Behind the Wall of Sleep (The Smithereens song)

"Behind the Wall of Sleep" is a song by the American alternative rock group The Smithereens, released in 1986. It is the second single released in support of their debut album Especially for You.

"Behind the Wall of Sleep"
Single by The Smithereens
from the album Especially for You
B-side	"White Castle Blues"
Released	July 1986 [1]
Recorded	The Record Plant, New York City
Genre	Power pop, alternative rock
Length	3:04
Label	Enigma
Songwriter(s)	Pat DiNizio
Producer(s)	Don Dixon
The Smithereens singles chronology
"Blood and Roses" (1986) "Behind the Wall of Sleep" (1986) "In a Lonely Place" (1986)

The song was featured on the compilation Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the '80s Underground.[2]

Formats and track listing

All songs written by Pat DiNizio, except where noted.

US 7" single (B-75002)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:04
2. "Blood and Roses" – 3:35

US 12" promo single (EPRO-14)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:04
2. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:04

UK 7" single (Enig 2)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:04
2. "White Castle Blues" (Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken, DiNizio, Mike Mesaros) – 3:59

UK 12" single (Enig 2T)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:04
2. "White Castle Blues" (Babjak, Diken, DiNizio, Mesaros) – 3:59
3. "Behind the Wall of Sleep (live)" – 3:26

German 7" single (INT 113.721)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:22
2. "Blood and Roses" – 3:35

German 12" single (INT 128.721)

1. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" – 3:22
2. "Blood and Roses (live)" – 5:13
3. "White Castle Blues" (Babjak, Diken, DiNizio, Mesaros) – 3:57

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
Colin Larkin	United Kingdom	The All-Time Top 100 Singles[3]	2000	90
Bruce Pollock	United States	The 7,500 Most Important Songs of 1944-2000[4]	2005	*

(*) designates unordered lists.

Charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
	US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[5]	23

Chart (1987)	Peak position
UK Indie Chart[6]	8

Personnel

The Smithereens

• Jim Babjak – guitar
• Dennis Diken – drums, percussion, backing vocals
• Pat DiNizio – vocals, guitar
• Mike Mesaros – bass guitar, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Joe Kernich – piano

References

1. "The Smithereens: Behind the Wall of Sleep (USA)". 45cat.com. Retrieved on 20 August 2018.
2. "Blender :: guide". 2004-12-10. Archived from the original on 2004-12-10. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
3. "The All-Time Top 100 Singles". Acclaimed Music. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
4. Pollock, Bruce (March 18, 2014). Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era. Routledge. p. 35. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
5. "The Smithereens Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
6. Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1989. Cherry Red Books. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2014.

External links

• "Behind the Wall of Sleep" at Discogs (list of releases)
• The Smithereens Discography at 45cat. Retrieved on 20 August 2018.