Adult Contemporary | 36 |
| 1983 | "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" | Club Play Singles | 2 |
| 1983 | "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" | Mainstream Rock | 16 |
| 1983 | "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" | Pop Singles | 1 |
Trivia
- There was a music video of the song featuring footage from Disney shorts & movies.
