1001 Songs Challenge #104: All I Have to Do Is Dream (1958)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenging of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post everyday (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be…

 

The Everly Brothers – All I Have to Do Is Dream (1958)

 

We’re back in the US today but did enjoy our brief visit to Europe. The 1950s are drawing to a close and with them the great music just keeps on coming. Written by husband and wife team – Felice and Boudleaux Bryany – All I Have to Do Is Dream was written in a mere 15 minutes and was made most famous by today’s artists. They’re brothers and their names are Phil and Don, better known as The Everly Brothers.

All I Have to Do Is Dream is a love song but a bittersweet one. The brothers sing of the power of dreaming and how through these dreams they can have the person they desire. They long for this individual so badly that they want to die but find comfort in their dreams. This takes away the pain of longing for them and makes them happy. The only problem is the brothers sing of how this dreaming is also wasting their lives and stopping them from making their desire for this person a reality. It’s an endless cycle and they cannot seem to break from it.

I’ve known and loved this song for many years and it’s hard to believe that it is more than 60 years old now. The backing music sets the scene but All I Have to Do Is Dream is all about the vocals. Phil and Don sing this together and their voices merge beautifully into one smooth and flowing harmony. It would inspire artists that followed. On the surface the song sounds pleasant and romantic but deep down it is quite sombre at times but that complexity makes it all the more memorable.

 

Favourite songs so far:

Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel (1956)

Fats Domino – Blueberry Hill (1956)

Johnny Cash – I Walk the Line (1956)

The Louvin Brothers – The Knoxville Girl (1956)

Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode (1958)

Cliff Richard & The Drifters – Move It (1958)

Ritchie Valens – La Bamba (1958)

Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues (1958)

Peggy Lee – Fever (1958)

The Everly Brothers – All I Have to Do Is Dream (1958)