When Dream and Day Unite

[lovethedrake]

Listening for the first time in years.... this album kicks ass!   

The production is crappy and it definitely needs Labrie on vocals but there is a ton of awesome stuff on it.     

Its almost impossible to rank this album against other DT albums, I think even more so than TA. 

From now on I am going to make this an outlier album when I rank them so I can just enjoy it and not feel like it needs to measure up to anything other than just being a super fun energetic tour de force of prog metal by an amazing band just getting off the ground.

The band really works incredibly well together on this album.   Not as much, your turn, my turn stuff....    I'm loving D/T also, its just different.

[TAC]

I LOVE this album. Well the songs at least. I hardly ever listen to it, but I do listen to WDADRu a lot and consider THAT a Top 5 DT album. I do wish it would get a proper rerecord.

[Architeuthis]

Now you're making me want to order this album. 

[Architeuthis]

I LOVE this album. Well the songs at least. I hardly ever listen to it, but I do listen to WDADRu a lot and consider THAT a Top 5 DT album. I do wish it would get a proper rerecord.

I kind of doubt they will redo this album out of respect for Charlie D.   The live cuts here and there are probably enough. If their gonna record something, keep cranking out new stuff!

[CirclesSquared]

There's some high quality music there hinting at colossal potential and things to come. Amazing musicianship as well, considering band members' age at the time. WDADU gets panning for its quality when it's most likely the muddy production that destroys the listening experience. Also, Dominici's trademark 80s vocals perhaps didn't let this album age well.

But I guess, when being ranked with the rest of band's discography, it has to be placed somewhere and on the merits of the said issues...

[KevShmev]

I've always liked this album a lot, despite the obvious flaws. The songwriting was mostly really good, and their chops were already crazy good considering their ages at the time.  Kevin Moore and John Myung were absolute beasts on this record. 

[Samsara]

I LOVE this album. Well the songs at least. I hardly ever listen to it, but I do listen to WDADRu a lot and consider THAT a Top 5 DT album. I do wish it would get a proper rerecord.

Yeah, I tried listening to the original, and the vocals....eh...I respect CD's effort, but he isn't my cup of tea vocally. But I really didn't like the live representation by Labrie either. Not that he did it poorly -- he didn't, he sang well. I just would like a full on re-record of those tunes so he could do the vocals properly. Never will happen, but I wish it would.

[KevShmev]

Yeah, I tried listening to the original, and the vocals....eh...I respect CD's effort, but he isn't my cup of tea vocally. But I really didn't like the live representation by Labrie either. Not that he did it poorly -- he didn't, he sang well. I just would like a full on re-record of those tunes so he could do the vocals properly. Never will happen, but I wish it would.

If it was gonna happen, it needed to happen in the early 90's when JLB was at full power and Kevin Moore was still in the band. I was not a fan of the way Rudess overplayed some of the keyboard parts, which is why I never listen to WDADR, so a re-recording with him would not interest me personally.

[lovethedrake]

What is WDAD Reunite?    Is there a full Labrie live version or something?   

I would love to hear that if so...

[Dedalus]

It's a very good album. I always liked.

A young band with a lot of will.

Love Myung bass lines  .

[OpenYourEyes311]

What is WDAD Reunite?    Is there a full Labrie live version or something?   

I would love to hear that if so...

Ytsejam records release of the band playing the entire album on March 6, 2004 for it's 15th anniversary.

CD: http://ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=20
DVD: http://ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=21

Very cool. And has an encore featuring Charlie Dominici and Derek Sherinian.
A must have for DT fans, I think.

[bosk1]

Yeah, I tried listening to the original, and the vocals....eh...I respect CD's effort, but he isn't my cup of tea vocally. But I really didn't like the live representation by Labrie either. Not that he did it poorly -- he didn't, he sang well. I just would like a full on re-record of those tunes so he could do the vocals properly. Never will happen, but I wish it would.

If it was gonna happen, it needed to happen in the early 90's when JLB was at full power and Kevin Moore was still in the band. I was not a fan of the way Rudess overplayed some of the keyboard parts, which is why I never listen to WDADR, so a re-recording with him would not interest me personally.

Ugh, no thanks!  They should just re-record the first three albums with Rudess and remove Moore from the album credits altogether.

