This Found Performance harks back to the mid-sixties. The Seekers, an Australian folk/pop group, knew how to put out bright and happy feel good music. I was in high school when “Georgy Girl” was a hit on the radio and I recall the Bellingham High School band played it at all the pep assemblies – it raised everybody’s spirits.
“Georgy Girl,” which you will already know if you are old as the hills like me, was actually the title song for the major motion picture (starring Lynn Redgrave) of the same name. Both the record “Georgy Girl” and the movie were released in 1966. The Seekers female lead vocalist, who really made their records in my view, was Judith Durham. I loved her contributions to the song “I’ll Never Find Another You.”
“Georgy Girl” was a Top 10 hit in late 1966 and early 1967. It went to #1 in Australia, #3 in the U.K. and it got stuck at #2 in Billboard’s Hot 100, held back by “I’m a Believer” by the Monkees. However, it did make it to #1 in the U.S. in Cash Box’s Top 100.
In addition to “Georgy Girl,” which was their biggest hit, The Seekers had several Top 10 records in the 1960s: “I’ll Never Find Another You,” “A World of Our Own,” “Morningtown Ride, “Someday, One Day,” “The Carnival Is Over.” The Seekers sold more than 50 million records worldwide.
This 1967 performance was a free concert at the Myer Music Bowl in their hometown of Melbourne. The concert broke all attendance records for the Southern hemisphere with more than 200,000 people (nearly one tenth of the city’s population at the time) in the audience. The concert video of “Georgy Girl” is at ad free Vimeo, so click on the play button 2x- first to go to Vimeo and the second time to start the video.
Presently editor and historical writer with QZVX.COM in Seattle. Former radio broadcaster and radio station owner, 1970-1999. Journalism and speech communications degrees. I enjoy researching articles and online reporting that allows me to meld together words, audio and video. P.S. I appreciate and encourage reader comments and opinions. View other articles by Steven Smith
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Jack…I have seen the Blow Up previews many times….mainly in theaters back then., But I have not seen the full show.
Catchy tune….done at a time when AM radio would promote a variety of music….I think the movie was actually about what was happening with Lynn Redgrave’s mediocre social life, compared to her friend’s(maybe sister?) more sexy experiences….that lady was Vanessa, who in real life was indeed the sister of Lynn Redgrave….Lynn packed on a few pounds, to play the less attractive, but also less slutty, girl perceived to be a “nice” loser!….When Lynn lost that weight, she was also very pretty, just like Vanessa!
Jack you are correct. When I wrote that I was trying to recall whether it was Lynn or Vanessa…took a guess and meant to double check but forgot to do so. Vanessa had classier roles than Lynn as I recall.
Vanessa was in my favorite movie, named “Blow Up”, from 1966…It was a very edgy look at what was going on in “swinging London” at that time (my favorite time!)…Vanessa played a mysterious, sexy woman, who David Hemmings, a very successful, but very cynical fashion photographer, catches with his camera while she is cavorting with an older man in a park…Thus begins a very existential journey for Hemmings, who thinks he may have accidentally captured an assassination!…it is one of those movies that just grab you and really make you think!…Anyway, Vanessa goes topless, and a famous model, Jane Birkin, roles around the photo guy’s studio floor, naked!…very shocking in 1966!…I remember that, during the main nude scene, several older couples in the audience left, disgustedly!….The movie was Michealangelo Antonioni’s first English movie….and, 20 years later, I randomly met and talked with a cute waitress, working in Seattle at a greasy spoon–who actually appeared in a brief, but pivotal scene in that movie!…but that is a story for another time….but I mean, what were the chances I would meet someone like that?!
Great tune! Thanks Steve! Turn it UP!!
The true definition of bright pop music with a pinch of folk.
They clearly had it going on! I was 15 turning 16 when this song was popular and though I don’t remember doing so, I would have turned the radio up when the tune was played.