"Dream a Little Dream of Me"
Song
Published1931 by Davis, Coots & Engel
Genre
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Gus Kahn

"Dream a Little Dream of Me" is a 1931 song with music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt and lyrics by Gus Kahn.[1] It was first recorded in February 1931 by Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra, soon followed by Wayne King and His Orchestra with vocals by Ernie Birchill. A popular standard, it has seen well over 400 recorded versions.[2]

The song enjoyed its highest-charting success when it was covered in 1968 by Cass Elliot with The Mamas & the Papas, and followed the same year with a recording by Anita Harris. More than 40 other versions followed, including by the Mills Brothers, Sylvie Vartan, Henry Mancini, The Beautiful South, Anne Murray, Ella Fitzgerald, Erasure, Michael Bublé, Tony DeSare, Eddie Vedder, and Italian vocal group Blue Penguin.

Early recordings

"Dream a Little Dream of Me" was recorded by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra, with vocals by Nelson, on February 16, 1931, for Brunswick Records. Two days later, Wayne King and His Orchestra, with vocals by Ernie Birchill, recorded the song for Victor Records. "Dream a Little Dream of Me" was also an early signature tune of Kate Smith. Gus Kahn's sentimental, bucolic lyrics citing "birds singing in the sycamore tree," "stars shining" and "night breezes" are a lullaby, specifically a romantic one of parting lovers: "Say nighty-night and kiss me, just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me," "Still craving your kiss" and "Now I'm longing to linger 'til dawn, dear."

In the summer of 1950, seven recordings of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" were in release, with the versions by Frankie Laine and Jack Owens reaching the US top 20 at respectively numbers 18 and 14: the other versions were by Cathy Mastice, Ella Fitzgerald with trumpet backing by Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, Vaughn Monroe, Dinah Shore and a duet by Bob Crosby and Georgia Gibbs. Other traditional pop acts to record "Dream a Little Dream of Me" include Louis Armstrong, Barbara Carroll, Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Joni James, and Dean Martin.

The Mamas & the Papas version

"Dream a Little Dream of Me"
Single by The Mamas and the Papas
from the album The Papas & The Mamas
B-side"Midnight Voyage"
ReleasedJune 1968
GenrePop[3]
Length3:14
LabelDunhill
Composer(s)Fabian Andre
Wilbur Schwandt
Lyricist(s)Gus Kahn
Producer(s)Lou Adler
The Mamas and the Papas singles chronology
"Safe in My Garden"
(1968)		 "Dream a Little Dream of Me"
(1968)		 "For the Love of Ivy"
(1968)
Audio sample
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"Dream a Little Dream of Me" was recorded for the Mamas & the Papas April 1968 album release The Papas & The Mamas with lead vocals by Cass Elliot. The group had often sung the song for fun, having been familiarized with it by member Michelle Phillips, whose father had been friends with the song's co-writer, Fabian Andre, in Mexico City where Michelle Phillips' family had resided when she was a young girl. "Mama" Cass Elliot suggested to group leader John Phillips that the group record "Dream a Little Dream of Me". According to him, she was unhappy while recording the song, objecting to its 'campiness'. However, Elliot herself would later tell Melody Maker: "I tried to sing it like it was 1943 and somebody had just come in and said, 'Here's a new song.' I tried to sing it as if it were the first time."

In the album version, recorded with the Mamas and the Papas, Mama Cass is heard in the song's introduction speaking in the background behind the acoustic guitar, mentioning a drink; and then Papa John Phillips is heard speaking an intro: "And now, to sing this lovely ballad, here is Mama Cass". Also, Cass is heard clearing her throat right before she sings. Only the last part was heard on the single version of the song. Cass did her own whistling, which is heard before the song's fade.