[Samsara]

Ugh, no thanks!  They should just re-record the first three albums with Rudess and remove Moore from the album credits altogether.

Bosk, you stop that right now. Good Lord no. LOL. I'll just go record the circus and put it on WDADU. Cheaper to do that, and not much difference. 

Agreed with whoever said above that JR overplayed on WDADRU. He did.

[pg1067]

I LOVE this album. Well the songs at least. I hardly ever listen to it, but I do listen to WDADRu a lot and consider THAT a Top 5 DT album. I do wish it would get a proper rerecord.

I kind of doubt they will redo this album out of respect for Charlie D.   The live cuts here and there are probably enough. If their gonna record something, keep cranking out new stuff!

Within the last week, I watched the WDADRu DVD with the band commentary.  Coincidentally, we're getting close to the 15th anniversary of that 15th anniversary show.  It was discussed early in the commentary that fans had been clamoring for either a re-recording with the then current lineup or a remixing of the album.  MP pointed out that the band had no interest in re-recording the album in the studio (he then corrected himself to say that he was only speaking for himself, but no one else jumped in and said, "yeah, I'd be down for that").  He also mentioned that remixing the album wasn't possible because the band didn't own the rights to the masters.  Thus, the WDADRu show was sort of the next best thing.

Fast forward to today, and I doubt any of the current members would have even the slightest interest in re-recording the album, and I doubt it has anything to do with respect for Charlie.  It seems to me that, if anyone would have had interest, it would have been MP, and he's now gone.  Has any band ever gone back to record one of it's early albums so long after the fact?

[gzarruk]

It would've been cool if they used their time in the studio last year to re-record the album with the current lineup (and production) and release it as a 30th anniversary special edition of WDADU, but now that the're out of the studio, I don't see that happening. Also, the band doesn't seem to be super high on this album either.

Actually, the album is very good, I still listen to it and enjoy it quite a bit, but it falls short in comparison to the other 13 DT studio albums, and that's why I always rank it last.

[Phoenix87x]

I've loved it since the first time I ever listened to it.

Sure it sounds dated, sure its not Labrie, sure the production is rough, but It really doesn't bother me. The songwriting is catchy and super intricate. I am totally for it.

[Dream Team]

I LOVE this album. Well the songs at least. I hardly ever listen to it, but I do listen to WDADRu a lot and consider THAT a Top 5 DT album. I do wish it would get a proper rerecord.

This is how I feel. Top 6 at least. Great riffs, solos, bass, keys, lyrics. Only the vocals are sub-par.

[SuperTaco]

Still my favorite DT album. Probably always will be. Nothing else makes me feel the way WDADU does.

[pg1067]

It would've been cool if they used their time in the studio last year to re-record the album with the current lineup (and production) and release it as a 30th anniversary special edition of WDADU, but now that the're out of the studio, I don't see that happening. Also, the band doesn't seem to be super high on this album either.

I'd be shocked if they really give it any thought at all other than when it comes time to putting set lists together.  Would it be cool if they did this?  I suppose, but why would any of the three current members who didn't play on that album want to do it?  Perhaps more importantly, why would they want to spend the money on something that probably would only have a niche market within the fan base?  IMO, it would be really weird if they did this.  If they really wanted to spend $$ revisiting a 30 year old album, they'd probably be better off buying the masters (if they even still exist) and doing a remix.

[Art]

I really like WDADU, and i don't have a problem with CD vocals. They needed Labrie for I&W, sure, but WDADU is fine the way it is.

[Eldomm]

I absolutely LOVE WDADU. It was my first exposure to DT in 1989 and it has a big place in my heart.

[Dreamer]

After reading a review of this in a Rush fanzine I bought this album straight away but was very disappointed. I gave away my copy! When I heard Pull Me Under I hated that too so didn't listen to DT again until I saw the score DVD many years later...

[cramx3]

I LOVE this album. Well the songs at least. I hardly ever listen to it, but I do listen to WDADRu a lot and consider THAT a Top 5 DT album. I do wish it would get a proper rerecord.

I wouldn't say WDADRU would be a top 5 DT album, but that version really makes the album so much better.  The original is really hard to listen to, but the music is there and its solid stuff.  Id be cool if they pulled out some of the more rare WDADU songs out on tour again. Looking at you Status Seeker

[Lax]

I like WDADU, I often listen to songs like only a matter of time

BTW Ytse Jam is my warmup on guitar !

