(Introducing) The Seekers
(WG-B-1655)
Recording Engineer: Russ
Thompson
Cover Design: Karen
Cover Photograph:
General Notes: As far as
Seekers albums go, this one is a gem and probably the hardest to find on vinyl!
Why? According to The Seekers, Keith Potger worked for the government-owned
radio station, the ABC in the early 1960s. He was in production. As such, he
wasn't allowed to have a second job and being in a professional band would be
considered as such.
When The Seekers produced
this, their first album, Keith was unable to appear on the cover. So, in his
place, Ken Ray stood in (L-R: Judith Durham, Ken Ray, Bruce Woodley and Athol
Guy). By the time the LP was released by Decca in the
Liner Notes: "There
are many songs to sing, about many things - ramblin' men, wayward women, war
and peace, true love, lost love and the good times and the hard. We like these
songs about life, about real people like you and us, about fascinating times
and places that come along alive in song.
We don't claim to be folk
singers in the true sense of the word. Then again, we don't regard ourselves as
being 'commercial'. Why? Because we sing the songs we like, the way we like and
the way we think people will ike to hear them. No long-haired ethnic purity for
us, it's more fun our way.
Sincerely, The
Seekers"
Track Listing/Notes:
(SIDE ONE)
DESE
BONES G'WINE RISE AGAIN
(arr.
Guy-Woodley-Durham-Ray (Woomera) 3:30)
The negro
slave could always see humour in any thing, even in the stern religion of his
masters. He humanized his religion by adoptioing Biblical characters as his
personal friends and confidants. This gospel song is a humorous version of
Man's well-known fall in the Garden of Eden.
WHEN
THE STARS BEGIN TO FALL
(arr.
Guy-Woodley-Durham-Ray(Woomera) 4:00)
This
spiritual is typical of those sung by negro slaves about the 'Day of Reckoning'
- the day when they would rise up and overthrow their cruel white masters.
"Seems to us that Day has just about done come".
RUN
COME SEE
(arr
Guy-Woodley-Durham-Ray (Woomera) 3:30)
The story
of the tragic sinking of the good ship
(arr
Guy-Woodley-Durham-Ray (Woomera) 3:00)
Traditional
gospel song. This is our up-tempo version of the old time favourite.
ALL MY
TRIALS
(arr
Guy-Woodley-Durham-Ray (Woomera) 3:30)
Judy
Durham sings a West Indian version of this beautiful spiritual, as a child's
lullaby.
THE
LIGHT FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE
(arr
Guy-Woodley-Durham-Ray (Woomera) 2:40)
"Let
It Shine On Me" Hallelujah! It's a real pleasure to sing a foot-stomping,
hand-clapping "hot gospel" like this one. It's one of our favourites,
we hope you like it too.
(SIDE TWO)
CHILLY
WINDS
(Potger
(Woomera) 2:34)
Hear those
winds howl! Good enough reason for our hero to leave his true love for sunnier
climes.
(arr
Guy-Woodley-Durham-Ray (Woomera) 3:00)
(African
pronunciation of "Come by here"). This beautiful and simple spiritual
is almost humn-like in its sound. Judy Durham's superb voice rings pure and
clear - "Oh Lord Kumbaya".
THE
HAMMER SONG
(Seeger-Hays
(
A
thought-provoking contemporary Ballad by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. Listen to
the words, there's a message there for all of us.
WILD
ROVER
(arr
Guy-Woodley-Durham-Ray (Woomera) 2:20)
A
delightful Australian folk song with a "prodigal son" theme. The
moral hasn't changed since Biblical times, only our Australian character. A
"black sheep" in the best tradition.
KATY
CLINE
(arr
Guy-Woodley-Durham-Ray (Woomera) 2:20)
LONESOME
TRAVELLER
(arr Hays
(
A hard
driving southern mountain song presumably sung by a ramblin' man, although
where he came from or where he's going, he doesn't say.
-oOo-