Dream Weaver: Difference between revisions

"Dream Weaver"
"Dream Weaver"
	Side A of the US single
Single by Gary Wright
from the album The Dream Weaver
B-side	"Let It Out"
Released	December 1975
Recorded	1975
Genre	Soft rock; progressive pop; R&B; synth-rock;
Length	4:17 (album version); 3:15 (single version)
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Gary Wright
Producer(s)	Gary Wright
Gary Wright singles chronology

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"Dream Weaver" is a song by the American singer Gary Wright, released as the first single from his third studio album The Dream Weaver in December 1975.

Origins and instrumentation

The track features Wright on vocals and keyboards and Jim Keltner on drums. According to Wright, the song was inspired by Autobiography of a Yogi, which was given to him by George Harrison.^[3] Paramahansa Yogananda's poem "God! God! God!" made reference to "the idea of the mind weaving dreams". The expression "Dream Weaver" was popularized by John Lennon in 1970 in his song "God", taken from his solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. This song depicts Lennon's declaration that he was the dream weaver of the 1960s, breaking away from the influences and dogmas that influenced his life.

All instrumentation was created using keyboards except for Keltner's percussion. Gary Wright re-recorded "Dream Weaver" twice, first in 1986 (spelled "Dreamweaver" this time) for the Fire and Ice movie soundtrack, then a longer version for the Wayne's World movie soundtrack in 1992.

Personnel

Gary Wright - lead vocals, ARP Solina String Ensemble, Minimoogs, drum machine
David Foster - Fender Rhodes electric piano
Jim Keltner - drums

Instrumental credits taken from Mixonline.^[4]

Chart performance

In 1976, the song became a hit in the US; it peaked at #2 on the Billboard chart.^[5] It was kept from #1 by both "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" by The Four Seasons and "Disco Lady" by Johnnie Taylor.^[6] "Dream Weaver" did get to #1 on Cashbox.^[7]

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1975–1976)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[8]	24
Canada (RPM) Top Singles^[9]	1
Canada (RPM) Adult Contemporary^[10]	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[11]	31
US Billboard Hot 100^[12]	2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[13]	14
US Cash Box Top 100^[14]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1976)	Rank
Canada^[15]	24
US Billboard Hot 100^[16]	37
US Cash Box^[17]	17

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[18]	Gold	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

In popular culture

The song has been heard in many films and television programs. According to Wes Craven, the song (and its keyboard intro/outro) inspired the concept behind the 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street.^[19] Wright re-recorded the song for the soundtrack of the 1992 film Wayne's World.^[20] He performed the song on an episode of The Midnight Special. The song also appeared in the movies The People vs. Larry Flynt, Ice Age: Collision Course, Toy Story 3 and in the episode of The Really Loud House "The Blemish Dilemish".

References

^ "Explore: Soft Rock | Top Songs | AllMusic". AllMusic. November 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
^ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (2000), Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s, St. Martin's Press, p. 67, ISBN 978-0-312-19821-3
^ "The Dreamweaver". Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
^ "Classic Tracks: Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver"". December 2009.
^ Gary Wright Biography – Billboard.com
^ Hot 100: Week of March 27, 1976 billboard.com
^ "Cash Box Top Singles - 1976". Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 343. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Top Singles – Volume 25, No. 01 April 03, 1976". RPM. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. April 17, 1976. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
^ "Gary Wright – Dream Weaver". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
^ "Gary Wright Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
^ "Gary Wright Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
^ "Top 100 1976-03-27". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
^ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08, 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1976". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
^ "American single certifications – Gary Wright – Dream Weaver". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
^ Craven, Wes. "DVD audio commentary". A Nightmare on Elm Street.
^ "The Five Most Culturally Significant Wayne's World Songs". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 17, 2019.

External links

[1] "Explore: Soft Rock | Top Songs | AllMusic". AllMusic. November 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2014.

[2] Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (2000), Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s, St. Martin's Press, p. 67, ISBN 978-0-312-19821-3

[3] "The Dreamweaver". Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.

