Snake in the Grass (song)

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"Snake in the Grass"
Dave Dee Snake in the Grass.jpg
Cover of the single released in Belgium
Single by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
from the album Together
B-side "Bora Bora"
Released2 May 1969 (1969-05-02)
Recorded15 April 1969 [1]
Studio Philips Studios, Stanhope House, London
Genre Pop rock
Length3:05
Label Fontana
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Steve Rowland
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich singles chronology
"Don Juan"
(1969)		"Snake in the Grass"
(1969)		"Tonight Today"
(1969)

"Snake in the Grass" is a song by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, released as a single in May 1969. Like with the previous single, "Don Juan", it peaked at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. [2]

Contents

Release and reception

"Snake in the Grass" was the group's last single before the departure of Dave Dee in September 1969, after which the remaining members performed as D.B.M. & T.

Reviewing for Record Mirror , Peter Jones described "Snake in the Grass" as "somewhat of a less ambitious sort of production for the consistent team. But it's extremely catchy in a lilting, fast-paced way" and that "though there is less happening in the arrangement, this stands out as one of their most directly commercial numbers ever". [3] For New Musical Express , Derek Johnson described the song as a "complete contrast from their recent releases – a light and fluffy number, with a suggestion of a rocksteady beat. [4]

In May 1969, a cover version by session musicians featuring Elton John on vocals was released on the compilation album Top of the Pops Vol. 5 by the budget label Hallmark. [5] [6] This version would later appear on John's 1994 compilation album Chartbusters Go Pop . [7]

Track listing

  1. "Snake in the Grass" – 3:05
  2. "Bora Bora" – 2:14

Charts

Chart (1969)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [8] 95
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [9] 17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [10] 46
Germany (Official German Charts) [11] 18
Singapore (Radio Singapore) [12] 3
UK Singles (OCC) [2] 23

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References

  1. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – April 1969". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick Tich: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  3. ↑ "New Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror . 3 May 1969. p. 9. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Drastic change for Dave Dee after flop" (PDF). New Musical Express . 3 May 1969. p. 6. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Unknown Artist – Top Of The Pops Vol. 5 (1969, Vinyl)". Discogs. May 1969. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – May 1969". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "Elton John – Chartbusters Go Pop (1994, CD)". Discogs. 1994. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  8. ↑ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN   0-646-44439-5.
  9. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Snake in the Grass" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Snake in the Grass" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  11. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Snake in the Grass" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  12. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard . 23 August 1969. p. 88. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
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