[ytserush]

Top 3 Dream Theater album for me.

I love the live revisit too, but the magic is really in that first album warts and all. I thought the sky was the limit after that came out. Coming up on 30 years. Where did the time go?

[ytserush]

I LOVE this album. Well the songs at least. I hardly ever listen to it, but I do listen to WDADRu a lot and consider THAT a Top 5 DT album. I do wish it would get a proper rerecord.

I wouldn't say WDADRU would be a top 5 DT album, but that version really makes the album so much better.  The original is really hard to listen to, but the music is there and its solid stuff.  Id be cool if they pulled out some of the more rare WDADU songs out on tour again. Looking at you Status Seeker

I used to think hearing that album like again would be great, but and maybe I wouldn't mind hearing a song or two from it now live, but I'd really rather hearing something from the new album that engage the nostalgia trip.

Fortunately, there's enough of a record of it live than I can pull it off the shelf if and enjoy it when needed. Or just pop the studio album (or the demos and what have you) in and crank it.

[gmillerdrake]

I've always liked this album a lot, despite the obvious flaws. The songwriting was mostly really good, and their chops were already crazy good considering their ages at the time.  Kevin Moore and John Myung were absolute beasts on this record. 

Yep. I dig this album a lot.....they did play it in full some years ago so there are some vids out there with ‘thier’ sound rather than the CD sound.

The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun is a personal favorite of mine. 

[cramx3]

I LOVE this album. Well the songs at least. I hardly ever listen to it, but I do listen to WDADRu a lot and consider THAT a Top 5 DT album. I do wish it would get a proper rerecord.

I wouldn't say WDADRU would be a top 5 DT album, but that version really makes the album so much better.  The original is really hard to listen to, but the music is there and its solid stuff.  Id be cool if they pulled out some of the more rare WDADU songs out on tour again. Looking at you Status Seeker

I used to think hearing that album like again would be great, but and maybe I wouldn't mind hearing a song or two from it now live, but I'd really rather hearing something from the new album that engage the nostalgia trip.

Fortunately, there's enough of a record of it live than I can pull it off the shelf if and enjoy it when needed. Or just pop the studio album (or the demos and what have you) in and crank it.

Oh yea, I'd rather see new stuff live as well, and this tour with SFAM I'm not sure I'd want a WDADU song to take the place of either a new or different older song.  I just mean in general really, I'd love to see something other than Ytse Jam/A Fortune in Lies/The Killing Hand if they chose to play a song from their first album.

[brents319]

I came into the DT world after Images and Words.  I have a hard time listening to the original WDADU tracks.  Dominici just doesn't hit me just right the Labrie does.  I do enjoy the live versions that have been released.  I never turn the songs off when they hit randomly...but, I don't think I have ever gone looking for them.

[Infinite Cactus]

It's my 4th favorite album of theirs.  Love  Charlie's voice(other than the end of killing hand).

[EPIC Outro]

I love this album, and it's short-ish length makes it a nice, fast listen. I like Charley's vocals, but I do long for a studio rerecording with the current lineup, production, and some tweaks to the songs themselves, such as The Killing Hand. I also think they should consider adding To Live Forever, and also A Vision, which was at one point almost included on the album, according to the Lifting Shadows book.

[gzarruk]

A Vision, which was at one point almost included on the album, according to the Lifting Shadows book.

Indeed, there’s a version they recorded with Charlie called A Vision 89 on the WDADU demos. Personally, I prefer this version over the original on the Majesty demos. They removed all the unnecesary parts (it ended up being 4 minutes shorter than the original) and it works much better than the previous version. Definitely worth to check it out.

[EPIC Outro]

A Vision, which was at one point almost included on the album, according to the Lifting Shadows book.

Indeed, there’s a version they recorded with Charlie called A Vision 89 on the WDADU demos. Personally, I prefer this version over the original on the Majesty demos. They removed all the unnecesary parts (it ended up being 4 minutes shorter than the original) and it works much better than the previous version. Definitely worth to check it out.

Yup, that's my preferred version of the song. The original demo never made much of an impression on me, but the '89 version with Charley is really beautiful. I'd love to hear James sing it someday. It's actually one of my favorite songs from early DT.