Pre-Board -- Seeking for a Long Time

Okay, before I head to the airport, I figured I'd post something here to keep you until I'm next able to post something -- whenever that will be.  It's a long flight -- 14 hours of travel with a layover in Frankfurt -- so I figured it's best to have a long video.

I recently posted the farewell concert by the group, The Seekers, which was broadcast on the BBC in 1968.  This is their 25th anniversary reunion concert -- the whole thing.  They'd stayed in touch over the years and remained friendly, and then got back together in 1993 for a 70-city tour, and this is the final show, in Melbourne.  They're all in wonderful voice, most notably Judith Durham singing lead.

No need to watch the whole thing if you're not a big fan.  (I'm not, contrary to the many postings here, but I quite like their work, and just find some of the available video fascinating.)  Like this full-reunion.  

Around the 15-minute mark they sing a medley of a few songs they recorded that had been done by Peter, Paul and Mary.  Judith Durham notes that they got a lot of requests for "Puff, the Magic Dragon," but laughingly adds that they didn't record that, so it would be silly to do.  And then at the end of the medley -- they sing it!  (A wise choice since clearly the massive audience is overjoyed, singing and clapping along.)  Though my favorite part comes after this when she mentions how much the group loved the songs of Malvina Reynolds, and they do one.  Malvina Reynolds is one of the legendary lost folk-singers and writers, so it was a joy for them to highlight her.)

I found it interesting to hear them perform some of their lesser-known numbers that I hadn't heard before.  Most of them I quite enjoyed, though not all.  They even introduce a new song, a long waltz-ballad, "Time and Again," for their then-new album, which comes in just before the 49-minute mark, 

In fact, if you don't want to watch the whole concert, this is a good place to jump to and start.  The next song is also written by band member Bruce Woodley, and is a wonderful song, "I am Australian," which has become almost an unofficial national anthem, and gets probably the biggest and most emotional reaction of the night.  And after that comes the string of Their Big Hits, and then a roaring curtain call with another hit, and a rousing finale.  In all, that will be about 28 minutes.  But it's all quite enjoyable.

So, sit back, relax, play this over and over and over, and as I said I suspect I'll be back posting here in the early morning (Los Angeles time) tomorrow.

The elves will be at the homestead, but have put out some cheese dip in the lobby, so help yourself, and they'll leave the light on in case you're wandering the halls.