Dream 6 (EP)
| Dream 6 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| EP by | |
| Released | 1983 |
| Length | 22:53 |
| Label | Happy Hermit Co. |
| Producer |
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Dream 6 is an extended play by American rock band Dream 6 (who later achieved fame as Concrete Blonde), released by Happy Hermit Co. in 1983.
Background
Dream 6 was recorded at the independent recording studio Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles in 1983.[1] Singer and bassist Johnette Napolitano and guitarist James Mankey first formed a band together named the Dreamers in 1982, who became known as the L.A. Dreamers shortly after. In 1983, Napolitano and Mankey booked themselves into Gold Star Studios and invited drummer Michael Murphy to record with them. The resulting EP and trio were named Dream 6 as there were six songs chosen for the EP. In 2003, Napolitano recalled of the sessions, "We slammed out the songs, but didn't have enough time to mix them all... but used the rough mixes anyway."[2]
Dream 6 gained a positive critical response and brought the band to the attention of a number of major labels, including Elektra. Napolitano and Mankey, along with drummer Harry Rushakoff, would sign with I.R.S. in 1986 and rename themselves Concrete Blonde.[3] The EP's opening track "Rain" was re-recorded in 1993 for the band's fourth studio album Mexican Moon.[4]
Release
Dream 6 was independently released in the US by Happy Hermit Co. in 1983.[5] Approximately 900 copies of the EP were pressed, of which only a few hundred included inserts due to printing costs.[2] In 1985, the EP received a release in France on the Madrigal label.[6]
In 1993, the EP received its first reissue on CD by Capitol when it was given away with promotional only copies of Concrete Blonde's fourth studio album Mexican Moon.[7] In 2003, Happy Hermit Co. reissued the EP on CD with one bonus track, a cover of The Animals' "It's My Life" recorded during the same sessions, and new sleeve notes by Napolitano.[2]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
Upon its release, Billboard described Dream 6 as "quite a pleasant surprise with this young three-person band coming up with bright and fresh pop songs, using only a guitar, bass and drum lineup". They added, "The songs are original, with substance, and Johnette, the lead singer, more than does them justice."[8] Fred Goodman of Cash Box praised it as "no-frills power rock by a self-assured trio". He noted that Napolitano "packs a tough punch" and "sound[s] like a streetwise Carole Pope". He praised the closing track "Daddy Lied" as one which "will garner AOR play if anybody takes the time to listen to it".[9]
Punk zine Flipside considered Dream 6 to be "more like the Wharf Rat stuff, 60's psychedelia, this with a female singer" and added, "If you like that style, mind you these are all a little different, pick this up."[10] Robert Lloyd of L.A. Weekly described Dream 6 as a "post-post-punk-pop power trio", with Napolitano a "hipper Pat Benatar with a touch of Chrissie Hynde". He added that Napolitano "shares a keen sense of high drama" with Benatar and noted the EP's "fat sound courtesy of Earle Mankey".[11]
In the 1991 book The Trouser Press Record Guide, Ira A. Robbins felt Dream 6 to be "an intriguing, unassuming item" and commented, "Using the same organizational chart as the Police, Dream 6 draws on various styles, offering little personality besides the vocals, which are plain but pleasant."[12] Tom Demalon of AllMusic was retrospectively critical of the EP, feeling there was "nothing very remarkable about it" and adding that it was a "curiosity for the more fervent fans of Concrete Blonde". He stated, "The songs are straight-ahead, punk-tinged rock, although on songs like 'Daddy Lied' Napolitano displays the vocal power that would endear her to fans later."[4]
Track listing
All tracks are written by James Mankey and Johnette Napolitano, except "Tomorrow May Never Come" by Mankey, Michael Murphy and Napolitano
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rain" | 3:19 |
| 2. | "Human Condition" | 3:33 |
| 3. | "Tomorrow May Never Come" | 5:48 |
| 4. | "Slowdown" | 3:17 |
| 5. | "Secret Life" | 2:37 |
| 6. | "Daddy Lied" | 4:19 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | "It's My Life" (The Animals cover) | Roger Atkins, Carl D'Errico | 3:06 |
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the original 1983 vinyl EP sleeve notes.[5]
Dream 6
- Johnette Napolitano – vocals, bass
- James Mankey – guitars
- Michael Murphy – drums, percussion
Production
- Dream 6, Earle Mankey – producers
References
- ^ "L.A. Dee Da on the Streets". L.A. Weekly. Los Angeles. February 3, 1983. p. 36. Retrieved October 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Dream 6 (US CD EP liner notes). Dream 6. Happy Hermit Co. 2003. CB8567.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (June 5, 1987). "Concrete Blonde's hard work pays". Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 19. Retrieved October 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Demalon, Tom. "Dream 6 - Dream 6; Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Dream 6 (US 12-inch vinyl extended play sleeve notes). Dream 6. Happy Hermit Co. 1983. HH1983A, HH1983B.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Dream 6 (France 12-inch vinyl extended play sleeve notes). Dream 6. Madrigal. 1985. MAD 5008.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Dream 6 (US promotional CD EP liner notes). Dream 6. Capitol Records. 1993. DPRO-79267.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 49. Billboard Publications, Inc. December 3, 1983. p. 56. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "East Coastings". Cash Box. Vol. 45, no. 27. December 3, 1983. p. 13. ISSN 0008-7289.
- ^ "Record, Tape and Book Reviews". Flipside. Vol. 41. 1983. Retrieved October 28, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Lloyd, Robert (May 10, 1984). "The Critical List". L.A. Weekly. Los Angeles. p. 49. Retrieved October 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Robbins, Ira A. (1991). The Trouser Press Record Guide (4th ed.). Collier Books. p. 145. ISBN 9780333741344. Retrieved October 28, 2022 – via Internet Archive.