In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Dream Into Action, Cherry Red Records has released Dream Into Action – Farmyard Sessions, a limited edition orange-colored double vinyl now available worldwide. The 20-track collection revisits one of the most influential synthpop albums of the 1980s, giving fans rare and previously unreleased recordings that capture the early creative spark behind Howard Jones’ iconic sound.
The Farmyard Sessions vinyl features 16 tracks recorded at Farmyard Studios in the UK that were previously only available on the bonus CD from 2018’s sold-out Dream Into Action Superdeluxe box set, plus four additional special mixes and versions. Along with the restored audio, the package includes unseen photos from the original Dream Into Action photo shoot with Simon Fowler, making it a collector’s essential.
Originally released in 1985, Dream Into Action reached #2 in the UK and climbed into the Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard charts, cementing Jones as one of new wave’s defining voices. The album produced timeless hits such as “Things Can Only Get Better,” “No One Is To Blame,” “Life In One Day,” and “Like To Get To Know You Well.” The resurgence of “Things Can Only Get Better” after its inclusion in Stranger Things introduced Jones’ music to a new generation of fans, reaffirming its lasting power.
Howard Jones’ career spans more than four decades of chart-topping hits, acclaimed albums, and iconic performances, from his keytar-driven appearance at the 1985 Grammy Awards alongside Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Thomas Dolby, to his set at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium the same year. With over 10 million albums sold worldwide, Jones continues to perform and create, most recently releasing Dialogue in 2022, the final chapter in his trilogy of electronic releases following Transform (2019) and Engage (2015).
Howard Jones ‘Dream Into Action – Farmyard Sessions’ Double Vinyl Track Listing:
SIDE ONE
Things Can Only Get Better (early version)
Dream Into Action (early version)
No One Is To Blame (early version)
Look Mama (early version)
Assault And Battery (early version)
SIDE TWO
Automaton (Robot Man) (instrumental)
Is There A Difference (early version)
Elegy (early version)
Specialty (early version)
Why Look For The Key? (early version)
Hunger For The Flesh (early version)
SIDE THREE
Like To Get To Know You Well (alternative version)
Things Can Only Get Better (remix)
No One Is To Blame (TV version)
Things Can Only Get Better (radio mix)
You Jazzy Nork!
SIDE FOUR
No One Is To Blame (Lambs & Planes mix)
Like To Get To Know You Well (demo in HJ front room)
Look Mama (UK extended mix)
No One Is To Blame (remake)