The New Seekers
Encyclopedia
The New Seekers are a British-based pop group, formed in 1969 by Keith Potger
Keith Potger
Keith Potger is one of the founding members of the Australian pop-folk group The Seekers. He was born in Ceylon and is of Burgher descent. In the Seekers, he played twelve string guitar and banjo, and sang...

 after the break-up of his group, The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...

. 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. They achieved worldwide success in the early 1970s.

Formation

The group was formed after the disbanding of the successful 1960s Australian band The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...

. Keith Potger
Keith Potger
Keith Potger is one of the founding members of the Australian pop-folk group The Seekers. He was born in Ceylon and is of Burgher descent. In the Seekers, he played twelve string guitar and banjo, and sang...

, a member of The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop music group which were originally formed in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States...

, put together The New Seekers in 1969, featuring Laurie Heath, Chris Barrington, Marty Kristian
Marty Kristian
Marty Kristian is a German-born Australian musician, he was a singer and 1970s heartthrob who was best known as a member of The New Seekers....

, Eve Graham
Eve Graham
Eve Graham is a Scottish singer, who found fame in the early 1970s with the pop group, The New Seekers.-Biography:...

, and Sally Graham (no relation to Eve Graham). Potger himself also performed and recorded with the group. After one single release, the line-up was reworked in 1970 to Eve Graham
Eve Graham
Eve Graham is a Scottish singer, who found fame in the early 1970s with the pop group, The New Seekers.-Biography:...

, Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul is an English pop singer and actress. She came to fame as a member of the international chart-topping pop group The New Seekers in the early 1970s...

, Marty Kristian
Marty Kristian
Marty Kristian is a German-born Australian musician, he was a singer and 1970s heartthrob who was best known as a member of The New Seekers....

, Peter Doyle
Peter Doyle (singer)
Peter John Doyle was an Australian pop singer who had success with a number of Top 40 hits in Australia in the 1960s, then success internationally as a member of the New Seekers in the early 1970s, before resuming a solo career in 1973.-Early career:He started his career at the age of 9 appearing...

, and Paul Layton
Paul Layton
Paul Layton is an English musician and former child actor. He is best known for being the bassist and vocalist of the group The New Seekers. In his career he has sold more than 35 million records worldwide....

. This line-up found instant success with their debut release, a cover of Melanie Safka
Melanie Safka
Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk is an American singer-songwriter. Known professionally as simply Melanie, she is best known for her hits "Brand New Key", "Ruby Tuesday" and "Lay Down ".-Early career:...

's "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma", (titled in the US as "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma") which became a top 20 hit in the US and a minor one in the UK.

Mainstream success

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
David Mackay (producer)
David Mackay is an Australian record producer/arranger and musical director. He was born in Sydney, Australia and began his music career at the age of 15 in a production of Bye Bye Birdie for J.C. Williamson Theatre Company...

). The song became a big hit in the UK, spending five weeks at No.2 in the singles chart and was one of the biggest selling singles of the year. 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
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing " is a popular song which originated as a jingle in the groundbreaking 1971 "Hilltop" television commercial for Coca-Cola. The song, produced by Billy Davis and performed by The New Seekers, portrayed a positive message of hope and love sung by a multicultural...

", the song became a worldwide success. It made No.1 in the UK for four weeks and sold just under a million copies. Today it still stands as one of the 100 best-selling singles ever in the UK. In the US, the song was also a hit, reaching No.7. It became a No.1 hit in many other countries and is the most recognised song by the group.

Late in 1971, the group were chosen to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1972
The Eurovision Song Contest 1972 was the 17th edition series. Monaco was unable to host this year's Eurovision as they were unable to provide the resources. They approached French TV, who agreed to produce the contest, but only if the contest was staged in France and not the planned Monte Carlo...

