What makes Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me by The Smiths notable?

This album is significant not only for its haunting title track but also for its inclusion of Peel Session recordings, which showcased the band's raw sound and lyrical depth. The title track became emblematic of Morrissey's lyrical style and solidified The Smiths' influence on indie rock and jangle pop, while also achieving notable chart success in the UK. Released on December 7, 1987, this album came during The Smiths' peak popularity, following their critically acclaimed studio albums. It represents a transitional moment for the band as they prepared for their eventual dissolution in 1988, reflecting both the band's artistic maturity and the increasing tension within.

How many songs are on Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me?

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me has 4 tracks, running approximately 13 minutes.

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

The Smiths · 1987

13 min · 4 tracks · indie rock

Melancholic melodies intertwine with introspective lyrics, capturing the essence of unrequited love and longing.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me — As the album's title track, it encapsulates the pervasive themes of yearning and melancholy that define The Smiths' sound, featuring an orchestral arrangement that enhances its emotional weight.
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Rusholme Ruffians (Peel Session 9/8/84) — This track highlights the band's early sound and lyrical storytelling, showcasing their ability to blend humor with darker themes, a hallmark of Morrissey's writing.
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Nowhere Fast (Peel Session 9/8/84) — The energetic instrumentation paired with introspective lyrics illustrates a sense of urgency and disillusionment that resonates throughout their discography, making it a critical piece of their legacy.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The single captures The Smiths' signature melancholy while showcasing their raw sound in Peel Sessions.

What we noticed

The title track features a slow tempo with layered instrumentation that builds gradually, creating an atmosphere of longing.
The Peel Session tracks exhibit a rawer sound compared to the studio versions, emphasizing the band's live energy and vocal delivery.
Each track maintains a melancholic tone, with lyrics that explore themes of love and loss, contributing to a cohesive emotional narrative.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

The narrator's expression shifts from longing to despair as they confront the unattainability of love.

This structural shift deepens the emotional impact, revealing vulnerability while maintaining an air of poetic detachment characteristic of Morrissey's style.