The Legend of Xanadu

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"The Legend of Xanadu"
The Legend of Xanadu song.jpg
Cover of the single released in the Netherlands and Austria
Single by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
from the album If No-One Sang
B-side "Please"
Released9 February 1968 (1968-02-09)
Recorded17 January 1968 [1]
Studio Philips, London
Genre Psychedelic pop
Length3:35
Label Fontana (UK)
Imperial (US)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Steve Rowland [2]
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich singles chronology
"Zabadak!"
(1967)		"The Legend of Xanadu"
(1968)		"Last Night in Soho"
(1968)

"The Legend of Xanadu" is a single by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich that reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1968 [2] and was the group's biggest hit. It was written by songwriters Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley. As was the case with many of the group's recordings, it features novelty elements — a trumpet section and the distinctive sound of a whip cracking in the chorus. The musical accompaniment was directed by John Gregory. The single was certified gold in November 1968. [3]

Contents

The sound of the whip was actually the sound of two pieces of wood slapping together combined with Tich doing a Pick slide. [4]

Reception

Reviewing for Disc and Music Echo , Penny Valentine wrote: "Having taken us on a round tour of Israel, Russia and goodness knows where else the gentlemen are now thundering across the prairies with this sort of Marty Robbins/Elmer Bernstein piece, Alpert trumpets, whiplash and all!" She also described the song as "very spirited, a lot better than they've done for a long time". [5]

Charts

Chart (1968)Peak
position
Australia ( Go-Set ) [6] 6
Australia (Kent Music Report) [7] 6
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [8] 6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [9] 6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [10] 10
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [11] 10
Canada (CHUM) [12] 7
Denmark (Danmarks Radio) [13] 4
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [14] 20
Germany (GfK) [15] 5
Ireland (IRMA) [16] 1
Israel (Galei Tzahal) [17] 1
Japan (Oricon Singles Chart) [18] 11
Japan International (Oricon) [19] 1
Malaysia (Radio Malaysia) [20] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [21] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [22] 5
New Zealand (Listener) [23] 1
Norway (VG-lista) [24] 3
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid) [25] 1
Singapore (Radio Singapore) [17] 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio) [26] 7
Spain (Promusicae) [27] 20
Sweden (Kvällstoppen) [28] 4
UK Singles (OCC) [29] 1
US Bubbling Under the Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [30] 123

Cover versions

References

  1. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – January 1968". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 114–5. ISBN   0-85112-250-7.
  3. ↑ "Scene" (PDF). Disc and Music Echo: 2. 9 November 1968. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  4. ↑ THE FORTUNES ON TOUR! - EPISODE FIVE - Sensational 60s Experience Tour - BILLINGHAM & WEYMOUTH (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGs7JM4yKto) - Beaky explains at 12:04
  5. ↑ "Dave Dee: Best for a long time!" (PDF). Disc . 10 February 1968. p. 23. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "Go-Set Australian charts - 15 May 1968". gosetcharts.com. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  7. ↑ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN   0-646-44439-5.
  8. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  11. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 100189." RPM . Library and Archives Canada.
  12. ↑ "CHUM Hit Parade Week of April 1, 1968". 1 April 1968. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  13. ↑ "danskehitlister.dk". 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  14. ↑ Timo (13 August 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit DE - DIA". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  16. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Legend of Xanadu". Irish Singles Chart.
  17. 1 2 "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard . 1 June 1968. p. 56. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard . 3 August 1968. p. 39. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  19. ↑ "Mr.Heartbreaker's Chart Liner_Japan #1 DISKS". www.hbr3.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard . 4 May 1968. p. 53. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. ↑ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu". VG-lista.
  25. ↑ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  26. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts (D)". 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  27. 1 2 "Listas de superventas: 1968". 20 August 2021.
  28. ↑ "Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick And Tich – Se alla låtar och listplaceringar". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  29. ↑ "Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick Tich: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  30. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1982). Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 1959–1981. Record Research. p. 47. ISBN   9780898200478.
  31. ↑ "ザ・ジャガーズ – 二人だけの渚 / キサナドーの伝説 (1968, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  32. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard . 10 August 1968. p. 51. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  33. ↑ "Ruby Trax (The NME's Roaring Forty) (1992, CD)". Discogs. 23 November 1992. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  34. ↑ "Red Dwarf Series III Episode 5, "Timeslides"". Ladyofthecake.com. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
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