Theme for a Dream explained

Theme for a Dream
Cover:	File:Cliff Richard Theme for a Dream.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Cliff Richard and the Shadows
B-Side:	Mumblin' Mosie
Recorded:	28 January 1961^[1]
Studio:	EMI Studios, London
Genre:	Pop
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Norrie Paramor
Prev Title:	Catch Me
Prev Year:	1961
Next Title:	Gee Whizz It's You
Next Year:	1961

"Theme for a Dream" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in February 1961. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and also received a silver disc for 250,000 sales.^[2]

Release and reception

"Theme for a Dream" was the first song by Richard to feature a female chorus, sung by the Mike Sammes Singers. When Richard and the Shadows got the song they "liked it, but it wasn't really us … but we did it because we felt it was a change of direction as far as we were concerned".^[1]

The single exceeded 200,000 advance sales in the UK. However, in Spain, it was banned because of its supposedly suggestive lyrics due to the Francoist censorship.^[1]

The B-side, "Mumblin' Mosie", was written and originally recorded by American Johnny Otis in 1960 and had been a minor hit for him on the Billboard Hot 100.^[3] Richard had previously recorded another of Otis' songs, "Willie and the Hand Jive", which he had released as the B-side to "Fall in Love with You".^[4]

Richard also recorded a German-language version of "Theme for a Dream", titled "Schön wie ein Traum", in April 1961 with backing vocals by the Hansen Girls. It was released as a single in Germany in June 1961 with the B-side "Vreneli", which was an original German song.^{[5] [6]}

Reviewing for Disc, Don Nicholl described "Theme for a Dream" as an "attractive tune and lyric married very well indeed. Gets into your head right from the start".^[7]

The melody of the track "Pal Pal.... Har Pal" from the 2006 Bollywood film Lage Raho Munna Bhai was lifted from "Theme for a Dream"^[8]

Track listing

7": Columbia / DB 4593

1. "Theme for a Dream" – 2:06
2. "Mumblin' Mosie" – 2:17

7": Columbia / C 21 843 (Germany)

1. "Schön wie ein Traum" – 2:05
2. "Vreneli" – 2:39

Personnel

• Cliff Richard – vocals
• Hank Marvin – lead guitar
• Bruce Welch – rhythm guitar
• Jet Harris – bass guitar
• Tony Meehan – drums
• Mike Sammes Singers – backing vocals

Charts

Chart (1961)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[9]	22
Denmark (Quans Musikbureau)^[10]	6
India (The Voice, Calcutta)	7
Ireland (Evening Herald)^[11]	4
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)^[12]	3

German-language version

"Schön wie ein Traum"

"Vreneli"

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Theme for a Dream). 2021-07-31. www.cliffrichardsongs.com.
2. 8 April 1961. Cliff wins eighth Silver Disc. Disc. 1. 31 July 2021.
3. Web site: Mumblin' Mosie (song by Johnny Otis) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts. 2021-08-01. www.musicvf.com.
4. Web site: Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Mumblin' Mosie). 2021-08-01. www.cliffrichardsongs.com.
5. Web site: Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Schön wie ein Traum). 2021-08-02. www.cliffrichardsongs.com.
6. Web site: Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details. 2021-08-02. www.cliffrichardsongs.com.
7. 25 February 1961. Disc Date. Disc. 10. 1 August 2021.
8. Web site: 2020-12-26. Did You Know? These Bollywood Hits Have been Copied from Other Tracks and It's Shocking. 2021-09-19. News18. en.
9. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. . 2005. 0-646-44439-5. Kent Music Report.
10. 5 June 1961. Hits of the World. Billboard. 10. 31 July 2021.
11. News: 6 April 1961. Irish Top Ten. Evening Herald.
12. Web site: Lever Hit Parade. flavourofnz.co.nz. 2021-07-31.