By the time of the album's release, there were strong indications that the Mamas & the Papas were set to disband, a perception strengthened by the failure of their recent single, "Safe in My Garden". Having an opportunity to promote the group's best-known member as a soloist, Dunhill Records gave a June 1968 single release to the "Dream a Little Dream of Me" track with the credit reading - to John Phillips' displeasure -[4] "Mama Cass with the Mamas & the Papas"; in its UK release the artist credit simply read "Mama Cass". Promoted in the US press and on billboards with a photograph of a discreetly but obviously nude Elliot lying in a bed of daisies,[5] "Dream a Little Dream of Me" was their last major hit, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 that August (its Cash Box peak was #10 and in Record World it reached #8). The Billboard Easy Listening chart ranked the single as high as #2.[6]

In the UK, "Dream a Little Dream of Me" reached #11 that September; the track also afforded Mama Cass a hit in Ireland (#13) and South Africa (#8). In Australia the Go-Set Top 40 chart ranked "Dream a Little Dream of Me" at #1 for the weeks of 4 & 11 September 1968.[7] Following a fashion retailers' TV commercial, "Dream a Little Dream" was released as a single in Europe in 1992 - credited to the Mamas and the Papas and featuring that group's #1 hit "Monday, Monday" as the B-side - to reach #5 in Germany and #22 in Switzerland. In Australia, the song spent two weeks at #1,[8] and was the 16th biggest hit of 1968.[9]

A slightly different version of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" was included on Elliot's solo debut album, Dream a Little Dream.[5]

Chart performance

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Anita Harris version

Anita Harris' version of "Dream a Little Dream of Me", recorded at Olympic Studios in a session produced by Mike Margolis with Alan Tew as musical director, was released 26 July 1968, the week prior to the US Top 40 debut of the Cass Elliot version. Harris would deny deliberately covering Elliot's "Dream a Little Dream of Me": (Anita Harris quote:)"I [loved] the song on the Mamas & Papas album...so I decided to record it...There were [then] no plans to release the other version [in the UK]. It was rushed out [here] when it was known that my version was coming out." (Cass Elliot herself would deny any awareness of the UK single release of Harris' version.)[23]

Elliot's version had its UK release the week subsequent to Harris', with both versions debuting in the UK Top 50 dated 10 August 1968, Harris' version at #46 ahead of the Cass Elliot version at #49. However, the Elliot version would vault into the Top 30 and then Top 20 over the next two weeks while the Harris version would never reach the Top 30, although Harris's version of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" would maintain a lower chart presence throughout the ascendancy of the Elliot version, with Harris's single peaking at #33 the week after Cass's peak at #11.[24]

Enzo Enzo version

"Les Yeux ouverts"
Single by Enzo Enzo
from the album Enzo Enzo
B-side"Chanson confidentielle"
Released1991
Recorded1990
GenreBallad, pop, jazz
Length3:23
LabelAriola
Enzo Enzo singles chronology
"Pacifico"
(1988)		 "Les Yeux ouverts"
(1991)		 "Deux minutes de soleil en plus"
(1991)

In 1990, "Dream a Little Dream of Me" was covered in French-language with new lyrics by singer Enzo Enzo under the title "Les Yeux ouverts" (transl. French for "With Eyes Open"). Adapted from the original version by Brice Homs and Kurin Ternovtzeff, it was released in the first quarter of 1991 as the first single from the debut album Enzo Enzo, on which it is the third track. A review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media praised the song stating: "Keep your eyes wide open, sings this French singer. Better keep your ears wide open, too, listening to cool jazz of this high calibre".[25] In France, the single debuted at number 49 on the chart edition of 23 March 1991, reached number 18 eleven weeks later and stayed in the top 50 for a total of 15 weeks.[26] It charted for five non-consecutive weeks on the European Hot 100 Singles, peaking at number 87 on 8 June 1991.[27]

Track listings

  1. "Les Yeux ouverts" — 3:23
  2. "Chanson confidentielle" — 3:42
  1. "Les Yeux ouverts" — 3:23
  2. "Chanson confidentielle" — 3:42
  3. "14e étage" — 3:16

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1991) Peak
position
Europe (European Hot 100)[27] 87
France (Airplay Chart [AM Stations])[32] 4
France (SNEP)[26] 18

Robbie Williams version

"Dream a Little Dream"
Single by Robbie Williams
from the album Swings Both Ways
Released13 December 2013 (2013-12-13)
Genre
Length3:33
LabelIsland
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Gus Kahn
Producer(s)Guy Chambers
Music video
Robbie Williams featuring Lily Allen on YouTube

English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams recorded "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (retitled "Dream a Little Dream") for his tenth studio and second swing album, Swings Both Ways (2013). While the album version is a duet with Lily Allen, she was omitted from the single version, which was released on 13 December 2013 as the album's second single.

Music video

The video features Williams singing the song whilst presenting a Christmas show in the style of The Dean Martin Show.

