[4] "Dream On", originally released as a single in 1973, became an American top ten hit when re-released on December 27, 1975.

Tyler was inspired both by the sudden view of the city through the windshield and the possibilities that starting the new band presented.

There's that hill you come to and see the skyline of Boston, and I was sitting in the backseat thinking, What would be the greatest thing to sing for an audience if we were opening up for the ... Stones?

"[9] Drummer Kramer elaborates on the song's sentiment in a 1998 interview: "You could search the ends of the earth, and I don't think you could find five more different guys.

Tyler explains, "'Somebody' grew out of a lick that our roadie Steve Emsback used to play on his guitar during the days of William Proud.

"[9] The music was also influenced by the Rolling Stones' version of "Route 66", which the band would use to rehearse to tighten up their playing.

"[12] Tyler wrote "Dream On" in stages over several years, finalizing the lyrics during the album's sessions.

[13] He explains, "The music for 'Dream On' was originally written on a Steinway upright piano in the living room of Trow-Rico Lodge in Sunapee, maybe four years before Aerosmith even started.

'"[9][16] "Mama Kin" was written on the same guitar found in the trash that Tyler later used to write "Seasons of Wither".

He explains, "One day I grabbed this old guitar Joey Kramer found in the garbage on Beacon Street, an acoustic with no strings.

"[17] Tyler explains that "'Write Me' was originally 'Bite Me,' something we'd been working on for five or six months starting in the Bruins' dressing room at the Boston Garden, but it just didn't make it.

[4] For the most part, the production is sparse and dry: two guitars, bass, drums, a singer, and occasionally piano.

The band recalls the production of the album and their working relationship with producer Adrian Barber with mixed sentiment.

Tyler suggests that producer Barber was "good for his time" but it was like "being with a retarded child in there, and I'm not sure if it was because he was so high, or because we all were.

"[25] In his autobiography Rocks, Joe Perry is more critical of Barber: Our producer was practically useless.

[26]Bassist Tom Hamilton later confessed, "The album was done so fast I barely remember anything but overdubbing some tracks and running to the bathroom for a hit of blow".

This has a modified version of the original, made up entirely of the photo of the band members, adding the 'Featuring "Dream On"' text and removing the biography information on the back.

Cash Box magazine lists an Aerosmith II (Columbia KC 32045) release in the February 1, 1975 issue.

"[28] "Dream On" was released as a single and became Aerosmith's first major hit and a classic rock radio staple.

In 1973, Aerosmith toured extensively behind the album, playing clubs in New England as well as larger venues throughout the eastern United States, opening for other groups including Mott the Hoople, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and The Kinks.

[32] The jazz fusion, almost classical style of Mahavishnu Orchestra proved to be an idiosyncratic fit.

Manager David Krebs explains, "We learned to play our market so that Aerosmith opened for acts that were slightly on the downslide – bands whose audience we could cop.

"[34] Tom Hamilton explains, "I think what we wanted to do, without ever really saying it, was to be the American equivalent of all the great British bands like Cream, the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.

"[35] During the year, the group played sets featuring the new album for two different radio broadcasts and made their first television appearance.

In September, the group would perform a set at Counterpart Studios in the Cheviot neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio for WKRQ.

Moreover, Columbia released Aerosmith at the same time as Bruce Springsteen's debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., for which they made a greater promotional effort.

[38] Canadian journalist Martin Popoff described the album as "raw, dirty and steeped with squalid integrity", but observed that "every successive release sounds light years ahead in terms of production, songcraft, maturity, everything".

[39] In an interview to Classic Rock magazine, Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin recalled: "Growing up in Indiana, I loved fucking Aerosmith, man ...

"[47] Aerosmith was considered a big influence on Guns N' Roses and helped shape their sound.

[48] All tracks are written by Steven Tyler, except where notedAerosmith Additional musicians ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.