Cocktails & Dreams is an album ofB-Sides and rarities by theChicagopunk rock bandThe Lawrence Arms, released in 2005 byAsian Man Records. It collects the songs from their two Asian ManEPs, songs from several compilations and a few new songs.
Tracks 2–5 originally appeared on the EPPresent Day Memories, a split CD/EP withThe Chinkees released in 2001 by Asian Man Records.
Track 6 originally appeared on the compilationFat Music, Vol. 6: Uncontrollable Fatulence, released in 2002 byFat Wreck Chords. It was originally titled "Presenting: The Dancing Machine (Il Robot Con la Testa di Scimmia)."
Track 7 is an outtake from the recording sessions for the band's third albumApathy and Exhaustion.
Tracks 9–13 originally appeared on theShady View Terrace / The Lawrence Arms split EP, which was originally released on vinyl EP byCastaway Records and re-released in 2000 on CD byAsian Man Records. Track 10, "Faintly Falling Ashes", is a re-recording of an earlier demo, which was then titled "Purple Haze" and is included in this album's final track (see below).
Track 14 originally appeared on the compilationOil: Chicago Punk Refined, released in 2002 byThick Records. It was originally titled "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been", a name which is shared with a story byJoyce Carol Oates. In the liner notes Chris notes that the song was re-titled because "1) There's nothing more lame than to be asked if you've ripped off, or even worse, were paying homage to Joyce Carol Oates. 2) It's a stupid title that basically means nothing." It is one of the few songs the band has never played live.
Tracks 15 & 16 are re-recordings of songs that originally appeared on the band's second albumGhost Stories.
The final track is followed by the same hidden tracks that appeared on the albumGhost Stories, but in a different order. "Purple Haze" was later rerecorded as "Faintly Falling Ashes" (see above).
In the liner notes and artwork Brendan and Chris identify themselves using thepseudonyms "Cocktails" and "Dreams," respectively. This echoes the use of pseudonyms they had used on their fourth albumThe Greatest Story Ever Told. "Cocktails and Dreams" was also the name of the bar that Tom Cruise's character dreamed of opening in the filmCocktail.
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