Track listings

  • Irish digital download[33]
  1. "Dream a Little Dream" – 3:10
  • German, Swiss, and Austrian digital download[34]
  1. "Dream a Little Dream" (single version) – 3:11
  2. "You Got Old" – 3:43
  3. "Puttin' on the Ritz" (remix) – 2:18

Charts

Album version featuring Lily Allen
Chart (2013) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[35] 16
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[36] 34
Denmark (Tracklisten)[37] 18
France (SNEP)[38] 160
Germany (Official German Charts)[39] 88
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 67
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 144

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Ireland[33] 13 December 2013 Digital download Island
Austria
Germany
Switzerland

References

  1. ↑ Blair, Elizabeth (26 March 2000). "The Story of 'Dream a Little Dream'". Weekend Edition Sunday. NPR. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Dream a Little Dream of Me: Versions". SecondHandSongs. 4 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Evans, Paul (2004). "The Mamas and the Papas". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 511. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  4. ↑ The New York Times, 14 July 1968, p.D22
  5. 1 2 Fiegel, Eddi. Dream a Little Dream of Me: the Life of "Mama" Cass Elliot (London: Sidgwick & Jackson. 2005. ISBN 0-283-07331-4) pp.256, 261.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 153.
  7. ↑ "Go-Set Australian charts ~ 1968". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  8. ↑ "Go-Set Australian charts - 11 September 1968". Poparchives.com.au. 1968-09-11. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  9. ↑ "Go-Set Australian charts - Top Records for the Year of 1968". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Songs from the Year 1968". Tsort.info. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  11. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  12. ↑ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. 1968-09-14. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "The Irish Charts - Search for "Mama Cass" or "Dream a Little Dream of Me"". IrishCharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  14. ↑ "Mama Cass: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  15. ↑ "Mama Cass Elliot Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  16. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 147.
  17. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 8/31/68". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "Mama Cass - Dream a Little Dream of Me - hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  19. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  20. ↑ "Top 100 1968 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  21. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
  22. ↑ "American single certifications – The Mamas & The Papas – Dream a Little Dream of Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  23. ↑ Melody Maker 31 August 1968 "Mama Cass: covering 'Dream a Little Dream' is just like covering 'God Save the Queen' by Tony Wilson/ "Anita Harris: I wasn't doing the dirty on Mama Cass" by Alan Walsh p.11
  24. ↑ "Official Charts - Home of the Official UK Top 40 Charts".
  25. ↑ "New releases – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 9. 2 March 1991. p. 10. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 29 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  26. 1 2 "Enzo Enzo – Les Yeux ouverts" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  27. 1 2 "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 23. 8 June 1991. p. 21. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 29 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  28. ↑ "Dream a Little Dream of Me" at Discogs, 7" single (Enzo Enzo – "Les Yeux ouverts") (access-date: 29 October 2021).
  29. ↑ "Dream a Little Dream of Me" at Discogs, 12" maxi (Enzo Enzo – "Les Yeux ouverts") (access-date: 29 October 2021).
  30. ↑ "Dream a Little Dream of Me" at Discogs, Cassette (Enzo Enzo – "Les Yeux ouverts") (access-date: 29 October 2021).
  31. ↑ "Dream a Little Dream of Me" at Discogs, CD maxi (Enzo Enzo – "Les Yeux ouverts") (access-date: 29 October 2021).
  32. ↑ "National airplay – France AM" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 19. 11 May 1991. p. 18. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 29 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  33. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - Dream a Little Dream - Single by Robbie Williams". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  34. ↑ "iTunes - Musik – "Dream a Little Dream - Single" von Robbie Williams". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  35. ↑ "Robbie Williams feat. Lily Allen – Dream a Little Dream" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  36. ↑ "Robbie Williams feat. Lily Allen – Dream a Little Dream" (in French). Ultratip.
  37. ↑ "Robbie Williams feat. Lily Allen – Dream a Little Dream". Tracklisten.
  38. ↑ "Robbie Williams feat. Lily Allen – Dream a Little Dream" (in French). Les classement single.
  39. ↑ "Robbie Williams – Dream a Little Dream" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  40. ↑ "Robbie Williams feat. Lily Allen – Dream a Little Dream". Swiss Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ Zywietz, Tobias. "CHART: CLUK Update 30.11.2013 (wk47)". Zobbel. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
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