"Zabadak!"
Cover of the single released in the Netherlands and Austria
Single by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
from the album If No-One Sang
B-side"The Sun Goes Down"
Released29 September 1967
Recorded6 September 1967[1]
StudioChappell Studios, London
GenrePsychedelic pop
Length3:35
LabelFontana
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Rowland
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich singles chronology
"Okay!"
(1967)		 "Zabadak!"
(1967)		 "The Legend of Xanadu"
(1968)

"Zabadak!" is a song by British musical group Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, written by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley.[2] It was released as a single in September 1967, peaking at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and becoming the group's only single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 52.[3][4]

The song uses pseudo-African style percussion (created in the studio by the group) and a nonsense lyric in its repetitive chorus, to highlight the meaning of its two verses (sung in English). This use of an African motif was typical of the group's dabbling with other world styles of music, such as the Latin style of "Save Me" and the Greek style of "Bend It!"[5]

The group also recorded a version of "Zabadak!" in Italian, which was released as a single there backed with an Italian-language version of "Save Me".[6] However, the single failed to chart. Both tracks were later included as bonus tracks on the 2003 CD release of If No-One Sang.[7]

Reception

Reviewing for New Musical Express, Derek Johnson described "Zabadak" as "loaded with appeal and yet completely different from anything they have previously waxed. The basic influences are a blend between Afro-Cuban and Peruvian Incan. Add to this a catchy and continually-repeated chorus, some very attractive counter-harmonies, a pulsing beat with throbbing conga drums, and a lush string section in the background – plus a haunting tune that nags at the brain – and you've got a Hit".[8] Billboard wrote that this "African flavored rhythm item has much of the feel of "Pata Pata".[9] In a guest column for Disc and Music Echo, Radio Caroline DJ Johnnie Walker praised "Zabadak!" as "a well-produced record and a different sound".[10]

Track listing

7": Fontana / TF 873

  1. "Zabadak!" – 3:35
  2. "The Sun Goes Down!" – 2:48

7": Star-Club / 148 595 STF (Germany)

  1. "Zabadak" – 3:35
  2. "Nose for Trouble" – 4:01

Charts

Chart (1967–68) Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set)[11] 32
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 43
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[15] 16
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 1
Denmark (Danmarks Radio)[17] 19
Germany (Official German Charts)[18] 6
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 7
Malaysia (Radio Malaysia)[20] 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 4
New Zealand (Listener)[23] 4
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)[24] 4
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[25] 13
Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[26] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 52
US Cash Box Top 100[27] 56

Cover versions

  • In 1967, German pianist Horst Jankowski released an instrumental version of the song on his album And We Got Love.[28]
  • In 1967, British band The Sorrows released an Italian-language version of the song as a single only in Italy.[29]
  • In 1979, German band Saragossa Band released a cover of the song as a single, which peaked at number 6 in Germany and number 8 in Austria.[30][31]
  • In 1980, German organist Franz Lambert released an instrumental version on his album Pop-Orgel-Hit-Parade 6.[32]
  • In 2000, Czech band Těžkej Pokondr released a Czech-language version, titled "Zabávať", on their album Ježek v peci.[33]
  • In 2008, German band beFour included a version on their album We Stand United

References

  1. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich – September 1967". 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Zabadak! - Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick Tich: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  4. 1 2 "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. ↑ Bend It, retrieved 29 July 2022
  6. ↑ "Zabadak! / Follemente Vivo (Save Me)". 45cat. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "CD Album: Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich - If No-One Sang (2003)". Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "Another big hit for Dave Dee" (PDF). New Musical Express. 7 October 1967. p. 8. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  9. ↑ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 16 December 1967. p. 69. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  10. ↑ Walker, Johnnie (25 November 1967). "Hit Talk" (PDF). Disc and Music Echo: 3. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Go-Set Australian charts - 24 January 1968". gosetcharts.com. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  12. ↑ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  13. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Zabadak" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Zabadak" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Zabadak" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 100171." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  17. ↑ "danskehitlister.dk". 2 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  18. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Zabadak" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  19. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Zabadak". Irish Singles Chart.
  20. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 6 January 1968. p. 39. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. ↑ "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Zabadak" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. ↑ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  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. ↑ "Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick And Tich – Se alla låtar och listplaceringar". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  27. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending February 3, 1968". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  28. ↑ "Horst Jankowski – And We Got Love (1967, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  29. ↑ "The Sorrows – Zabadak (1967, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  30. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  31. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Saragossa Band - Zabadak". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  32. ↑ "Franz Lambert – Pop-Orgel Hit-Parade 6 (1980, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  33. ↑ "Těžkej Pokondr - Ježek V Peci". Discogs. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
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