When you ask people who sang the ‘60’s hit “My Elusive Dreams,” you would undoubtedly get varying answers. That’s because many artists have recorded it from the time it was released in 1967. It was Tammy Wynette, and David Houston who first popularized it and their version remains the most successful to date. The duo took the song to the country chart’s leading position in October 1967. Moreover, it was a minor pop hit peaking at No. 89 on Hot 100.
Six years later, Wynette again recorded the song, this time with fellow country legend George Jones. Wynette and Jones were still married at the time they recorded a cover of the song in 1973. While this version did not enter any music chart, their rendition did not go unnoticed by their fans. That’s probably due to the authentic emotions they’ve put into the song.
The Charting Covers of “My Elusive Dreams”
Apart from the Tammy Wynette, David Houston, and George Jones, several music artists made notable covers of the song and brought it to the charts. Curly Putman, who co-wrote the song with Billy Sherrill, himself, recorded “My Elusive Dreams.” His version even debuted on the chart a week before Wynette and Houston’s cover. Specifically, it peaked at No. 41 on the country chart and No. 34 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
In July 1967, the same month Putman’s version was released, country music singer Johnny Darrell also released a cover. His version peaked at No. 73 and spent a total of three weeks on the charts. Bobby Vinton again took “My Elusive Dreams” to the charts in 1970. Released on the album of the same name, his version occupied the 27th spot on the county chart and settled at No. 46 on the pop chart.
The second most successful version of the song regarding chart performance came in 1975. Charlie Rich took it to No. 3 on the country chart. That’s the first time the song entered this chart’s Top 10 since the Wynette-Houston’s version in 1967. Additionally, Rich’s record managed to enter the pop chart’s Top 50 peaking at No. 49.
Listen to Charlie Rich’s cover of “My Elusive Dreams” below.
Tags
charlie rich, David Houston, George Jones, My Elusive Dreams, Tammy Wynette