“I Dream Of You (More Than You Dream I Do)”

“I Dream Of You (More Than You Dream I Do)” moves like molasses. Ray Charles recorded the song for his 1969 album I’m All Yours Baby!; it was the fourth and penultimate song on Side 2.

The thick, plodding “I Dream Of You (More Than You Dream I Do)” was written by Marjorie Goetschius and Edna Osser in 1944, a year in which Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, and Perry Como were just some of the artists who made the charts with it. It fits in well with Ray’s I’m All Yours Baby! album whose concept was to be the soundtrack to a blissful evening of passion between the sheets.

“I Dream Of You (More Than You Dream I Do)” was arranged by Sid Feller, whose orchestra is mellifluously from the outset and continues to unfold ever so slowly – no sudden moves are to be found here that might take one out of the moment. If anything, Sid’s sugary gauze is purposely forgettable – background music for love.

To this end, Ray’s singing too goes out of its way to be smooth and not spiky. His shimmering tones are frequently absorbed by the music, and his carefully placed words – with just a hint of soulful humanity here and there to add the subtlest of color – drop right in their places, as expected and right on time.

If “I Dream Of You (More Than You Dream I Do)” were in fact played as a soundtrack for romance then the lovers would be encouraged any time they stop to cast an ear towards the lyrics. Each phrase is suitably romantic – as in “How can I prove to you this love is real?” – or at least sounds like it is even when it isn’t – “You’re mean to me more than you mean to be” passes by unnoticed thanks to the stratospheric beauty of the music and singing.

It may surprise some listeners to hear Ray Charles being this sleepy-voiced and velvety, but it was a part of his musical makeup and he was serious about getting it right. As he and Sid Feller prove on “I Dream Of You (More Than You Dream I Do)”, he could.

Listen to “I Dream Of You (More Than You Dream I Do)”

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