YOU ARE HERE: zharth.net / Zharth's Music Log / Week 148 (Sweet Dreams)
(Originally finalized on July 29, 2025)
Preface: There's nothing like getting home after a long trip, and sinking into the familiar comfort of your own bed after days on the road. All the more so if you've been sleeping on a cot out in the woods. Set your dial and snuggle in tight, because this week we're going to listen to songs to fuel your dreams.
Monday: Roy Buchanan - Sweet Dreams [Roy Buchanan, 1972]
Comments: As a fan of Roy Buchanan - one of the most underappreciated guitar gods of the '70s, you can imagine my surprise when I first sat down to watch Martin Scorsese's The Departed, and as soon as the credits rolled, this instrumental version of the country ballad Sweet Dreams (of You) began to play.
Tuesday: Gary Wright - Dream Weaver [The Dream Weaver, 1975]
Comments: After playing in Spooky Tooth off and on from 1967 through 1974, keymaster Gary Wright made a splash with the title track from his album The Dream Weaver. Leaning heavily on synthesizers, it effectively crafts a mood of airy weightlessness. "Though the dawn may be comin' soon, there still may be some time."
Wednesday: The Allman Brothers Band - Dreams [The Allman Brothers Band, 1969]
Comments: This mellow blues from The Allman Brothers Band's self-titled debut was covered to some success by Molly Hatchet on their debut album eight years later. Hatchet's version swings, but I prefer the pathos of the original. Not to be morbid, but I put it on the soundtrack to my life. "'Cause I'm hung up on dreams I'll never see."
Thursday: Procol Harum - Song For A Dreamer [Broken Barricades, 1971]
Comments: From his last album with Procol Harum, this tribute to Jimi Hendrix (who was, at the time, recently deceased) shows off Robin Trower's storied influences. It's reminiscent of the sublime Rainy Day, Dream Away suite - from The Jimi Hendrix Experience's last album, Electric Ladyland - which bridges the gap between this theme and my Rain Mix.
Friday: Ted Nugent - Scream Dream [Scream Dream, 1980]
Comments: As in real life, not all dreams are peaceful. Every once in a while, we find ourselves waking in the middle of the night to escape the fearful imagery of a nightmare - embodied by this title track from Ted Nugent's sixth album, which sounds like something from A Nightmare on Elm Street. "I'm tryin' to sleep at night, but I think I'm in a cold sweat."
Saturday: Aerosmith - Dream On [Aerosmith, 1973]
Comments: Aerosmith peaked early with this outstanding track from their debut album. An enduring classic, it's one of their all-time greatest songs. Now lay back, relax, and drift back to sleep. Worry not over the troubles of the day. Do not ponder too hard the passage of time. The morning will be here before you know it. "Dream until your dream comes true."
Sunday: The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) [The Electric Prunes, 1967]
Comments: This garage rock classic from the psychedelic sixties will serve as the perfect close to the week. Ever have one of those mornings where you wake up exhausted, and have trouble transitioning to waking consciousness because your mind is still drawn to the vivid world that was conjured up in your dreams? "Then came the dawn, and you were gone."
Honorable Mention: The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams [The Other Side Of Life, 1986]
Comments: If I were in a more mischievous mood, I might give a nod to Metallica's Enter Sandman - one of the heaviest lullabies ever recorded. But since I'm sticking to songs with the word "dream" in their title, here's one of The Moody Blues' most successful hits - arguably pop fluff from the mid-'80s. "Once upon a time, in your wildest dreams."