"With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" is a

popular song Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Funk ...

. 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 Dorothy Dell (born Dorothy Dell Goff; January 30, 1915 – June 8, 1934) was an American film actress. She died in an auto accident at the age of 19. Early life and career Born Dorothy Dell Goff in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to entertainers, ...

in the movie ''Shoot the Works'' directed in 1934 by Wesley Ruggles.

Background

The first versions to make the charts were in 1934 when Leo Reisman's version reached number three and

Isham Jones Isham Edgar Jones (January 31, 1894 – October 19, 1956) was an American bandleader, saxophonist, bassist and songwriter. Career Jones was born in Coalton, Ohio, United States, to a musical and mining family. His father, Richard Isham Jones ...

's version reached number 11. That same year the song was recorded by Ruth Etting.

Patti Page Clara Ann Fowler (November 8, 1927 – January 1, 2013), known professionally as Patti Page, was an American singer and actress. Primarily known for pop and country music, she was the top-charting female vocalist and best-selling female ar ...

had a number 11 hit with "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" ( Mercury Records #5344)Mercury Records in the 5000 to 5497 series
/ref> in 1950. 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. 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. "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" was also sung by

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

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

Mandy Barnett Amanda Carol Barnett (born September 28, 1975) is an American country music singer and stage actress. Early life and music career Barnett has been singing since she was a child, performing at churches, local venues, as well as at Dollywood. In ...

(

1999 File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...

) * Pat Boone (

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lyndo ...

) * Al Bowlly with

Lew Stone Louis Stone known professionally as Lew Stone (28 June 1898 – 13 February 1969) was a British bandleader and arranger of the British dance band era, and was well known in Britain during the 1930s. He was known as a skillful, innovative an ...

and his Band (recorded August 1, 1934, released by UK

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

as catalog number F-5152) *

Russ Case Russ Case (March 19, 1912 – October 10, 1964) was an American trumpeter and bandleader who led jazz and light music orchestras. Biography Case was born in Hamburg, Iowa. His professional career began when he was hired at WOC (AM) in Da ...

and his orchestra (released by

MGM Records MGM Records was a record label founded by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946 for the purpose of releasing soundtrack recordings (later LP albums) of their musical films. It transitioned into a pop music label that continued into the ...

as catalog number 10644B, with the flip side "Symphony of Spring") * Natalie Cole (

) *

Ray Conniff Joseph Raymond Conniff (November 6, 1916 – October 12, 2002) was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s. Biography Conniff was born November 6, 1916 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, United St ...

(

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch ...

) * the Four Lads (

) * Dolores Gray (

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash, Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 cr ...

) * The Ink Spots (1950) *

and his Orchestra (vocal: Joe Martin) (recorded May 10, 1934, released by Victor Records as catalog number 24643, with the flip side "Do I Love You?") *

Gene Kardos Eugene Kardos (June 12, 1899 – July 27, 1980) was the leader of a jazz and dance orchestra in the 1930s. He recorded for Victor in 1931–32 and then recorded for ARC's labels (Perfect, Melotone, Banner, Oriole, Romeo, Vocalion etc.) through 19 ...

and his orchestra (recorded May 15, 1934, released by Vocalion Records as catalog number 2722, with the flip side "

All I Do Is Dream of You "All I Do Is Dream of You" is a popular song. The music was written by Nacio Herb Brown, the lyrics by Arthur Freed. The song was published in 1934. It was originally written for the Joan Crawford film ''Sadie McKee'' (1934) when it was played du ...

"Vocalion Records in the 2522 to 2999 series
/ref>) *

Greta Keller Margaretha "Greta" Keller (8 February 1903 - 11 November 1977) was an Austrian and American cabaret singer and actress, who worked in some Hollywood movies and television dramas. Early years Born Margaretha Keller in Vienna, Austria, she studie ...

(recorded June 2, 1934) *

(recorded November 20, 1952, released January 12, 1953 on album ''

Dean Martin Sings ''Dean Martin Sings'' is the first studio album by Italian-American singer Dean Martin, released in 1953. It is the first long-play 10-inch album recorded by Martin for Capitol Records during two sessions recorded on the evening of November 20, 1 ...

'') * Will Osborne and his orchestra (recorded May 17, 1934, released by Banner Records as catalog number 33075Banner Records in the 33000 to 33490 series
/ref> and released by Melotone Records as catalog number 13039,Melotone Records in the 13000 to 13457 series
/ref> also he same or another recordingreleased by

Romeo Records Romeo Records was an American jazz record label that started in 1926 as a subsidiary of Cameo Records. The discs were sold exclusively at S. H. Kress & Co. department stores and retailed for 25 cents each. In 1931 Romeo was acquired by the Ame ...

as catalog number 2283,Romeo Records in the 2000 to 2547 series
/ref> all with the flip side "Do I Love You?") *

(recorded on December 3, 1949, released by Mercury Records as catalog number 5344, with the flip side "Oklahoma Blues", redone in

1959 Events January * January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance. * January 2 - Lunar probe Luna 1 was the first man-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reached the vicinity of E ...

) * Leo Reisman and his Orchestra (vocal: George Beuler) (

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

)

References

{{Authority control 1934 songs Songs with lyrics by Mack Gordon Songs with music by Harry Revel Patti Page songs Pat Boone songs Dean Martin songs