New Seekers: Laurie Heath

Laurie Heath was one of the original members of the New Seekers. A talented all-rounder, he could sing, play guitar, dance and act. He was also a keen songwriter and two of his songs appeared on the New Seekers' first album - Not As Good As the Real Thing (on which he sang the lead vocal) and Zarzis (which was also used as the B-side of the New Seekers' first single Meet My Lord). Another of his songs, Roundelay, was used on the New Seekers' second album, Keith Potger & The New Seekers. By this time Laurie had already left the group.

As a budding young actor Laurie Heath appeared in stage productions of Oliver! and The Sound Of Music and the film Goodbye Mr. Chips; he also appeared in the films I Could Go On Singing (1963) and Becket (1964) alongside Paul Layton, who also became a member of the New Seekers, though the two were not members of the group at the same time. In an interview for The Australian Women's Weekly, Laurie joked: "Don't blink watching them. You might miss me."

In addition to theatre and film, Laurie Heath also landed a number of television roles, appearing in episodes of Z Cars, Maupassant and 24 Hour Call. Laurie had leading roles in The Canterville Ghost (BBC Sunday-Night Play, 23rd December 1962), It Happened Like This (Rediffusion, 3rd January 1963), Mike (Rediffusion, September - December 1964, 13 episodes) and Winter In Ischia (ITV Play Of The Week, 12th July 1965).

Laurie Heath (far right)
pictured with the original line-up of the
New Seekers
(from left to right: Marty Kristian, Eve Graham, Sally Graham
and Chris Barrington).

   

After quitting the New Seekers, Laurie Heath, Chris Barrington and Sally Graham formed a trio called Milkwood. They released three singles for Warner Brothers, the first of which, Watching You Go, was arranged by Mick Ronson (two years later [1974] Ronson recorded one of Laurie's songs, This is For You, which was released on his album Play, Don't Worry in January 1975). The third Milkwood single, What Can I Do To Make You Love Me, featured Laurie on lead vocal.

After Milkwood Laurie branched out on his own, releasing two solo singles for EMI - We Danced It Our Way and Dreamin' (I Love You) - both of which he wrote himself.

Milkwood

Singles

Watching You Go (Don Hunter) /
Here I Stand (Paul Kendrick)
(Warner Brothers K16141) 21st January 1972

I'm A Song (Sing Me) (Neil Sedaka / Howard Greenfield) /
Patterson's Brewery (Laurie Heath)
(Warner Brothers K16283) 29th June 1973

"A sensitive but pointed treatment of the Neil Sedaka song, and sort of arrangement that is both simple and complementary. The chorus is really strong." (Record Mirror, 30th June 1973, page 14)

What Can I Do To Make You Love Me (Greenfield / Dante) /
Now And Then (Kerr / Osbourne)
(Warner Brothers K16418) 28th June 1974

Milkwood,
Watching You Go / Here I Stand

Laurie Heath

Singles

We Danced It Our Way (Laurie Heath) /
Child Star (Laurie Heath)
(EMI 2341) 12th September 1975

Dreamin' (I Love You) (Laurie Heath) /
Your Mama Don't Know (Laurie Heath)
(EMI 2426) 9th April 1976