I Can Dream About You (album)

I Can Dream About You
Studio album by Dan Hartman
Released 1984
Genre Pop, Pop-rock, Freestyle
Length 43:15
Label MCA Records
Producer Dan Hartman, Jimmy Iovine
Dan Hartman chronology
Dan Hartman (April Music)
(1981)		 I Can Dream About You
(1984)		 White Boy
(1986)

I Can Dream About You is the fifth studio album from American musician/singer/songwriter Dan Hartman. It was released in 1984.[1]

Background

Following the success of Hartman's two disco-oriented albums Instant Replay and Relight My Fire, from 1978 and 1979 respectively, as well as their singles, Hartman had moved away from the disco scene with a more melodic pop-rock sound with the 1981 album It Hurts to Be in Love. However the album was not a commercial success, and its three singles only became minor chart hits.[2] I Can Dream About You was Hartman's debut album for the MCA Records label, and marked the first album to feature Hartman's longtime songwriting partner Charlie Midnight, who he would continue to write with throughout the rest of the decade.[3]

The album was produced by Hartman and Jimmy Iovine. Hartman and Midnight wrote eight out of the ten tracks together, with the title track being written solely by Hartman, and the album's closing track "Electricity" being written by Hartman and American vocalist and musician Nona Hendryx.[4] Hendryx's own version of the song was included on her own 1984 album The Art of Defense.[5] The album was recorded at Hartman's own home studio "Multi-Level" and was mixed at Image Recording in Los Angeles.[6]

Originally producer Jimmy Iovine had asked Hartman to write a song for a film he was working on. Hartman was told that the song was going to be sung by four black guys in a concert situation within the film, and Hartman ended up thinking about a demo he made of "I Can Dream About You." Hartman then went through some legal maneuvering to get the benefit of his breakthrough. The use of the song in the film being performed by actors did not feature Hartman on vocals but a studio singer. After some contract negotiating, Hartman insisted he sing the song on the soundtrack, and that his version be released if a single were to be issued from the soundtrack album. Additionally, any music video had to feature his own voice using the song. These clauses helped Hartman become an "overnight sensation." Both Hartman and Iovine worked on the solo album following the song's use in the film. In the Orange Coast Magazine issue of August 1985, Hartman stated "It's been 10 years since my last tour, and I'm really enjoying being back out there. Musically I've stayed in touch with what's going on, what people relate to, so it's no surprise appearing in front of an audience in 1985. What is a surprise is that they relate to me. They're giving back so much, which means they're responding to my music. And that makes me feel great."[7]

I Can Dream About You peaked at #55 on the Billboard 200, where it lasted 28 weeks within the chart in total.[8] It peaked at #91 in Canada, lasting within the Top 100 for six weeks.[9] The album spawned four singles in total. The title track became Hartman's biggest hit, also appearing on the soundtrack to the 1984 film Streets of Fire.[10] The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. "We Are the Young" followed as the second single and peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, whilst also topping the Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. "Name of the Game" was issued as a single, but was not a commercial success.[11] "Second Nature" became the fourth and final single, where it peaked at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became Hartman's last charting single.[2]

The album would become Hartman's final mainstream studio album, although he did record a follow-up album in 1986 titled White Boy. However MCA felt the songs did not suit Hartman's image and so the album was shelved, although it has been in circulation unofficially in recent years online.[3] Hartman's final studio album was New Green Clear Blue from 1989, which was an instrumental new age-styled release.[12]

In an interview with Midnight on memories of Hartman for his unofficial fan site, one question asked about the making of the album. Midnight revealed "Working with Dan on the "I Can Dream About You" album was a privilege and a great learning experience. Having previously been a recording artist who wrote songs only for my own use and from my own experience, the process of writing for Dan was a crash course in collaboration. He wanted to create a work that had depth as well as accessibility. We wrote many more songs than finally appeared on the album. Dan took some risks on quite a few of those songs that, because of the edginess of the music and lyrics, were ultimately rejected by the record company. He involved me in all phases of the production and because of that experience I was able to make the transition into record production. In essence, I went to school during making of the "I Can Dream About You" album." When asked if the album was recorded at Hartman's studio "Multi-Level", Midnight stated "Dan's studio, Multi-Level was where we did most of our work. It was very idyllic in its setting and atmosphere. The studio was on the top level of his home in Westport, Connecticut and a river ran behind the house. When the weather allowed, Dan recorded with the windows and doors open, allowing the fresh country air and the scents of the local flora into the session. He was always a gracious host. For me, who grew up in Brooklyn and was at the time living in a small apartment in Manhattan, it was like having a rustic retreat, albeit one in the ritzy locale of Westport, Connecticut."[3]

