Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (album)
{{Short description|1983 studio album by Eurythmics}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
| type = studio
| artist = Eurythmics
| cover = Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).jpg
| border = yes
| alt = Inside the centre white area in between a grey border, a small image of a topless woman with short orange hair and black gloves holding a heart-shaped box. Above the image, text in a golden circle reads "D&A", referencing David Stewart and Annie Lennox. The band's name is seen on the top, with the album's title on the bottom.
| released = 4 January 1983
| recorded = 1982
| studio = Eurythmics' 8-track studio and the Church, London
| genre =
- Dance-pop{{cite web |first= Matt |last= Mitchell |title= The 50 Greatest Synth-Pop Albums of All Time |website= Paste |date= 21 July 2023 |url= https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/50-greatest-synth-pop-albums-of-all-time |accessdate= 26 July 2023 |archive-date= 26 July 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230726181624/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/50-greatest-synth-pop-albums-of-all-time |url-status= live }}
- synth-pop
- new wave
| length = 42:21
| label = RCA
| producer =
- David A. Stewart
- Adam Williams
- Robert Crash
| prev_title = In the Garden
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = Touch
| next_year = 1983
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
| type = studio
| single1 = This Is the House
| single1date = 2 April 1982
| single2 = The Walk
| single2date = 18 June 1982
| single3 = Love Is a Stranger
| single3date = 8 October 1982
| single4 = Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
| single4date = 21 January 1983
}}
}}
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) is the second studio album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 4 January 1983 by RCA Records. Along with the title track, which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 that year, the album also features the singles "This Is the House", "The Walk", and "Love Is a Stranger".
Background and release
=Recording and production=
The album was assembled by Eurythmics mainly at two locations: a small project studio in the attic of an old warehouse in the Chalk Farm district of north London, where the duo spent seven months living and working, followed by a small room in the Church Studios in London.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rPdJDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 |page=23 |title=Dawn of the DAW: The Studio as Musical Instrument |last=Bell |first=Adam Patrick |date=2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780190296629 |access-date=23 May 2023 |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905125315/https://books.google.com/books?id=rPdJDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Doyle |first=Tom |title=Classic Tracks: Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' |magazine=Sound On Sound |date=July 2018 |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-eurythmics-sweet-dreams}}
The album was largely recorded onto an 8-track tape machine, apart from three songs: "The Walk" was transferred onto a friend's 16-track, and "Somebody Told Me" and "Wrap It Up" were both recorded onto 24-track (using only half the tracks) while the Church studio was being built.{{cite magazine|title=Tales from the Crypt|first=Adrian|last=Deevoy|date=July 1983|magazine=International Musician And Recording World|pages=40–43}} Equipment-wise, the band had a recording setup consisting of a Tascam 80-8 8-track, a Soundcraft Series 2 mixer, two Beyerdynamic M201 TG microphones, a Roland Space Echo, a Furman compressor, a B.E.L. Electronics noise reduction unit, and a Klark Teknik DN50 spring reverb unit.{{cite magazine|title=Producing Sweet Dreams|first=Susan|last=Crane|magazine=Modern Recording & Music|date=December 1983|pages=23–31}} The instruments they used were mainly a Roland SH-09 synthesizer (later said to be an SH-101 instead), a CSQ-100 sequencer, a Gretsch slide guitar, a Movement drum computer, a Roland Juno-6, and a borrowed Oberheim synthesizer (later described as the OB-X model by Stewart). Overall, the record cost around £5,000 to make, due to equipment costs.
=Release=
After a year and a half of initial commercial failure for Eurythmics, this album became a breakthrough for the duo on both sides of the Atlantic. The title track became particularly popular and remains one of Eurythmics' most recognisable songs. Its music video, popular on MTV in the United States, featured Annie Lennox's gender-bending imagery. In the wake of this success, the single "Love Is a Stranger", previously a flop, was re-released and became a hit as well. It too was accompanied by a video that featured Lennox dressed both as a man and a woman.
