My 100 Favorite Charted Country Songs: When I Stop Dreaming
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (69707)
United States
December 3, 2024 10:55am CST
This is the list of my all-time favorite songs to have made the country charts in Billboard magazine. Today we’re at the 90th song on the alphabetical list, but I guarantee you this is top three territory. Here’s today’s song.
When I Stop Dreaming - Louvin Brothers
Memo to the world: STOP IT. Don Henley? STOP IT. Dailey & Vincent? STOP IT. Gibson Brothers? STOP IT. Emmylou Harris? STOP IT. Etta James? (????) STOP IT!!!
Yes, Etta James covered this song. So did Ray Charles. This is one of the most-covered Louvin Brothers songs out there, and it may be their most-covered “secular” song (lots of their gospel tunes have also been covered a billion times or so). But NOBODY is going to match Ira Louvin’s vocal genius on this song. Not then, not now, not ever. So just stop trying.
When I Stop Dreaming
Written by Ira and Charlie Louvin
Recorded by the Louvin Brothers
Released as a single, 1955
Peak chart position: #8
Today’s rock song: “The Valley Road”
You can’t teach my heart to forget:
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9 people like this
8 responses
@FourWalls (69707)
• United States
4 Dec
@wolfgirl569 — so am I, under my longjohns. 
2 people like this
@FourWalls (69707)
• United States
3 Dec
Don’t you have a birthday party for Claire Floofy Butt to attend? 
2 people like this
@TheHorse (221074)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec
Sigh. I confessed to @FourWalls that I learned it from Emmylou. She was pretty much my "intro" to Country Music.
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1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69707)
• United States
3 Dec
This is old and buried deep, which is why I suppose everyone thinks they can cover it these days.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (221074)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec
@FourWalls Those guys were masters of harmony.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (81331)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Dec
I stopped dreaming and never heard of them or the song
2 people like this
@aureategloom (11022)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
3 Dec
it's a nice song. i see you're "protective" over it 
i played Etta James version and the one you shared definitely sounds more interesting and unique
i played Etta James version and the one you shared definitely sounds more interesting and unique 2 people like this
@FourWalls (69707)
• United States
3 Dec
I would guess Charlie cried more than one time on the way to the bank to cash the royalty check. 
To be fair to Etta, I wouldn’t expect her version to sound country, just as Ernest Tubb’s version of “Let the Little Girl Dance” wouldn’t have sounded R&B like Billy Bland’s original.
To be fair to Etta, I wouldn’t expect her version to sound country, just as Ernest Tubb’s version of “Let the Little Girl Dance” wouldn’t have sounded R&B like Billy Bland’s original. 1 person likes this
@Lutfisyakir (74)
• Indonesia
5 Dec
@FourWalls I listen with my heart and it makes my heart happy and peaceful.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69707)
• United States
7 Dec
Funny story Emmylou told on herself: Gram Parsons gave her a tape of a bunch of country songs. When the Louvin Brothers came on she went to Gram and said, “Who’s this woman? She’s got the greatest voice I’ve ever heard!” It was Ira.
@FourWalls (69707)
• United States
4 Dec
The music goes with the jackets, and that you wouldn’t like.
1 person likes this
