Dream Lover Explained

Dream Lover
Type:single
Artist:Bobby Darin
B-Side:Bullmoose
Released:April 20, 1959
Genre:Rock and roll, doo-wop, pop
Label:Atco
Producer:Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler
Prev Title:Plain Jane
Prev Year:1959
Next Title:Mack the Knife
Next Year:1959

"Dream Lover" is a song written by American musician Bobby Darin. Darin recorded his composition on March 5, 1959 and released it as a single the following month. It was produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler and engineered by Tom Dowd.

Song background

In addition to Darin's vocal, the song features Neil Sedaka on piano.[1] While recording it Darin decided to stretch out some chord changes he found on the piano and add strings and voices. A picture sleeve, featuring a portrait of Darin, was also issued for this record in the U.S.

Chart performance

It was released as a single on Atco Records in the U.S. in 1959, and became a multi-million seller, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a week,[2] No. 4 on Billboards Hot R&B Sides chart,[3] and No. 5 in Canada.[4] "Dream Lover" was kept from the No. 1 spot by "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton.[2] It did however reach No. 1 on the UK's New Musical Express chart for four weeks during July 1959.[5] The song also reached No. 5 on Norway's VG-lista,[6] No. 12 in Flanders, and No. 21 in Wallonia.[7]

Cover versions

Dream Lover
Type:single
Artist:Tanya Tucker and Glen Campbell
Album:Dreamlovers
B-Side:"Bronco" (Tanya Tucker)
Released:September 8, 1980
Recorded:Spring 1980
Studio:Nashville, Tennessee
Genre:Country
Length:2:56
Label:MCA
Producer:Jerry Crutchfield

In 1961, Dion DiMucci released his version of "Dream Lover" on the album Runaround Sue. Thirty years later (1991) he recorded a new version for the Hot Shots! soundtrack.

In 1964, The Paris Sisters released a version of "Dream Lover".

In 1971, Billy "Crash" Craddock released his version of "Dream Lover" as a single. Craddock's version reached No. 1 on Cash Boxs Country Top 65 chart[8] and Record Worlds Country Singles Chart,[9] while reaching No. 5 on Billboards Hot Country Singles chart.[10] Craddock's version was included on his 1972 album You Better Move On.[11]

In 1979, Ricky Nelson released a cover of "Dream Lover". His version reached No. 29 on Billboards Adult Contemporary chart and No. 59 on Billboards Hot Country Singles chart.

Also, in 1979, Australian Glen Shorrock of Little River Band covered it. It was in the Australian Top 10 for 18 weeks, in 1979. See here

Country music singers Tanya Tucker and Glen Campbell released a duet of "Dream Lover" as a single on Tucker's 1980 album Dreamlovers.

In 2022, the actress and singer Evan Rachel Wood released her version with her band EVAN + ZANE included on their album "Dream".

Notes and References

  1. Russell A. Trunk . Neil Sedaka, Still Keeping It Together . Exclusive Magazine . April 7, 2008.
  2. "The Billboard Hot 100", Billboard. June 8, 1959. p. 38. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  3. "Hot R&B Sides", Billboard. June 15, 1959. p. 39. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  4. Web site: CHUM Hit Parade - May 25, 1959.
  5. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/6337/bobby-darin/ Bobby Darin - Full Official Chart History
  6. https://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bobby+Darin&titel=Dream+Lover&cat=s Bobby Darin - Dream Lover
  7. https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/1b755/Bobby-Darin-Dream-Lover Bobby Darin - Dream Lover
  8. "Cash Box Country Top 65", Cash Box. September 4, 1971. p. 64. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  9. "The Country Singles Chart", Record World. August 28, 1971. p. 45. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  10. "Hot Country Singles", Billboard. August 14, 1971. p. 26. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  11. "Billboard Album Reviews", Billboard. February 5, 1972. p. 54. Retrieved February 6, 2021.