Even if the group had never been formed, Dave Dee (real name David Harman) still had a claim to fame. In 1960 he was a policeman in Wiltshire and was called out to attend a traffic accident. It was the crash that killed Eddie Cochran and injured Gene Vincent.
Together with four of his mates from Wiltshire, Dave formed Dave Dee and the Bostons, but in 1964 a couple of songwriters, Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley took them under their wing, changed the band's name to include everyone and wrote some of their biggest hits.
The band's 3rd single, but the first to make the charts, was 'You Make It Move' released in 1965. The floodgates really opened though between February 1966 and September 1968 when they had a total of 11 songs in the top 20, 7 of them top 10 hits and 'Legend of Xanadu' reaching #1.
I've previously mentioned that in 1967 I had left home and was living in Brisbane when the Animals came to town. On the same bill was DDDBM&T, so I got to see them live in the middle of their popularity.
Although essentially a 'pop' group, when you really look at some of their songs they could almost be classed as an early 'world music' band. 'Zorba's Dance' from the movie 'Zorba the Greek' was a hit in 1965 and the following year DDDBM&T released 'Bend It'. The Greek influence is unmistakable when you play them back-to-back. Want to try a Latin beat? Listen to 'Save Me' from the end of '66. By 1967 we got the African style percussion in the fantastic track 'Zabadak', full of made up words and nonsense to hold together the two English verses. Want some whip-cracking effects - literally !! - then turn up the volume and play 'Legend of Xanadu' and throw in some pseudo-Mariachi trumpets while you're at it.
This is an early album but if you want a fuller discography you'll need to go CD or digital. Trust me, it's worth it.
Dave Dee passed away in 2009 after being with the band from the beginning.
There have been 2 Dozy's, the original Trevor Ward-Davies left in 2015
There have been 3 Beaky's, the original John Dymond left in '89, had a couple of replacements but then came back in 2013.
There have been 3 Mick's, the original Michael Wilson stayed until 1975.
There have been 2 Tich's, the original Ian Amey played through until 2014.
Some other songs worthy of mention are 'Last Night in Soho', 'The Wreck of the 'Antoinette'' and the very obscure, very Beatle-esque 'Mrs. Thursday'.
If you are old enough, cast your mind back and relive the simple pleasures of DDDBM&T as they bounce through the 60's.
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