Dreamland (Black Box album)
Encyclopedia
Dreamland is the debut studio album of Italo house
band Black Box
. It was released in May 1990 on RCA Records, and was preceded in 1989 by the international hit single, "Ride On Time
." The album was certified gold in both the U.S.
and the U.K.
and vocalist Loleatta Holloway
had threatened to sue Black Box, as well as label RCA Records
, claiming that the song contained heavy sampling
of an earlier recording by the two (the 1980 #1 dance club hit "Love Sensation
"), although no credit had been given to them upon the release of the single. Subsequently, Hartman was given songwriting credit for this track, and Holloway was listed as the featured vocalist prior to the release of the album. However, American R&B vocalist Martha Wash
actually sang the lead vocals on six of the other eight tracks on the album, although she was not credited in any way. The songs sung by Wash were: "Everybody Everybody
;" "I Don't Know Anybody Else
;" "Open Your Eyes;" "Fantasy
;" "Hold On;" and "Strike It Up
." Many of these songs were released as singles and achieved significant success on radio airplay and dance club charts across the world. Wash claimed in a lawsuit filed soon after the success of the album's release that she was paid a flat fee as a "session singer" to record demos of the tracks that would eventually appear on the album, but that those songs would be re-recorded with a different vocalist. She reached a settlement with RCA Records that led to her recording contract with the label, as well as an undisclosed monetary compensation. Wash's courtroom efforts spurred legislation in the U.S. making vocal credits mandatory on albums and music videos.
Lombardoni Edizioni Musicali-admin. by Intersong USA) except where noted
* U.S. and Canadian editions of the album have the Le Freak Mix 7" Edit of this song, which is 4:09 in length
Italo house
Italo house is a form of house music popular in Italy, Britain and United States since the late 1980s. It fuses house music and Italo disco. The genre's main musical characteristic is its use of predominantly electronic piano chords in a more lyrical form than classic Chicago House records...
band Black Box
Black Box (band)
Black Box was an Italian house music group popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The members of the group included a trio made up of a club DJ , a classically trained clarinet teacher , and a keyboard and electronic music "wiz"...
. It was released in May 1990 on RCA Records, and was preceded in 1989 by the international hit single, "Ride On Time
Ride on Time
"Ride on Time" is a 1989 song recorded by band Black Box. It was later released on their debut LP Dreamland. The song was a chart success in many countries and a number-one hit in the UKand Ireland.-Music and lyrics:...
." The album was certified gold in both the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the U.K.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Controversy
When the album was originally released, the credits listed the band members as Mirko Limoni, Valerio Semplici, and Daniele Davoli (as the producers, songwriters, and musicians), as well as Katrin Quinol on vocals. "Ride On Time" had been released as a single prior to the album's release, and musician Dan HartmanDan Hartman
Daniel Earl "Dan" Hartman was an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for such songs as: "Free Ride", "I Can Dream About You", "Instant Replay", "Love Sensation", and "Relight My Fire", all of which had world-wide success.-Career:Born in Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg,...
and vocalist Loleatta Holloway
Loleatta Holloway
Loleatta Holloway was an American singer, mainly known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation", both of which have been sampled extensively.-Biography:...
had threatened to sue Black Box, as well as label RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, claiming that the song contained heavy sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
of an earlier recording by the two (the 1980 #1 dance club hit "Love Sensation
Love Sensation
"Love Sensation" is the title of a 1980 song performed by American R&B singer Loleatta Holloway, taken from her album of the same name. The song was produced and written by Dan Hartman, arranged by Norman Harris, and mixed by Tom Moulton. It was a hit on the U.S...
"), although no credit had been given to them upon the release of the single. Subsequently, Hartman was given songwriting credit for this track, and Holloway was listed as the featured vocalist prior to the release of the album. However, American R&B vocalist Martha Wash
Martha Wash
Martha Wash is an American R&B, Pop, Soul, House singer/songwriter known for her distinctive and powerful voice.-Early career:...
actually sang the lead vocals on six of the other eight tracks on the album, although she was not credited in any way. The songs sung by Wash were: "Everybody Everybody
Everybody Everybody (song)
"Everybody Everybody" is a song recorded in 1989 by the Italo-house music band Black Box. It was the third single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1990 in most countries worldwide.-Chart performances:...
;" "I Don't Know Anybody Else
I Don't Know Anybody Else
"I Don't Know Anybody Else" is a 1989 song recorded by the Italo-house music band Black Box. It was the second single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in the first months of 1990 in most of countries worldwide....
;" "Open Your Eyes;" "Fantasy
Fantasy (Earth, Wind & Fire song)
"Fantasy" is a single by Earth, Wind & Fire from their album All 'N All, released as a single in 1978. The selection was written and composed by Maurice White, Verdine White, and Eddie del Barrio, and it reached #32 on the pop chart and #12 on the R&B singles chart in the United States, and #14 on...
