The song was introduced by Jack Oakie and Dorothy Dell in the movie Shoot the Works directed in 1934 by Wesley Ruggles.
Patti Page had a number 11 hit with "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" (Mercury Records #5344)[1] in 1950.
Having previously recorded both vocal parts on the duet "Confess", Page had been intrigued by the possibility of using overdubbing techniques to record as a "one-woman quartet"; when Mercury a&r director Mitch Miller received Page's suggestion skeptically the singer prepped a demo showcasing her multi-tracked vocals which drew Millers' consent to have Page record "With My Eyes Wide Open..." in this manner.
[2] Recorded in a 3 December 1949 session in New York City with Jack Rael conducting his orchestra, "With My Eyes Wide Open..." became Page's first million-seller and established her trademark vocal sound.
Page re-recorded "With My Eyes Wide Open..." - with what was considered a "rock and roll" arrangement - in an 11 May 1959 session in New York City: this version reached number 59.