The New Seekers - Songbook 1970-1974 (2006) 2CDs

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The New Seekers - Songbook 1970-1974 (2006) 2CDs

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Pretty much a definitive collection of original recordings from THE NEW SEEKERS British catalogue, this 2CD represents the group at the peak of their success between 1970, with their opener hit, 'Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma' (a USA No14) through to the final British hit 'I Get A Little Sentimental Over You' (A UK No5) in 1974. The set takes you through the world-wide hits and the best of the album tracks, featuring their interpretations of songs by James Taylor, Melanie Safka, Goffin & King, Neil Diamond, Todd Rungdren, Harry Chapin, Harry Nilsson, Roy Wood, to name a few. Of course the set would not be complete, without the worldwide multi-million seller that is 'I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing' - from cola commercial to the biggest selling single of 1972 (7million copies shifted!). Much under-rated 35 years on, THE NEW SEEKERS shifted 25million records during their short five-year life-span, and were one of the few groups to emerge from the UK in the early 1970s to have a truly global impact. Now if we could get the same treatment for their American catalogue through Elektra and MGM Records, there'd be a lot more people singing. Hopefully you find this review helpful, and if so, let me know, as I was responsible for the compilation!

Review by Trevor Wright, Amazon.com

Like Abba, the New Seekers were a mainstream seventies pop group featuring two female singers, one of whom was blonde. Also like Abba, they enhanced their reputation as a result of competing in the Eurovision song contest, but that's where the similarities end. While Abba relied almost exclusively on their female singers to provide the vocals, only occasionally featuring one of the men as a lead vocalist, the men in the New Seekers were good singers who got plenty of chances to show it. And while Abba wrote all their own material apart from one medley, the New Seekers were quite happy to record songs from a variety of sources although they also recorded original material including songs written by members of the group.

Keith Potger, originally a member of the Seekers, formed the group but this time he was content to limit himself to being the manager. Eve Graham and Marty Kristian were founder members and remained with the group throughout their hit-making days. Three other founder members (Sally Graham, Chris Barrington and Laurie Hearh) quit before the group had really established themselves although they actually participated in the recording of a few tracks. Lyn Paul, Peter Doyle and Paul Layton replaced them and, with Eve and Marty, became the most familiar line-up. Peter Doyle was the first to quit (in 1973) being replaced by Peter Oliver. The group disbanded in 1974 but re-formed two years later peplacing Lyn Paul, who had gone solo, with Kathy Ann Rae, and with Danny Finn replacing Peter Oliver. That line-up recorded two albums that between them included three minor UK hits (I wanna go back, It's so nice to have you home, Anthem one day in every week). This music focuses exclusively on the music recorded up to 1974 but you can find most of their later music on a different compilation, Flashback: The Best of the New Seekers, that I've also reviewed. Since then, a comprehensive collection of their later material Together Again/Anthem has been released but I haven't heard that.

Here you can find all their classic hits including I'd like to teach the world to sing, Beg steal or borrow (their selected Eurovision entry), Never ending song of love (a Delaney and Bonnie song), Circles (a Harry Chapin song), You won't find another fool like me and I get a little sentimental over you. The group recorded six songs as possible Eurovision entrires and they're all here, the five not selected being One by one, Songs of praise, Out on the edge of beyond, Sing out and Why can't we all get together? The other tracks include covers of Melanie songs (Look what they've done to my song Ma, Nickel song, Beautiful people), James Taylor (Something), Neil Young (Dance dance dance), the Move (Blackberry Way), Bread (Look what you've done), Todd Rundgren (I saw the light), Neil Diamond (Song sung blue), Fleetwoods (Come softly to me), Dusty Springfield (Goin' back), the Who (a meddley of Pinball wizard / See me feel me), Carole King (Beautiful) and the traditional Morning has broken, possibly inspired by the Cat Stevens hit version. The song Evergreen is, of course, not a cover of the Barbra Streisand classic, which came later in the seventies anyway, but a completely different song that you may know by its more familiar title, How I love them old songs. Apart from all those familiar songs, there are some other gems here, my favorite among the obscurities being Jean's little street cafe.

With impeccable harmonies from five talented singers, this double CD shows what a brilliant group the New Seekers really were in their heyday.

Review by Peter Durward Harris, Amazon.com

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The New Seekers - Songbook 1970-1974 (2006) 2CDs

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The New Seekers - Songbook 1970-1974 (2006) 2CDs

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The New Seekers - Songbook 1970-1974 (2006) 2CDs

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