. They entered with the song "Beg, Steal or Borrow
Beg, Steal or Borrow
"Beg, Steal or Borrow" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972, performed in English by The New Seekers.The song was composed and written by Tony Cole, Steve Wolfe and Graeme Hall. In the night of the contest, the song was directed by David Mackay.The song is directed to a...

", which was chosen by viewers of BBC1's "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. The song was a No.2 hit in the UK and sold well in Europe. Around this time, they also charted highly with their most successful album, We'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
We'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
- UK version :With a line-up of newly recorded tracks, the group released an album under the same name in the UK and Europe in March 1972. As well as featuring the single "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", which had reached #1 in the UK, it also featured their then current single, "Beg, Steal...

, which reached No.2. Another top five hit came with the next single, "Circles" in mid 1972. At the end of the year, the group took part in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

's anniversary TV show Fifty Years Of Music
Fifty Years Of Music
Fifty Years Of Music is a one-off BBC Television production, broadcast to coincide with the BBC's Fiftieth Anniversary in 1972. Originally broadcast on BBC2 on 6 November 1972, from 8:50 – 10:05pm, it was later repeated on BBC1 on 27 December 1972, at 5:45pm...

.

The following year the group saw a slight dip, although they did score a top 20 hit with an adaptation of "Pinball Wizard
Pinball Wizard
"Pinball Wizard" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the English rock band The Who, and featured on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 on the U.S...

". Member Peter Doyle left the group this year and was replaced by Peter Oliver. The New Seekers had enjoyed a number of hits in the US by this time and toured there with Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....

 in 1973. While there, they recorded the title track to the American Marlo Thomas
Marlo Thomas
Margaret Julia “Marlo” Thomas is an American actress, producer, and social activist known for her starring role on the TV series That Girl . She also serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital...

 television special, Free to Be... You and Me, a landmark programme designed to teach children how to express themselves and be independent through a series of vignettes. Since the special was first broadcast in 1974 the song has become a cult classic.

Up to now, the group's biggest success had been as a five-piece harmony, but it was around this time that they began to favour lead singers for their songs with title credits given to Marty Kristian for "Come Softly to Me
Come Softly to Me
"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song written by Gretchen Christopher that was published in 1959 and was performed by The Fleetwoods, composed of Christopher, Gary Troxel, and Barbara Ellis. It was the first release for the new Dolphin Records label....

" and Eve Graham for "Nevertheless", but it was in late 1973 that this formula found its biggest success when Lyn Paul took the lead on the new single, "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me
You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me
"You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me is a 1973 single by The New Seekers. Written by Tony Macaulay and Geoff Stephens, arranged by Gerry Shury and produced by Tommy Oliver....

". The song became a big hit over Christmas and eventually peaked at No.1 in January 1974, becoming their second biggest hit. This formula continued with the next single, "I Get a Little Sentimental Over You", which also became a big hit, peaking at No.5. However, despite this revival, the group announced their split amid much publicity. With allegations that the members were receiving little financial reward for their success, The New Seekers officially disbanded in May 1974.

Reformation

In 1976, The New Seekers reformed with Kathy Ann Rae and Danny Finn replacing Lyn Paul and Peter Oliver. Although they never replicated their earlier success, the group did manage to score a few hits with "It's So Nice (To Have You Home)" (1976), "I Wanna Go Back" (1977) and "Anthem (One Day in Every Week)" (1978). This line up remained intact until 1979, when Danny Finn and Eve Graham left the group to marry. 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 been promoting the single. 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
Prima Donna (band)
Prima Donna were the United Kingdom representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980. The group comprised sisters Kate Robbins and Jane Robbins, Sally Ann Triplett, Danny Finn, Alan Coates and Lance Aston...

. In addition, Mick Flynn and Donna Jones of the current New Seekers line-up (2009) were also in the contest, placing fourth under the group name Pussyfoot
Pussyfoot
Pussyfoot was the name of a British recording act of the late 1970s.The act consisted of former The Mixtures member, songwriter, producer and musician Mick Flinn, and vocalist Donna Jones. Flinn remained behind the scenes, and Jones was marketed as a solo artist...

