Song:Behind The Wall Of Sleep
Album:Especially For You
The Smithereens are one of the better bands to come out of the post new wave scene of the 80s. They were heavily influenced by artists like Graham Parker & Elvis Costello and 50s singers like Buddy Holly. The 1986 CD Especially For You was their debut and their breakthrough album. Guitarist singer Pat DiNizio (born Oct. 12, 1955 in Scotch Plain, NJ) is the group leader. Lead guitarist Jim Babjak (born Nov. 17, 1957 in Carteret, NJ), bassist Mike Mesaros & drummer Dennis Diken already had a band and got together with DiNizio in 1980. They played clubs around New Jersey and New York and released a couple of EPs independently. But a 1985 demo got them a contract with Enigma/Capitol Records and their debut Especially For You was released in 1986. Producer Don Dixon was best known for his work with R.E.M. and he knew it was best to let The Smithreens be themselves and so all the songs were written by DiNizio. The singles Blood And Roses & Behind The Wall Of Sleep both charted so they were off to a good start. Capitol rereleased Especially For You with bonus tracks in 1992. They would go on to greater success with the 1990 hit A Girl Like You. Things would slow down for The Smithereens in the mid-90s and they left Capitol for RCA in 1995. The Smithereens still tour and their latest CD Live In Concert! Greatest Hits And More was released in May 2008 on KOCH Records. Their new CD is a tribute to The Beatles called The Smithereens B-Sides The Beatles will be released in September. They're pretty good as mainstream rock groups go. Here's The Smithereens performing Behind The Wall Of Sleep on the British TV show The Tube Jan. 1987.
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