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This section of the website provides news about Lyn Paul from the past 12 months. Scroll down the page or click on one of the links below.

If you'd like us to tell you whenever we add anything new to the website, make sure you put your e-mail address on our Mailing List.

And if you know something we don't, make sure you keep us posted!

Professional enquiries (for bookings, interviews etc.) should be directed to Burnett Granger Crowther Ltd.

BURNETT GRANGER CROWTHER LTD.,
3 Clifford Street,
London.
W1S 2LF

Tel: 020 7437 8008
Fax: 020 7287 3239
Email: associates@bgcltd.org


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Lyn Paul.
News about Lyn

Dec 2009 More Blood Brothers
Oct 2009 On 'The Hour'
Sept 2009 What the papers say
Aug 2009 Backstage at Bromley
Aug 2009 "Astounding" Blood Brothers' reviews
Aug 2009 Tell Me It's Not True
July 2009 Here We Go Again
July 2009 It's Been Too Long
July 2009 Ready Steady Sunday again
July 2009 New on YouTube
June 2009 Ready Steady Sunday
May 2009 New Show Dates
May 2009 Fab First Night at Le Cabaret
Feb 2009 Lyn Paul and the Sound of the New Seekers
Feb 2009 The Dove
July 2006 Lyn's latest album: Late Night

For all the latest news on the New Seekers, visit the New Seekers' official website. For news about Peter Doyle or Eve Graham, visit the Peter Doyle website and Eve Graham Online.

Please note: publicity material appeared last year which gave the false impression that Lyn Paul would be appearing in concert with the New Seekers. Lyn Paul does not have any involvement with the current line-up of the New Seekers and will not be appearing at any of the group's shows. Please read Lyn's message to her fans.

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Lyn Paul.

Lyn Paul
at Le Cabaret,
Friday,
8th May 2009.


Lyn Paul and Ed Stewart (photo by Steven Liddle).

Lyn Paul
and
Ed Stewart.


Lyn Paul and Gill Henry (photo by Steven Liddle).

Lyn Paul
and
Gill Henry.

Live Shows
 

Lyn Paul and the
Sound of the New Seekers

Great news from Spain! Lyn has put together a new show in which she recreates the sound of the New Seekers. Lyn has teamed up with Ian and Gill Henry of Double Impact fame, backed by Steve Heald (drums), Nick Hollings (keyboards), Shuggy McDevitt (guitar) and Rowdy Willemson (bass). It's not an attempt to "recreate the New Seekers," more a case, as Lyn says, of "paying tribute to a band that I was lucky enough to have success with."

The first airing of this show was on the Costa Blanca at Le Cabaret, Lirios Centre, Cumbre del Sol on 8th and 9th May. Ian Henry replaced Nick Hollings on keyboards.

With tours of Holland, Germany, Japan and Australia in the pipeline plus local appearances on the Costa Blanca (including the Moraira Music Festival on 14th June), Lyn is hoping to introduce the New Seekers songs to a new generation.

22nd February 2009
Updated: 10th May 2009

Fab First Night at Le Cabaret

Lyn Paul and the Sound of the New Seekers (photo by Steven Liddle).

Happy band!
Lyn Paul and the Sound of the New Seekers
pictured with Ed Stewart
after the first show at Le Cabaret,
Friday, 8th May 2009.

There were some late changes to the line-up of Lyn's band and some first night nerves - but what a show!

First up was a favourite from the New Seekers' shows of the '70s, Friends Medley, combining the song Friends with the Beatles' With A Little Help From My Friends. Then came the New Seekers' Eurovision hit Beg, Steal Or Borrow. Originally a duet between Lyn Paul and Peter Doyle, the song was given a new twist when Lyn came down from the stage and sang the lines directly to members of the audience. Lucky the man who got the line: "I look at you and I see what I've been looking for"! Returning to the stage, Lyn welcomed everyone and thanked people for coming to the show. Special mention went to DJ Ed Stewart, who was amongst the first night audience.