[4] "Classic Tracks: Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver"". December 2009.

[5] Gary Wright Biography – Billboard.com

[6] Hot 100: Week of March 27, 1976 billboard.com

[7] "Cash Box Top Singles - 1976". Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.

[aus-8] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 343. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[9] "Top Singles – Volume 25, No. 01 April 03, 1976". RPM. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.

[10] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. April 17, 1976. Retrieved February 3, 2019.

[sc_New_Zealand_Gary_Wright-11] "Gary Wright – Dream Weaver". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 2, 2012.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Gary_Wright-12] "Gary Wright Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2012.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Gary_Wright-13] "Gary Wright Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2012.

[14] "Top 100 1976-03-27". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved October 23, 2015.

[15] "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08, 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.

[16] "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.

[17] "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1976". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2016.

[United_StatesGary_WrightDream_WeaversingleCertRef-18] "American single certifications – Gary Wright – Dream Weaver". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 6, 2012.

[19] Craven, Wes. "DVD audio commentary". A Nightmare on Elm Street.

[20] "The Five Most Culturally Significant Wayne's World Songs". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 17, 2019.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Short description|Single by Gary Wright}}
+{{Short description|1975 single by Gary Wright}}
 {{about|the song|the web development software|Adobe Dreamweaver|other uses|Dreamweaver (disambiguation)}}
 {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}}
 {{Infobox song
-| name       = Dream Weaver
+| name          = Dream Weaver
-| cover      = Dreamweaver single.jpg
+| image         = Dream Weaver by Gary Wright US single side-A.png
-| alt        =
+| alt           = side-A label
-| type       = single
+| caption       = Side A of the US single
-| artist     = [[Gary Wright]]
+| type          = single
-| album      = [[The Dream Weaver]]
+| artist        = [[Gary Wright]]
-| B-side     = Let It Out
+| album         = [[The Dream Weaver]]
-| released   = December 1975
+| B-side        = Let It Out
-| format     =
+| released      = December 1975
-| recorded   = 1975
+| format        =
-| studio     =
+| recorded      = 1975
-| venue      =
+| studio        =
-| genre      = {{flat list|
+| venue         =
+| genre         = {{flat list|
-*[[Soul music|Soul]]<ref>{{Citation|last1=Breithaupt|first1=Don|last2=Breithaupt|first2=Jeff|title=Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kh04AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT95|year=2000|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-19821-3|page=67}}</ref>
-*[[soft rock]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/explore/metastyle/soft-rock-d4494/songs |title=Explore: Soft Rock &#124; Top Songs &#124; AllMusic |date=November 12, 2011 |access-date=2014-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112170358/http://allmusic.com/explore/metastyle/soft-rock-d4494/songs |archive-date=November 12, 2011 }}</ref>}}
+*[[Soft rock]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/explore/metastyle/soft-rock-d4494/songs |title=Explore: Soft Rock &#124; Top Songs &#124; AllMusic |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=November 12, 2011 |access-date=2014-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112170358/http://allmusic.com/explore/metastyle/soft-rock-d4494/songs |archive-date=November 12, 2011 }}</ref>
+*[[progressive pop]]
-| length     = 4:17 (album version)<br>3:15 ([[Radio edit|single version]])
+*[[R&B]]
-| label      = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
+*[[synth-rock]]<ref>{{Citation|last1=Breithaupt|first1=Don|last2=Breithaupt|first2=Jeff|title=Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kh04AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT95|year=2000|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-19821-3|page=67}}</ref>}}
-| writer     = [[Gary Wright]]
+| length        = 4:17 (album version)<br>3:15 ([[Radio edit|single version]])
-| producer   = [[Gary Wright]]
