In 1973 I bought the Seals and Crofts 'Diamond Girl' album. It had their two latest single releases, 'Diamond Girl' and 'We May Never Pass This Way Again', both of which appear on this LP. One other track common to both albums was a tribute to their respective wives 'Ruby Jean and Billie Lee'. Throw in 'Summer Breeze' and 'I'll Play For You' on this compilation and their 'hits' are pretty much covered.
That 1973 LP got lost, waylaid or evaporated in the mists of time, but recently, when this Greatest Hits came my way, it brought back the little nuggets I'd gleaned about Seals and Crofts and took me back almost 50 years.
One thing that had always stuck in my mind was that they belonged to the Baháʼí Faith. At the time, in the 70's, that was a passing 'interesting fact' but in the early 80's a young woman who worked for me married into the faith, so it cemented that info in the recesses of my grey matter.
Before creating this successful duo both Seals and Crofts had earned their stripes. They played for a while with The Champs, but that was after The Champs had peaked with their hit instrumental 'Tequila'. Glen Campbell was also with The Champs until those three plus Jerry Cole formed Glen Campbell and the GC's.
Jim Seals wasn't the only one in the family to have a musical career. His brother Dan also had his claim to fame, but not as Dan Seals. He's better known as one half of England Dan & John Ford Coley ('I'd Really Love To See You Tonight').
These days all these guys are on regular rotation whenever you listen to SiriusXM Yacht Rock Radio - best described by announcer Adam Ritz as "a collection of your fourth and fifth favorite songs from the '70s and '80s"
Seals and Crofts did some good songs, some a bit sickly sweet but if you were around back then, they're guaranteed to transport you to a different place and a different time.
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