Another New Seekers' medley came next, the haunting Georgy Girl / Ticket To Ride. Evident here was the hard work that Lyn and the band had put into perfecting their harmonies - a real reminder of how good the New Seekers had been in their hey day and a treat for one member of the audience at least, who had not been a fan of the group and hadn't realised they were that good. This was followed by I Get A Little Sentimental Over You, the New Seekers' last-ever Top 5 hit and a song which showcased Lyn as lead singer.

Lyn then introduced Send In The Clowns. As she said herself, "a song that has nothing to do with the New Seekers", but a personal favourite of hers and a highlight of the show. This one really did showcase Lyn as lead singer.

Next up was Lyn's favourite New Seekers' single, Circles, the original version of which featured Eve Graham and Peter Doyle on lead vocals. It was interesting to hear Lyn's interpretation of the song, the words acquiring added poignancy with the passage of time and perfect for a night of nostalgia:

It seems like I've been here before,
I can't remember when,
But I've got this funny feeling
That I'll be back once again...

The song was performed with a swaying, almost hypnotic, rhythm that transported the audience back to a more innocent age. If there's a song Lyn should record her own version of, this is the one.

Lyn then took time out from singing to talk to the audience, introducing the "handsome young man at the back", her son Ryan. After regaling everyone with an amusing story about the day Ryan was born - it involves a mad dash to a hospital, a burglary and a New Seekers' CD (you'll have to go to the show to hear it) - Lyn sang I Will Survive. This was a more sophisticated take on the song than Gloria Gaynor's disco version, and one that reminded you why Lyn was so successful on the West End stage.

Gill Henry then had her moment in the limelight, singing a fantastic version of Hallelujah. As Lyn said: "She can hit notes only dogs can hear!" Move over Sandra Burke!

After this it was back to the New Seekers with Never Ending Song Of Love and a great guitar solo from Shuggy McDevitt. The man sure can play! By this point the show was really motoring along and Lyn kept her foot on the pedal with a rousing Rod Stewart medley, Sailing / You're In My Heart.

Slowing things down Lyn then performed a song from her album Late Night - the Roy Orbison classic Crying. This one was a show-stopper - not an easy song to sing, but one that showed off Lyn's vocal range and her ability to pack a punch emotionally.

It was back to the hits of the New Seekers for the closing numbers: You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me and I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing. At this point Lyn introduced the individual members of the band, who had so successfully been the sound of the New Seekers: Ian, Shuggy, Tommy and Steve. The band then let rip on Pinball Wizard / See Me, Feel Me with Lyn unleashing the "rock chick" within. The audience was on its feet cheering and the show was over - almost. Lyn and the band then gave us a great encore - You'll Never Walk Alone, which Lyn dedicated to her husband Alan. Everyone was singing along, arms aloft, and at the end, Lyn was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

"On a night like this the audience are the best critics as they all rose at the end to give the show a standing ovation. Lyn was the star, her performance outstanding – a great voice and wonderful smile as she interacted with the audience and they loved her." (Eric Taylor, Round Town News, 13th May 2009)

27th May 2009
Updated: 6th June 2009

More dates at Le Cabaret

The first night was a full house, with extra tables and chairs added to try to satisfy the demand for tickets. As a result Lyn Paul and the Sound of the New Seekers were invited back to Le Cabaret for two extra dates on 4th and 8th July.

Le Cabaret
Lirios Shopping Centre, 10-13 A
Cumbre del Sol Residential Development.
03726 Benitachell, Alicante.
Bookings: 686 933 195

On Tuesday, 23rd June Lyn and the band also appeared at a charity evening in aid of EPDA, (European Parkinsons Disease Association) at Salon Canor in Teulada.

28th May 2009
Updated: 18th July 2009

Here We Go Again

If you have visited the I Like Music website, please note that the pictured line-up of the New Seekers (featuring Lyn Paul, Eve Graham, Peter Doyle and Marty Kristian) is not the group currently touring the UK.