+| label         = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
-| prev_title =
+| writer        = [[Gary Wright]]
-| prev_year  =
-| next_title = [[Love Is Alive (Gary Wright song)|Love Is Alive]]
+| producer      = [[Gary Wright]]
-| next_year  = 1976
+| prev_title    =
+| prev_year     =
+| next_title    = [[Love Is Alive (Gary Wright song)|Love Is Alive]]
+| next_year     = 1976
 }}
@@ Line 31: / Line 34: @@
 ==Origins and instrumentation==
-The track features Wright on vocals and keyboards and [[Jim Keltner]] on drums. According to Gary Wright, the song was inspired by ''[[Autobiography of a Yogi]]'', which was given to him by [[George Harrison]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedreamweaver.com/site_main.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-08-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825193708/http://thedreamweaver.com/site_main.html |archive-date=August 25, 2010}}</ref> [[Paramahansa Yogananda]]'s poem "God! God! God!" made reference to "the idea of the mind weaving dreams". The expression "Dream Weaver" was popularized by [[John Lennon]] in 1970 in his song "[[God (John Lennon song)|God]]", taken from his solo album ''[[John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band]]''. This song depicts Lennon's declaration that he was the dream weaver of the 1960s, breaking away from the influences and dogmas that influenced his life.
+The track features Wright on vocals and keyboards and [[Jim Keltner]] on drums. According to Wright, the song was inspired by ''[[Autobiography of a Yogi]]'', which was given to him by [[George Harrison]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedreamweaver.com/site_main.html |title=The Dreamweaver |access-date=2010-08-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825193708/http://thedreamweaver.com/site_main.html |archive-date=August 25, 2010}}</ref> [[Paramahansa Yogananda]]'s poem "God! God! God!" made reference to "the idea of the mind weaving dreams". The expression "Dream Weaver" was popularized by [[John Lennon]] in 1970 in his song "[[God (John Lennon song)|God]]", taken from his solo album ''[[John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band]]''. This song depicts Lennon's declaration that he was the dream weaver of the 1960s, breaking away from the influences and dogmas that influenced his life.
 All instrumentation was created using keyboards except for Keltner's percussion. Gary Wright re-recorded "Dream Weaver" twice, first in 1986 (spelled "Dreamweaver" this time) for the ''[[Fire and Ice (1986 film)|Fire and Ice]]'' movie soundtrack, then a longer version for the ''[[Wayne's World (film)|Wayne's World]]'' movie soundtrack in 1992.
+===Personnel===
+*[[Gary Wright]] - lead vocals, [[ARP String Ensemble|ARP Solina String Ensemble]], [[Minimoog|Minimoogs]], [[drum machine]]
+*[[David Foster]] - [[Rhodes piano|Fender Rhodes electric piano]]
+*[[Jim Keltner]] - drums
+Instrumental credits taken from Mixonline.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-gary-wrights-dream-weaver-366143 | title=Classic Tracks: Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver" | date=December 2009 }}</ref>
 == Chart performance ==
-In 1976, the song became a hit in the US; it peaked at #2 on the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' chart]].<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=gary wright|bio=true}} Gary Wright Biography – Billboard.com]</ref>  It was kept from #1 by both "[[December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)]]" by [[The Four Seasons (group)|The Four Seasons]] and "[[Disco Lady]]" by [[Johnnie Taylor]].<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1976-03-27 Hot 100: Week of March 27, 1976] billboard.com</ref> "Dream Weaver" did get to #1 on ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-02-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118170730/http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976.html |archive-date=January 18, 2008}}</ref>
+In 1976, the song became a hit in the US; it peaked at #2 on the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' chart]].<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=gary wright|bio=true}} Gary Wright Biography – Billboard.com]</ref>  It was kept from #1 by both "[[December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)]]" by [[The Four Seasons (group)|The Four Seasons]] and "[[Disco Lady]]" by [[Johnnie Taylor]].<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1976-03-27 Hot 100: Week of March 27, 1976] billboard.com</ref> "Dream Weaver" did get to #1 on ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976.html |title=Cash Box Top Singles - 1976 |access-date=2008-02-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118170730/http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976.html |archive-date=January 18, 2008}}</ref>
