My Elusive Dreams
Encyclopedia
"My Elusive Dreams" is a country music song written by Billy Sherrill
and Curly Putman
, which has been recorded by several artists. The best-known version was recorded as a duet by David Houston
and Tammy Wynette
, becoming a No. 1 hit in October 1967; the song also peaked at No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
The song follows a restless man and his wife, as he attempts to find an ever-elusive and lasting happiness pursing various dreams and schemes, all which are ill-fated. The man's attempts at making something work include stops in at least five states (Texas, Utah, Alabama, Nebraska and Alaska) and three U.S. cities: Birmingham, Memphis and Nashville. The man admits to his resigned wife that she's tired of following him around the country and that his dreams are fleeting.
in July 1967, peaking at #41 on the Hot Country Singles charts and #34 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. Putman's version of the song made its chart debut on the chart dated for July 8, 1967, one week before the Houston-Wynette version.
A third version, recorded by Johnny Darrell
, debuted on the country music charts dated for July 22, 1967, released through United Artists Records
. This version spent three weeks on the charts and peaked at #73.
In 1970, Bobby Vinton
took his version of "My Elusive Dreams" which was also the title to his album of the same name to #27 on the country charts and #46 on the pop charts. In 1975, Charlie Rich
took the song again onto the country and pop charts this time taking it to #3 on the country charts and #49 on the pop charts.
Nancy Sinatra
and Lee Hazlewood
recorded one version.
Billy Sherrill
Billy Sherrill is a record producer and arranger who is most famous for his association with a number of country artists, most notably Tammy Wynette...
and Curly Putman
Curly Putman
Claude "Curly" Putman, Jr. is an American songwriter, based in Nashville. His biggest success was "Green, Green Grass of Home" , which was covered by Elvis Presley, Johnny Darrell, Gram Parsons, Joan Baez, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roberto Leal, Merle Haggard, Bobby Bare, Joe Tex, Nana...
, which has been recorded by several artists. The best-known version was recorded as a duet by David Houston
David Houston (singer)
Charles David Houston was an American country music singer. His peak in popularity came between the mid-1960s through the early 1970s.-Biography:...
and Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
, becoming a No. 1 hit in October 1967; the song also peaked at No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
The song follows a restless man and his wife, as he attempts to find an ever-elusive and lasting happiness pursing various dreams and schemes, all which are ill-fated. The man's attempts at making something work include stops in at least five states (Texas, Utah, Alabama, Nebraska and Alaska) and three U.S. cities: Birmingham, Memphis and Nashville. The man admits to his resigned wife that she's tired of following him around the country and that his dreams are fleeting.
Other versions
Putman's version of the song was released via ABC RecordsABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
in July 1967, peaking at #41 on the Hot Country Singles charts and #34 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. Putman's version of the song made its chart debut on the chart dated for July 8, 1967, one week before the Houston-Wynette version.
A third version, recorded by Johnny Darrell
Johnny Darrell
Johnny Darrell was an American country music artist.Darrell was born in Hopewell, Alabama but grew up in Marietta, Georgia. After a stint in the army, he moved to Nashville and began managing a Holiday Inn near Music Row when he was discovered by Kelso Herstin, a producer working for United...
, debuted on the country music charts dated for July 22, 1967, released through United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
. This version spent three weeks on the charts and peaked at #73.
In 1970, Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
took his version of "My Elusive Dreams" which was also the title to his album of the same name to #27 on the country charts and #46 on the pop charts. In 1975, Charlie Rich
Charlie Rich
Charles Rich was an American country music singer and musician. A Grammy Award winner, his eclectic-style of music was often hard to classify in a single genre, playing in the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and gospel genres.In the latter part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname The Silver...
took the song again onto the country and pop charts this time taking it to #3 on the country charts and #49 on the pop charts.
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
and Lee Hazlewood
Lee Hazlewood
Lee Hazlewood , born Barton Lee Hazlewood was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s.Hazlewood had a distinctive baritone voice that added an ominous...
recorded one version.
Curly Putman
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 41 |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 34 |
David Houston and Tammy Wynette
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 89 |
Johnny Darrell
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 73 |
Bobby Vinton
| Chart (1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 27 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 46 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 7 |
Charlie Rich
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 49 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 16 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 5 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 15 |