18th July 2009


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Blood Brothers poster.


WEB LINKS

Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers
Online


Bill Kenwright Ltd.

Willy Russell
.com



Lyn Paul and Stephen Palfreman.

Lyn Paul
(Mrs. Johnstone)
and
Stephen Palfreman
(Mickey).


WEB LINKS

Blood Brothers
UK Tour 2010

Assembly Hall,
Tunbridge Wells


Festival Theatre,
Malvern


Alhambra Theatre,
Bradford


Richmond Theatre,
Richmond upon Thames


Theatre Royal,
Nottingham


Empire Theatre,
Liverpool


Bristol
Hippodrome


Grand Theatre,
Wolverhampton


Cliff's Pavilon,
Southend


Buxton
Opera House


New Theatre,
Cardiff


Everyman Theatre,
Cheltenham


White Rock Theatre,
Hastings

Theatre

More Blood Brothers

Lyn Paul is back in Blood Brothers. Having joined the 2009 touring production for two weeks in August, Lyn was persuaded by producer Bill Kenwright to come back for the rest of the UK tour. Now she's signed on for another six months!

Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells
23rd - 27th February 2010

Tel: 01892 530 613

Festival Theatre, Malvern
1st - 13th March 2010

Tel: 01684 892 277

Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
15th - 20th March 2010

Tel: 01274 432 000

Richmond Theatre, Richmond upon Thames, London
Tel: 22nd - 27th March 2010

Tel: 0844 871 7627

Theatre Royal, Nottingham
29th March - 10th April 2010

Tel: 0115 989 5555

Empire Theatre, Liverpool
12th - 24th April 2010

Tel: 0844 499 6677

Bristol Hippodrome
26th April - 8th May 2010

Tel: 0844 847 2325

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
10th - 22nd May 2010

Tel: 01902 42 92 12

Cliff's Pavilion, Southend
31st May - 5th June 2010

Tel: 01702 351 135 

Buxton Opera House
7th - 19th June 2010

Tel: 0845 127 2190

New Theatre, Cardiff
21st June -  3rd July 1010

Tel: 029 2087 8889

Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
5th - 17th July 2010

Tel: 01242 572 573

White Rock Theatre, Hastings
19th - 24th July 2010

Tel: 01424 462 288


18th December 2009

Tell Me It's Not True

In 2008 Lyn Paul gave her last-ever performance as Mrs. Johnstone in the West End production of Willy Russell's hit musical Blood Brothers. This August fans got another 'last chance' to see Lyn in the show when producer Bill Kenwright asked her to return to the touring production for two weeks.

Lyn appeared at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth (Tuesday, 18th - Saturday, 22nd August 2009) and at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley (Monday, 24th - Saturday, 29th August 2009) while auditions were held to find a new Mrs. Johnstone.

As Lyn recently said: "I don't believe in going back. The only time I 'go back' is to Blood Brothers because Bill has been such a big influence in my life and has been very good to me, I will always return for him."

The cast of the touring production includes.Sean Jones (Mickey), Simon Willmont (Eddie), Anna Sambrooks (Linda) and Paula Tappenden (Mrs. Lyons), all of whom have appeared in Blood Brothers with Lyn before. Watching the show at Lyn's last matinee in Bromley was a former Mrs.Johnstone and friend of Lyn's - Rose Marie.


Lyn Paul and Paula Tappenden.

Lyn Paul pictured with Paula Tappenden (Mrs. Lyons)
backstage at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley,
29th August 2009.

Lyn Paul and Rose Marie.

Lyn Paul pictured with Rose Marie
backstage at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley,

Lyn Paul first played the part of Mrs. Johnstone in 1997, making regular appearances in the West End production for the next 11 years, with occasional appearances in touring productions.

