Published 1937 Lyricist(s) Irving Kahal | Writer(s) Sammy Fain | |
"I Can Dream, Can't I?" is a popular song written by Sammy Fain with lyrics by Irving Kahal. The song was published in 1937, included in a flop musical, Right This Way. Tommy Dorsey released a hit recording of it the same year, but it was in the postwar years that the song gained its greatest success. Harry James recorded a version in December 1937 on Brunswick 8038.
The best-known version was recorded by The Andrews Sisters and Gordon Jenkins' orchestra on July 15, 1949, and released by Decca Records as catalog number 24705. It first reached the Billboard charts on September 16, 1949, reaching number one on all three of the magazine's main pop charts at the time (Best Sellers in Stores, Most Played by Jockeys, and Most Played in Jukeboxes). Another version was recorded by Toni Arden with Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra on September 16, 1949, and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 38612. On the Cash Box magazine Best-Selling Records chart, which combined all recorded versions, the song also reached number one.
A version was recorded by Alan Dean with Carroll Gibbons' orchestra on December 9, 1949, and released by UK Columbia Records in the United Kingdom as catalog number FB 3539. A version by the Tune Twisters with Art Wranzer & his orchestra was recorded in May 1950 and released by Artransa Records in Australia as catalog number A 009.
A doo wop version was recorded by the Skyliners in 1958, with lead female singer Janet Vogel.
Joni James recorded a version for her 1959 album 100 Strings and Joni (MGM 3755).
Cass Elliot recorded the song on her 1969 album Bubblegum, Lemonade, and... Something for Mama.
Ruth Brown recorded the song (1959 - Atlantic Records - Producer Ahmet Ertegun)
The song was recorded by The Carpenters on their 1975 album Horizon.
A more modern version was on the 2000 Susannah McCorkle album Hearts and Minds.
Annie Lennox recorded the song on her 2014 album Nostalgia.