The New Seekers
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The New Seekers were a British / German / Australian pop group, formed in 1969 by Keith Potger after the break-up of his group, The Seekers. The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but their music had rock as well as folk influences.
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[edit] History
The most familiar line-up included Eve Graham, Lyn Paul, Marty Kristian, Peter Doyle and Paul Layton. In addition to having several big hits, the group represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972. They were hot favourites to represent the UK again in 1980 with the song "Tell Me" but it was disqualified shortly before the televised final of "A Song for Europe".
Their hit single "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca-Cola, appeared 81st on the list of the UK's best-selling singles issued in 2002. It sold just under one million copies in the United Kingdom alone. The version used in the Coca-Cola television commercials was credited to The Hillside Singers, as many people of various backgrounds and cultures sang the song, holding Coca-Cola bottles on a hillside in the commercial. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" was so firmly connected with the Coca-Cola product that it eventually became known as "The Coke Song". The song was relaunched in Coca-Cola commercials in 2005.
Other hit singles by The New Seekers included "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma", "Beautiful People" and "The Nickel Song", all of which were written by Melanie Safka. The New Seekers went on to sell over 25 million records worldwide, equalling the eight UK Top Twenty entries by The Seekers. Indeed, they released four albums during 1972 alone.
They also performed the title track to the now-legendary Marlo Thomas television special, "Free To Be...You And Me", a landmark program designed to teach kids how to express themselves and be independent through a series of vignettes which was rebroadcast on the cable network TV Land in late 2006 as a special add-on to their initial run of the classic series, THAT GIRL. Since the special was first broadcast in 1973 the song itself has since become a pop cult classic in its own right.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- Meet My Lord (Kelly) (1969) - Philips BF 1821
- Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma - (1970) - UK Number 44.
- Neverending Song Of Love - (1971) - Number 2.
- I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) - (1971) - Number 1.
- Beg, Steal Or Borrow - (1972) - Number 2.
- Circles - (1972) - Number 4.
- Come Softly To Me - (1971) - Number 20.
- Pinball Wizard - See Me, Feel Me (Medley) - (1973) - Number 16.
- Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You) - (1973) - Number 24.
- Goodbye Is Just Another Word - (1973) - Number 36.
- We've Got To Do It Now - (1973)
- You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me - (1973) - Number 1.
- I Get A Little Sentimental Over You - (1974) - Number 5.
- Sing Hallelujah - (1974)
- It's So Nice (To Have You Home) - (1976) - Number 44.
- I Wanna Go Back - (1977) - Number 25.
- Anthem (One Day In Every Week) - (1978) - Number 21.
[edit] Albums
- New Colours - (1971) - Number 40.
- We'd Like To Teach The World To Sing - (1972) - Number 2.
- Never Ending Song Of Love - (1972) - Number 35.
- Circles - (1972) - Number 23.
- Live at The Royal Albert Hall - (1973)
- Now - (1973) - Number 47.
- Together - (1974) - Number 12.
- Farewell Album - (1974)
