Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You

 An Unnoticed Classic
This album, much like its creator, seems to have slipped through the cracks when the music medium went from cassette tape to CD. Dan's death in 1994 certainly didn't help. In life he was a dynamo in the music industry and very well loved. I consider this CD testimony to the quality of his writing and production. It has long been in my top five albums, containing four of my absolute all-time favorite songs.

If time is a test of quality music, Dan's vision for this album remains vital. The instrumentation, much done via synth, absolutely sparkles through headphones. For one dubbed by some as the "untility infielder" of the music industry (apparently because he helped so many others achieve fame far surpassing his own), this album to me borders on genius.

Almost everyone knows "I Can Dream About You," and for good reason. It's a top quality hit song that helped carry the movie, "Streets of Fire." But the gems are "Power of a Good Love," "The Name of the Game," and "Shy Hearts." When my tape copy wore out I was sick. Finally I found a CD mastered from a cassette, and was happy to pay a premium to have it shipped from Europe. "Power of a Good Love" remains the number one played song on my iPod and has pulled far ahead of the rest.

This is not a CD of guitar power chords. The sound is predominantly synthesizer, layered not unlike a symphony. Small parts come and go, just at the right time, and in the right amount. Dan's instincts with these are uncanny. And yet it is distinctly pop-rock, featuring a balance of fun grooves and thought-provoking lyrics. It even features one of earliest rapped verses to be offered, in the finale, "Electricity."

There are very few albums which I consider to be done this well, start to finish. While no CD is for everyone, if you like melodic rock and want to experience what a master musician and producer can do given a synthesizer and a studio, and possibly find a song or two that will remain in your top ten list for all of time, give it a listen. June 15, 2006

 An unknown gem -- more than just one song!
First of all, I've known about Dan Hartman solely through the song "I Can Dream About You" which I've owned myself for about 10 years on some different 80's compilations (and I even recall from back when it was a hit). Needless to say, I wondered about what else he did.

I was looking through a bunch of old tapes at a second-hand music store (as I often do!) and ran across this. I had to pick it up. Now, I'd never even heard of the other 9 songs here, but I'm sure glad I added 'em to my collection!

1. We Are the Young -- It took me some time to get into this, but I think it's a good 80's dance song that probably could've been a hit in clubs. Best I can describe, it sounds alot like something that would've been played in one of the "Police Academy" movies (I could see Jones doing a vocal imitation of the beats, LOL - that's a compliment!).

2. The huge hit title track, actually, is a little different from most of the rest of the album. While there's a dance vibe throughout, this is much more of an arena rock-type upbeat love song. It strikes me as a lighter/more pop version of a Journey or Foreigner song from the same era.

3. Shy Hearts -- After the faster opening two songs, we slow down for this mid-tempo semi ballad. I wish this would've been a hit, it's a nice, melodic love song. Imagine the general pace of the Thompson Twins' "Hold Me Now" without the British accents and new wave sound.

4. I'm Not A Rolling Stone -- Good but not great storytelling type medium-paced pop/rock song, like a slowed down version of the title track.

5. Rage to Live -- Another one that's fast becoming one of my favorites. It's a little harder-rocking variation of much of the material here (with good, loud drumming and a guitar solo), mixing arena rock with pop/disco/dance better than you'd think!

6. Name of the Game -- Unique, mid-tempo synth number, reminding me of a very 80's-styled Joe Jackson-type dance/pop song (especially on the heavily synthesized opening).

7. Power of a Good Love -- The general arena rock-style of the title track returns here, just with a heavier, Howard Jones-ish synth beat. I'd definitely say this is one of my favorite non-hits.

8. Second Nature -- This was apparently a minor hit back in the day. If it was up to be, it would've been way bigger! It's a mid-fast tempo saxophone-tinged pop/rocker, again recalling the exciting feel of the title track.

9. I Can't Get Enough -- The gears shift again for this really upbeat stomper, heavily produced by dance music. I'd call it a song with 80's lyrics and a 70's sound. If it'd come out 5 years before, it likely would've been a big disco hit.

10. Electricity -- This is the only real dud or offball kinda song here to me. There's some cool new wave-y beats, but not unlike that genre, Dan goes for some slightly off the wall lyrics and music. It's still not bad though.

I don't know how many people know about this album, but I suggest picking a copy up (assuming you run across it) if you're into 80's pop/dance music with an arena rock edge. January 24, 2005

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