Tuesday, 2 July 2024

Namesakes #92: The Seekers

George is back to give me another day off... well, I'm trying to get ahead of myself in time for the summer holidays.

Rol has let me pollute his pages again, this time the bands are called The Seekers. Please note that none of the following songs will be prefaced by a comment denoting either approval or disapproval - in my previous outing here I was admonished by Ernie for offering an opinion of the quality (or lack of) of some of the music posted.

Ernie! What have you done!? You've sucked all the joy out of George doing this feature!

THE SEEKERS #1

First of all, the group with whom you will all be familiar (is that the correct grammar, Rol, no ending in a preposition?)

If William Shatner is allowed to end sentences in a preposition, it's good enough for me.

These Australian Seekers were the musical entertainment on a cruise ship, they somehow landed up in London, were offered work, and ended up staying and recording a plethora of albums and sold millions of records. Today’s choice has an interesting back story here, but I’ve chosen it because I can distinctly remember my mum singing along when I was a child. There is another single that I might have obviously chosen due to its title, but because of its title I always really hated it. And still do.

Phew. Looks like we're not completely ditching the opinions! You're off the hook, Ernie.

The Seekers - The Carnival Is Over

Christ, the memories of that song, it brings a tear to my eyes.

Enough of the lachrymosity. Time for some Jamaican Seekers...

THE SEEKERS #2



I’m offering no opinion on the absolute quality of THAT! As for the group, I only know they were from Jamaica, and that song dates from circa 1978. The compilation from which that track was taken, Roots Man Connection, could be worth tracking down. It’s also on  a Trojan Rockers 3 CD set which is certainly worth seeking out.

THE SEEKERS #3


Some songs have such a promising title that I feel obligated to seek them out. And I  am delighted to have found this from some Seekers (German), two blokes who share the same surname that might have derived from the Portuguese for caterpillar.


That was a taste of German techno. And it only took three seconds to find. 

THE SEEKERS #4


I am saddened that I cannot source any tune from these American Seekers from the 1970s who seem to have specialised in covers of old hymns and gospel songs, but no one has thought it a good idea to upload. Boo and hoo.

THE SEEKERS #5


Another genre, this time early 60s soul/R&B from some Seekers from New York.


Having sought out that tune, I’ll be keeping a copy for my Downloads series. 

THE SEEKERS #6


Unsurprisingly, there’s another american religious/gospel group going by the same name, this lot from Tennessee. And I am almost devastated that I cannot find a copy of “Your Walk Talks Louder Than Your Talk'll Walk” (an almost Beefheartian song title) or “Crumbs From Your Table” (the Dixie Echoes do a version of that song. It’s rubbish).

(That's more like the George I know!)

THE SEEKERS #7


Back to Europe, and Barcelona (Spain) for these cover band specialists:


That’s yours for only €1 plus whatever VAT is in your country. I  get my daily abatanado for less than that.

THE SEEKERS #8


There’s a third American religious lot of Seekers, from Lexington (Kentucky) but, alas, alas, I cannot bring you their version of “I’ll Be Alright As Soon As I Touch Calvary”. But if you find that title as appealing as I then you can find a version by The Bowling Family.

And don’t those Kentuckians dress well?

THE SEEKERS #9


Good grief, there’s another bunch of Seekers, this time from Asheville (North Carolina). Almost inevitably I am unable to find any tune from their possibly majestic album “Shake Hands With A Poor Boy”.

THE SEEKERS #10


And now………the final Seekers from America (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) but I don’t think this is some form of gospel-rap.


Yours for $1 plus your VAT.

THE SEEKERS #11


And finally, from London (England) some rather idiosyncratic Seekers...


I have a feeling that Rol will be acquiring this - it’s a bit bonkers, and it’s free.

(A gift for my Science Teacher pals, I reckon.)

So, 7 tracks, something for you to listen to in your lunchtime / annoy your co-workers with / entertain your stroppy Year 10s.

WAIT. There’s one more religious gospel Seekers from Louisiana!

THE SEEKERS #12


But yet again, I have  let Rol’s readers down by my failure to track down a song.

Thanks to Rol for yet again hosting my nonsense.

Thank you, George... I've had this Namesake on my radar for sometime, but I couldn't bear to go digging into some of the darker corners that you gamely ventured into today. Above and beyond the call of duty, as always.

Which Seekers would you seek out? And which would you seek to never hear again?
 

9 comments:

  1. To clarify. I was not admonishing George for having opinions. That would be like admonishing a bear for defecating in the woods. I was just expressing disappointment that by putting his opinions in the post itself it robbed the rest of us of the pleasure of seeing them emerge in 'real time' in the comments section, which is always one of the highlights of the day.

    To preempt any further requirement for clarification. My use of the bear analogy should not be interpreted as an oblique comment on my opinion of George's opinions.

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  2. I must admit that the downside of having George write these pieces is that I too miss his clinical - and cynical - analysis on a track by track basis.

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  3. Tie between 4, 6, 8, 9 and 12 for me. Alternatively, 1 and 2.

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  4. I can't find anything better than #1, despite listening to them all on loop for a week.

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  5. I can't find anything better than #1, despite listening to them all on loop for a week.

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  6. I can't find anything better than #1, despite listening to them all on loop for a week.

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  7. Sorry about that: my internet is playing silly buggers today.

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    1. I was thinking that you were so impressed with the song (#1) that you had to tell the world 3 times

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