Aerosmith – “Dream On” (1973) Review | Sing with Me, Sing for the Year
Kronomyth 1.1: Dream a little dream.
A shorter, remixed version of Dream On was released as a single in 1973, and so the legend of Aerosmith began. This song has a deep mystical energy like Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” or Eagles’ “Hotel California.” In fact, its supernatural bent was so strong that, as a child, I heard “sing for the tear” as “sing Father Tia,” imagining that Tyler was calling a trio of priests to sing in some kind of unholy mass. A few years later, “Dream On” was re-released as a single in its full-length album form and stuck around on the charts for 20 weeks. The B side is an edited version of Somebody that may have been remixed but, if so, the difference isn’t very noticeable. “Dream On” and “Walk This Way” would make my shortlist for the greatest rock & roll songs of the twentieth century. In 2004, Rolling Stone placed it at #199 in their Top 500 songs of all time.
The Product
A1. Dream On (Steven Tyler) (3:25)
B1. Somebody (Steven Tyler/Steven Emspack) (3:07)
7-inch single reissue
A1. Dream On (Steven Tyler) (4:28)
B1. Somebody (Steven Tyler/Steven Emspack) (3:07)
7-inch single reissue (Japan)
A1. Dream On
B1. Mama Kin
Back-to-back hits 7-inch single reissue
A1. Dream On (Steven Tyler) (4:25)
B1. Walk This Way (Steven Tyler/Joe Perry) (3:31)
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch single in October 1973 in the US and Canada (Columbia, 4-45894) and on November 13, 1973 in the UK and Germany (CBS, S CBS 1898) and Australia (CBS, BA-222021). Reached #59 on the US charts (charted on October 20, 1973 for 9 weeks).
- Re-released on 7-inch single in January 1976 in the US (Columbia, 3-10278) and Spain (CBS, CBS 4000) with regional picture sleeve. Reached #6 on the US charts (charted on January 10, 1976 for 20 weeks).
- Re-issued w. “Mama Kin” on 7-inch single in 1976 in Japan (Sony, SOPB-348) with picture sleeve.
- Re-issued w. “Walk This Way” on 7-inch single in 1987 in Canada (Hit Tunes, HT 45102).
