With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming

"With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming"
Song by Jack Oakie and Dorothy Dell
Published1934
ComposerHarry Revel
LyricistMack Gordon

"With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" is a popular song. The music was composed by Harry Revel with lyrics by Mack Gordon, and published in 1934. The song was introduced by Jack Oakie and Dorothy Dell in the movie Shoot the Works directed in 1934 by Wesley Ruggles. That year, two cover versions made the charts. The song was revived in 1949 via a hit version by Patti Page which climbed to the top-15 of the pop charts in 1950. A different recording by Page reached the top-60 in 1959 and marked the final commercially successful release for the song.

Background

The first versions to make the charts were in 1934 when Leo Reisman's version reached number three and Isham Jones's version reached number 11. That same year the song was recorded by Ruth Etting.

Patti Page had a number 11 hit with "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" (Mercury Records #5344[1]) in 1950.[2] Having previously recorded both vocal parts on the duet "Confess", Page had been intrigued by the possibility of using overdubbing techniques to record as a "one-woman quartet"; when Mercury a&r director Mitch Miller received Page's suggestion skeptically the singer prepped a demo showcasing her multi-tracked vocals which drew Millers' consent to have Page record "With My Eyes Wide Open..." in this manner.[3] Recorded in a 3 December 1949 session in New York City with Jack Rael conducting his orchestra, "With My Eyes Wide Open..." became Page's first million-seller and established her trademark vocal sound. Page re-recorded "With My Eyes Wide Open..." - with what was considered a "rock and roll" arrangement - in an 11 May 1959 session in New York City: this version reached number 59.[4]

"With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" was also sung by Dean Martin in the 1952 film The Stooge. "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" was sung by Dorothy Dell in the 1934 film 'Shoot the Works.'

Recorded versions

References

  1. 1 2 Mercury Records in the 5000 to 5497 series
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories, 1890-1954 The History of American Popular Music: Compiled from America's Popular Music Charts 1890-1954. Record Research Inc. p. 136. ISBN 978-0898200836.
  3. ↑ Gilliland, John. (1947). "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #23 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  4. ↑ Tyler, Don (2008). Music of the Postwar Era. Greenwood Press Westport CT.
  5. ↑ Al Bowlly discography[link removed]
  6. ↑ MGM Records in the 10500 to 10999 series
  7. ↑ Victor Records in the 24500 to 24999 series
  8. ↑ Vocalion Records in the 2522 to 2999 series
  9. 1 2 Banner Records in the 33000 to 33490 series
  10. 1 2 Melotone Records in the 13000 to 13457 series
  11. 1 2 Romeo Records in the 2000 to 2547 series
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