Joe Emerson - Dreamin' Wild

Sweet, strange, and stunningly sincere – Dreamin’ Wild is the homemade masterpiece that time nearly forgot. Originally self-released in 1979 by teenage brothers Donnie and Joe Emerson, this cult classic blends lo-fi soul, soft funk, and heart-on-sleeve yacht rock with wide-eyed innocence and surprising musical chops.

Crafted in a custom-built studio on their family farm in Fruitland, Washington, the Emerson brothers wrote, recorded, and produced this album with zero industry influence and a whole lot of ambition. The result? Tracks like the velvety slow jam Baby, the dreamy title cut Dream Full of Dreams, and synth-flecked grooves like Feels Like the Sun that sound beamed from a parallel ‘70s radio universe.

Backed by their father’s unwavering (and mortgage-backed) belief in their talents, the Emersons didn’t just build a studio — they built a full-blown concert venue on the property. Unfortunately, the world wasn’t quite ready. Originally pressed in minuscule numbers and ignored on release, the album slowly gained cult status thanks to collectors and crate diggers who knew a diamond in the rough when they heard one.

This reissue from Light In The Attic pulls out all the stops: fully remastered audio, lovingly restored artwork, rare photos, and liner notes that dive into the Emerson family’s unreal story. It's outsider pop at its finest — beautifully weird, tenderly funky, and 100% from the heart.