I Had Too Much to Dream [Last Night] (The Electric Prunes)

17 SEPTEMBER 1966

'I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)' by the Electric Prunes was released in November 1966. This was a slice of early garage/psychedelia, with a buzzing backward guitar intro and hints of raga-rock throughout. It reached a very respectable #11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and #49 in the UK during 1967, and turned out to be the biggest of their (two) hits.

The melody of the verses in this song really reminded of something else, and after a while it clicked - Lee Hazlewood's 'Summer Wine', which he released as a single with Nancy Sinatra in 1967, but originally sang in 1966 with Suzi Jane Hokom. That first version was recorded in June 1966, so I'm guessing it just predates 'I Had Too Much to Dream' (both were recorded in Los Angeles, but for different labels*). I'm not suggesting that one deliberately copied from the other, but the similarity is uncanny.

*The 1967 Hazlewood/Sinatra song was on Reprise Records - the same label as 'I Had Too Much to Dream'.

B-side: 'Luvin''

Recorded: 1966, Los Angeles

Released: November 1966

Highest chart position: #49 (UK, 1967), #11(US) 

Length: 2:55

Label: Reprise

Writers: Annette Tucker, Nancie Mantz

Producer: Dave Hassinger