Don't Mess with Doctor Dream

"Don't Mess With Doctor Dream"
Single by Thompson Twins
from the album Here's to Future Days
B-side"Big Business"
Released23 August 1985[1]
Recorded1984–1985
GenrePop rock
Length4:24
LabelArista Records
Songwriter(s)Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, Joe Leeway
Producer(s)Nile Rodgers, Tom Bailey
Thompson Twins singles chronology
"Lay Your Hands On Me"
(1985) 		"Don't Mess With Doctor Dream"
(1985) 		"King For A Day"
(1985)
Second 12" vinyl single sleeve
Alternative cover

"Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" is a 1985 song by the British band Thompson Twins. It was released as a single from their album Here's to Future Days, and peaked at No. 15 in the UK, spending six weeks on the chart.[2] Written by bandmembers Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie and Joe Leeway, it is an anti-drug song warning of the dangers of drug addiction. It was the first Thompson Twins single to be co-produced by Nile Rodgers. A promotional music video was made for the single which was directed by Godley & Creme along with Meiert Avis.

The B-side, "Big Business", was exclusive to this single with two versions: 7" version and an extended version called "Very Big Business".

Critical reception

On its release, Paul Sexton of Record Mirror considered "Don't Mess with Doctor Dream" to have "commendable anti-heroin sentiments", but felt the song was "rather a plodder compared to the pop craft of the singles from Into the Gap".[3]

Formats

7" UK vinyl single (1985) Arista TWINS 9
  1. "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" - 3:36
  2. "Big Business" - 4:13
12" UK vinyl single (1985) Arista TWINS 129
  1. "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" (Smackattack!) – 6:10
  2. "Very Big Business" - 5:06
12" UK vinyl single (1985) Arista TWINS 229
  1. "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream" ((U4A) + (U3A) = Remix) – 6:38
  2. "Very Big Business" - 5:06

Personnel

Written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway.

  • Tom Bailey – vocals, piano, Fairlight, synthesizers, guitar, contrabass, Fairlight and drum programming
  • Alannah Currie – lyrics, marimba, backing vocals, acoustic drums, percussion, tuned percussion
  • Joe Leeway – backing vocals, congas, Z-bass, Emulator, percussion
  • Produced by Nile Rodgers and Tom Bailey
  • Mixed by James Farber
  • Mixed at Skyline Studio, NYC
  • Photography – Rebecca Blake
  • Artwork/Design – Andie Airfix, Satori
  • Art Direction – Alannah

Chart performance

Chart (1985) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[4] 15
Australian Singles Chart[5] 17
German Singles Chart[6] 30
Italy (Musica e dischi)[7] 13
New Zealand Singles Chart [8] 12
Swedish Singles Chart [9] 10
Swedish Trackslistan[10] 5

Official versions

Version Length Mixed/Remixed by Comment
Album version 4:24 Nile Rodgers & Tom Bailey Found on the album Here's To Future Days, and the majority of their greatest hits compilations.
"Shoot Out" 6:23 Nile Rodgers & Tom Bailey An extended version of the song featured on the bonus 5 song remix EP included with the limited edition of Here's To Future Days. Found on Edsel's 2008 CD reissue of Here's To Future Days. This remix is the same as the ((U4A) + (U3A) = Remix).
7" single version 3:36 Tom Bailey & James Farber Found on the album Here's To Future Days, and on the following CD compilations: Thompson Twins – 'The Collection' (1993 BMG), Thompson Twins- 'Singles Collection' (1996 Camden/BMG), Thompson Twins – 'The Greatest Hits' (2003 Camden/BMG). Begins with the sound of an orchestra tuning up and ends with Alannah's scream.
"Big Business" 4:14 Tom Bailey Instrumental version of "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream", found exclusively on the b-side of the 7" vinyl single. Never released on CD.
12" SMACKATTACK! Version 6:10 Nile Rodgers & Tom Bailey Found on the UK 12" vinyl single (Arista TWINS 129) and on the 2xCD reissue of Here's To Future Days (2008 Edsel).
"Very Big Business" 5:06 Tom Bailey An extended instrumental version of "Don't Mess With Doctor Dream", found on the UK 12" vinyl single (Arista TWINS 129 and Arista TWINS 229), on the 2xCD reissue of Here's To Future Days (2008 Edsel) and on the CD, Thompson Twins – 'The Platinum & Gold Collection' (2003 BMG Heritage/Arista).
12" ((U4A) + (U3A) = Remix) 6:38 Tom Bailey Found on the UK 12" vinyl single (Arista TWINS 229) and on the 2xCD reissue of Here's To Future Days (2008 Edsel) as "Shoot Out".

References

  1. ^ Smith, Robin (17 August 1985). "News". Record Mirror. p. 8.
  2. ^ "Thompson Twins – Don't Mess With Doctor Dream". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  3. ^ Sexton, Paul (24 August 1985). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 10.
  4. ^ "Thompson Twins – Don't Mess With Doctor Dream". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Australian-Charts". Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  6. ^ "German charts – Thompson Twins". Musicline.de. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Thompson Twins".
  8. ^ "New Zealand Charts". charts.nz. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Swedish Charts". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  10. ^ Trackslistan 1985-09-14 Sveriges Radio