Dream Weaver - Gary Wright (1976) 1/27/21

Today's “Great Song of the '70s” was influenced by two Beatles and a Yogi!

At some point in the early '70s, George Harrison gave Gary Wright a book called, “An Autobiography of a Yogi,” written by Indian monk/guru Paramhansa Yogananda, whose poem, “God, God, God,” suggested the idea that the mind was a “weaver of dreams.”

This idea had also impressed John Lennon, who used the phrase “dream weaver' in his 1970 Plastic Ono Band song, “God,” mwhich was about “breaking away from the dogmas that influence your life.”

“Dream Weaver,” and the philosophy behind it, stuck in Gary's head and inspired him to compose and record a metaphysical song featuring himself on all vocals and keyboards, with Jim Keltner on drums to provide some rhythm.

Two musicians. Two instruments. That's it. And the song “Dream Weaver” turned out to be everything Gary wanted it to be: mystical, dreamlike—and a BIG hit!

It was released as a single from the album of the same name in December of '75, and by March of '76, it had reached #2 on Billboard's Hot 100, as well as #1 on Canada's Top 40 and Adult Contemporary Charts.

Over the next several years, the song showed up in more than a dozen hit movies, including “Wayne's World,” “Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure,” “Spaceballs,” The Full Monty,” and “Toy Story 3,” just to name a few.

“Dream Weaver:” Two Beatles + One Yogi + Two Musicians = A “Great Song of the '70s!”