Eurythmics Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) CD

Additional Tracks

Eurythmics: Annie Lennox (vocals, keyboards); David A. Stewart (guitar, keyboards).
Additional personnel includes: Green Gartside (vocals).
Eurythmics: Dave Stewart, Annie Lennox.
Additional personnel: Vic Martin (keyboards); Dean Garcia (bass); Pete Phipps (drums); Maggie Ryder, Gill O'Donovan, Susie O'List (background vocals).
Eurythmics: Annie Lennox (vocals); Dave Stewart (various instruments).
Additional personnel: Green (background vocals).
Audio Remasterer: Ian Cooper .
Eurythmics' breakthrough album is a deft mix of electronic thrills, new wave chills, and sultry R&B, the latter supplied by Annie Lennox's warm tenor. Pretty much relying on themselves, Lennox and Dave Stewart slip past the music's usual coldness and into a territory all their own. It can be smug (the new wave here is served with a side of irony) and a tad dull (the long, operatic pieces serve little purpose), but the payoffs -- "Love Is a Stranger" and, especially, the magnificent title tune -- are among the finest the genre has to offer. ~ Michael Gallucci
1983's SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS) is actually Eurythmics' second album, but 1981's Krautrock-influenced IN THE GARDEN was never released in the US and made minimal waves in the rest of the world. Thanks to two striking videos and some canny self-promotion on the part of androgynous singer Annie Lennox, this was certainly not the case with this much-improved follow-up.
The hypnotic drone of the title track and the ticking, pressurized "Love Is A Stranger," were enormous radio and video hits around the world, but much of the album belies the synth-pop tag those songs earned. Dave Stewart plays bluesy slide throughout, and the respectful cover of Sam and Dave's "Wrap It Up" gives Lennox a chance to showcase her soulful growl which would, on subsequent albums, replace the chilly soprano featured here.
The Eurythmics' breakthrough album is a deft mix of electronic thrills, new wave chills, and sultry R&B, the latter supplied by Annie Lennox's warm tenor. Pretty much relying on themselves, Lennox and Dave Stewart slip past the music's usual coldness and into a territory all their own. It can be smug (the new wave here is served with a side of irony) and a tad dull (the long, operatic pieces serve little purpose), but the payoffs -- "Love Is a Stranger" and, especially, the magnificent title tune -- are among the finest the genre has to offer. [The 2005 reissue features remastered sound and bonus tracks that originally appeared on singles, as well as a previously unreleased cover of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love."] ~ Michael Gallucci

Uncut (p.124) - 4 stars out of 5 - "Loaded with iconic MTV imagery and brilliant synth-pop..."
CMJ (1/5/04, p.12) - Ranked #11 in CMJ's "Top 20 Most-Played Albums of 1983".