Dream Weaver

"Dream Weaver"
Single by Gary Wright
from the album The Dream Weaver
B-side "Let It Out"
Released December 1975
Recorded 1975
Genre
Length 4:17 (album version)
3:15 (single version)
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s) Gary Wright
Producer(s) Gary Wright
Gary Wright singles chronology
"Dream Weaver"
(1975)		 "Love Is Alive"
(1976)

"Dream Weaver" is a song by the American singer Gary Wright, released as the first single from his third studio album The Dream Weaver (1975) in December 1975. The song became a hit in the US: #2 on the Billboard chart[3] and #1 on Cashbox in 1976.[4]

The song features Wright on vocals and keyboards and Jim Keltner on drums. According to Gary Wright, the song was inspired by Autobiography of a Yogi, which was given to him by George Harrison.[5] Paramhansa Yogananda's poem "God! God! God!" made reference to "the idea of the mind weaving dreams." The expression "Dream Weaver" was popularized by John Lennon in 1970 in his song "God", taken from his solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. This song depicts Lennon's declaration that he was the dream weaver of the 1960s, breaking away from the influences and dogmas that influenced his life.

All instrumentation was created using a synthesizer, except for Keltner's percussion. In 1992, Gary Wright re-recorded a longer version of "Dream Weaver" for the Wayne's World movie soundtrack.

In films

In television

  • Portions of "Dream Weaver" were first sampled in a short film appearing in the 1990 Wayne's World episode of Saturday Night Live, in which guest star Wayne Gretzky appears, and Wayne is picturing that song playing as he imagines himself defeating Gretzky in street hockey and then winning his wife, Janet Jones.
  • "Dream Weaver" was featured over the closing credits of the sixth episode of the fourth season of the classic HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David.
  • "Dream Weaver" was featured in the Fox That '70s Show episode, "The First Time".
  • "Dream Weaver" was featured in the Fox black comedy Scream Queens in the episode, "Lovin' the D".
  • A Japanese version of "Dream Weaver" was featured in the Fox animated comedy Family Guy in the episode, "Carter and Tricia".
  • "Dream Weaver" was the name of season 1, episode 13 of The Neighbors, where the plot center around Marty and Debbie Weaver meeting at a high school dance while Dream Weaver played.
  • "Dream Weaver" was featured in an episode of Nickelodeon's Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn titled "Quaddyshack". It was also featured in an Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn episode titled "The Wonderful Wizard of Quads".

In other media

Use by other musical artists

"Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive" are sampled in "Wordz of Wisdom", a single from 3rd Bass's release, The Cactus Album (1989).

Dance artist Erin Hamilton covered it for her album One World (1999).

It was featured prominently in the gay love story film Trick (1999).

Crowbar recorded a doom metal version of "Dream Weaver" for their album Equilibrium (2000).

Electronic rock artist JES covered it as a single release (2015).

Canadian singer-songwriter Kevin Quain released a version of it in October 2017.

Chart performance

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (2000), Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s, St. Martin's Press, p. 67, ISBN 978-0-312-19821-3
  2. ↑ "Explore: Soft Rock | Top Songs | AllMusic". Web.archive.org. November 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2011. Retrieved 2014-03-11.
  3. ↑ Gary Wright Biography – Billboard.com
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 18, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  6. ↑ Craven, Wes. "DVD audio commentary". A Nightmare on Elm Street.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  8. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 25, No. 01 April 03 1976". RPM. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Charts.nz – Gary Wright – Dream Weaver". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Gary Wright Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Gary Wright Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  13. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  15. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  16. ↑ "American single certifications – Gary Wright – Dream Weaver". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 6, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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