The 20th of February 1972 to the 19th of February 1973
Ok so I’m not even 1 yet. What do I know about music at this stage of my little life?
Now, I suppose I could have heard the next few songs via osmosis or something but when I hear them again there is something that I get from somewhere. Could’ve been years later on the radio I suppose but they were released in this year. Sooo, for this and probably the next year too, I’m taking it that they went in there somehow when I was on my way to my first birthday.
The New Seekers
I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (in perfect harmony)
Here’s a single I’ve mentioned earlier during the U.K. Top 50 Singles Run-down.
Now, this is a song which my knowledge and understanding of it have since been turned on its head…
My original thoughts were this song was most probably picked up by Coca Cola, who then stole it and changed the lyrics to ”I’d like to buy the world a Coke” or words to that effect, which would have been constantly played on the TV.
However, digging deeper into a bit of research, the original is in fact the Coca Cola commercial – mind blown!
And that is the version I remember the most.
That version is known as the “Hilltop” commercial and was played constantly on the TV. I can even picture it now in my head.
The original title, written as a jingle, was called “True Love, and Apple Pie” and was written and composed by the collaboration of two Rogers (Cook and Greenaway), who hailed from the English suburb of Fishponds near Bristol, U.K., and who wrote some major hits in the sixties such as “You’ve Got Your Troubles” for the group The Fortunes and “Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart” for Gene Pitney, the latter which will surface years later on my musical road.
They also wrote another hit for The Fortunes entitled “Freedom Come , Freedom Go” the year before I entered into the scene, in 1971, but which I remember quite well (I think it may have have been in my Auntie’s record collection).
Anyway, back to the jingle, and the two Rogers teamed up with songwriter Billy Davis from the U.S., and also with the advertising executive Bill Backer, who worked for the Coca Cola company’s advertising agency, McKann Erickson.
So with the two Bills now onboard with the two Rogers, they bashed out the ad version, changed the name to “Buy the World A Coke”, got The New Seekers to record it, and put it out as a radio commercial.
Due to the popularity of that commercial, it wasn’t long before a TV equivalent was thought up and so the “Hilltop” idea hatched, filming took place in Italy and the rest is history which ended up on TV screens throughout the world.
I can completely see how it caught the imagination…
From the love and magic of the mid-sixties which then turned into a more violent and uncertain world for many, especially in the U.S. what with assassinations, racial tensions and the Vietnam War just for starters. this was a chance to look to a new future with the next generation that was now coming through, to try and make the world a better place again.
It all seemed so positive, even to little me who was barely even learning to walk.
The tune became so popular that they decided to expand the scope of the song and so, by extracting the commercialisation and remoulding the lyric to “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (in perfect harmony), it kept the message intact.
There were 2 groups which carried the song on each side of the Atlantic ocean…
In America, a group was created especially for the song. They called themselves (aptly) The Hillside Singers.
In the U.K,, the group which had originally taken hold of the radio jingle came back to re-record the new version, The New Seekers.
In fact The New Seekers version not only topped the charts here in the U.K. , eventually selling over 12 million units, but also out-sold the Hillside Singers over in the U.S.
For me though it will forever tie in with that picture of that girl on that hilltop before flying off with that helicopter shot.
The “A” Side
The “B” Side
The New Seekers – I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) (TV Appearance)
The New Seekers – I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) (TV Appearance)
The New Seekers – “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (in perfect harmony)” (TV appearance)
Coca-Cola, 1971 – ‘Hilltop’ | “I’d like to buy the world a Coke”
The Hillside Singers – I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (1971)
Many thanks go to the following YouTube Channels for providing the chance to hear these songs and see the footage once again.
Please show your support by visiting their channels:
The Top 50 U.K. Singles Chart Playlist for the 20th of February 1972 (the day I was born)
Listen to “The Official Top 50 UK Singles Chart: 20th February 1972” Playlist here:
Grab Your Binoculars, Come Follow Me
What is it…?
Why am I…?
How do I…?
When am I…?
