Vinyl-a-Day 45: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - “If No One Sang” (Fontana/Imperial, 1968)

Another seminal British rock group who had a string of hits and were one of the most popular groups of the era, but just do not get talked about enough in the US. “If No One Sang” contains their #3 UK hit “Zabadak!” (#52 in the US) and their #1 UK hit, the epic “The Legend of Xanadu,” with its mariachi-influenced guitar and trumpet parts as well as an inspired whip-cracking sound effect in the refrain. And of course the two singles are great as they were written by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, the team behind many 60s and 70s hits including “Have I the Right?” by The Honeycombs and Elvis’ “I’ve Lost You.” Howard and Blaikley penned most of the material on the album, save for a few cuts like a cover of Tim Hardin’s “If I Were a Carpenter,” which is the only track which feels like filler. Other highlights include "Where From Where To", "In a Matter of Moment", and “The Tide Is Turning.”