BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
“I Can Dream About You” is a song performed by American singer Dan Hartman for the soundtrack album of the film Streets of Fire. Released in 1984 as a single from the soundtrack, and included on Hartman’s album I Can Dream About You, it reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song first appeared in Streets of Fire, where it was performed by the fictional group The Sorels. The real voice behind the version used in the film was Winston Ford, but Hartman’s version was the one used on the soundtrack album and released as a single. In a Songfacts interview with the film’s musical director, Kenny Vance, he recalled “The same guy that sings lead on that and “Countdown to Love,” a song that I wrote for the film, was a guy working at a Radio Shack (Winston Ford), and I think when you look at the film and The Sorels are singing it live in the movie, that was the version that was supposed to come out, and I recorded that version. But then when Dan Hartman heard it, I don’t know what happened next, but I know that he took that guy’s voice off and he put his own on, and he had a hit with it. Hollywood is a very slippery place.”
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 his 1984, same-titled solo album I Can Dream About You, following the song’s use in the film. The album would spawn two other Top 40 charting singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 – “We Are the Young” and “Second Nature”.
SIDE A:
I Can Dream About You (Jellybean Remix) 7:32
Engineer [Mix Engineer] – Michael Hutchinson
Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
SIDE B:
I Can Dream About You (Larry Levan Extended Remix) 5:57
Remix – Larry Levan
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | I Can Dream About You | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #7 |
1984 | I Can Dream About You | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary | #8 |
1984 | I Can Dream About You | U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | #60 |
1984 | I Can Dream About You | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #6 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – 259 307-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Producer – Jimmy Iovine
Producer, Written-By – Dan Hartman
NOTES:
Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack “Streets Of Fire”
Find the 12″ on DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
a caress for the soul, thanks!
Wow, i missed that one when you released it. This is such a great one. I love the Soundtrack. Would also love to see the two 12″ from Fire Inc. surface in the future. Thank you so much!
Hi Paul! I’m brazilian. I live in Rio de Janeiro, but I was born in Belém (a city on the banks of the Amazon rainforest) where I grew up listening to and playing all those classics (I worked as a DJ for many years).
I wanted to leave a heartfelt thanks to you here. Thank you for arranging everything so perfectly here.
With all the talk about the two remixes for “I Can Dream About You”, it’s a wonder no one has mentioned the M&M mix. That appeared as a b-side for and import of “Get Out Of Town”. I had already bought the 12″ for that song that just had the remix and dub, but then I saw it and it had the M&M mix for “Dream”. I could not get that record out of the store and to my turntable fast enough. I like this version the best.
Hi Paul! I waited until Monday to write this so you would see it 🙂 A huge thank you, Thank You and, THANK YOU for this post!! This so has such a special meaning and memories from my youth and my son loves this song too! This song also really captures “the 80s” as a whole…the music, the movies, and the general happiness of the time. The song is written/composed/sung in just such a happy style. It’s a real shame these mixes (and there was another mix that began with the acappella of “I can dream about you…” if you… Read more »
You are very welcome Fred 🙂
I barely believed when I saw this preciousness…
thanks DjPaulT .
Great song, great remixes. Love it. I do have the German 12inch edition, of course 🙂
But the sound quality you deliver is incomparable. Thanks Paul.
Hi Paul, I have seen in some previous post, the Jellybean did a lot of remixes and so produce a lot of artist, Madonna, Withney Houston and many many more, is there a chance to have like sometime you do a serie of posts of one artist but this time about Jellybean? For what i read on wikipedia and many more websites, he is a legend as producer, remixer and dj.
Do you think is a god idea?
Thanks!
🙂
Cheer, Boo!
Never mind, it seems I had to reboot my computer to get it to work properly… all tracks have downloaded successfully! Listening to them now…
Great! 🙂
You so spoil us to the extreme, dear Paul!! I am so tickled that you posted this classic twelve. AND!!!! I can’t wait to hear the Larry Levan mix too. This was news to me as I only know the Jellybean version. Gosh Paul, you really brighten up one’s days and nights with the music your present. I was so distressed because I’ve been having issues with my Internet and I thought I’d not get to hear this song, but it all seems good at the moment. These hot Summer days are killing me. As I get older, I don’t… Read more »
Thank you Jeff. I’m not a fan of the heat either looking forward to the chill of fall 🙂
I have to say a big thank you again for these cool tracks Paul. Again, you really are very generous the way you present tunes from the 80s (and 90s). For all of those who think that you only showcase the obscure and the little heard gems from these decades only need to look at these past weeks and of course, your discography at the left. There is indeed something for every taste and that’s why I celebrate you everyday! You work so hard to bring these touchstones of sound back into our lives and consciousness. It’s so much more… Read more »
…. on this one it only downloaded the Jellybean remix. Same things happened with the Human League
I just tried downloading the past three posts (mp3) and it’s showing errors… only one track seems to download on each one…. any ideas on why this is?
Oh Paul you make me so happy with this post once again. I’ve been looking for the “Jellybean Remix” for such a long time. It has never been released on CD. I always loved this song and I remember listening to it on a local radio station back in 1984. They always played this “Jellibean Mix” so I even didn’t know about the “Levan Mix”. I especially love the saxophone parts in the Jellybean Version. Paul all your posts during these days are so amazing for me, I can never thank you enough. You are incredible!! Just one thing I… Read more »
Thank you for cluing me in on that Daniel. I will have to pull out the Canadian 12″ again and give it another spin 🙂
Thank you so much for this. I have all of Dan’s old 70s disco records, but never was too interested in his mainstream 80s stuff. Yet I’m very looking forward to hear this, especially since both Jellybean and Larry Levine were on remix duties. Thanks again, Paul!
You’re welcome Dolphin Brother 🙂
Damn. Soap opera! Love this!
Thank you Conner 🙂
This sounds like it would come slap bang in the middle of an 80s movie… oh, it did!
Another new one on me Paul, I actually haven’t even heard of the film either, and we rented every VHS we could find back in the day.
Love the plot twist with the switched vocals for the OST, though that original session singer must’ve been so bummed.
It’s on blu-ray now in the U.S. 🙂
Brings back memories. Thanks Paul!
You’re welcome Omar 🙂
Hey Paul!!! you made my day! Thank you soooo much… Here I am very happy in my office listening “I Can Dream About You · 12″ Larry Levan Extended Remix” So cool! THANKS PAUL
You’re welcome Rafael Cova love that mix 🙂
Among the other things it’s noticeable the great difference of audio quality between Benitez and Levan remixes. The Benitez one sounds much better.
I prefer the Levan mix 🙂
Oh Deep Joy Paul and with two mixes as well, you’re truly spoiling us. Many thanks for this as well as all the other excellent titles you post on here. you give with so much love, care and attention. Big hugs x
You’re welcome Roy 🙂
Great thanks Paul, i was wondering if you have Howard Jones – The Prisoner, and it is almost more than 1 year about the request Kajagoogoo – Hang On Now, it will be that..some day you could post it? thanks…
Thank you for this one, Paul! The “Larry Levan Extended Remix” is very rare on CD, so I’ve been waiting to add it to my collection. If you have “Second Nature”, I would love to see that one posted at some point. The “Extended Version” has never been made available on CD, to the best of my knowledge, and the song has become a forgotten Top 40 hit.
I will see what I can do Bellenger1981 🙂