All I Have to Do Is Dream


"All I Have to Do Is Dream" is a 1958 song by husband-and-wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and made famous by the Everly Brothers. The song is ranked No. 141 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of Rolling Stone's [500 Greatest Songs of All Time|The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]. It is in AABA form.

The Everly Brothers' original version

The best-known version was recorded by the Everly Brothers at RCA Studios Nashville and released as a single in April 1958. It was recorded by them in only two live takes on March 6, 1958, and features Chet Atkins on guitar. It was the only single ever to be at No. 1 on all of the Billboard singles charts simultaneously. On May 12, 1958, it became No. 1 on the "Best Sellers in Stores" chart, then it reached No. 1 on the "Most played by Jockeys" and "Top 100" charts on Billboard number-one singles of 1958|May 19, 1958], and remained No. 1 on each chart for four, five, and three weeks, respectively. With the August 1958 introduction of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song ended the year at No. 2. "All I Have to Do Is Dream" also hit No. 1 on the R&B chart as well as becoming the Everly Brothers' third chart topper on the country chart. The Everly Brothers briefly returned to the Hot 100 in 1961 with this song.
Outside the United States, "All I Have to Do Is Dream" saw massive success in various countries, most notably the United Kingdom, where it topped the UK's New Musical Express chart in June 1958 and remained there for seven weeks, spending 21 weeks on the chart in Britain. The song has also featured on several notable lists of the best songs or singles of all time, including British music magazine Qs 1001 best songs ever in 2003.
It was named one of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2004.
The B-side, "Claudette", was the first major song writing success for Roy Orbison and was named after his first wife. As a result of this success Orbison terminated his contract with Sun Records and affiliated himself with the Everly's publisher, Acuff-Rose Music.

Personnel

Cover versions

covered the song on his 1962 album Richard Chamberlain Sings. Released as a single in 1963, it peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and No. 6 on Billboards Middle-Road Singles chart. In Canada it reached No. 6.
Roy Orbison covered the song on his 1963 album In Dreams.
French singer, Sheila, recorded a French cover version entitled "Pendant les vacances", a hit in France in 1963.
Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell released a duet version in 1969. Their version reached No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 6 on Billboards Hot Country Singles chart, No. 4 on Billboards Easy Listening chart, No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 6 in Sweden, and No. 3 in South Africa. In Canada, their version was No. 2 on the country charts, No. 3 on the AC charts, and No. 29 on the pop charts.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's version, from their 1975 album Symphonion Dream, reached No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 30 on Billboards Easy Listening chart, and No. 79 on Billboards Hot Country Singles chart. In Canada it reached No. 81.
Andy Gibb and Victoria Principal peaked at no. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981 with their remake. In Canada their version reached No. 8 on the AC chart and No. 29 on the pop chart.
R.E.M. contributed their rendition titled "Dream " to the Athens, GA: Inside/Out soundtrack in 1987.
In 1994, Linda Rondstadt covered the song as a duet with Kermit the Frog for the album Kermit Unpigged.
British singer Cliff Richard, singing with Phil Everly, recorded a version of the song that peaked at No. 14 on the UK singles chart in 1994.
Brandi Carlile performed the song at the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
The song was briefly covered in Sharkboy and Lavagirl.