Johnny Burnett (1934-1964) was another in a long line of rock and rollers to meet an early demise. He drowned when his small fishing boat capsized after being struck by a larger craft, on Clear Lake, north of San Francisco. His first success in the music business was in a trio with his older brother Dorsey and guitarist Paul Burlison. Both brothers were talented songwriters, penning a number of tunes for Ricky Nelson, and other rockabilly stars.
"Dreamin'" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. His other top hit, "You're Sixteen" from 1961, is his best known, due to Ringo Starr's version, which hit number one in 1973.
2. "Dream Baby"
Answer: Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison makes this list twice with two of the most enduring dream songs of the era. First is "Dream Baby", which reached number two in the UK and Australia, and number four in the US in the first half of 1962. Accomplished country singer and dancer Cindy Walker, inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1997, wrote the song.
For evidence as to why other musicians consider Orbison unmatched as a R&B/Country singer/performer, listen to the version of this song from the 1987 concert special "Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night." It features some of the greatest rock and roll talent ever assembled together on stage at one time, all in tribute to "the Big O", and the result doesn't disappoint.
3. "In Dreams"
Answer: Roy Orbison
With the POSSIBLE exception of Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild" in "Easy Rider", Roy Orbison's haunting, lyrical love ballad "In Dreams" is the most mesmerizing example of the magic that happens when great rock music is successfully woven into a scene from a movie. That movie is David Lynch's 1986 masterpiece, "Blue Velvet." See it if you dare, and see if you agree. If not, feel free to post any different suggestions. I'm willing to be enlightened!
4. "All I Have To Do Is Dream"
Answer: The Everly Brothers
When you pair Hall of Fame songwriting talent with two of the most perfectly blended voices to ever get behind a mic, this is the level attainable for a pop/country song. It achieved number one success on many different charts in the US and internationally.
Husband/wife team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant penned this massive 1958 hit (and many others such as "Bye Bye Love","Wake up Little Suzy", "Bird Dog", and "Problems"), for the Everly Brothers. This song was intensely personal for Felice, as she always maintained she had seen Boudleaux in dream when she was eight years old, and that's where the lyrics came from. They met in 1945, in Milwaukee, while he was playing a gig at the hotel where she was an elevator operator. They married five days later! Hey, all you have to do is dream.
5. "Just A Dream"
Answer: Jimmy Clanton
Jimmy Clanton was known as "the teen idol of swamp pop and R&B" according to the Allbutforgottenoldies website, probably due to his New Orleans roots. His hit "Just a Dream" reached number four on Billboard's Hot 100 and number one on the R&B chart in 1958.
Other hits included "Go, Jimmy Go", "Venus in Bluejeans", and "Because I Do." He did a two year stint in the army, then found a spot as a DJ in Pennsylvania during the 1970s. In 1980 he experienced a religious conversion, and his duties as a preacher informed the rest of his life. In 2022 he wrote a detailed life journey entitled "Just a Dream: From Singer to Servant of God." He turned 88 years old in 2025.
6. "Sweet Dreams"
Answer: Patsy Cline
"Sweet Dreams" was Patsy Cline's last song. Perhaps she had a premonition of this fact, as she poured all her emotional power into this heart rending ballad. She recorded it in Nashville in February of 1963, just a month before tragically dying in a plane crash on March 5th. It was released posthumously in April of 1963, climbing to number four on the country charts and number 44 on the Billboard pop chart.
The song was written by underrated country artist Don Gibson (who had his own number two chart hit "Sea of Heartbreak" in 1961). The song was also chosen as the title of the successful 1985 Cline biopic starring Jessica Lange as Patsy.
7. "A Wonderful Dream"
Answer: The Majors
This 1962 hit from an unknown group of youngsters from Philadelphia, PA successfully combined the best of Doo Wop era harmony with the excitement of driving, rhythmic rock and roll. Made up of four young men and one woman, Idella Morris, the surprising falsetto lead of The Majors is Ricky Cordero, not Morris.
The song climbed to number 22 on Billboard's Hot 100, peaking on September 22nd. They had only a few other minor hits, two of which made the top 100, and like a thousand other groups of that time, they were soon lost in the wave of the British Invasion and consigned to the back pages of rock and roll history. If you want to feel good about the possibility of young love, this is your song.
8. "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night"
Answer: The Electric Prunes
This song takes its place among the essential 60s acid rock singles, cementing The Electric Prunes as legitimate 1960s garage band psychedelic pioneers. Complete with distorted fuzz guitar, tripped out lyrics, and an angst-ridden lead vocal by singer James Lowe, it checked all the boxes.
The group came out of LA in 1965, and after two fairly innovative albums, had run its course by 1968, like a lot of other 60s bands. Evidently they just got a little too "far out."
9. "Dream Lover"
Answer: Bobby Darin
One of Darin's best and most enduring pop tunes, "Dream Lover" rose to number two on Billboard's Hot 100 in June of 1959. Neil Sedaka helped to drive the song, playing piano during the studio recording session.
Highly recommended by this reviewer is the 2004 film "Beyond The Sea", featuring the talents of Kevin Spacey. Spacey wrote, produced and directed the movie, as well as starring in it and singing all the songs. It's a tour de force performance in a biopic, truly capturing the essence of Mr. Darin.
10. "Day Dream"
Answer: The Lovin' Spoonful
Who doesn't love the Lovin' Spoonful, the ultimate feel good 60s band that loves you back? "Daydream", released as a single in early 1966, is the title track on their second album. Band leader John Sebastian wrote the tune to lift his spirits, while on a difficult tour of the southern USA with The Supremes at the end of 1965.
The song is said to have influenced the Beatles' "Good Day Sunshine", and the Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon."
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
