Mr Sandman arranged by Dan Mitchell Chet Atkins style
"Mr. Sandman" (sometimes rendered as "Mister Sandman") is a popular song written by Pat Ballard which was published in 1954 and first recorded in that year by The Chordettes. The song's lyrics convey a request to "Mr. Sandman" to "bring me a dream" -- the traditional association with the folkloric figure, the sandman. The pronoun used to refer to the desired dream is often changed depending on the sex of the singer or group performing the song. Some time later, Ballard also rewrote the lyrics for Christmas use as "Mr. Santa". The chord progression in the chorus follows the circle of fifths for six chords in a row.
The Chordettes recording of the song was released on the Cadence Records label whose founder, Archie Bleyer, is credited on the disc's label as "knees played by" and orchestra conductor. Bleyer's voice is heard in the third verse, when he says the word "Yes?" The piano is played by Moe Wechsler. Liberace's name is mentioned for his "wavy hair". The single reached #1 on the Billboard United States charts and #11 on the United Kingdom charts in 1954. In November 1954, The Four Aces released a version that charted even higher in the UK, reaching #9 and in the same year a version by Max Bygraves reached #16 on the UK charts. The most successful recording of the song in the UK was by Dickie Valentine which peaked at #5. On the Cash Box magazine charts in the US, where all versions were combined, the song also reached #1.
There are numerous recorded versions of the song including versions by Chet Atkins, Mocedades, Blue Diamonds, Marvin Gaye, Gob, Jose Melis, The Chipmunks, The Supremes, The Andrews Sisters, The Puppini Sisters, Blind Guardian, Linda McCartney, and The Fleetwoods.
t has featured in a number of TV and film soundtracks including The Simpsons, Futurama, Grease 2 (sung by the movie's "Peptones" contestants from a male-to-female viewpoint), Back to the Future, Eight Heads in a Duffel Bag, Mr. Nobody, Nip/Tuck, Philadelphia, Planet 51, Uncle Buck, I Saw What You Did, and at least two Halloween films (1981's Halloween II and 1998's Halloween: H20) and "Family Ties." It is also used in a Kia Optima commercial when The Sandman gives the owner a dream about the vehicle while the song plays as background music. In the Philippines, a version of the song with slightly altered lyrics was used in a TV advertisement promoting McDonald's Big N' Tasty.