Dreamland (Black Box album)

Dreamland is the debut studio album by the Italian music group Black Box. It was released on May 8, 1990 through RCA Records, and was preceded in 1989 by the international hit single "Ride on Time". The album was certified Gold in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The album is mostly remembered today for the song "Ride on Time" and the ensuing lawsuits by Loleatta Holloway and Martha Wash over their lack of proper credit and payment for their vocal contributions to the album.

Dreamland
Studio album by
Black Box
ReleasedMay 8, 1990
RecordedNovember 1988–September 1989
Genre
Length40:41
LabelRCA
ProducerGroove Groove Melody
Black Box chronology
Dreamland
(1990)		 Mixed Up
(1991)
Singles from Dreamland
  1. "Ride on Time"
    Released: July 19, 1989
  2. "I Don't Know Anybody Else"
    Released: December 18, 1989
  3. "Everybody Everybody"
    Released: March 15, 1990
  4. "Fantasy"
    Released: 1990
  5. "Strike It Up"
    Released: February 6, 1991
  6. "Open Your Eyes"
    Released: 1991
  7. "Hold On"
    Released: 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert Christgau[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Melody Maker(mixed)[5]
New Musical Express8/10[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]

Background and artwork

When the album was originally released, the credits listed the band members as Daniele Davoli, Mirko Limoni and Valerio Semplici (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 singer-songwriter Dan Hartman and singer 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 number-one 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 singer 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 are: "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 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.[8] The legal action by Wash and Holloway spurred legislation in the United States making vocal credits mandatory on albums and music videos.

The artwork of Dreamland depicts Katrin Quinol displaying her toned legs and longing stare, while sporting a cropped jacket and mini skirt.[9]

Critical reception

A review published in Music Week magazine elected Dreamland "Album of the week", adding that there are "some interesting instrumentals and a cover of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Fantasy" [that] break the mould that seem to set in at the start of the LP with every song souding like "Ride on Time"".[10]

Promotional videos

Various music videos were produced for Dreamland:

  • "Ride On Time (Remix)" (original version)
  • "Ride On Time (Remix)" (Videodreams version)
  • "I Don't Know Anybody Else" (original version)
  • "I Don't Know Anybody Else" (US re-edit)
  • "Everybody Everybody" (original version)
  • "Everybody Everybody" (US version)
  • "Fantasy"
  • "Strike It Up" (DJ Lelewel Remix)

Montage videos were also made for "The Total Mix" and "Open Your Eyes".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Daniele Davoli, Mirko Limoni, and Valerio Semplici, except where noted

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength
1."Everybody Everybody" Martha Wash5:24[fn 1]
2."I Don't Know Anybody Else" Wash4:36
3."Open Your Eyes" Wash5:21
4."Fantasy"
Wash5:14
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength
1."Dreamland"  2:03
2."Ride on Time"
Loleatta Holloway[fn 2]4:37
3."Hold On" Wash5:38
4."Ghost Box"  3:57
5."Strike It Up" 
  • Wash (vocals)
  • Oscar Pabon (rap)
[fn 3]		5:15

Footnotes
  1. North American editions of the album have the Le Freak Mix 7" Edit of this song, which is 4:09 in length.
  2. Digital streaming vocals replaced by Celestine Walcott-Gordon (current Black Box stage vocalist).
  3. Digital streaming rap by Stepz.

Personnel

Black Box
  • Daniele Davoli – DJ, scratching, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mirko Limoni – keyboards
  • Valerio Semplici – guitar, drum programming

Vocalists

Additional musicians
  • Roberto Fontalan – guitar
  • Sauro Malavasi – guitar
  • Rudy Trevisi – saxophone, soloist
  • Raimondo Violi – bass, guitar

Production
  • Arranged by Daniele Davoli, Mirko Limoni and Valerio Semplici
  • Produced by Black Box (credited as Groove Groove Melody)
  • Recorded, engineered and mixed by Daniele Davoli, Mirko Limoni and Valerio Semplici
  • Kate Garner – photography

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[29] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[30] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[32] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Gold 400,000^
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Dreamland - Black Box | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. AllMusic review
  3. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Black Box". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  4. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  5. Smith, Andrew (21 April 1990). "Albums". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  6. Quantick, David (5 May 1990). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 34.
  7. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 61.
  8. Pareles, Jon (6 December 1990). "Lawsuits Seek Truth In Music Labeling". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  9. Newman, Jason (2 September 2014). "Martha Wash: The Most Famous Unknown Singer of the '90s Speaks Out". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  10. "LP Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 28 April 1990. p. 26. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  11. "Australiancharts.com – Black Box – Dreamland". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  12. "Austriancharts.at – Black Box – Dreamland" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  13. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9070". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Black Box – Dreamland" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  15. "Tous les "Chart Runs" de chaque Album classé (database)" (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Black Box – Dreamland" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  17. "Charts.nz – Black Box – Dreamland". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  18. "Norwegiancharts.com – Black Box – Dreamland". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  19. "Swedishcharts.com – Black Box – Dreamland". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  20. "Swisscharts.com – Black Box – Dreamland". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  21. "Black Box | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  22. "Black Box, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  23. "Black Box, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  24. "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1990". RPM. 12 December 1994. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  25. "Top Selling Albums of 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  26. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  27. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1991". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  28. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  29. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1991 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  30. "Canadian single certifications – Black Box – Dreamland". Music Canada. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  31. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 926. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  32. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Black Box; 'Dreamland')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  33. "British single certifications – Black Box – Dreamland". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  34. "American single certifications – Black Box – Dreamland". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
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