The Legend of Xanadu
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| "The Legend of Xanadu" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 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" | |||
| Released | 9 February 1968 | |||
| Recorded | 17 January 1968[1] | |||
| Studio | Philips, London | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic pop | |||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label | Fontana (UK) Imperial (US) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Steve Rowland[2] | |||
| Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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]
Reception
[edit]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".[4]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Go-Set)[5] | 6 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 6 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] | 6 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] | 6 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] | 10 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] | 10 |
| Canada (CHUM)[11] | 7 |
| Denmark (Danmarks Radio)[12] | 4 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] | 20 |
| Germany (GfK)[14] | 5 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[15] | 1 |
| Israel (Galei Tzahal)[16] | 1 |
| Japan (Oricon Singles Chart)[17] | 11 |
| Japan International (Oricon)[18] | 1 |
| Malaysia (Radio Malaysia)[19] | 2 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] | 5 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] | 5 |
| New Zealand (Listener)[22] | 1 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[23] | 3 |
| Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)[24] | 1 |
| Singapore (Radio Singapore)[16] | 1 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[25] | 7 |
| Spain (Promusicae)[26] | 20 |
| Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[27] | 4 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[28] | 1 |
| US Bubbling Under the Hot 100 (Billboard)[29] | 123 |
Cover versions
[edit]- In 1968, Japanese band the Jaguars released a cover of the song as a single, which peaked at number 20 on the Oricon Singles Chart.[30][31]
- In 1968, Spanish band Los Mustang released a Spanish-language version, titled "La leyenda de Xanadú", which peaked at number 18 on the Spanish Singles Chart.[26]
- In 1992, the song was covered by English band the Fall for the NME various artists compilation album Ruby Trax.[32]
References in popular culture
[edit]- In Red Dwarf episode "Timeslides" (Season 3, Episode 5), an alternative dimension sees Dave Lister rich and living in a mansion named Xanadu; "not as a reference to the film Citizen Kane, but rather as a tribute to the hit single by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich".[33]
References
[edit]- ^ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – January 1968". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ "Scene" (PDF). Disc and Music Echo: 2. 9 November 1968. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "Dave Dee: Best for a long time!" (PDF). Disc. 10 February 1968. p. 23. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ "Go-Set Australian charts - 15 May 1968". gosetcharts.com. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
- ^ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 100189." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade Week of April 1, 1968". 1 April 1968. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ "danskehitlister.dk". 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Timo (13 August 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit DE - DIA". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Legend of Xanadu". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ a b "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 1 June 1968. p. 56. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 3 August 1968. p. 39. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Mr.Heartbreaker's Chart Liner_Japan #1 DISKS". www.hbr3.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 4 May 1968. p. 53. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu". VG-lista.
- ^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Listas de superventas: 1968". 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick And Tich – Se alla låtar och listplaceringar". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick Tich: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1982). Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 1959–1981. Record Research. p. 47. ISBN 9780898200478.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 10 August 1968. p. 51. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ "Ruby Trax (The NME's Roaring Forty) (1992, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ "Red Dwarf Series III Episode 5, "Timeslides"". Ladyofthecake.com. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
