Released June 1967 Label Epic | Genre Country Producer(s) Billy Sherrill | |
 | ||
B-side "Marriage on the Rocks" Writer(s) Billy Sherrill
Curly Putman | ||
"My Elusive Dreams" is a country music song written by Billy Sherrill and Curly Putman, which has been recorded by several artists. The best-known version was recorded as a duet by David Houston and Tammy Wynette, and was a No. 1 country hit in October 1967; the song also peaked at No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song follows a restless man and his wife, as he attempts to find an ever-elusive and lasting happiness pursuing various dreams and schemes, all which are ill-fated. The man's attempts at making something work include stops in at least six states: Texas, Utah, Alabama (specifically, Birmingham), Tennessee (specifically, Memphis (where the wife gave birth to their child) and later Nashville) Nebraska, and finally Alaska (it is implied that during their stint there, their child died and was buried there). The man finally admits to his resigned wife that he recognizes she's tired of following him around the country and that his dreams are fleeting.
Other versions
Putman's version of the song was released via ABC Records in July 1967, peaking at #41 on the Hot Country Singles charts and #34 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. Putman's version of the song made its chart debut on the chart dated for July 8, 1967, one week before the Houston-Wynette version.
A third version, recorded by Johnny Darrell, debuted on the country music charts dated for July 22, 1967, released through United Artists Records. This version spent three weeks on the charts and peaked at #73.
Roger Miller recorded a cover in 1968, and in 1970, Bobby Vinton took his version of "My Elusive Dreams" which was also the title to his album of the same name to #27 on the country charts and #46 on the pop charts. Andy Williams released a version in 1974 on his album, You Lay So Easy on My Mind. In 1975, Charlie Rich took the song again onto the country and pop charts this time taking it to #3 on the country charts and #49 on the pop charts.
Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood recorded one version, and so did The Everly Brothers.
A 1974 version by Irish singers Ray Lynam and Philomena Begley is referenced in 'A Pair of Brown Eyes', a 1985 single by The Pogues: "While Ray and Philomena sang of my elusive dreams".