Broken links fixed, 06/04, 12:15pm PST
DION McGREGOR – 3 albums
Dion McGregor was a sleeptalker like no other. It’s always entertaining to listen on occasion to the REM ramblings of a loved one, family member or roommate, as long as it doesn’t disrupt one’s own sleep — but these recordings are otherworldly, deeply fascinating and sexually disturbing, to list but a few descriptions. The Guardian sez:
There is a delicious irony to the story of musician Dion McGregor. A bohemian chancer who struggled for years to produce a hit record, he finally released an album on Decca in 1964, except it didn’t feature songs, but dreams. For McGregor is probably the world’s most famous sleep-talker. He was a man who could speak in complete, comprehensible sentences while asleep, painstakingly describing the events of his hallucinations as they unfolded, before, more often than not, his nightmares would conclude with a howl. Whether he was a conman or the genuine article, it’s certainly an unusual take on the American Dream.
After hearing these records quite a few times, I’m unconvinced that anyone could make this stuff up out of any conscious desire. My absolute favorite parts are the dreams’ finales, when Dion inevitably lets forth a truly terrifying, bloodcurdling shrieky blurts.
The first album, “The Dream World of Dion McGregor”, was released in the ’60s, and is rather tame, compared to the freaky uncensored realms of the two later compilations.
Dion McGregor – “The Dream World of Dion McGregor (He Talks In His Sleep)” (ZIP file)
Dion McGregor – “Dion McGregor Dreams Again” (ZIP file)
Dion McGregor – “The Further Somniloquies of Dion McGregor: 
More Outrageous Recordings of the World’s Most Renowned Sleeptalker ” (ZIP file)
Wowzers!
I’d read about this guy awhile back (Q magazine, if I’m not mistaken), and was hoping to some day come across his album. Well! leave it to you to make that albumS. With an S.
Big thanks!
~Matt
Muchisimas gracias! I’ve been looking all over for the two followup albums. Thank you for all you do here. It’s much appreciated.
Never heard of this guy ever. Very interesting. Listening to the three records chronologically, couple tracks into the second LP now.
I wonder how many family members/spouses Dion McGregor drove crazy as they tried to sleep.
Listening to car sounds outside, it strangely sounds like these recordings were made during the day.
Is it just me, or does this guy look a lot like BoojieBoy? When I first saw the picture, I thought it as a Devo posting….
ah!! I have been trying to locate these for so long!
Amazon had one album for sale, which I discovered many years ago, but had since lost the link… and this is rather hard to come up with search terms that will yield results!
Good gravy! I had no idea there was more than one of these! Can’t wait to hear it…was just wondering if the first one was still in print everywhere while on my way to work today.
Hi, Anybody have a clue where to get the sheet music for “Where Is The Wonder?”
Thanks John