The New Seekers: Difference between revisions

* [[Pop music|Pop]]

* [[GospelRock music|gospelrock]]

'''The New Seekers''' were a British pop group, formed in [[London]] in 1969 by [[Keith Potger]] after the break-up of his group, [[Thethe Seekers]]. The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but their music would have pop as well as folk influences. They achieved worldwide success in the early 1970s with hits including "[[I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing]]", "[[You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me]]" and "[[Beg, Steal or Borrow]]."

Despite their having only released one album with no commercial success, ITV's [[STV (TV channel)|Scottish Television]] gave the group their own TV series ''Finders, Seekers''. The line-up for this version of the group hosting the series was Keith Potger, Eve Graham, Sally Graham, Laurie Heath, Marty Kristian and Chris Barrington. Produced in colour, the show was given a prime-time slot, starting on March 27, March 1970 ([[Good Friday]]) and continuing for seven shows. The public did not take to the show, with several complaints seemingly targeted at the band. Despite the complaints, the series was shown on several ITV channels, sold to Canada, Australia and Sweden with interest from other countries as a result of being shown at the international television market in Cannes.

Following the series' failure, later in 1970, after one album release, the line-up was reworked to comprise Eve Graham, Kristian, [[Lyn Paul]], [[Peter Doyle (singer)|Peter Doyle]] and [[Paul Layton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_019.htm|title=Official site – 1970 line-up|publisher=Thenewseekers.com|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> This line-up found instant success with their debut release, a cover of [[Melanie Safka]]'s "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma" (titled in the U.S. as "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma"<ref>US Elektra Records release, #45699</ref>), which became a top 20 hit in the US, No. 3 in Canada, and a minor one in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_142.htm|title=Official site – Single releases, 1969–1970|publisher=Thenewseekers.com|date=26 June 1970|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref>

Over the next year, the group released a number of singles to little recognition, but it was in June 1971 that they released their breakthrough hit, "[[Never Ending Song of Love]]" (the first of many hit songs to be produced by [[David Mackay (Producer)|David Mackay]], and a cover of the American hit by [[Delaney & Bonnie]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_144.htm|title=Official site – "Never Ending Song of Love"|publisher=Thenewseekers.com|date=18 June 1971|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> The song became a big hit in the UK, spending five weeks at No. 2 in the [[UK Singles Chart]],<ref name=occ>{{cite web|title=New Seekers - Full Official Chart History|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14377/new-seekers/|website=Official Charts Company|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=19 January 2016}}</ref> and was one of the biggest selling singles of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com/chart3.html|title=Top selling singles on 1971|publisher=Everyhit.com|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> This was their last single released on the [[Philips Records]] label. The huge success of this single was mildly ironic in that prior to the single's release, the group were dropped by Philips and had signed with [[Polydor Records]]. Their first single for Polydor was "Good Old Fashioned Music", which they promoted on television (including an appearance on ''[[Top Of The Pops]]''), but it failed to chart. Towards the end of 1971, the group recorded an adaptation of the Coca-Cola jingle, "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke", which had gained much interest. Reworked as "[[I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing]]", the song became a worldwide success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_145.htm|title=Official site – "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing"|publisher=Thenewseekers.com|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> It made No. 1 in the UK for four weeks and sold just under a million copies.<ref name="occ"/> In the US, the song was also a hit, reaching No. 7, and in Canada it reached No. 3. It became a No. 1 hit in many other countries and is the most recognised song by the group.

The group were chosen to represent the [[United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest|United Kingdom]] in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1972|1972 ''Eurovision Song Contest'']]. They entered with the song "[[Beg, Steal or Borrow]]", which was chosen by viewers of [[BBC1]]'s ''[[List of Cliff Richard television appearances#It.27s Cliff Richard: Series 3|It's Cliff Richard!]]'' show from six shortlisted songs performed by the group on a weekly basis. They went on to finish in second place at the Eurovision final in [[Edinburgh]], where the group received the biggest cheer of the night from the partisan audience.<ref>O'Connor, John Kennedy. ''The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History''. Carlton Books, UK. 2007 {{ISBN|978-1-84442-994-3}}</ref> The song was a No. 2 hit in the UK and sold well in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_146.htm|title=Official site – "Beg, Steal or Borrow"|publisher=Thenewseekers.com|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> Around this time, they also charted highly with their most successful album, ''[[We'd Like to Teach the World to Sing]]'', which reached No. 2 in the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="occ"/> Another top five hit came with the next single, "Circles" in mid 1972.<ref name="occ"/> At the end of the year, the group took part in the [[BBC]]'s anniversary TV show ''[[Fifty Years Of Music]]''.