The album was re-released in 2005 with the entire Eurythmics studio catalogue, except the 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother) album, to which Virgin Records holds the rights. The recordings were remastered, and several bonus tracks were added to each of the eight albums. In this release, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) acquired six bonus tracks. Early Australian, German, and US CD releases (printed in Japan) and the 2005 reissue version of this album have a slightly longer version of "This City Never Sleeps". The length of 6:40 is due to some mixed sound effects and a backmasked message by David A. Stewart saying, "I enjoyed making that there record. Very good, very good."{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/music/backmasked-tracks/?cur=this-city-never-sleeps |title=This City Never Sleeps |publisher=UGO.com |date=17 September 2008 |access-date=9 November 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205140600/http://www.ugo.com/music/backmasked-tracks/?cur=this-city-never-sleeps |archive-date=5 February 2013}}
Stewart was particularly pleased with the final product and called it "one of the most important records of 1983", due to the "carefully structured" arrangements and lyrics.{{Cite magazine |last=Hills|first=Simon |date=26 February 1983 |url=https://eurythmics-ultimate.com/publications/1983-02-26-eurythmics-record-mirror-from-the-uk-id-3384/#foogallery-1377249/i:2|title=Sweet and Sour|magazine=Record World |page=26|access-date=9 November 2024|via=Ultimate Eurythmics Archives}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this-mw0000193723 |title=Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics |website=AllMusic |access-date=12 August 2011 |last=Gallucci |first=Michael |archive-date=10 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510000345/https://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this-mw0000193723 |url-status=live }}
| rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide
| rev2score = B{{cite book |chapter=Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) |chapter-url=https://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=1211 |access-date=4 June 2016 |title=Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s |title-link=Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=Pantheon Books |year=1990 |isbn=0-679-73015-X |page=140 |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905125330/https://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=1211 |url-status=live }}
| rev3 = PopMatters
| rev3score = 9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/051205-eurythmics.shtml |title=This Is What the Future Sounded Like |website=PopMatters |date=5 December 2005 |access-date=25 November 2021 |last=Besenyodi |first=Adam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051207012455/http://www.popmatters.com/music/features/051205-eurythmics.shtml |archive-date=7 December 2005 |url-status=dead}}
| rev4 = Record Collector
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Eurythmics: In the Garden / Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) / Touch / Be Yourself Tonight / Revenge / Savage / We Too Are One / Peace |magazine=Record Collector |issn=0261-250X |issue=319 |date=January 2006 |last=McIver |first=Joel |author-link=Joel McIver |page=90}}
| rev5 = Rolling Stone
| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this-246977/ |title=Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) |magazine=Rolling Stone |issn=0035-791X |date=23 June 1983 |access-date=25 November 2021 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019222539/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this-246977/ |archive-date=19 October 2020 |url-status=live}}
| rev6 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Eurythmics |last=Considine |first=J. D. |author-link=J. D. Considine |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/283 283–284]}}
| rev7 = Slant Magazine
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/eurythmics-sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this/ |title=Review: Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) |website=Slant Magazine |date=5 January 2008 |access-date=7 August 2021 |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |archive-date=8 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808001039/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/eurythmics-sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this/ |url-status=live }}
| rev8 = Smash Hits
| rev8score = 6/10{{cite magazine |title=Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) |magazine=Smash Hits |issn=0260-3004 |volume=5 |issue=2 |date=20 January – 2 February 1983 |last=Hepworth |first=David |author-link=David Hepworth |url=https://eurythmics-ultimate.com/publications/1983-01-20-eurythmics-smash-hits-from-the-uk-id-0083/ |page=17|via=Ultimate Eurythmics Archives}}
| rev9 = Spin Alternative Record Guide
| rev9score = 8/10{{cite book |chapter=Eurythmics |last=Walters |first=Barry |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=Vintage Books |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |pages=135–136}}
| rev10 = Uncut
| rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=The hitman and her |magazine=Uncut |issn=1368-0722 |issue=104 |date=January 2006 |last=Martin |first=Piers |page=124}}
}}
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) has generally received mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic praised some of the singles but felt that the album possessed a few dull moments. Smash Hits noted that some of the lyrics detracted from the "otherwise pleasant LP", although they were complimentary of "Love Is a Stranger". Robert Christgau found that the album was "starkly hooky" but called the duo pretentious. The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite book |chapter=Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) |last=Sugrue |first=Louise |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |title-link=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |editor-last=Dimery |editor-first=Robert |publisher=Universe Publishing |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7893-1371-3 |page=512}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, except "Wrap It Up", which is by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, and "Satellite of Love", by Lou Reed
