The Legend of Xanadu

"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]

This article is about the single. For the video game, see Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu.
"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"
Released9 February 1968 (1968-02-09)
Recorded17 January 1968[1]
StudioPhilips Studios, Stanhope House, London
GenrePsychedelic pop
Length3:35
LabelFontana TF903 (UK)[2]
Imperial 66287 (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)

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".[4]

Track listing

7"

  1. "The Legend of Xanadu" (Ken Howard, Alan Blaikley) – 3:35
  2. "Please" (Dave Harman, John Dymond, Trevor Davies) – 3:20

Charts
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 (Official German Charts)[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
  • 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
  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. 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. "Dave Dee: Best for a long time!" (PDF). Disc. 10 February 1968. p. 23. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  5. "Go-Set Australian charts - 15 May 1968". gosetcharts.com. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  6. Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  7. "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 100189." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  11. "CHUM Hit Parade Week of April 1, 1968". 1 April 1968. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  12. "danskehitlister.dk". 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  13. Timo (13 August 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit DE - DIA". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  14. "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Legend of Xanadu". Irish Singles Chart.
  16. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 1 June 1968. p. 56. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  17. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 3 August 1968. p. 39. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  18. "Mr.Heartbreaker's Chart Liner_Japan #1 DISKS". www.hbr3.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  19. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 4 May 1968. p. 53. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  21. "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  22. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  23. "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – The Legend of Xanadu". VG-lista.
  24. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  25. "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.
  26. "Listas de superventas: 1968". 20 August 2021.
  27. "Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick And Tich – Se alla låtar och listplaceringar". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  28. "Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick Tich: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  29. Whitburn, Joel (1982). Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 1959–1981. Record Research. p. 47. ISBN 9780898200478.
  30. "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.
  31. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 10 August 1968. p. 51. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  32. "Ruby Trax (The NME's Roaring Forty) (1992, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  33. "Red Dwarf Series III Episode 5, "Timeslides"". Ladyofthecake.com. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
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