Dream of Life is the fifth studio album by Patti Smith, released in June 1988 on Arista Records.

Recording and release

Dream of Life was her first album after the dissolution of The Patti Smith Group, and the only album that she made with her husband Fred "Sonic" Smith. Lead single "People Have the Power" received some album-oriented rock airplay at the time, and later was revived by Michael Stipe as a theme song for the 2004 Vote for Change concerts. "People Have the Power" was performed live for the first time by Patti and Fred Smith at the Arista Records 15th Anniversary Gala at Radio City Music Hall on March 17, 1990. "Paths That Cross" is dedicated to the memory of Samuel J. Wagstaff. The cover photograph is by Robert Mapplethorpe.

Reception

Dream of Life received generally favorable reviews from critics, who ranked the album number 31 in The Village Voice's 1988 Pazz & Jop critics' poll. It was also ranked number 49 on Sounds magazine's list of the best albums of the year.

Track listing

All songs were written by Patti Smith and Fred "Sonic" Smith.

CD reissue

Personnel

Additional personnel

Charts