Behind the Wall of Sleep (The Smithereens song)

"Behind the Wall of Sleep"
Single by The Smithereens
from the album Especially for You
B-side	"White Castle Blues"
Released	1986
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	The Record Plant, New York City
Genre	Power pop, alternative rock
Length	3:04
Label	Enigma
Writer(s)	Pat DiNizio
Producer(s)	Don Dixon
The Smithereens singles chronology
"In a Lonely Place" (1986) "Behind the Wall of Sleep" (1986) "Strangers When We Meet" (1986)
Especially for You track listing "Time and Time Again" (6) "Behind the Wall of Sleep" (7) "In a Lonely Place" (8)

"Behind the Wall of Sleep" is a song by the American alternative rock group The Smithereens. It is the third single released in support of their debut album Especially for You.

Formats and track listing

All songs written by Pat DiNizio, except where noted.

UK 7" single (Enig 2)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:04
2. "White Castle Blues" (Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, Pat DiNizio, Mike Mesaros) – 3:59

UK 12" single (Enig 2T)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:04
2. "White Castle Blues" (Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, Pat DiNizio, Mike Mesaros) – 3:59
3. "Behind the Wall of Sleep (live)" – 3:26

German 7" single (INT 113.721)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:22
2. "Blood and Roses" – 3:35

German 12" single (INT 128.721)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:22
2. "Blood and Roses (live)" – 5:13
3. "White Castle Blues" (Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, Pat DiNizio, Mike Mesaros) – 3:57

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
Colin Larkin	United Kingdom	The All-Time Top 100 Singles[1]	2000	90
Bruce Pollock	United States	The 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944-2000[2]	2005	*

(*) designates unordered lists.

Charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[3]	23

Chart (1987)	Peak position
UK Indie Chart[4]	8

References

1. "The All-Time Top 100 Singles". acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
2. Pollock, Bruce (March 18, 2014). Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era. Routledge. p. 35. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
3. "The Smithereens – Chart history" Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs for The Smithereens. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
4. Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1989. Cherry Red Books. Retrieved September 17, 2014.

External links

• "Behind the Wall of Sleep" at Discogs (list of releases)