Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1966
Dandy (song)
Buy Dandy (song) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'Dandy'" is a 1966 song by the Kinks, appearing on their album 'Face to Face'.
Release and reception
"Dandy" was only released in Britain and America on the 'Face to Face' album. However, it was released as a single in continental Europe, where it charted, reaching #1 in Germany, #2 in Belgium #3 in the Netherlands and #6 in Austria. In some countries, (such as Norway) "Dandy" was flipped with "Party Line" (also from 'Face to Face') as the A-side.
'AllMusic's Stewart Mason said of "Dandy" that "Davies delivers the lyrics, about a neighborhood lothario, with just the right mixture of disgust and admiration; his slyly witty vocals are truly what makes the song. Musically, the tune harks back to the music hall tradition of George Formby; Dave Davies' guitar is so trebly and clean that it sounds like a ukulele or perhaps an electrified rubber band and the gently swinging tune sounds like it could have been an old vaudeville hit. 'Dandy' is a charming, slightly subversive, gem." Stephen Thomas Erlewine, also from 'AllMusic', noted "the music hall shuffle of 'Dandy'" as a "wonderful moment" from 'Face to Face'.
'Dandy' was a regular feature of the Kinks live act from 1966 to 1969 but was dropped thereafter.
Charts
Herman's Hermits version
"Dandy" became a hit single in North America in 1966 as recorded by fellow UK group Herman's Hermits in that same time frame, reaching #1 in Canada on the 'RPM' national singles chart and #5 in the US on the 'Billboard' Hot 100. It also made #3 in New Zealand. This version was not released as a single in the UK.
When comparing the Kinks' original version of "Dandy" to Herman's Hermits' cover, Stewart Mason of 'AllMusic' said, "Herman's Hermits would have the US hit with Ray Davies' 'Dandy,' but the Kinks' own version, from 1966's masterful 'Face To Face', is far superior to Peter Noone's charming but gormless rendition." 'Cash Box' called the Herman's Hermits' version "a delectable item."
Charts
The Rockin' Vickers version
The Rockin' Vickers also released "Dandy" as the A side to a 1966 single. (Their main claim to fame was that Lemmy was a band member before his stint with Hawkwind and his formation of Motrhead.) British singer Clinton Ford also released a version of the song as a single in the same year.
David Garrick versions
The Kinks' Pye Records label mate David Garrick included the song on his 1967 album "A Boy Named David", as well as a live version on the 1968 German release "David Garrick and the Dandys - Blow-Up Live".
Notes
References
Sources
*
Category:1966 singles
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
Category:The Kinks songs
Category:Herman's Hermits songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Shel Talmy
Category:Song recordings produced by Mickie Most
Category:Songs written by Ray Davies
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Pye Records singles
Category:MGM Records singles
Category:1966 songs
Buy Dandy (song) now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1966