The best-known version was recorded by the Everly Brothers[4] at RCA StudiosNashville and released as a single in April 1958. It had been recorded by the Everly Brothers live in just two takes[6] on March 6, 1958, and features Chet Atkins on guitar. It was the only single ever to be at No. 1 on all of the Billboard singles charts simultaneously. On May 12, 1958, it became No. 1 on the "Best Sellers in Stores" chart, then it reached No. 1 on the "Most played by Jockeys" and "Top 100" charts on May 19, 1958,[7] and remained No. 1 on each chart for four, five, and three weeks, respectively. With the August 1958 introduction of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the song ended the year at No. 2. "All I Have to Do Is Dream" also hit No. 1 on the R&B chart[8] as well as becoming the Everly Brothers' third chart topper on the country chart.[9] The Everly Brothers briefly returned to the Hot 100 in 1961 with this song.
Outside the United States, "All I Have to Do Is Dream" saw massive success in various countries, most notably the United Kingdom, where it topped the UK's New Musical Express chart in June 1958 and remained there for seven weeks (including one week as a joint number one with Vic Damone's "On the Street Where You Live"), spending 21 weeks on the chart in Britain.[10][11] The song has also featured on several notable lists of the best songs or singles of all time, including British music magazine Q's 1001 best songs ever in 2003.
The B-side, "Claudette", was the first major song writing success for Roy Orbison (who also recorded his own version of the song) and was named after his first wife.[12] As a result of this success Orbison terminated his contract with Sun Records and affiliated himself with the Everly's publisher, Acuff-Rose Music.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's version, from their 1975 album Symphonion Dream, reached No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100,[22] No. 30 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart,[23] and No. 79 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart.[24]
^Covach, John (2005), "Form in Rock Music: A Primer", in Stein, Deborah, Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis, New York: Oxford University Press, p.70, ISBN0-19-517010-5 .