. 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. Paul Layton remained with the band throughout this time. Kathy Ann Rae died from cancer on 11 January 2011.

Today

Today's New Seekers toured from 2006 with the latest 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 some cover versions. 2006 was completed with a Royal Variety performance at St. James Palace, London for the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...

 and the Duchess of Cornwall
Duchess of Cornwall
The Duchess of Cornwall is the title held by the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. Duke of Cornwall is a non-hereditary peerage held by the British Sovereign's eldest son and heir....

 and an appearance on ITV's This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...

. 2007 saw the New Seekers help host a garden party at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...

. 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. 2009 was the 40th anniversary of the group and was celebrated by a 35-date UK concert tour which began at London's Shaw Theatre
Shaw Theatre
The Shaw Theatre is a theatre in Somers Town, in the London Borough of Camden. It is located near the Euston Road, beside the British Library and St Pancras Chambers , equidistant from King's Cross station and Euston station....

 on 31 January and continued throughout the year. 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 entering the UK album charts at No.17 – their first album to enter the chart for 35 years.
In 2011 Marty Kristian release an album of demo recordings from the 70's and 80's. This is available from Amazon.

Singles

Date Song UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...


AUS
Kent Music Report
The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...

US
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...


IRL
Album
October 1969 "Meet My Lord" - - - - The New Seekers
June 1970 "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma" 44 3 14 - Keith Potger and the New Seekers
October 1970 "Beautiful People / When There's No Love Left" - 100 67 - Beautiful People
March 1971 "Nickel Song" - 67 81 -
June 1971 "Never Ending Song of Love" 2 25 - 1
October 1971 "Good Old Fashioned Music" - - - - New Colours
December 1971 "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing " is a popular song which originated as a jingle in the groundbreaking 1971 "Hilltop" television commercial for Coca-Cola. The song, produced by Billy Davis and performed by The New Seekers, portrayed a positive message of hope and love sung by a multicultural...

"
1 7 7 1 We'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
March 1972 "Beg, Steal or Borrow
Beg, Steal or Borrow
"Beg, Steal or Borrow" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972, performed in English by The New Seekers.The song was composed and written by Tony Cole, Steve Wolfe and Graeme Hall. In the night of the contest, the song was directed by David Mackay.The song is directed to a...

"
2 36 81 3
June 1972 "Circles" 4 20 87 3 Circles
September 1972 "Dance Dance Dance" NR - 84 -
November 1972 "Come Softly to Me
Come Softly to Me
"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song written by Gretchen Christopher that was published in 1959 and was performed by The Fleetwoods, composed of Christopher, Gary Troxel, and Barbara Ellis. It was the first release for the new Dolphin Records label....

"
20 73 95 -
February 1973 "Pinball Wizard
Pinball Wizard
"Pinball Wizard" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the English rock band The Who, and featured on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 on the U.S...

-See Me Feel Me"
16 16 29 20 Now
March 1973 "Nevertheless" 34 96 - - -
June 1973 "Goodbye is Just Another Word" 36 - - -
September 1973 "We've Got to Do it Now" - - - -
November 1973 "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me
You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me
"You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me is a 1973 single by The New Seekers. Written by Tony Macaulay and Geoff Stephens, arranged by Gerry Shury and produced by Tommy Oliver....

"
1 5 - 1 Together
March 1974 "I Get a Little Sentimental Over You" 5 12 - 9
May 1974 "Sing Hallelujah" - - - - Farewell Album
June 1976 "It's so Nice (To Have You Home)" 44 72 - - Together Again
November 1976 2 "I Wanna Go Back" 25 - - -
May 1977 "Give Me Love Your Way"3 - - -
January 1978 "Flashback" - - - - Anthem – One Day in Every Week
March 1978 "Do You Wanna Make Love" - - - -
June 1978 "Anthem (One Day in Every Week)" 21 - - 15
November 1978 "You Needed Me
You Needed Me
"You Needed Me" became the second single for Irish Boyband Boyzone from their album By Request. The single became number #1 on the UK Singles Chart, beating the debut solo single of Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, outselling her by just 700 copies...

