Dream of Life (Remastered) Patti Smith

• 1 People Have the Power 05:09
• 2 Going Under 06:00
• 3 Up There Down There 04:49
• 4 Paths That Cross 04:19
• 5 Dream of Life 04:39
• 6 Where Duty Calls 07:48
• 7 Looking for You (I Was) 04:06
• 8 The Jackson Song 05:25
• Total Runtime 42:15

Info for Dream of Life (Remastered)

Patti Smith had withdrawn from the world of rock after 1979s "Wave". When "Dream of Life" appeared in 1988, she had a new guitarist and husband in former MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith, and a smoother sound that abandoned "Wave's" slickness. Though pigeonholed as disappointing on its initial release, "Dream of Life" is, in retrospect, a solid album with a lot to recommend it.

The album opens with the punchy "People Have the Power". However the song is a triumphant call to arms, featuring Smith's raspy, commanding vocals, with crisp drumming from Jay Dee Daugherty, and some spiky guitar work. Also of note is "Where Duty Calls," an analysis of the political situation in the Middle East that occasionally recalls Warren Zevon, though without that artist's knowing humor. "Looking for You (I Was)," is a straight-ahead pop song built on subtle hooks and Smith's literate lyrics, while "The Jackson Song" is an achingly pretty lullaby.

"The big difference between Patti Smith's four 1970s albums and this return to action after nine years lies in the choice of collaborator. Where Smith's main associate earlier had been Lenny Kaye, a deliberately simple guitarist, here her co-writer and co-producer (with Jimmy Iovine) was her husband, Fred "Sonic" Smith, formerly of the MC5, who played guitar with a conventional rock competence and who lent his talents to each of the tracks, giving them a mainstream flavor. In a sense, however, these polished love songs, lullabies, and political statements are not to be compared to the poetic ramblings of Smith's first decade of music-making -- she's so much...calmer this time out. But you can't help it. Where the Patti Smith of Horses inspired a generation of female rockers, the Patti Smith of Dream of Life sounds like she's been listening to later Pretenders albums and taking tips from Chrissie Hynde, one of her spiritual daughters. Dream of Life is the record of someone who is simply showing the flag, trying to keep her hand in, rather than announcing her comeback. Not surprisingly, having made it, Smith retreated from the public eye again until the '90s." (William Ruhlmann , AMG)

Patti Smith, vocals
Fred Sonic Smith, guitar
Richard Sohl, keyboards
Margaret Ross, harp
Jesse Levy, cello
Gary Rasmussen, bass
Kasim Sultan, bass
Bob Glaub, bass
Malcolm West, bass
Jay Dee Daugherty, drums
Hearn Gadbois, percussion
Sammy Figueroa, percussion
Crusher Bennett, percussion
Robin Nash, background vocals
Andi Ostrowe, background vocals

Recorded and mixed at The Hit Factory, New York and A&M Studios, Los Angeles
Mastered at Masterdisk, New York
Produced by Fred Smith, Jimmy Iovine

Digitally remastered

No biography found.

This album contains no booklet.