Pop Archives

Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs - Dream Baby (1967)

(Cindy Walker)
Australia Australia
#35 Sydney #31 Perth

Billy Thorpe (1946-2007): British-born singer, guitarist and songwriter whose family emigrated to Brisbane in the 1950s. Based in Sydney from 1963, ‘Thorpy’, with The Aztecs, had numerous pop hits in a variety of styles, but at the end of the 60s, then in Melbourne, he fronted a loud, rocky, blues-based formation of the Aztecs that contrasted with his earlier pop idol image. Later, his solo and business career took him to Los Angeles, and he wrote two popular autobiographical books, Most People I Know (Think That I’m Crazy) and Sex And Thugs And Rock’n’Roll [AbeBooks link].

Further reading: Paul Culnane’s account of Billy Thorpe’s career at Milesago.


Roy Orbison - Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) (1962)

(Cindy Walker)
USA USA
Original version
#4 USA #2 UK #3 Sydney #2 Melbourne #2 Brisbane #2 Adelaide #13 Perth

Single on Monument label.

Credits of singer-songwriter Cindy Walker (1918-2006), include You Don’t Own Me and In The Misty Moonlight.

Further reading: Wikipedia entry; Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.


Glen Campbell - Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) (1971)

(Cindy Walker)
USA USA
Later version
#31 USA #39 UK #35 Melbourne #19 Brisbane #28 Adelaide #17 NZ


X. - Dream Baby (1987)

(Cindy Walker)
Australia Australia
Later version

Single on White label by major Sydney band of the punk era.

Thanks to Nicholas for version alert.


Cherilyn - Dream Baby (1964)

(Sonny Bono)
USA USA
Red herring

Same title but not the same song as ‘Dream Baby’ by Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs.

Single on Imperial by Cherilyn Sarkisian. Reissued in 1966 under the name of Cher, the name by which Cherilyn had become better known.

Thanks to Phil Chapman.