“All I Do Is Dream of You.” Words by Arthur Freed, music by Nacio Herb Brown (composed for the 1934 film Sadie McKee).  Recorded by Elsie Carlisle on July 18, 1934.  Decca F-5122.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3EQof9K0qk

Elsie Carlisle – All I Do Is Dream of You

Video by longpast78 (YouTube)

“All I Do Is Dream of You” was composed in 1934 by Nacio Herb Brown, with lyrics by Arthur Freed, for the Joan Crawford movie Sadie McKee, where it was introduced by actor Gene Raymond.  It is perhaps now more famous for having been sung by Debbie Reynolds in the 1952 film Singin’ in the Rain.  A great deal of Elsie Carlisle’s artistic output in the early 1930s drew on Hollywood music, but she made the songs her own, and her version of “All I Do Is Dream of You” is surprisingly intense and passionate.

In America “All I Do Is Dream of You” was recorded in 1934 by Angelo Ferdinando’s Orchestra (with vocals by Dick Robertson), Jan Garber and His Orchestra (with vocalist Fritz Heilbron), Henry Busse and His Orchestra (Rex Griffith, vocalist), and Freddy Martin and His Orchestra.  Chico Marx performed the song with great virtuosity on the piano in the 1935 film A Night at the Opera.

In Britain the song was very popular that year, having been recorded by Ray Noble and His Orchestra (with Al Bowlly providing the vocals), Jack Payne and His Band (with vocals by Jack Payne), Roy Fox and His Band (Sid Buckman, vocalist), Teddy Joyce and His Dance Music, Bertini and His Orchestra (with Donald Peers), and Henry Hall (with Les Allen, in a Bert Read arrangement).  A short film exists of Charlie Kunz playing “All I Do Is Dream of You” in a piano solo.