Lenny Zakatek
Band members Related acts
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line-up 1 (1979) - Lenny Zakatek (aka Lenny du Platel) -- vocals, guitar, bass
supporting musicians: (1979) - Robert Ahwai -- lead guitar - Ian Bairnson -- lead guitar, backing vocals - Marylin Bairson -- backing vocals - George Chisholm -- trumpet, flugelhorn - Stuart Elliott -- keyboards - John Giblin -- drums, percussion, backing vocals - Steve Gregory -- sax - Max Middleton -- rhythm guitar, backing vocals
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- Gonzalez (Lenny Zakatek) - The Immortals (Robert Ahwai and Lenny Zakatek) - The Alan Parsons Project (Lenny Zakatek) - Zakatek
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Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Lenny Zakatek Company: A&M Catalog: SP
4777 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: promo stamp on back cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5552 Price: $40.00
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I was pawing though a bunch of albums at a yard sale and came across this one. Seriously, how could you not buy this album? I mean a household name like Lenny Zakatek? And what about the classic album cover? Pageboy hair cut; leather pants; open shirt and chain, woman sprawled on the carpet next to Zakatek's smirking face ... it's has to be a '70s classic. Initially I just smirked myself, but I recognized Lenny Zakatek as having provided lead vocals on a number of Alan Parsons Project LPs. I liked his work on those album ("Games People Play" started spinning in my head), so for the $2.00 asking price I was willing to give it a shot.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan (at the time it was still part of India), in 1960 the du Platel family relocated to London. Lenny quickly took a shine to rock and roll and in 1964 formed the cover band The Trailblazers. With du Platel serving as lead singer and rhythm guitarist the band won a contract to play at US military bases throughout Europe. The tour introduced him to Motown and when the tour ended he disbanded the group, quickly forming Funky Fever. Funky Fever became staples on the London club scene and toured England with a number of American soul acts.
du Platel's big break came in the early 1970s when he was spotted by songwriter writer Lynsey DePaul and comedian/keyboardist Dudley Moore. The pair suggested he change his name to "Zakatek" (wonder what the thought process was there) and helped him score a solo contract with Bell Records. Bell teamed him with singer/songwriter DePaul and a pubescent 10cc recording a series of interesting and eclectic, if unsuccessful, singles using the band's Strawberry Studios.
- 1973's '"I Gotcha Now" b/w "So Good To You" (Bell catalog number 1289) - 1973's "Get Your Gun" b/w "Gotta Runaway" (Bell catalog number 1335) - 1974's"Roter Man" b/w "Gotta Runaway" (Bell catalog number 2008 064)
A German-only release, "Roter Man" (translated as "Red Man") was a German language version of the earlier "Get Your Gun" 45. Gunter Gabriel translated the lyrics with Zakatek doing his best to sing the lyrics phonetically. I think Gabriel may have intoned the spoken word section. The German picture sleeve cover was ironic for showing the India born Zakatek in Native American costume. What is it with Germans and Native American culture?
The mid-1970s found Zakatek a member of the London-based funk band Gonzalez, playing on their second and third albums (1977's "Our Only Weapon Is Our Music" (Capitol catalog number ST-11644 which included the group's biggest hit - the Grace Jones produced disco stomper "Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet" and 1978's "Shipwrecked" (Capitol catalog number SW-11855).
In 1977 Zakatek was invited to record some vocals for The Alan Parsons Project "I Robot" album. That led to a longstanding partnership with Parsons, including touring with Parsons when he finally hit the road in the early 1990s.
With
help from Parsons, Zakatek signed a recording contract with A&M,
debuting with 1979's "Lenny
Zakatek". First the obvious - given
Zakatek's association with The Alan Parsons Project it was only natural to
compare the album against his Parsons catalog. Produced by Par
Executive summary: great voice, not so great material. Naturally the set disappeared without a trace in the States.
