Dreams / Imagine My Surprise

As a teenaged boy of barely 16 in 1970, I bought the first Dreams album without having heard a note of their music, drawn solely by the Magritte-style album cover. Perhaps a risky thing, but more often than not, going by album art turned out well in those halcyon days. And in this case, it brought me a stunning debut album that had it all: solid songs, fine musicianship, passionate yet sensitive vocals, both power & subtlety, and an eagerness to explore & experiment without ever losing focus.What strikes me on listening to it again, all these decades later, is how much feeling flowed through their music. As a boy, I was more impressed with the punchier, upbeat songs; now, I can also really appreciate the quieter moments, with their melodic melancholy & yes, wonderful dreaminess. As much as I loved early Chicago & Blood, Sweat & Tears, Dreams had a wider & more thoughtful range, something I can see & hear all the more clearly today. For this debut album alone, this CD is worth having, and not just for fans of horn-based bands.I never heard their second album, and I agree with other reviewers that it's not quite as strong as their debut. This isn't to say that it isn't good! If it had been the debut album by another band, it would have been promising & enjoyable on its own merits, which leaned more into the funk. But the loss of the band's two major songwriters hurt the trajectory of Dreams. That, and the fact that the narrow window for horn-based bands was rapidly closing. Bands like Chicago & Blood, Sweat & Tears survived only by losing their best qualities & turning out generic MOR hits.So maybe it's just as well that the members of Dreams went on to other, better things. Still, for that first album, and even for portions of the second, it's a band that deserves to be better known. Nostalgia aside, the first album sounds magical to this day — most highly recommended!

The FIRST Dreams album DREAMS(Copyright 1970)... is one of the greatest Jazz/Rock Masterpieces in modern history with some of the greatest Jazz/Rock musicians in their early stages.The band was formed by Jeff Kent and Doug Lubahn in 1969 who also wrote 90% of the material and also played keyboards/vocals. Arrangements were also done by the Brecker Brothers(Randy & Michael..some say better than Coltrane ..ALL due respect Mr. Coltrane),Barry Rogers (Trombone) who inovated Afro-Cuban Jazz, John Abercrombie(Guitar) and Billy Cobham(argueably the greatest drummer on earth), Doug Lubahn (Bass) and Eddie Vernon Lead Vocals). The horn section was added AFTER the band was formed...and the rest is history.The band was never properly promoted as Chicago and Blood sweat & Tears were the record company's priority and Dreams was a LIVE band....but all the jazz cats know the first Dreams album....which is a "Classic" So glad to see this reissued and remastered....Too Bad "Make My Life" and "You" were not on the album. They should have been on ANY reissue along with a total REMIX....I have a feeling the Master Tapes are missing..........or they would have tapped Jeff Kent to Remix it ...anyway...get it while you can......The second Album "Imagine My Surprise" was a noble effort but the original vibe was gone forever.....

The first Dreams is so good. Every track great with New York being a blow you away cut. The second disk, My Surprise, was disappointing, a throw away for me. But Dreams is a great example of just how good jazz fusion was at the time.

My brother introduced me to Dreams when I was a young, impressionable boy and it set me on a the track to good musical taste. Little did I know at the time this band was the beginning of Bill Cobham and the Brecker Bros. careers. Now, when I read the liner notes, I am astonished by the list of now legendary performers who were once in this group. More importantly though, this music is highly listenable, so buy it now and dig to it's musical charms.

The first Dreams album, as originally released on LP, included a great first side. Shorter, punchier songs like "15 Miles to Provo,""The Maryanne" and "Holli Be Home" are still models of how a tight, horn-driven band should sound. Side Two was a little less focused with the long "Dream Suite" dominating, but still the playing is very good.On their second album "Imagine My Surprise," however, Dreams lost a lot of the promise heard on the first album. The difference is that by then the band's primary songwriters Jeff Kent and Doug Lubahn were gone. Songs were written by a mix of people from inside and outside the band and there is no cohesiveness.While Randy and Michael Brecker and Barry Rogers make a fine horn section on the first disc, on the second they don't have much to do and the songs descend into pointless funky riffing.John O'Regan's liner notes on this CD package are also disappointing, I wish he had interviewed at least one band member who could have told us something about the drastic changes in the band between the two albums.It's nice to hear the first Dreams album on CD, but fans of that version of the band will probably end up ignoring the second disc.

I don't know what happened to my LP versions of these CD's but I am glad Amazon has this import for sale. I was hooked on Dreams the first time I heard the first few notes of "Devil Lady" in 1970. Jazz, Rock and Funk all rolled into one plus the Brecker Brothers and Billy Cobham on drums. It doesn't get any better. If you are a fan of fusion music this Band was at the forefront.

Cannot believe they re-released these two albums on one collection set! These are a piece of 70's Jazz/R&B/Rock history! Dreams was a revolutionary band for their time; it's just too bad they didn't make anymore albums, cause I'd SO get them!

Saw Dreams back in the day. One of the original Supergroups. Unfortunately they did not get the notoriety they deserved. I've been looking forward to getting the cds for a while. Still have the vinyl though...

Arrivato nei tempi stabiliti e tutto in perfette condizioni. Il disco, ovviamente, è per vecchi fans di un gruppo semisconosciuto nella storia del rock. Fiati in grande spolvero e molto vicini ai Blood Sweat e Tears anche se molto più "rockettari". Ottimi arrangiamenti tipicamenti anni 70.

Great

Each album has its own personality, its own feel. As a set, this is simply dynamite. Not jazz, not R&B, but a very elegant fusion of jazz and horn-based rock with great tunes, humor, and serious jazz chops throughout, with horn counterpoints from the Brecker Brothers and the like. Think of the elegance of Blood, Sweat & Tears' first LP only with better songs, better sound, and punchier horns. Highlights: John Abercrombie's guitar on "Dreams", especially in long suite on side 2. Wow! And let's not forget Billy Cobham's drrrrrrrumming! "Imagine My Surprise" has a more distinctive R&B flavor, possibly the result of Steve Cropper's wonderful production work. Get the 2 CD package without reservations.

Saw them live in the 70;s and owned the albums for all those years. I was so pleased they came out with the CD's. Love the music.

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