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

References

1. "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Theme for a Dream)". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
2. "Cliff Richard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
3. "Cliff wins eighth Silver Disc" (PDF). Disc. 8 April 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
4. "Mumblin' Mosie (song by Johnny Otis) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
5. "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Mumblin' Mosie)". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
6. "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details (Schön wie ein Traum)". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
7. "Cliff Richard Song Database - Song Details". www.cliffrichardsongs.com. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
8. "Disc Date" (PDF). Disc. 25 February 1961. p. 10. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
9. "Did You Know? These Bollywood Hits Have been Copied from Other Tracks and It's Shocking". News18. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
10. Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
11. "Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Theme for a Dream" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
12. "Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Theme for a Dream" (in French). Ultratop 50.
13. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 5 June 1961. p. 10. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
14. "Irish Top Ten". Evening Herald. 6 April 1961.
15. "Cliff Richard & the Shadows – Theme for a Dream" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
16. "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
17. "Cliff Richard – Bin verliebt" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
18. "Cliff Richard – Bin verliebt" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.