American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka was interviewed for the site, and he revealed "I loved working with him. He played, sang, wrote, mixed, mastered... he did it all! I would call him a genius. I went through all the trails and tribulations of "I Can Dream About You" with him."[13] On the site, musician and friend Bob Kimmel stated "Over the years I stayed in touch with Dan from time to time through the occasional phone call but I didn't see him too often. When I was on the road playing with a band in Connecticut one time I stopped by his last residence where his Multi-Level studio resided and he showed me all around that amazing home. At that time he had just finished "I Can Dream About You" and the music for the soundtrack he was working on and he took me in the studio and played me some of the tracks. As always, I was amazed at what he had done."[14]

Release

The album was issued via MCA Records on vinyl, cassette and CD in America, Canada, Brazil and Europe, including the UK, Germany and Italy.[15] However today the album remains out-of-print, and has not seen a CD re-issue or official release as an MP3 Download.

Promotion

The album received a good amount of promotion. Music videos were made for "I Can Dream About You," "We Are the Young" and "Second Nature". Hartman also performed the songs on varying TV shows in America and Europe. A tour was also organized to promote the album, and Hartman toured alongside Toto. It was his first tour in a decade but also his last.[7][16]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "We Are the Young"  Dan Hartman, Charlie Midnight 4:20
2. "I Can Dream About You"  Dan Hartman 4:11
3. "Shy Hearts"  Hartman, Midnight 4:39
4. "I'm Not a Rolling Stone"  Hartman, Midnight 4:32
5. "Rage to Live"  Hartman, Midnight 3:56
6. "Name of the Game"  Hartman, Midnight 5:59
7. "Power of a Good Love"  Hartman, Midnight 4:09
8. "Second Nature"  Hartman, Midnight 3:57
9. "I Can't Get Enough"  Hartman, Midnight 3:27
10. "Electricity"  Hartman, Nona Hendryx 4:04

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[17]
Billboardfavorable[18]

Alex Henderson of Allmusic stated "One of Dan Hartman's most essential solo albums came in 1984, when the late singer/composer signed with MCA and produced "I Can Dream About You" with Jimmy Iovine. This is primarily a pop/rock album, but it's a pop/rock album with a fair amount of urban contemporary/dance-pop appeal. Though Hartman was a member of a major '70s rock act, the Edgar Winter Group, he also had strong R&B and disco credentials. And this excellent album finds Hartman showing his enthusiasm for R&B on pop/rock gems that range from the hit title song and the anthemic "We Are the Young" to the Motown-tinged "Name of the Game" and the new wave-ish "Electricity," which he co-wrote with Labelle graduate Nona Hendryx. Most of the songs, however, were written by Hartman and partner Charlie Midnight, who proves to be as valuable to Hartman as Iovine. Hartman, Midnight, and Iovine all do their part to make "I Can Dream About You" the focused, consistently rewarding album that it is."[17]

In the Billboard magazine issue of October 27, 1984, Brian Chin reviewed the I Can Dream About You album under the 'Recommended Albums' part of the 'Dance Trax' section, where he mentioned the song. He noted "Dan Hartman's AOR fans should start with side one of "I Can Dream About You", while his dance cult should flip to side two immediately. There are three great uptempo numbers: the uplifting electronic production number "Name of the Game," a bouncy neo-Motown "Second Nature" (of a pair with "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"), and the electro-funk "Electricity," joined by Nona Hendryx."[19]

In the Billboard magazine of November 3, 1984, another review of the album was published in the Pop Picks section, which meant that Billboard predicted the album to hit the top half of the chart. The review stated "The title track survived the failure of the "Streets of Fire" motion picture to become a recent top 10 smash. Hartman follows it with an album reflecting the same broad-based pop/rock appeal. Hartman wrote all of the songs, some in collaboration with Nona Hendryx and Charlie Midnight."[18]

Chart performance

Chart (1984) Peak
position
Canadian Albums Chart[9][20] 91
U.S. Billboard 200 Chart[2] 55

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  2. 1 2 3 Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Dan Hartman | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  3. 1 2 3 "Memories of Dan Hartman". Creaser.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  4. ↑ "Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  5. ↑ "Nona Hendryx - The Art Of Defense (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  6. ↑ "Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  7. 1 2 Orange Coast Magazine - Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  8. ↑ "Dan Hartman - Chart history". Billboard. 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  9. 1 2 "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  10. ↑ "Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  11. ↑ "Dan Hartman - Name Of The Game at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2011-04-11. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  12. ↑ "Dan Hartman - New Green Clear Blue at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  13. ↑ "Memories of Dan Hartman". Creaser.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  14. ↑ "Memories of Dan Hartman". Creaser.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  15. ↑ "Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  16. ↑ "Memories of Dan Hartman". Creaser.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  17. 1 2 Alex Henderson. "I Can Dream About You - Dan Hartman | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  18. 1 2 Billboard - Google Books. Books.google.co.uk. 1984-11-03. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  19. ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  20. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
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