Sweet Dreams by Tommy McLain

Album: Sweet Dreams (1966)

Charted: 49 15

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Songfacts®:

This Country classic was written by the Tennessee songwriter Don Gibson in 1955. The song conveys the frustration and resignation that he was never going to make that girl his own but that she would always be there in his dreams.
Don Gibson wrote this song while he was working as a songwriter for Acuff-Rose publishing. It became his first hit as a songwriter when Faron Young recorded it, taking it to #2 on the Country chart in 1956.

Gibson started recording as a solo artist in 1957, and the following year scored a #1 Country hit with "Oh Lonesome Me," which he also wrote. With his solo career established, Gibson released his own version of "Sweet Dreams" as a single in 1960, taking it to #6 on the Country chart and cracking the Hot 100 at #93. Patsy Cline revived the song in 1963, making #5 Country and #44 on the Hot 100 with her version. When the Louisiana songwriter Tommy McLain recorded it in 1966, his version became the biggest mainstream hit, going to #15 on the Hot 100 tally.

Other artists who recorded the song include Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn and Emmylou Harris.
Elvin Bishop recorded this on his 2005 album Gettin' My Groove Back. His version is an instrumental featuring a slide guitar. Said Bishop: "Slide is kind of like the voice I never had. I can sing as high or as low as I want to, put as much sustain, as much treble... Tommy McLain is the record I really like. They called it 'Swamp Pop' in the '70s. He sang a really soulful version of that, it's what I base my version on. Using my slide like his voice." (Check out our interview with Elvin Bishop.)

Comments: 8

Becky B. from Morgantown, WvThis version of ‘Sweet Dreams” is the one I love to listen to, song is so moving and meaningful. One of my favorites forever!!
Dave Howell from NorfolkThe Tommy McCLain version is the one I have really loved since it came out way back when I was in high school. Still love it today 50+ years later!
Jim Castro from Rowland Heights. CaBeautiful - Just makes me wanna cry - Love this record.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 3, 1963, Patsy Cline gave her last public performance when she performed at a benefit in Kansas City, Kansas; the benefit was for the family of disc jockey 'Cactus' Jack Call...
One month later on April 14th her covered version of "Sweet Dreams (For You)" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 at position #99; eight weeks later on June 9th it would peak at #44 {for 1 week} and it spent 10 weeks on the chart...
It reached #5 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
Sadly, two days after the above benefit Ms. Cline, born Virginia Patterson Hensely, passed away at the young age of 30 {plane crash}...
May she R.I.P.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 19th 1966, "Sweet Dreams" by Tommy McLain entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #87; and on August 14th it peaked at #15 (for 1 week) and spent 11 weeks on the Top 100...
It was his only record to make the Top 100...
As already stated it was composed by Don Gibson, he of course recorded the original version and he reached #9 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart in 1956 and was re-released in 1960`...
Mr. McLain celebrated his 74th birthday three months ago on March 15th, 2014.
Ron from Pensacola, FlROFLOL, The song that comes up when you click lyrics is the Eurythmics song, not the patsy cline/Eivin Bishop/Tommy Mclain "Sweet Dreams" which are two completely different songs.

Corrected! Thanks for telling us. SF Admin
Elaine from Baton Rouge, LaI have always loved his redition of this song....it reaches into my soul.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScO my goodness! I haven't heard this one, but Patsy cline's version is great! I love her vocals!!!

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