Customer Reviews

We'd Like to Teach the World to Sing

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While it is unjust to say the least, it is perhaps somewhat fitting that the New Seekers should be best remembered for a song about singing in perfect harmony, as that is truly what this group did best. Proving perhaps that the total is greater than the sum of its parts, these five very unique individuals created some vocal magic in the early 70s, as evidenced on this beautifully remastered disc. The New Seekers have long deserved the CD treatment beyond the standard Greatest Hits packages, so this original album release is long overdue. There are no toe-curling, strained vocal acrobatics on this disc (as is the norm today), just beautiful yet complex harmonies performed with the greatest of ease. Highly recommended.

The New Seekers put out their record album entitled We'd Like To Teach The World To Sing shortly after their smash hit television commercial jingle for Coca Cola made it obvious that this group was entering the big time. Although the album was hastily put out, here in CD form we can hear it still today and the high quality control proves that The New Seekers were a highly talented group with incredible energy and force.

The CD opens with the light rock ballad entitled "Tonight;" this song rocks great and the group harmonizes to perfection. "Too Many Trips To Nowhere" also rocks well; the musical arrangement complements the vocals without a superfluous note. The members of the band emote so well; they make each song on this CD their very own with their singularly beautiful renditions of songs written mostly by other artists.

Other highlights of this CD include, obviously, the famous "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing." The New Seekers perform this just right--they had just the right sounds and the right harmonizing to make this song very memorable. Great! In addition, "The Nickel Song" has a great melody that is infectiously catchy; but the melody contradicts the sad observation that people in general need to work harder to make this world a better place.

"Sweet Louise" is a beautiful love ballad about a man's love for his woman; the musical arrangement stuns you and leaves you wanting more. "Good Old Fashioned Music" is relentlessly happy number about the good times a family shares together when they get together Saturday nights to play music and celebrate their love for each other as well as their love for music.

The album ends with the touching "Child Of Mine." "Child Of Mine" is interpreted with great sensitivity by The New Seekers; and this makes this ballad a beautiful and fitting end for this album.

The liner notes include an extensive essay about The New Seekers by Richie Unterberger; and you get some of the original album artwork as well. The photos of the group are terrific.

Of course, this album was produced when vinyl record albums were the mainstream way of selling music to the masses. Therefore this CD clocks in at an anemic 36 minutes; and this is just way too short for a CD. I wish they had included some bonus tracks to flesh out this CD a little more; perhaps they could have added some outtake numbers to the CD track set. Unfortunately, at 36 minutes this is short--and I will take off one star to make this a four star review.

When all is said and done, however, The New Seekers gave us their gift of great music that remains very enjoyable to this day. Their vocalizing leaves little, if anything, to be desired and the musical arrangements for their numbers are frequently quite stunning. I highly recommend this CD for fans of The New Seekers and fans of easy listening light rock from the early 1970s. People who enjoy pop vocals from the early 1970s will appreciate this CD, too.