;" "Hold On;" and "Strike It Up
Strike It Up
"Strike It Up" is a 1990 song recorded by the Italo house music band Black Box from 1990. It was the sixth single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1991 in most of countries worldwide....
." Many of these songs were released as singles and achieved significant success on radio airplay and dance club charts across the world. Wash claimed in a lawsuit filed soon after the success of the album's release that she was paid a flat fee as a "session singer" to record demos of the tracks that would eventually appear on the album, but that those songs would be re-recorded with a different vocalist. She reached a settlement with RCA Records that led to her recording contract with the label, as well as an undisclosed monetary compensation. Wash's courtroom efforts spurred legislation in the U.S. making vocal credits mandatory on albums and music videos.
Track listing
All tracks by Daniele Davoli, Mirko Limoni & Valerio Semplici (CopyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
Lombardoni Edizioni Musicali-admin. by Intersong USA) except where noted
- "Everybody EverybodyEverybody Everybody (song)"Everybody Everybody" is a song recorded in 1989 by the Italo-house music band Black Box. It was the third single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1990 in most countries worldwide.-Chart performances:...
" – vocals Martha Wash - 5:24* - "I Don't Know Anybody ElseI Don't Know Anybody Else"I Don't Know Anybody Else" is a 1989 song recorded by the Italo-house music band Black Box. It was the second single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in the first months of 1990 in most of countries worldwide....
" – vocals Martha Wash - 4:36 - "Open Your Eyes" – 5:21 - vocals Martha Wash
- "FantasyFantasy (Earth, Wind & Fire song)"Fantasy" is a single by Earth, Wind & Fire from their album All 'N All, released as a single in 1978. The selection was written and composed by Maurice White, Verdine White, and Eddie del Barrio, and it reached #32 on the pop chart and #12 on the R&B singles chart in the United States, and #14 on...
" (Eduardo del Barrio, Maurice WhiteMaurice WhiteMaurice White is a Grammy Award–winning American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger. He is the older brother of Verdine White and Fred White and the leader and founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire...
, Verdine WhiteVerdine WhiteVerdine White is the bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire and the younger brother of fellow band member Maurice White. White is known for his high energy and dancing while playing his bass guitar during Earth, Wind & Fire concerts.-Early life:...
) – vocals Martha Wash - 5:14 - "Dreamland" – 2:03
- "Ride On TimeRide on Time"Ride on Time" is a 1989 song recorded by band Black Box. It was later released on their debut LP Dreamland. The song was a chart success in many countries and a number-one hit in the UKand Ireland.-Music and lyrics:...
" (Davoli, Dan Hartman, Limoni, Semplici, Semplici) – vocals Loleatta Holloway - 4:37 - "Hold On" – vocals Martha Wash - 5:38
- "Ghost Box" – 3:57
- "Strike It UpStrike It Up"Strike It Up" is a 1990 song recorded by the Italo house music band Black Box from 1990. It was the sixth single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1991 in most of countries worldwide....
" – vocals Martha Wash - 5:15
Charts
| Chart 1990 | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
56 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
14 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
UK |
AUS Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
IRE Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... |
GER Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
||
| 1989 | "Ride On Time" | - | 39 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 1990 | "I Don't Know Anybody Else" | 23 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| 1990 | "Everybody Everybody" | 8 | 1 | 16 | 35 | 6 | 41 |
| 1990 | "Fantasy" | - | - | 5 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| 1991 | "Strike It Up" | 8 | 1 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 26 |
| 1991 | "Open Your Eyes" | - | - | 48 | 60 | - | 44 |
| 1992 | "Hold On" | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Black Box
- Daniele "Dj Lelewel" Davoli: Dj, Scratching, Keyboards, Backing vocals
- Mirko Limoni: Keyboards
- Valerio Semplici: Guitar, Drum Programming
Additional Musicians
- Roberto Fontalan – guitar
- Sauro Malavasi – guitar
- Rudy Trevisi – saxophone, soloist
- Raimondo Violi – bass, guitar
Production
- Arranged By Mirko Limoni, Katrin Quinol & Valerio Semplici
- Produced By Groove Groove Melody
- Recorded, Engineered & Mixed By Mirko Limoni, Katrin Quinol & Valerio Semplici
- Kate GarnerKate GarnerKate Garner is an English singer and photographer. Garner was one third of the trio of 1980s avant-garde, new wave pop project called Haysi Fantayzee, the other members being Jeremy Healy and Paul Caplin...
– photography
Certifications
| Country | Peak Position | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1 | 2x Platinum | 140,000 |
| Canada | 2x Platinum | 200,000 | |
| Germany | 45 | - | ~50,000 |
| UK | 14 | Gold | 150,000 |
| USA | 56 | Gold | 500,000 |