"
- - - - -
January 1979 "Don't Stop the Music" - - - -
October 1979 "Love is a Song" - - - -
March 1980 "Tell Me" - - - -
July 1980 "California Nights" - - - -
December 1985 "Let the Bells Ring out Forever" - - - -

NOTES

1 Not released in the UK

2 Charted in January 1977

3 Final single release in the US
  • Singles "Tonight" and "The Greatest Song I Ever Heard" were released in the US in 1971 and 1973 respectively (although neither charted)
  • "For You We Sing" was released as a single in many European countries in 1972
  • "All the Way" was released as a single in Australia in 1983

Albums

Date Album title UK
US
January 1970 The New Seekers
The New Seekers (album)
The New Seekers is the debut album by UK-based pop group The New Seekers. It was released in January 1970, just a few months after the group was formed by producer Keith Potger.- Overview :...

- NR
November 1970 Keith Potger and the New Seekers
Keith Potger and the New Seekers
Keith Potger and the New Seekers is a 1970 album by the UK-based pop group The New Seekers. It was the group's second album and their only one to feature the group's founder Keith Potger as a member.- Overview :...

- NR
May 1971 Beautiful People
Beautiful People (album)
- Never Ending Song of Love :By mid 1972, the group had achieved major success in the UK with two more top two hits; "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" and "Beg, Steal or Borrow" as well as a #2 album We'd Like to Teach the World to Sing...

- 136
September 1971 New Colours
New Colours
New Colours is a 1971 album by UK pop group The New Seekers. It was their first album released on the Polydor label.- Overview :In the UK, The New Seekers had failed to gain mainstream success until mid 1971 when the single "Never Ending Song of Love" reached #2 in the charts...

40 -
December 1971 (US)
March 1972 (UK)
We'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
We'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
- UK version :With a line-up of newly recorded tracks, the group released an album under the same name in the UK and Europe in March 1972. As well as featuring the single "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", which had reached #1 in the UK, it also featured their then current single, "Beg, Steal...

2 37
June 1972 Never Ending Song of Love 1 35 NR
September 1972 Circles
Circles (The New Seekers album)
Circles is a 1972 album by UK pop group The New Seekers. It was the group's sixth album and released at the peak of their success. In the UK the album was notably released in a cut-out circular sleeve.- Overview :...

23 166
November 1972 Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Live at the Royal Albert Hall (The New Seekers album)
Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a 1972 double-album by British pop group The New Seekers. The album was released in November, having been recorded some months earlier....

- -
January 1973 Come Softly To Me - 211
March 1973 Now
Now (The New Seekers album)
Now is a 1973 album by British pop group The New Seekers. It was retitled Pinball Wizards in the US.- Overview :Released in March 1973, the album coincided with the release of their latest hit single "Pinball Wizard - See Me Feel Me", which reached #16 in the UK. This single was a medley of two...

47 190
1973 The Best of the New Seekers (US release) NR -
March 1974 Together
Together (The New Seekers album)
Together is a 1974 album by British group The New Seekers. It features the No. 1 single "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" and the top five follow-up "I Get a Little Sentimental Over You"...

12 -
August 1974 Farewell Album - -
November 1976 Together Again - -
September 1978 Anthem – One Day in Every Week - -
2007 Live - -
July 2009 It's Been a Long Time – Greatest Hits and More 17 -


NOTES

1 Re-released version of Beautiful People
  • NR – Not released
  • In September 1973, an album, Peter, Paul and Marty was released by members Peter Doyle, Paul Layton and Marty Kristian. This included the New Seekers' single "Come Softly to Me".

External links

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