Dreamtime is a single from American singer-songwriter Daryl Hall (one half of pop-rock duo Hall & Oates). Co-written by John Beeby, it was issued prior to the release of his second solo album, Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine.

It was his biggest hit as a solo performer, climbing the Billboard Hot 100 to peak at number 5 in October 1986^[1] and reached #3 on the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay chart on September 9, 1986 for one week and remained on the chart for twelve weeks.^[2] The hit helped drive its parent album up the charts to peak at number 29.^[3]

Formatting

The original recording is 4:45 in length. The music video extends the track length to 5:12.^[4] Aside from some ad-libs near the video version's fade-out, there is little difference between the album version and the video.

Personnel

• Daryl Hall: lead and backing vocals, electric guitar, keyboards
• David A. Stewart: guitar solo
• Tom "T-Bone" Wolk: bass guitar, electric guitar
• Tony Beard: drums
• Michel de la Porte: percussion
• Kate St. John and June Montana: additional backing vocals
• Michael Kamen: string arrangements and conductor

Reception

In his four-star review of the parent album, allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine singled out the song, calling it "tremendous" and "a swirling slice of arty new wave psychedelia that stands in direct contrast to anything Hall & Oates sent into the Top Ten".^[5]

Charts

References