Images and Words

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Images and Words
Studio album by Dream Theater
Released	July 7, 1992
Recorded	October 14 - December, 1991 BearTracks Studios, New York (additional recordings at The Hit Factory, NY)
Genre	Progressive metal Progressive rock
Length	57:03
Label	Atco Records
Producer	David Prater
Professional reviews
Allmusic link The Dwarf (Positive) link Metal Storm Link Revelationz Link Sputnikmusic link
Dream Theater chronology
When Dream and Day Unite (1989) Images and Words (1992) Live at the Marquee (1993)
Singles from Images and Words
"Another Day" Released: 1992 "Pull Me Under" Released: 1992 "Take The Time" Released: 1993

Images and Words is the second studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released in 1992. It was recorded in late 1991 at BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York. The album is the first Dream Theater release to feature James LaBrie on vocals. The album maintains its position as the band's most commercially successful album to date^{[citation needed]}, and the song Pull Me Under's status as the only Top 10 hit the band has ever had. This particular song has also had some very recent success as it has appeared in the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour. Many critics and fans cite this album as a landmark release for the progressive metal genre. Although there isn't any title track in this album, the phrase Images and Words appears in the song Wait for Sleep.

History

After Charlie Dominici's departure from the band, the band auditioned nearly 200 people across the nation before James LaBrie sent the band an audition tape. LaBrie was formerly in the Canadian glam metal band Winter Rose, but saw potential in the band, and thus decided to audition. After a short jam session, the band chose him as their lead singer, and he has been the band's lead singer ever since.

With LaBrie on board, the band was signed to a seven album contract by Atco Records, and shortly after began recording their new album. The lead single, Pull Me Under gained the band considerable commercial success with its airplay on MTV and radio, garnering them a Top 10 hit on radio charts. When the album was released, it sold at a steady pace, helped by their relentless touring across the world.

Images and Words was played in its entirety, on several occasions, during the European leg of the "Chaos in Motion" tour, in celebration of its 15th anniversary^[1].

Reception

Images and Words has garnered overwhelmingly positive critical and fan acclaim. As of July 5, 2008, heavy metal database The Metal Archives ranks Images and Words as Dream Theater's second best album with a 94% rating based on 12 fan reviews^[2]. Murat Batmaz of the popular progressive rock/metal review website Sea of Tranquility awarded the record a perfect score, calling it a "masterpiece" and "the most important Dream Theater album, ever"^[3].

Images and Words is currently ranked #2 on Digital Dream Door's list of the top 100 progressive metal albums of all time ^[4].

Track listing

Credits

Band

• James LaBrie – Vocals
• Kevin Moore – Keyboards
• John Myung – Bass guitar
• John Petrucci – Guitar
• Mike Portnoy – Drums and percussion

Guest

• Jay Beckenstein – Soprano saxophone on "Another Day"

RIAA Certifications

These statistics were compiled from the RIAA certification online database.^[5]

• Gold - February 2, 1995

Chart Performance

Singles

Billboard 200:

• Images and Words - #61

Top Heatseekers:

• Images and Words - #2

References