Today’s classic ’60s pop song that sounds like a Girl Group but isn’t of the day is “Dream Baby,” by an 18 year-old, not-yet-famous singer named Cher. This one was a flop when it was released but became a Girl Group classic, and deservedly so.
“Dream Baby” was written and produced by Cher’s then-husband and singing partner, Sony Bono. It was initially released as a single on Imperial Records in 1964, credited to “Cherilyn.” It didn’t chart. It next popped up on Cher’s 1965 solo album, All I Really Want to Do, as the last track on side one; the title song from that album, a cover of Bob Dylan’s “All I Really Want to Do,” was released as a single and reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Dream Baby” got released again in 1967, under Cher’s own name, as the flip side of the single “Mama (When My Dollies Have Babies),” which you probably haven’t heard because it, too, was a major flop. Don’t worry, though; Cher’s career recovered both with her husband Sonny (as Sonny & Cher) and as a solo act, garnering top-ten singles in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.
The song, “Dream Baby,” got a second wind when collectors picked it up as a prime example of the 1960s Girl Group sound—even though it was recorded by a single girl singer, not an entire group. Sonny Bono, who earned his bones working for producer Phil Spector (as did Cher), learned a lot from the master, creating a near-perfect Wall of Soundish record. He knew to contract Gene Page to do the arranging, book Gold Star Studios for the recording session, and employ the best backing musicians available, the fabled Wrecking Crew, which included Steve Douglas on that wonderful sax solo and Hal Blaine going all out on the drums. It worked, even if audiences at the time didn’t give it a spin.
Young Cherilyn had dropped out of school and moved to Los Angeles when she was just 16. She supported herself with waitressing gigs and dancing in small clubs on the Sunset Strip. (That was a thing back then.) She met Sonny in 1962; at the time he was working as a gofer and sometimes percussionist for superstar producer Phil Spector. (I use the term “percussionist” loosely; basically, they just handed him a tambourine or set of sleigh bells to shake from time to time.)
Cher had taken a job as Sonny’s housekeeper and he subsequently introduced her to Spector. Spector began using Cher as a background singer on a number of sessions, including the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” and all of the classic Christmas album, A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector.
Sonny got the idea of turning Cher, who he had started dating (and eventually married in 1964) into the latest teen singing sensation. When it turned out she had pretty bad stage fright, he would join her on stage, billing themselves as Caesar and Cleo. They released a few singles under that name and, for Cher herself (as “Cherilyn”), the single “Dream Baby.”
I’ll also give Mr. Bono credit for writing a very catchy tune. The melody is fast moving and memorable, helped along by the rapidly changing chord progression in the verse. (Tip for writing a great melody: Change chords at least every measure. That forces the melody to move to keep up with the changes.) Tension is created in the choruses by hanging on a single chord for six whole measures, then the tension is relieved by circling back to the fast-moving chords of the verse. Brilliant, really.
Just because, here’s a recording of Cher lip-synching “Dream Baby” on Shivaree in 1965. Shivaree was a syndicated music show for teens, kind of like Hullabaloo and Shindig, that ran from 1965 to 1966. It was created and hosted by L.A. radio personality Gene Weed and originated from KABC studios in Los Angeles. Take a close look at the go-go dancers in the background; the one on the far right, nearest the camera, is none other than Teri Garr, the soon-to-be-famous actress!
