Dream of Life

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.

Personnel

 * Patti Smith – vocals
 * Fred "Sonic" Smith – guitar, production
 * Jay Dee Daugherty – drums, keyboards, consultant
 * Richard Sohl – keyboards

Additional personnel
 * Andi Ostrowe – backing vocals
 * Bob Glaub – bass on "Going Under"
 * Errol "Crusher" Bennett – percussion on "Looking for You (I Was)"
 * Gary Rasmussen – bass
 * Hearn Gadbois – percussion
 * Jesse Levy – cello on "The Jackson Song"
 * Kasim Sulton – bass
 * Malcolm West – bass on "The Jackson Song"
 * Margaret Ross – harp on "The Jackson Song"
 * Robin Nash – backing vocals on "Going Under"
 * Sammy Figueroa – percussion


 * Technical
 * Scott Litt – associate producer, mixing, assistant producer
 * Thom Panunzio, Kevin Killen, Jay Healy, Jim Michewicz, Brian Sperber – engineer
 * Robert De La Garza, Roger Talkov, Rob Jacobs, Rich Travali, Marc DeSisto, Dave McNair, Bill Dooley – assistant engineer
 * Shelly Yakus – mixing
 * Bob Ludwig, Vic Anesini – mastering
 * Maude Gilman – design
 * Robert Mapplethorpe – photography