Theme for a Dream

"Theme for a Dream" is a song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, released as a single in February 1961. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and also received a silver disc for 250,000 sales.^[2][3]

"Theme for a Dream"
Single by Cliff Richard and the Shadows
B-side	"Mumblin' Mosie"
Released	24 February 1961 (1961-02-24)
Recorded	28 January 1961[1]
Studio	EMI Studios, London
Genre	Pop
Length	2:06
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Mort Garson Earl Shuman
Producer(s)	Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard and the Shadows singles chronology
"Catch Me" (1961) "Theme for a Dream" (1961) "Gee Whizz It's You" (1961)

Release and reception

"Theme for a Dream" was the first song by Richard to feature a female chorus, sung by the Mike Sammes Singers. When Richard and the Shadows got the song they "liked it, but it wasn't really us … but we did it because we felt it was a change of direction as far as we were concerned".^[1]

The single exceeded 200,000 advance sales in the UK. However, in Spain, it was banned because of its supposedly suggestive lyrics due to the Francoist censorship.^[1]

The B-side, "Mumblin' Mosie", was written and originally recorded by American Johnny Otis in 1960 and had been a minor hit for him on the Billboard Hot 100.^[4] Richard had previously recorded another of Otis' songs, "Willie and the Hand Jive", which he had released as the B-side to "Fall in Love with You".^[5]

Richard also recorded a German-language version of "Theme for a Dream", titled "Schön wie ein Traum", in April 1961 with backing vocals by the Hansen Girls. It was released as a single in Germany in June 1961 with the B-side "Vreneli", which was an original German song.^[6][7]

Reviewing for Disc, Don Nicholl described "Theme for a Dream" as an "attractive tune and lyric married very well indeed. Gets into your head right from the start".^[8]

The melody of the track "Pal Pal.... Har Pal" from the 2006 Bollywood film Lage Raho Munna Bhai was lifted from "Theme for a Dream"^[9]

Track listing

7": Columbia / DB 4593

1. "Theme for a Dream" – 2:06
2. "Mumblin' Mosie" – 2:17

7": Columbia / C 21 843 (Germany)

1. "Schön wie ein Traum" – 2:05
2. "Vreneli" – 2:39

Personnel

• Cliff Richard – vocals
• Hank Marvin – lead guitar
• Bruce Welch – rhythm guitar
• Jet Harris – bass guitar
• Tony Meehan – drums
• Mike Sammes Singers – backing vocals

Charts

Chart (1961)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10]	22
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[12]	33
Denmark (Quans Musikbureau)[13]	6
India (The Voice, Calcutta)	7
Ireland (Evening Herald)[14]	4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15]	12
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[16]	3
UK Singles (OCC)[2]	3

German-language version

"Schön wie ein Traum"

Chart (1961)	Peak position
Germany (GfK)[17]	33

"Vreneli"

Chart (1961)	Peak position
Germany (GfK)[18]	50