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 original group were born out of the ashes of successful Australian band The Seekers. Keith Potger, a member of The Seekers, put together The New Seekers in 1969, featuring Laurie Heath, Chris Barrington, Marty Kristian, Eve Graham and her sister Sally Graham. Potger himself also performed and recorded with the group. This line up was generally unsuccessful and soon disbanded. The most familiar line-up came together in 1970 and featured Eve Graham, Lyn Paul, Marty Kristian, Peter Doyle and Paul Layton. Doyle left the group in 1973 and was replaced by Peter Oliver.
In addition to having several big hits, the group represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972, finishing in second place. Author & Historian John Kennedy O'Connor notes in The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, [1] that they got the biggest cheer of the night from the live audience in Edinburgh. They were also hoping to represent the UK again in 1980 (albeit with only Paul & Marty still in the line up) with the song Tell Me but it was disqualified shortly before the televised final of A Song for Europe. Had they appeared in the 1980 UK contest, the group would have been up against their former lead singer Danny Finn who had recently married Eve Graham and was now the lead singer of the winning group Prima Donna. In addition, Mick Flynn and Donna Jones, two members of the current (2008) line up of The New Seekers were also in the field, competing under the group name Pussyfoot.
Their 1971 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 tracks by The New Seekers included Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma, Beautiful People, The Nickel Song, (all of which were written by Melanie Safka), Circles, Pinball Wizard/See Me, Feel Me, I Get A Little Sentimental Over You, and their second UK chart topper, You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me. The New Seekers went on to sell over 35 million records worldwide, equalling the eight UK Top Twenty entries by The Seekers. Indeed, they released four albums during 1972 alone. The group's releases were often billed to highlight the lead singer. Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You) was billed as Eve Graham & The New Seekers. Come Softly To Me was credited to The New Seekers featuring Marty and You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me was by The New Seekers with Lyn Paul.
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.
The New Seekers have continued to perform over the decades, despite having officially split up in 1974. They first reformed in 1976, with Kathy Ann Rae and Danny Finn replacing Lyn Paul and Peter Oliver. This line up remained intact until 1979, when Danny Finn and Eve Graham left the group to marry. Since then, there have been personnel changes which included Caitriona Walsh, Nicola Kerr and Vikki James. Paul Layton has remained with band throughout this time. The New Seekers toured in 2006 and 2007 with the established line up of: Paul Layton, Donna Jones, Francine Rees, Mick Flynn and Mark Hankins. A CD of the 2006 tour was released which includes all of the group's hits along with covers of 'Reflections', 'Run to Me' and 'Strangest Dream'. 2006 was completed with a Royal Variety performance at St. James Palace, London for HRH Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and an appearance on ITV's This Morning.2007 saw the New Seekers help host a garden party at Buckingham Palace. This was repeated the following year along with a special show at The Tower of London and a return batch of concerts in UK theatres. Details from the group's official web site www.thenewseekers.com
The group are currently managed by Nic Culverwell. Email: nicculverwellmgnt@btinternet.com
[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) - (1972) - Number 1.
- Beg, Steal Or Borrow - (1972) - Number 2.
- Circles - (1972) - Number 4.
- Come Softly To Me - (1972) - Number 20.
- Pinball Wizard - See Me, Feel Me (Medley) - (1973) - Number 16.
- Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You) - (1973) - Number 34.
- Goodbye Is Just Another Word - (1973) - Number 36.
- We've Got To Do It Now - (1973)
- You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me - (1974) - 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.
- Don't Stop The Music - (1979)
- Tell Me - (1980)
[edit] Albums
- Beautiful People - (1970).
- 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)
- Together Again - (1976)
- Anthems - (1978)
- The New Seekers Live - (2007)
[edit] References
- ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History. Carlton Books, UK, 2007. ISBN 978-1-84442-994-3
