The Seekers are an Australian folk-pop quartet who were the first ever to emerge from their home country to go on to enjoy continued success and create major chart-toppers both in the UK and US. With lead female vocals and the unique use of a double bass and 12-string guitar, this band had a different sound, plus they were seen as exotic.
The Seekers’ sound is bright and bubbly. With an uptempo rhythm and flow, their music straddles the spot between sounding strictly folk and rough like rock. Their jovial, jazz-influenced, doo-wop genre helped them find their place amongst the movers and shakers of the time, giving them a couple of hit songs.
1964 single, “I’ll Never Find Another You” hit #1 in the UK in February 1965. Not bad for the band’s first UK-released single. It even climbed the charts in the US, reaching #4 and #2 on the Pop and Easy Listening Billboard Hot 100 charts, respectively.
In this video, we get cozy with the band as they set up at Abbey Road Studios in London. The band is in the recording studio, tuning up their instruments, while the sound technicians make sure their equipment is good to go. It’s an inside scoop for fans to get a real sense of what it feels like for bands to record. The video has a homey feel and takes viewers behind-the-scenes for a groupie kind of vibe. The quote “I’m with the band” immediately comes to mind!
The double bass player, looking very reminiscent of the times with his thick frames and Beatles-style coiffed hair, has his instrument in hand, ready to go when he says, “You ready? Right, let’s make this the one.” The guitar plays the introductory riff, and everybody follows suit. All their voices come together to chime the lyrics for a very sing-songy first verse.
Lead singer Judith Durham takes over with her floaty voice as the men’s backup vocals carry her along. Judith looks mod in her blazing red turtleneck dress and loose pigtails. She appears calm and nonchalant with her hands on her hips. The camera changes the angle to capture the band from the front and the side. There are no special effects, no gimmicks, just The Seekers, the music, and the studio; the band is performing a beautiful song with a hard emotional realization, perfectly embedded into a smash hit that still hits home today.
Click on the video below to watch The Seekers perform, “I’ll Never Find Another You” in all of their vintage glory.