The group's two UK number one singles are listed as being in the top 30 best selling singles for the 1970s, with "I'd Like To Teach The World To sing" at No. 17 and "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" at No. 27.<ref name="youtube">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Dnw8dnKZews Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20141103035334/http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=Dnw8dnKZews Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnw8dnKZews|publisher=youtube.com|title=Best Selling Singles of the 1970s in the UK - YouTube|access-date=9 November 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> "We've Got To Do It Now" was used in a [[public information film]] about [[littering]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/Nl7FmbrMwjc|title=Keep Britain Tidy - Old Keep Britain Tidy Advert|website=[[YouTube]] |accessdate=8 May 2023}}</ref>

In 1980, the group attempted to represent the UK again in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] with the song "Tell Me", but it was disqualified shortly before the British heats were televised due to the fact the group had already performed the song on TV a year earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_514.htm|title=Official site – "Tell Me"|publisher=Thenewseekers.com|date=21 March 1980|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> Had they appeared in the 1980 UK contest, the group would have been up against former member Danny Finn, who was the lead singer of the winning group [[Prima Donna (UK band)|Prima Donna]]. In addition, Mick Flinn and Donna Jones of the final New Seekers line-up (2010) were also in the contest, placing fourth under the group name [[Pussyfoot]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://geocities.com/national_finals_70s_80s/UK1980.html |title= National Finals – 'A Song for Europe', 1980 |date=26 October 2009 |access-date=25 May 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091026233553/http://geocities.com/national_finals_70s_80s/UK1980.html |archive-date= 26 October 2009}}</ref>

Marty Kristian entered a song in the 1983 UK Eurovision finals, performed by a trio called 'Audio', which included Kathy Ann Rae in the line up.

Since then, there have been personnel changes which included Caitriona Walsh, Nicola Kerr and Vikki James ([[Grammy]] Winner [[Victoria Horn]]).<ref name="lynpaulwebsite">{{cite web|url=http://www.lynpaulwebsite.org/NS-James.htm|author=Steven Liddle|publisher=lynpaulwebsite.org|title=Lyn Paul website: New Seekers - Vikki James |access-date=9 November 2016}}</ref> Paul Layton remained with the band throughout this time.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_221.htm |title= Official site – Group line-up chronology |publisher= Thenewseekers.com |access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> The final tour was 2010.

Today's{{when|date=May 2024}} New Seekers toured from 2006 with the latest line up of Paul Layton, Donna Jones, Francine Rees, Mick Flinn and Mark Hankins.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} A CD of the 2006 tour was released which includes all of the group's hits along withand some cover versions. With a Royal Variety performance at [[St James's Palace]], London for [[Charles, Prince of Wales]] and [[Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall]] and an appearance on ITV's [[This Morning (TV series)|''This Morning'']], they completed 2006. The New Seekers helped host a garden party in 2007 at [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_545.htm|title=The New Seekers at Buckingham Palace|publisher=Thenewseekers.com|access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> This was repeated the following year along with a special show at [[The Tower of London]] and a return batch of concerts in British theatres.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} The 40th anniversary of the group in 2009 was celebrated by a 35-date UK concert tour, which began at London's [[Shaw Theatre]] on 31 January and continued throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_544.htm |title= 2009 40th anniversary tour |publisher=Thenewseekers.com |access-date=25 May 2011}}</ref> In July 2009, an album was released; ''It's Been Too Long – Greatest Hits and More'', comprising the group's hits and some new recordings. It became a success by enteringentered the UK Albums Chart at No. 17 –, their first album to enter that chart for 35 years.<ref name="occ"/>

In 2011 and 2012 Marty Kristian released two albums of demo recordings from the 1970s and 1980s.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

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