“Dream On” is a song written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, and recorded by the American country music group The Oak Ridge Boys. It was released in August 1979 as the third single from their album The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived. This is the Oak Ridge Boys’ only single to feature bass singer Richard Sterban on lead vocals.
The song spent thirteen weeks within the top 40 of the Hot Country Songs charts and peaked at number seven. In Canada, the song spent three weeks at the number one position on the RPM Country Tracks chart, reaching that position on the November 3, 1979 chart and staying there for one week.
Prior to the success of the Oak Ridge Boys’ version, The Righteous Brothers had a hit version, reaching No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1974. Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield alternate lead vocals.
From the album The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived
B-side “Sometimes the Rain Won’t Let Me Sleep”
Released August 18, 1979
Genre Country
Length 3:16
Label MCA
Songwriter(s) Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter
Producer(s) Ron Chancey
Oak Ridge Boys – Dream On Lyrics
Lay your head down on my shoulder
I won’t let the night get colder
I’ll protect you, I’ll be keepin’
Trouble far from where you’re sleepin’.
Until you wake in the mornin’
You’ve got the world to yourself.
Dream on
Dream about the world we’re gonna live in one fine day
Dream on
Spent the night in heaven I’ll be here to light your way.
Someday tomorrow we’ll smile
But little girl in the meanwhile
Dream on.
You’re a princess chains around you
I’m a hero who just found you
‘Til a brand new day must wake you
Let imagination take you
Go where the music is playing
I’ll be along in awhile.
[Chorus]
, album produced by Fred Foster. It was released at the beginning of 1970, it reached the position number 10 of the country albums lists, and the number 43 position of pop lists (Albums).Soon the song was covered by Sammi Smith, Smith’s recording of the song remains the most successful and commercially known version in the United States. His recording is among the most successful country singles of all time in terms of sales, popularity and radio.Sammi Smith released the single in January 1970, for the record label Mega Records, as album reached the number one position in country charts in 1970, the single reached number one on February 13, 1971, and remained three weeks in a row. That position. He also achieved the number one position in candid charts. The classic Sammi Smith cover of this song catapulted Kristofferson into a focus of attention of composers reserved for a few coveted, and won him a Grammy for the best country song in 1971. Smith won a Grammy for Best Female Country Performance, as well as Country Music Association’s Award of the Year. Smith died on February 12, 2005, at the age of 61. His vocal performance in this song is considered by some to be one of the best in country music.Inspired by Smith’s success with the song, many other artists covered her soon after, such as Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Joan Baez, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson.Story behind the song:Kristofferson said he got inspiration for the song from an interview with Esquire magazine with Frank Sinatra. When asked what he believed in, Frank replied: “Alcoholic beverage, breadth or a bible … whatever helps me out of the night.”During her time as a composer, she was staying temporarily at the home of Dottie West and her husband, Bill, at s on Shy’s Hill Road, in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville. He offered Dottie to record the song, but Dottie rejected it, and She told him it was “too suggestive” for her. But after seeing the success of other singers, Dottie just recorded the song, for her album, Careless Hands (RCA victor 1971). Later, Dottie West said that not recording it when it was originally offered was one of the biggest regrets of his career.About Kristofferson:The first love was the country songwriting for the talented Kristofferson, he came to reject a teaching position at West Point to work as a janitor at Columbia, trying to get into the music business. He was a very persistent person, and did everything possible to get the attention of the stars of Nashville, it is said that he landed a helicopter (he had the title of commercial helicopter pilot), in the yard of Johnny Cash to attract attention of the famous country singer, so he could deliver some demo tapes of his original songs. Persistence and unconventional tactics paid off.Some Versions :Percy Sledge 1970 (Atlantic)Bill Medley 1972 (A & M Records)Johnny Cash & June Carter 1972 (Columbia)Gladys Knight & The Pips 1972 (Tamla Motown)Little Jimmy Dempsey 1973 (Starday Records)Vince Hill 1975 (CBS)Charley Pride 1976 (RCA Victor)Willie Nelson 1979 (Columbia)Floyd Cramer 1980 (RCA)…and many more ….){kind=link}