Today’s classic song of the day takes us back to the mid-60s and “I’ll Never Find Another You” by the Seekers. Released in December of 1964, this one peaked early the next year at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart, and at #1 in both the UK and Australia. That last one wasn’t surprising as the Seekers hailed from the land down under.
The Seekers were a folk-pop group formed in Melbourne in 1962. The line-up consisted of Judith Durham on vocals; Keith Potger on guitar and vocals; Bruce Woodley on guitar, banjo, and vocals; and Athol Guy on double bass and vocals. They were big in Australia, of course, but also had a number of hits here in the U.S., including “A World of Our Own” (#19 in 1965) and “Georgy Girl” (#2, 1966). The group collectively was named Australian of the Year in 1968.
I personally love their sound. It kind of bridges the folk music of the early ’60s with the coming vocal-oriented sunshine pop of the Mamas & the Papas, Spanky and Our Gang, and the Association. I find Judith Durham’s voice particularly beguiling.
“I’ll Never Find Another You” was written by Tom Springfield, Dusty Springfield’s brother. Tom (born Dionysius Patrick O’Brien) was also responsible for writing “A World of Our Own,” “The Carnival is Over,” and “Georgy Girl” for the Seekers, as well as “Island of Dreams” for his own group, the Springfields. (His sister, Mary Catherine O’Brien, AKA Dusty, sang lead in that group.) “I’ll Never Find Another You” was the Seekers’ first big hit in the U.S.
Judith Durham left the Seekers in mid-1968 to forge a solo career. The group’s final appearance with Ms. Durham, on July 9, 1968, was broadcast by the BBC to an audience of more than 10 million viewers. With their lead singer gone, the group officially degrouped, although the other three members briefly regrouped with a series of different female singers from the mid-70s through the early ’90s.
Ms. Durham rejoined the boys in 1992 and set out on a 102-date reunion tour. That tour was so successful that they continued to perform and record together until shortly before Judith Durham’s untimely death in 2022, aged 79. She was mourned by all of Australia and many in other countries, as well.
For your final treat, here’s a “recreation” of the recording session for “I’ll Never Find Another You” done for the 1968 Australian television special, The World of the Seekers. (And, yes, the track was recorded at London’s Abbey Road studio!)