| title1 = Love Is a Stranger
| length1 = 3:43
| title2 = I've Got an Angel
| length2 = 2:44
| title3 = Wrap It Up
| length3 = 3:33
| title4 = I Could Give You (A Mirror)
| length4 = 3:51
| title5 = The Walk
| length5 = 4:40
| title6 = Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
| length6 = 3:36
| title7 = Jennifer
| length7 = 5:05
| title8 = This Is the House
| length8 = 5:00
| title9 = Somebody Told Me
| length9 = 3:29
| title10 = This City Never Sleeps
| length10 = 6:40
| total_length = 42:21
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 2005 special edition bonus tracks
| title11 = Home Is Where the Heart Is
| length11 = 3:01
| title12 = Monkey Monkey
| length12 = 5:19
| title13 = Baby's Gone Blue
| length13 = 4:17
| title14 = Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
| note14 = Hot Remix
| length14 = 5:19
| title15 = Love Is a Stranger
| note15 = Coldcut Remix
| length15 = 7:17
| title16 = Satellite of Love
| length16 = 4:36
| total_length = 72:10
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).{{cite AV media notes |title=Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) |type=liner notes |others=Eurythmics |publisher=RCA Records |year=1983 |id=RCD 25447}}
- Annie Lennox – vocals
- David A. Stewart – production {{small|(all tracks)}}; engineering
- Adam Williams – production {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8)}}; engineering
- Robert Crash – production {{small|(tracks 3, 4, 9)}}; engineering
- Chris Ashbrook – video stills
- Lewis Ziolek – cover photography
- Laurence Stevens – design
- Green Gartside – guest vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
''Sweet Dreams: The Video Album''
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Sweet Dreams: The Video Album
| type = video
| artist = Eurythmics
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1983
| recorded = 1982–1983
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 63 minutes
| label = BMG Video
| director = Derek Burbidge
| producer =
- Kate Burbidge
- Maurice Bacon
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Eurythmics Live
| next_year = 1987
}}
Eurythmics also released a video album for Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), featuring in-concert performances, promotional videos, and narrative animation highlighting the duo's singles "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", "Love Is a Stranger", and other songs from the album.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
The live concert performances, taped at the Heaven nightclub in London, feature a selection of songs from Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), as well as two songs from their 1981 debut album, In the Garden, "Never Gonna Cry Again" and "Take Me to Your Heart".{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
The video album was directed by Derek Burbidge, with the exception of the promos for "Love Is a Stranger" (directed by Mike Brady), "Who's That Girl?" (directed by Duncan Gibbins), and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (directed by Chris Ashbrook).{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
=Information=
- Director: Derek Burbidge
- Producers: Kate Burbidge, Maurice Bacon
- Executive producer: Mickey Shapiro
- Animation: Bura and Hardwick
- VHS release: 1983
- DVD release: 1998
=Track listing=
- "Prologue" (introduction montage) – 1:46
- "This Is the House" (live version) – 4:48
- "Never Gonna Cry Again" (live version) – 4:21
- "Take Me to Your Heart" (live version) – 4:08
- "I've Got an Angel" (live version) – 3:41
- "Satellite of Love" (live version) – 5:01
- "Love Is a Stranger" (promo) – 3:26
- "Who's That Girl?" (promo) – 3:40
- "This City Never Sleeps" (live version) – 5:12
- "Jennifer" (live version) – 4:39
- "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (live version) – 3:36
- "I Could Give You (A Mirror)" (live version) – 3:47
- "Somebody Told Me" (live version) – 3:25
- "Wrap It Up" (live version) – 3:20
- "Tous les garçons et les filles" (live version) – 3:40
- "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (promo) – 3:40
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1984 year-end chart performance for Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) ! scope="col"| Chart (1984) ! scope="col"| Position |
scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855368?imw=Y |title=Top Pop Albums of 1984 |magazine=Billboard |date=31 December 1984 |access-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231160407/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855368?imw=Y |archive-date=31 December 2012}}
| 72 |
---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Eurythmics|title=Sweet Dreams|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=1983|certyear=1986|date=9 December 1986}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Eurythmics|title=Sweet Dreams|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1983|certyear=1991}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Eurythmics|title=Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1983|certyear=2025|access-date=21 January 2025|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Eurythmics|title=Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1983|certyear=1984|id=6412-73-2|date=16 January 1984|access-date=7 August 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Eurythmics|title=Sweet Dreams|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1983|certyear=1983|date=8 November 1983}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.radio3net.ro/dbartists/supersearch/U3dlZXQgRHJlYW1zIChBcmUgTWFkZSBPZiBUaGlzKSAoUkNBKQ==/Sweet%20Dreams%20%28Are%20Made%20Of%20This%29%20%28RCA%29 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)] (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)
{{Eurythmics}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)
Category:Albums recorded in a home studio
Category:Albums recorded at The Church Studios
Category:Bertelsmann Music Group video albums
Category:Eurythmics video albums