SWEET DREAMS, Tommy McLain, (MSL #197) 1966
Flipside: I NEED YOU SO - Here is another really great cover song from my music collection. Tommy McLain was born March 15, 1940 in Jonesville, Louisiana. He is an American country/pop singer, songwriter and musician who also plays keyboards, drums, bass guitar, and the fiddle.
McLain first began performing in the 1950’s, along with country singer Clint West. The two were members of The Vel-Tones in the late 1950’s and The Boogie Kings in the 1960’s. They recorded a duet, "TRY TO FIND ANOTHER MAN" in 1965.
McLain also performed on Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars in the 1960’s and DJed at Louisiana radio station, KREH. He also wrote Freddy Fender's hit single, "IF YOU DON'T LOVE ME ALONE (Leave Me Alone)".
McLain's greatest fame was achieved with his recording of this upload "SWEET DREAMS" which charted nationally on Billboard in August 1966 for 11 weeks and reached #16. It reached #49 in the UK Singles Chart the same year.
Tommy McLain wrote “I NEED YOU SO” (the flipside of “SWEET DREAMS”) which was covered by The Cruisers (Gamble #207) 1967 (great Ballad). It is uploaded on our Mint channel.
McLain appeared along with the Mule Train Band in the 1975 film ‘The Drowning Pool’ which starred Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa and Melanie Griffith.
In October 2007, McLain was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
He was more recently featured as a guest artist on an album recorded by Larry Lange and his Lonely Knights of Austin, Texas entitled ‘Wiggle Room’ (2011) which debuted two brand new songs penned by McLain.
Perhaps the most notable song is, "DON'T MAKE ME LEAVE NEW ORLEANS", a heart-felt ballad that McLain wrote in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Plans are in the works for McLain to rejoin Larry Lange to record another album with the Lonely Knights.
The award-winning British artist Lily Allen included Tommy McLain's cover of Fats Domino's song "BEFORE I GROW TOO OLD" as one of her eight favorite songs on the popular British radio program, ‘Desert Island Discs’ in June 2014.
On August 26, 2022, McLain released his first album in over 40 years entitled “I Ran Down Every Dream”. This collaboration included 11 songs written by McLain. Its credits include numerous others: Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe (both of whom contribute co-writes), Jon Cleary, Denny Freeman, Ed Harcourt, Roy Lowe, Augie Meyers, Ivan Neville, Van Dyke Parks, Mickey Raphael, Steve Riley, Speedy Sparks, Warren Storm and others.
I have another great version of “SWEET DREAMS” in my collection by the late great Patsy Cline (Decca #31483). Her version charted nationally on Billboard in June 1963 for 10 weeks and reached #44.
Tommy McLain continues to perform in the American Deep South with his backup group The Mule Train Band. He’s 82 years old!
Enjoy this really great cover version of “SWEET DREAMS” by Tommy McLain!