"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]

"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 (1968-02-09)
Recorded	17 January 1968[1]
Studio	Philips Studios, Stanhope House, London
Genre	Psychedelic pop
Length	3:35
Label	Fontana TF903 (UK)[2] Imperial 66287 (US)
Songwriter(s)	Ken Howard Alan Blaikley[2]
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

Cover versions

• 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

• 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]

See also

• Xanadu

References