"I Go to Sleep" is a song written by Ray Davies, main songwriter for The Kinks, and first released by The Applejacks. It was never recorded by The Kinks, but Ray Davies's demo can be found in reissue bonus tracks of their second studio album Kinda Kinks.

Marion version

"I Go to Sleep" was covered in 1967 by German singer Marion (de) (later known as Marion Maerz). The record was produced in London by Larry Page, the producer of The Troggs and manager of The Kinks. The song was released in Germany and the UK. Marion performed this song as the first and only German female singer in the famous German music program Beat Club.[1]

The Pretenders version

"I Go to Sleep"
Single by The Pretenders
from the album Pretenders II
B-side	"The English Roses" (live) "Louie Louie" (live)
Released	November 1981
Recorded	1980–81
Genre	Pop rock soft rock baroque pop
Length	2:55
Label	Sire
Songwriter(s)	Ray Davies
Producer(s)	Chris Thomas
The Pretenders singles chronology
"Louie Louie" (1981) "I Go to Sleep" (1981) "Back on the Chain Gang" (1982)

"I Go to Sleep" was covered in 1981 by The Pretenders and released as a single from their second studio album Pretenders II.

"I Go to Sleep" had been rumored to have been one of the first songs that Chrissie Hynde ever learned.[2] At the time of the song's recording, Hynde had been dating Ray Davies, whom she had met after covering the Kinks track "Stop Your Sobbing."[2] The song features "a very strong late-'50s pop feel and flavor" according to Allmusic's Matthew Greenwald. The song also includes a French horn part; "The French horn in 'I Go to Sleep'…" Hynde recalled, "It's those little embellishments that capture my attention."[3]

The song was later included on several compilation albums, including The Singles. The song was also featured in the films Romanzo Criminale and Sweet Sixteen.[4]

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Selective list of other recorded versions

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Many entries seem to fail WP:SONGCOVER. (August 2021)

• 1965: Cher, on her debut album All I Really Want to Do
• 1965: The Applejacks(British group) Single
• 1965: Peggy Lee, single, also on the album Then Was Then – Now Is Now!
• 1966: Lesley Duncan, b-side of "Hey Boy" single
• 1966: The Truth, single
• 1967: Marion Maerz, b-side to "I Think I Said Yes" single
• 1970: Samantha Jones, on her album A Girl Named Sam.
• 1982: Julie Pietri on the album À force de toi
• 1991: Graham Bonnet, on his album Here Comes The Night
• 1999: Soulwax on the single My Cruel Joke... featuring Tracy Bonham
• 2006: Judith Owen, on the album Here
• 2006: Les Oisives, on the album L'Intangible
• 2007: Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble, on the album Plastic Bag In The Tree
• 2008: Sia, on her album Some People Have Real Problems. Sia's cover reached #32 on the Australian Singles Chart,[11] and featured in the Australian TV series Packed to the Rafters.
• 2008: Carbel on their album Ce jour là
• 2009: Works Progress Administration, on their self-titled debut album WPA.
• 2010: Anika, on her debut album Anika
• 2010: Merlin on the album Shades of Chrissie
• 2011: Camilla Kerslake on her second album Moments
• 2011: Kraus[12]
• 2011: Rasputina on their collector's album Great American Gingerbread: Rasputina Rarities & Neglected Items
• 2011: Hussey-Regan on the album Curios
• 2012: Princess Chelsea covered the song for The Kinks tribute album, God Save The Kinks by Neotomic Records.
• 2013: Rachael Leahcar on her second album Romantique
• 2013: The Big Bright, on the album I Slept Thru the 80's
• 2018: Z Berg, single
• 2020: Vanessa Amorosi on The Blacklisted Collection

References