Wide Awake in Dreamland is the seventh studio album by American rock singer Pat Benatar, and her eighth album overall, released in 1988. After a string of successful albums, this was her last rock-oriented album of the 1980s, before she would go on to try a blues-based sound with True Love in 1991.
The album's lead single, "All Fired Up", peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 25 on the Cash Box Top 100. It was nominated for a Grammy Award but did not win.
The album was certified Gold by the RIAA.
Background and writing The album was primarily recorded at Neil Giraldo's studio, with most of the songwriting by Giraldo and longtime drummer Myron Grombacher. Four of the tracks are also co-written with Benatar (who is credited as Pat Giraldo). One of the two songs from other songwriters was "Cerebral Man" written by Tully Winfield and well-known stick player Don Schiff. In an interview from 2002, Schiff recalled how this track was added to the album: "Tully Winfield and I demoed songs at what was becoming a very popular studio in LA (Woodcliff Studio)... we had just recorded "Cerebral Man". If I recall correctly the demo just had Tully's voice, stick and drums. Peter Coleman was producing Pat's next album for Chrysalis and happened to be the next session in and heard the tune. He asked if he could take the song to Pat Benatar and hopefully put it on her next album. Her camp liked it and they did a wonderful job with the song. I thought Tully and I would get a few more songs on that album as they liked the style of our song, but at the last minute she decided to go back to her more familiar rock style, leaving our song the only one stylistically like it on the album."
Critical reception Cashbox said that the album showcased "a mix of hard rockers and heartfelt ballads" with "more than a little social consciousness mixed in." They highlighted the title track as a "real showcase for hubby Neil Geraldo guitar" and characterized "Let's Stay Together" as "a terrifically rappy metal number." Billboard commented on the stylistic variety of the album and called it a "soup-to-nuts bag of hits guaranteed to move in large numbers."
Track listing
Personnel Musicians Pat Benatar – vocals Neil Giraldo – guitars Myron Grombacher – drums Fernando Saunders – bass Frank Linx – bass, background vocals Charles Giordano, Kevin Savigar – keyboards Bo Castro – percussion Nick Gilder – background vocals on "Don't Walk Away" and "Cool Zero" Carmen Twillie, Phyllis St. James, Maxine Water – background vocals on "Lift 'em on Up"
Production Peter Coleman, Neil Giraldo – producers, mixing Frank Linx – assistant engineer Steve Ford, Gil Morales – mixing assistants George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York
"All Fired Up" Keith Forsey – producer Paul Lini – engineer Clif Norrell – assistant engineer Chris Lord-Alge – mixing at The Hit Factory, New York Tim Leitner – mixing assistant
"Let's Stay Together" Neil Giraldo – producer Ed Thacker – mixing Jim Dineen – mixing assistant
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Wide Awake in Dreamland Chart (1988) Peakposition European Albums (Music & Media) 36 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 17
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Wide Awake in Dreamland Chart (1988) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 53 US Billboard 200 97
Certifications
References
Further reading
External links "Cerebral Man" – the original demo version by Winfield and Schiff "Wide Awake In Dreamland" at discogs