Sweet Dreams

"Sweet Dreams" or "Sweet Dreams (Of You)" is a country ballad, which was written by Don Gibson. Gibson originally recorded the song in 1956; however, at that time, it failed to garner much notice. In 1960, after Gibson had established himself as a country music superstar, he released a new version as a single. This version charted in the top ten on Billboard's country songs chart and also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number ninety-three.

Faron Young version

In the summer of 1956 Faron Young recorded "Sweet Dreams" and took it all the way to #2 on the country charts. It was this version that garnered Gibson his first recognition as a talented songwriter.

Patsy Cline version

In Early 1963 Patsy Cline was recording songs for her next album, Faded Love, which was set for release in late March, 1963. However, on March 5, Cline died in a plane crash on the way home from a benefit in Kansas City, Missouri for the family of Cactus Jack Call, a disc jockey who was killed in an automobile accident so, therefore, the album was never released. The songs were later compiled for the release "Patsy Cline the Last Sessions" in 1988.

Instead, Decca Records issued a double album, entitled "The Patsy Cline Story," in the summer of 1963.^{[citation needed]}

In 1963, "Sweet Dreams" was released to the public and became a big Crossover hit, making it to #5 on the Country charts and to #44 on the pop music charts. It also peaked on the U.S. Adult Contemporary charts at #15.^{[citation needed]} This song was followed by two other songs that were planned for release on Cline's upcoming album: "Leavin' On Your Mind" and "Faded Love", which both became hits.

It was said that Cline did not like the use of the violins that producer Owen Bradley was bringing into the song, because she feared she was becoming too "pop" for her Country audience^{[citation needed]}. But upon hearing the song after the playbacks the night she recorded it, she supposedly held a record up of her first record and "Sweet Dreams" and proclaimed "Well, here it is: The first and the last."^{[citation needed]} This quote came from the video called Remembering Patsy, and was quoted by Jan Howard whose husband at the time was Harlan Howard.

In 1985, the song became the title tune of a Patsy Cline biopic starring Jessica Lange as Cline. Cline's hit version of "Sweet Dreams" was included on the film's soundtrack, along with "Crazy," "She's Got You," and many others of her songs. The song also featured in Martin Scorsese's 2006 movie The Departed, Asif Kapadia's 2006 movie The Return, and The Coen Brothers film Blood Simple.

Reba McEntire version

Country singer Reba McEntire recorded her version on her second album, Out of a Dream, in 1979. "Sweet Dreams" gave her first solo top twenty hit, peaking at #19 on the Hot Country Songs chart. For many years until March 15, 1991, McEntire closed her concerts with a cappella version of the song.

Chart performance

Other versions

The version to experience the most success on Billboard's pop charts is the one recorded by Tommy McLain. This version, released as a single in 1966, is the only one to have entered the top forty. It peaked at number fifteen.^[1] Another notable version, by Emmylou Harris, is the most successful version on Billboard's country charts to date. It peaked at number one in 1976. The song was also featured on the Tammy Wynette record D-I-V-O-R-C-E.^[2]

Two instrumental versions have also been recorded of this song. One by Roy Buchanan in 1972 on his album Roy Buchanan. In 1997 the band Hellecasters also cover it on their "Return Of The Hellecasters" album. Featuring Jerry Donahue, John Jorgenson, and Will Ray.

Succession

References