Search - Seekers :: Very Best Ot the Seekers

The Seekers Still Rock!

Mel C. Thompson | san francisco | 06/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great "best-of" collection. I grew up listening to Georgy Girl, but never bought the albums of the band, nor knew their name till just recently. The song holds up decades later. It's a great psychoanalytic work co-authored by the genius Tom Springfield.



The second most important work on this record, also one of the many Tom Springfield works the Seekers performed, was "I'll Never Find Another You." This is arguably tied with a few other songs for the title of best song by The Seekers. Unfortunately, the recording suffered from production limitations that were typical at the time, and I still believe it's not been properly remastered. That being said, the song is a must for any serious folk music library. And personally, the song really tells about the feeling life-partners should have for each other. I never really valued this song as I should have till I got much older, (wishing I'd had a relationship such as the song described).



It's notable that they do a good version of Blowing In The Wind. When I bought the album I was disappointed to see another version of this song, but they actually do a good version, and it's worth hearing. I think their straight-laced approach to the song wears well, whereas other more emotional versions get a bit tiring.



All of this points to the single most amazing feature of The Seekers, the crystal clear, precise, full and blessed voice of Judith Durham. She shares with Karen Carpenter a selflessness and perfection. Like Karen Judith didn't get in the way of the music, but like a great classical pianist, really interpreted the composers' intent and delivered. She is low-key and really powerful. Her rendition of Danny Boy, an old classic of the isles, is simply a knockout. Again, you may have thought you've heard this song done by too many artists, but check this one out too. It's worth it.



I think it's fabulous that a Paul Simon song appears on here, a song I've not yet heard Simon do, "Someday, One Day." I think this must have been written in an earlier, more idealistic, phase of Simon's life. It strikes one has deliciously uplifting and innocent. One frankly could not picture Simon embarking upon such sweetness in his mid-career phase. In any case, it's all for the best that The Seekers took the song and made a joy of it.



Lastly, one has to be blown out of the water by the sheer spiritual force of Kumbaya. I'm a former Jesus Freak, now Hindu/Buddhist, who still loves that song totally and I still feel a strong bond to that song. The song always seemed eternal to me as a youth in a Southern Baptist church. I had some of my first profound religious experiences singing that song in a religious Youth Camp as a nine-year-old. How amazing that Durham, the lead Seeker, actually helped write that song, (at least according to the credits, if I'm reading them right). In any case, the version they do of this number is enough to raise the most cynical soul to life.



Long live The Seekers!



"

Knockout "Live" version of "The Carnival Is Over" missing...

Samuel J. Herd | Broome, WA, Australia | 06/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whilst this is a superb CD featuring the brilliant talents of the original Seekers, Judith Durham, principal vocalist and occasional pianist; Athol Guy, upright bassist; Keith Podger, 6 & 12-string guitarist & Bruce Woodley, guitarist and banjoist, the version of "The Carnival Is Over" on here is the studio cut; there is somewhere out there in the EMI vaults a knockout "live version" of this song recorded (I think) at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne when the group made their triumphant homecoming in March of 1967 before a massive crowd (estimated at over 200,000) that captured the immensely appreciative applause of those in attendance that day; very moving indeed.



So please EMI do us all a huge favour and include the "live version" (as well as the studio version) of "The Carnival Is Over" on future releases of "The Best of The Seekers" CDs as it's truly an amazing track which aficionados of the Seekers will treasure. (I have the "live" version on vinyl - great track!)"

Memories of Long Ago

Mellow Fellow | Little Rock, Arkansas United States | 01/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thanks to XM Satellite Radio in my car, I was able to buy this CD and have the biggest suprise of my life. When I was on the 60's station on last year, I heard the songs, "I'll Never Find Another You" and "A World Of Our Own". I then learned that the group that sanged these songs was 'The Seekers'. In going to the list of tracks, I learned that they made "Georgy Girl"-a song that I enjoyed from regular radio. I said to myself that I will order this CD. When I played the CD my car, that was when the suprise came.The song "Morning Train Ride" I haven't heard in over 35, maybe 40 years. That song was a song of my youth. My dearly departed mother, used to hum and sing this song, when I was in my pre-teens. I cried when I heard it last year. (Thus the name "Mellow-Fellow") I enjoyed the music of this and others group of the 60's.As a Black youth listening to songs such as these, it was my mother's influence, because of the strict upbring that I had and that was frowned on by my peers.(and I didn't mind the music either!!) This CD is special to me!!"