"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 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 whipcrack type sound in the chorus. The musical accompaniment was directed by John Gregory. The single was certified gold in November 1968.
The sound of the whip was actually the sound of two pieces of wood slapping together combined with Tich doing a pick slide.THE FORTUNES ON TOUR! - EPISODE FIVE - Sensational 60s Experience Tour - BILLINGHAM & WEYMOUTH (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGs7JM4yKto) - Beaky explains at 12:04
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".
Charts Chart (1968)PeakpositionAustralia (Go-Set)6Australia (Kent Music Report)6Canada (CHUM)7Denmark (Danmarks Radio)4Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)20Israel (Galei Tzahal)1Japan (Oricon Singles Chart)11Japan International (Oricon)1Malaysia (Radio Malaysia)2New Zealand (Listener)1Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 20001Singapore (Radio Singapore)1South Africa (Springbok Radio)7Spain (Promusicae)20Sweden (Kvällstoppen)4Sweden (Tio i Topp)1US Bubbling Under the Hot 100 (Billboard)123
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. 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. In 1992, the song was covered by English band the Fall for the NME various artists compilation album Ruby Trax.
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".
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