Just like that, it’s the mid-seventies! And to celebrate, here’s Track 1 from the best-selling album ‘Now That’s What I Call Mid-Seventies-Easy-On-The-Ear-Pop’.

You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me, by The New Seekers ft. Lyn Paul (their 2^nd and final #1)

1 week, from 13^th – 20^th January 1974

Exactly two years ago, the New Seekers were assaulting us with their Coca-Cola advert-slash-call to arms, ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing’. I didn’t like it. It was a catchy jingle stretched out way too long. This, though… This I like.

‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’ (they did like a long song title, didn’t they?) popped up on a playlist a few years ago and I’ve had it on rotation since. It sashays in with a sassy sax, follows it up with some jaunty guitars, and adds some brilliant vocals from Lyn Paul.

You won’t find another fool like me, babe… No ya won’t… Who’ll sit around all night and wait for you… It’s not a subtle performance, not by any standards. She sets her stall out from the start and keeps it up till the very end. Even though you treat me like you do, babe… I’m so hooked on you I can’t get free… The best way I can describe her singing– and I mean this as a compliment, truly I do – is that she sounds like your mum, slightly drunk, doing karaoke at a wedding reception.

Just listen to the rasp as she growls the last Aah y’know darn well you’re foolin’… and the way she slurs the adlibs at the end… Are ya listenin’ to me? She’s loving every minute of this performance. It was the first time Paul had been given lead vocals on a New Seekers song, and she was clearly grabbing her chance by the ankles. Such was her performance that it got her a ‘featuring’ credit… Imagine if she’d got her chops around ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing’! One of pop’s great ‘if only’s…

I wouldn’t go as far to describe this record as ‘perfect pop’, but it’s definitely an earworm, a tune you’ll be humming long after it’s ended. And that, when all is said and done, is what pop music should be. It doesn’t all have to change the world. ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’ is also the perfect example of a January chart-topper, one that grabbed its turn after the Christmas hits had fallen away but before the record companies had returned from their Christmas holidays. And I’m very glad it managed to sneak its week.

If anything, it’s redeemed The New Seekers for me, and in turn The Seekers before them (they didn’t share any members, but the former were formed by a member of the latter, if you get what I mean). The New Seekers would only have one further Top 10 hit in the UK, but they’re still going to this day – although with a fair few line-up changes. If this record proves one thing, it’s don’t judge a band by their biggest hit.