"Lenny
Zakatek" track listing: 1.) Do It Right (Max Middleton - Lenny Zakatek) - 2:55 rating: *** stars Starting a song out with a Clavinet is simply unfair as it doesn't give me a chance to dislike the song. The funky "Do It Right" could easily have been a Gonzalez effort. Even though it wasn't great if had enough energy to make you start to twitch while serving as a nice platform for Zakatek's gritty, radio friendly voice. The song was tapped as a UK single and a US promotional release:
- 1979's 'Do It Right' b/w 'Viens" (A&M catalog number AMS 7492)
2.) One Is a Lonely Number (W. Sela - N. Nipear) - 4:30 rating: *** stars I have an affinity for yacht rock so I kind of liked the smooth "One Is a Lonely Number". With a catchy title chorus, the track would not have sounded out of place on an Ambrosia, Pablo Cruise, or Michael McDonald solo album. 3.) Was It Easy (John Giblin) - 3:20 rating: *** stars The brass and fretless bass opening gave "Was It Easy" an unexpected jazzy vibe. When Zakatek's smooth voice kicked in the song shifted into adult contemporary easy listening territory - think along the lines of a funky Boz Scaggs. It certainly won't interest everyone and may put off some of his Alan Parsons Project fans, but I kind of dug it. 4.) Keep a Little Sunshine (D. Lewis) - 3:54 rating: ** stars "Keep a Little Sunshine" was another big, radio-friendly ballad. Nice vocal, but combined with the saccharine lyrics, it was a little to MOR-ish for my tastes. 5.) Memories (John Giblin) - 1:45 rating: ** stars Another hyper-sensitive ballad anyone? Not for me.
(side
2) No it wasn't a typo ... The title translated as "Come". Makes sense given the ballad was written by French artist Michel Zacha. Complete with French chorus and Andy Powell's heavy orchestration, the electric piano power "Viens" was pretty, but in an anonymous Yacht Rock fashion. The song also served as the "B: side of Zakatek's "Do It Right" 45. 2.) We Will Never Find (John Giblin) - 5:10 rating: *** stars The third of four compositions from drummer John Giblin, "We Will Never Find" was another pretty ballad, but by this time I'll admit to being overwhelmed by the ballads. 3.) It's a Dancer (John Giblin - Lenny Zakatek) - 4:45 rating: *** stars Just the fact it wasn't another ballad meant "It's a Dancer" was worth hearing. While it wasn't great, hearing Zakatek trotting out his "rock" vocal moves was also a nice change of pace. 4.) Couldn't We Try (S. Waller) - 4:30 rating: *** stars And let's close the set out with a ballad ...
© Scott R. Blackerby Octiber 2025
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Zakatek's next release came in the form of a one-shot disco effort:
- 1982's 'Say I Love You' b/w 'Say I Love You (remix' (London catalog number LONX-004.
In 1986 he joined Queen bassist John Deacon and guitarist Robert Ahwai in the short lived The Immortals. The group recorded a soundtrack album for the film "Biggies Adventures In Time" and saw a single released off the set, but quickly disappeared when Deacon apparently decided to return to a private lifestyle:
- 1982's 'No Turning Back' b/w 'No Turning Back (Chocks Away Mix)') (MCA catalog number MCA 1057)
For anyone curious, here's a link to a YouTube clip showing the accompanying video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wamv7Yi-E6c&NR=1
By the mid-1980s Zakatek's solo career had sputtered out. He continued to record and tour with Parsons, but increasingly turned his attention to the business side of the house, including music publishing (All Zakatek Music) and producing. He somehow ending up in Japan where he began managing artists. Among his clients were Tomoyasu Hotei, Miki Imai, and Kumiko Yamashita. He also found the time to remain active in the UK music scene, where he handled 7th Heaven, Huff and Herb, and The 3 Jays.
There's actually a second Zakatek album - 1989's "Small But Hard". Released by the Japanese Victor label (catalog number VDP-1406), I've never seen, nor heard a copy but would love to score a copy.
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sons and with backing from Alan Parsons Project alumni Ian Bairnson and
Stuart Elliott, the album frequently had a similar sound and feel to a
Parsons release. Absent was a unifying concept and the caliber of
material found on most Parsons albums. That led to the main draw - Zakatek's
chameleon-like voice. The guy had one of those voices that seemed to
effortless flit between different genres. I remember playing the album
for a friend who was convinced it was an Ambrosia LP that he'd somehow
missed. Anyone doubting the comparison need only listen to tracks like
"One Is a Lonely Number" and "We Will Never Find"
where Zakatek's performances couple
with glistening AOR melodies came off as a dead ringer for David Pack and
company. Elsewhere the single "Do It Right" and "Was It
Easy" showcased his
top-40 pop capabilities. The former should have been a massive
hit. Equally commercial, but far less impressive to my ears were big
ballads like "Memories", "Keep a Little
Sunshine" and "Viens".
That overabundance of ballads was one of the album's Achilles heel.
Had the emphasis shifted to more up tempo numbers like "It's a
Dancer" and this would have gotten four stars from me (as if
anyone cared). 
