The New Seekers

‘The New Seekers’ were formed on the back of the split of the 60’s Australian folk group ‘The Seekers’.  Keith Potger formed the group in 1969, however the initial line up of ‘The New Seekers’ would change when a decision was made to move the genre of the band from Folk to a more Rock/Pop influence.  Marty Kristian and Eve Graham would be the only remaining original line up members and joining them would be Lyn Paul, Peter Doyle and Paul Layton.  They would have many hits in both the UK and the US including, ‘Look what they’ve done to my song, ma’, ‘Never ending song of love’ and ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’. 

From group harmony’s they began to shift focus towards individual singers within the group and often record releases stated ‘The New Seekers’ featuring ‘Eve Graham’ or whoever happened to be on lead vocals.

My personal favourite was one of their biggest hits and featured Lyn Paul on lead vocals, ‘You won’t find another fool like me’.  The flip side of the record was sung by Eve Graham and was entitled, ‘Song for you and me’.

It was in 1972 that the group were chosen to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision and each week they performed on the ‘It’s Cliff Richard show’ until the winning song, ‘Beg, Steal or Borrow’ was chosen with Lyn Paul and Peter Doyle as lead vocalists.  Cliff Richard would the following year enter the Eurovision with ‘Power to all our friends’. 

‘Beg, Steal or Borrow’ placed second at the 1972 Eurovision and also climbed to the number two position in the UK charts.

After another hit single in 1974, ‘I get a little sentimental over you’ the band announced a surprise split less than five years after they were formed.

In 1976 they reformed but without Lyn Paul and Peter Doyle.  Two new artists Danny Finn and Kathy Ray joined the group but while they had moderate success they never achieved the success they once had.  In 1979 Danny Finn and Eve Graham left the group and in 1980 ‘The New Seekers’ once again attempted to represent the UK in the Eurovision but were disqualified for promoting the song before the heats began.  Instead Danny Finn who had left the group the previous year did go onto represent the UK in 1980 as part of a group called ‘Prima Donna’ singing ‘Love enough for two’ which finished third.

In 1977 Lyn Paul entered ‘A song for Europe’ finishing fourth with ‘If everybody loved the same as you’.   This would go onto become a much loved song in the gay community.    Lynsey De Paul and Michael Moran would represent the UK with ‘Rock Bottom’ coming second.  My vote still is with Lyn Paul.

‘The New Seekers’ are still going with Paul Layton the only original member left in the group.  In 2009 a greatest hits compilation including new songs was released entering the album charts at number 17. 

From its original start in Australia as ‘The Seekers’ in 1962 to its nostalgic tours of present day ‘The New Seekers’ left behind an amazing legacy interwoven with the trials and tribulations of tangled love lives and questionable management. Their story is one movies are made of, let’s hope someday that may happen.