"Dream Lover"
Single by Bobby Darin
B-side"Bullmoose"
ReleasedApril 20, 1959
GenreRock and roll, doo-wop, pop
Length2:28
LabelAtco
Songwriter(s)Bobby Darin
Producer(s)Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler
Bobby Darin singles chronology
"Plain Jane"
(1959) 		"Dream Lover"
(1959) 		"Mack the Knife"
(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.[2] 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,[3] No. 4 on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart,[4] and No. 5 in Canada.[5] "Dream Lover" was kept from the No. 1 spot by "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton.[3] It did however reach No. 1 on the UK's New Musical Express chart for four weeks during July 1959.[6] The song also reached No. 5 on Norway's VG-lista,[7] No. 12 in Flanders, and No. 21 in Wallonia.[8]

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy — 100,000[9]
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

"Dream Lover"
Single by Tanya Tucker and Glen Campbell
from the album Dreamlovers
B-side"Bronco" (Tanya Tucker)
ReleasedSeptember 8, 1980
RecordedSpring 1980
StudioNashville, Tennessee
GenreCountry
Length2:56
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Bobby Darin
Producer(s)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 Box's Country Top 65 chart[11] and Record World's Country Singles Chart,[12] while reaching No. 5 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart.[13] Craddock's version was included on his 1972 album You Better Move On.[14]

In 1979, Ricky Nelson released a cover of "Dream Lover". His version reached No. 29 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart and No. 59 on Billboard's 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 ( Dream Lover, Glenn Shorrock on YouTube)

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".

References

  1. ^ "Neil Sedaka, Still Keeping It Together". Exclusive Magazine (Interview). Interviewed by Russell A. Trunk. Retrieved April 7, 2008.
  2. ^ Bobby Darin interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
  3. ^ a b "The Billboard Hot 100", Billboard. June 8, 1959. p. 38. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "Hot R&B Sides", Billboard. June 15, 1959. p. 39. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - May 25, 1959".
  6. ^ Bobby Darin - Full Official Chart History, Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  7. ^ Bobby Darin - Dream Lover, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  8. ^ Bobby Darin - Dream Lover, Ultratop. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  9. ^ Chris Barrett (January 10, 1960). "Cash Box - Italy" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 46. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  10. ^ "British single certifications – Bobby Darin – Dream Lover". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  11. ^ "Cash Box Country Top 65", Cash Box. September 4, 1971. p. 64. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  12. ^ "The Country Singles Chart", Record World. August 28, 1971. p. 45. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "Hot Country Singles", Billboard. August 14, 1971. p. 26. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  14. ^ "Billboard Album Reviews", Billboard. February 5, 1972. p. 54. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
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