 {{col-begin}}
@@ Line 45: / Line 55: @@
 {|class="wikitable sortable"
 |-
-!align="left"|Chart (1975–76)
+!align="left"|Chart (1975–1976)
 ! style="text-align:center;"|Peak<br>position
 |-
@@ Line 81: / Line 91: @@
 | style="text-align:center;"|37
 |-
-|US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976YESP.html |title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1976 |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox Magazine]] |access-date=2016-06-05 }}</ref>
+|US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976YESP.html |title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1976 |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox Magazine]] |access-date=2016-06-05 |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825143147/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1976YESP.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|17
 |}
@@ Line 93: / Line 103: @@
 == In popular culture ==
-The song has been heard in many films and television programs. According to [[Wes Craven]], the song (and its keyboard intro/outro) inspired the concept behind the 1984 film ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=DVD audio commentary|author=Craven, Wes|author-link=Wes Craven|work=A Nightmare on Elm Street}}</ref> Wright re-recorded the song for the soundtrack of the 1992 film ''[[Wayne's World (film)|Wayne's World]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Five Most Culturally Significant Wayne's World Songs |url=https://www.laweekly.com/music/the-five-most-culturally-significant-waynes-world-songs-4167662 |access-date=March 17, 2019 |work=LA Weekly}}</ref> He performed the song on an episode of ''[[The Midnight Special (TV series)|The Midnight Special]]''.
+The song has been heard in many films and television programs. According to [[Wes Craven]], the song (and its keyboard intro/outro) inspired the concept behind the 1984 film ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=DVD audio commentary|author=Craven, Wes|author-link=Wes Craven|work=A Nightmare on Elm Street}}</ref> Wright re-recorded the song for the soundtrack of the 1992 film ''[[Wayne's World (film)|Wayne's World]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Five Most Culturally Significant Wayne's World Songs |url=https://www.laweekly.com/music/the-five-most-culturally-significant-waynes-world-songs-4167662 |access-date=March 17, 2019 |work=LA Weekly}}</ref> He performed the song on an episode of ''[[The Midnight Special (TV series)|The Midnight Special]]''. The song also appeared in the movies ''[[The People vs. Larry Flynt]]'',  ''[[Ice Age: Collision Course]]'',  ''[[Toy Story 3]]'' and in the episode of ''[[The Really Loud House]]'' "The Blemish Dilemish".
-== In other media ==
-=== Use by other musical artists ===
-* "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive" are [[Sampling (music)|sampled]] in "Wordz of Wisdom", a single from [[3rd Bass]]'s release, ''[[The Cactus Album]]'' (1989).
-* Dance artist [[Erin Hamilton]] [[Cover version|cover]]ed it for her album ''One World'' (1999).
-* It was featured prominently in the gay love story film ''[[Trick (1999 film)|Trick]]'' (1999).
-* [[Crowbar (US band)|Crowbar]] recorded a [[doom metal]] version of "Dream Weaver" for their album ''[[Equilibrium (Crowbar album)|Equilibrium]]'' (2000).
-* Electronic rock artist [[Jes Brieden|JES]] [[Cover version|cover]]ed it as a single release (2015).
-* Canadian singer-songwriter [[Kevin Quain]] released a version of it in October 2017.
-* Multiple short clips of the song can be heard in the background of the [[Google Stadia|Stadia]] launch trailer.
 == See also ==
@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 {{Authority control}}
+[[Category:1975 songs]]
 [[Category:1975 singles]]
-[[Category:1976 singles]]
 [[Category:Gary Wright songs]]
 [[Category:Warner Records singles]]
@@ Line 130: / Line 130: @@
 [[Category:Progressive pop songs]]
 [[Category:Songs about dreams]]
-[[Category:Outer space themed songs]]
+[[Category:Songs about outer space]]
 [[Category:Paramahansa Yogananda]]

v t e Gary Wright
Albums	Extraction Footprint The Dream Weaver The Light of Smiles Touch and Gone Headin' Home The Right Place Who I Am First Signs of Life Human Love Waiting to Catch the Light Connected
Singles	"Dream Weaver" "Love Is Alive" "Really Wanna Know You"
Related	Spooky Tooth