Summary
"Theme for a Dream" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in February 1961. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and also received a silver disc for 250,000 sales.[2][3]
| "Theme for a Dream" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Cliff Richard and the Shadows | ||||
| B-side | "Mumblin' Mosie" | |||
| Released | 24 February 1961 | |||
| Recorded | 28 January 1961[1] | |||
| Studio | EMI Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:06 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Norrie Paramor | |||
| Cliff Richard and the Shadows singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Release and reception edit
"Theme for a Dream" was the first song by Richard to feature a female chorus, sung by the Mike Sammes Singers. When Richard and the Shadows got the song they "liked it, but it wasn't really us … but we did it because we felt it was a change of direction as far as we were concerned".[1]
The single exceeded 200,000 advance sales in the UK. However, in Spain, it was banned because of its supposedly suggestive lyrics due to the Francoist censorship.[1]
The B-side, "Mumblin' Mosie", was written and originally recorded by American Johnny Otis in 1960 and had been a minor hit for him on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] Richard had previously recorded another of Otis' songs, "Willie and the Hand Jive", which he had released as the B-side to "Fall in Love with You".[5]
Richard also recorded a German-language version of "Theme for a Dream", titled "Schön wie ein Traum", in April 1961 with backing vocals by the Hansen Girls. It was released as a single in Germany in June 1961 with the B-side "Vreneli", which was an original German song.[6][7]
Reviewing for Disc, Don Nicholl described "Theme for a Dream" as an "attractive tune and lyric married very well indeed. Gets into your head right from the start".[8]
The melody of the track "Pal Pal.... Har Pal" from the 2006 Bollywood film Lage Raho Munna Bhai was lifted from "Theme for a Dream"[9]
Track listing edit
7": Columbia / DB 4593
- "Theme for a Dream" – 2:06
- "Mumblin' Mosie" – 2:17
7": Columbia / C 21 843 (Germany)
- "Schön wie ein Traum" – 2:05
- "Vreneli" – 2:39
Personnel edit
- Cliff Richard – vocals
- Hank Marvin – lead guitar
- Bruce Welch – rhythm guitar
- Jet Harris – bass guitar
- Tony Meehan – drums
- Mike Sammes Singers – backing vocals
Charts edit
| Chart (1961) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] | 22 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] | 16 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[12] | 33 |
| Denmark (Quans Musikbureau)[13] | 6 |
| India (The Voice, Calcutta) | 7 |
| Ireland (Evening Herald)[14] | 4 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] | 12 |
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[16] | 3 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[2] | 3 |
German-language version edit
"Schön wie ein Traum"
| Chart (1961) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany (Official German Charts)[17] | 33 |
"Vreneli"
| Chart (1961) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany (Official German Charts)[18] | 50 |
References edit
- ^ a b c "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Theme for a Dream)". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Cliff wins eighth Silver Disc" (PDF). Disc. 8 April 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "Mumblin' Mosie (song by Johnny Otis) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Mumblin' Mosie)". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Schön wie ein Traum)". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Disc Date" (PDF). Disc. 25 February 1961. p. 10. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Did You Know? These Bollywood Hits Have been Copied from Other Tracks and It's Shocking". News18. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
- ^ "Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Theme for a Dream" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Theme for a Dream" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 5 June 1961. p. 10. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "Irish Top Ten". Evening Herald. 6 April 1961.
- ^ "Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Theme for a Dream" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "Cliff Richard – Bin verliebt" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Cliff Richard – Bin verliebt" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.