"Mr. Sandman" is a popular song written by Pat Ballard which was published in 1954 and first recorded in May of that year by Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra and later that same year by The Chordettes and The Four Aces. The song's lyrics convey a request to "Mr. Sandman" to "bring me a dream" – the traditional association with the folkloric figure, the sandman. The pronoun used to refer to the desired dream is often changed depending on the sex of the singer or group performing the song, as the original sheet music publication, which includes male and female versions of the lyrics, intended. Emmylou Harris' recording of the song was a hit in multiple countries in 1981.
Background
with Orchestra was the first to record the song in 1954. It was released as the B-side of "They Were Doin' the Mambo", on RCA Victorlabel as catalog number 20-5767 / 47-5767. In December 1954, the song reached No. 1 on the Cash BoxTop 50, in a tandem ranking of the versions by the Chordettes, the Four Aces, Buddy Morrow, Vaughn Monroe, Les Elgart, the Lancers, and the Song Singers, with the Chordettes and the Four Aces' versions marked as bestsellers. It also reached No. 1 on Cash Boxs chart of "The Nation's Top Ten Juke Box Tunes", in the same tandem ranking, and No. 1 on Cash Boxs chart of "The Ten Records Disk Jockeys Played Most This Week", with only the Chordettes version listed initially, but later in a tandem ranking of the Chordettes and the Four Aces' versions. The song also reached No. 1 on Billboards "Honor Roll of Hits", with the Chordettes and the Four Aces' versions listed as best sellers, and was ranked No. 12 on Billboards ranking of "1955's Top Tunes" based on the Honor Roll of Hits. The chord progression in each chorus follows the circle of fifths through a lengthy series of secondary dominant chords.
The Chordettes version
' recording of the song was released on the Cadence Records label. Cadence's founder, Archie Bleyer, was the orchestra conductor on the recording and provided a rhythmic beat on the recording, using his knees. Bleyer's voice is heard in the third verse, when he says the word "Yes?" The piano is played by Moe Wechsler. Liberace's name is mentioned for his "wavy hair", and a glissando immediately follows. Pagliacci is mentioned for having a lonely heart, which is a reference to the opera Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo. In the United States, the Chordettes' single reached No. 1 on all three of Billboards popular music charts, and was ranked No. 9 in Cash Boxs ranking of "1955's Top Pop Records as Voted in the Cash Box Poll".
Chart performance
The Four Aces version
In 1954, The Four Aces released a version of the song, backed by the Jack Pleis Orchestra. The Four Aces' version was a top-ten hit in the United States, United Kingdom, and Flanders. The Four Aces' version was notably featured in the movie Back to the Future, when Marty first realizes he is in 1955.
On November 17, 1954, Chet Atkins recorded an instrumental version during a four-song recording session at RCA Victor's Nashville recording studio. Atkins used the Ray Butts EchoSonic guitar amp on this recording, and was backed by celesta, piano, bass, and drums. Atkins' version was released as a single in January 1955. It was Atkins' first single to chart on Billboards country charts, and reached No. 15 on Billboards Country & Western Records chart of "Best Sellers in Stores" and No. 13 on Billboards Country & Western Records chart of "Most Played by Jockeys". Atkins re-recorded "Mister Sandman" for his 1990 album The Magic of Chet Atkins.
In 1968, Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra released an instrumental version as a single and on the albumMy Way of Life. It reached No. 12 on Billboards Easy Listening chart, No. 14 on Record Worlds "Top Non-Rock" chart, No. 3 on Record Worlds chart of "Singles Coming Up", and No. 1 on Cash Boxs "Looking Ahead" chart of singles with potential of entering the Cash Box Top 100.
In January 1978, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt recorded a version of the song for a planned trio album which was ultimately scrapped.. Harris included the trio recording of "Mr. Sandman" on her 1981 album Evangeline, though with the stipulation that it not be released as a single. However, when Harris later changed her mind and wanted to put the song out as a single, she rerecorded it, singing all three parts herself, and releasing it in 1981, under the title "Mister Sandman". The single reached number 10 on the BillboardHot Country Singles chart, and number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Harris' only single to reach the top 40 on that chart. Harris's single version did not appear on an album until the 1984 compilation .
and His Orchestra released a version in 1954, which reached No. 20 on Billboards chart of "Most Played by Jockeys". In January 1955, a version by Max Bygraves reached No. 16 on the UK's New Musical Express chart. The most successful recording of the song in the UK was by Dickie Valentine, which peaked at No. 5 on the New Musical Express chart in February 1955. The Fleetwoods released a version in 1964, as a single and on the album Before and After. Their version reached No. 113 on Billboards Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart and No. 19 on Cash Boxs "Looking Ahead" chart of singles with potential of entering the Cash Box Top 100. Tommy O'Day released a version in 1978, which reached No. 96 on Billboards Hot Country Singles chart. In 1996, German power metal band Blind Guardian released a CD maxi single with a cover version of "Mr. Sandman." Bette Midler recorded the song for her 2014 album It's the Girls!. In 2017 SYML released a cover, which was described as "an ominous and brooding song full of dark waves of emotion." Ballard also rewrote the lyrics for Christmas use as "Mr. Santa". Singer Dorothy Collins released "Mr. Santa" in 1955, which reached No. 51 in Music Vendor. Amy Grant recorded a version included on the 1999 albumA Christmas to Remember''.