In 2007, having landed the role of Vi Moore in Footloose The Musical, it looked as though Lyn's Blood Brothers days might be over. However, at the end of the year Bill Kenwright asked her to return once again - this time at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool, to celebrate the city's year as European Capital Of Culture.

After four weeks in Liverpool Lyn returned to the West End production of Blood Brothers for the last time, completing her run on 27th September 2008.

In December 2008 Lyn was voted the 'Undisputed Mrs. J. of all time' by fans of the show at the Blood Brothers Online website.

Updated: 30th August 2009


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WEB LINKS

Harkit Records:
The Dove


HMV

Play.com
CD, DVD and MP3 releases
 

The Dove

Finally! The answer to the question most often asked at this website: where can I get Lyn Paul's single Sail The Summer Winds on CD? The song is included on a newly-released CD soundtrack of the film The Dove. The CD is available from Harkit Records (£12.99), HMV (£9.99) and Play.com (£11.99).

4th February 2009



The Dove (CD cover).


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Late Night (CD cover).

Lyn Paul
Late Night


Late Night

Lyn Paul's latest album is out now! Lyn, who last released an album in 1975, returned to the recording studios in 2005 with Rod Edwards, the musical director from Blood Brothers.

The album is titled Late Night (Catalogue number: ARCD4503). In addition to two new songs, Clouds and Dance With Desire, it features new recordings of some old favourites, including: Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), Behind Closed Doors, Crying, Dance With My Father, Have I Told You Lately, Hurt, I Only Have Eyes For You, In My Life, Late Night Grande Hotel and Talking In Your Sleep. One of the songs that Lyn began work on, Save The Best For Last, was not included on the album. There is, however, an extra track at the end (not listed on the album sleeve) which Lyn added especially for her husband, Alan, and her son, Ryan.

The album is available to download from iTunes. The CD may be purchased online from Gift Of Sound, Amazon and Play.com.

18th June 2005
Updated: 4th February 2009


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It's Been Too Long (CD cover).

New Seekers
It's Been Too Long

It's Been Too Long

On 13th July Universal released a CD which, for the first time ever, brought together the New Seekers' hits for Polydor (featuring Lyn Paul and Peter Doyle) with their three more minor hits for CBS (featuring Eve Graham and Danny Finn). Backed by a TV ad campaign, the CD entered the Official UK Albums Chart at number 17, achieving first week sales of 9,287.

The CD also includes five tracks by the group that currently calls itself the New Seekers. The inevitable comparisons you make between then and now do not flatter the current line-up: inferior songs, inferior vocals, inferior all round. Piggy backing on the hits of the classic line-up, the group members are sure to make themselves some money out of this venture, but it's unlikely they'll convince the doubters that they really are the New Seekers or that they are as good as the New Seekers really were.

There's nothing new for Lyn Paul fans here but fans of Marty Kristian will be pleased by the last track on the album, Just Another Lesson. It's a previously unreleased track from 1982, written by Marty and featuring him on lead vocal.

18th July 2009
Updated: 29th July 2009


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New on YouTube

Lyn Paul on YouTube

There are some great new clips of Lyn Paul on YouTube. Click on the links below.

New Seekers on YouTube

On 9th January 1971 the New Seekers appeared on US television as guests on The Andy Williams Show, "dueting" with Andy Williams on the Nillson song One before singing their latest single When There's No Love Left.

In 1973 the group sang two songs on the BBC show It's Lulu: You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me, which was about to take them to No. 1 in the UK singles chart, and We've Got To Do It Now.

Both clips are now available on YouTube Check them out via Lyn Paul website YouTube page.

Updated: 6th July 2009


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Autograph.


TV and Radio
 

On 'The Hour'

On Monday, 28th September Lyn Paul was a guest on STV's afternoon show The Hour, hosted by Stephen Jardine and Aggie MacKenzie. Lyn talked about her appearances on Coronation Street as a child, about the her days with New Seekers and about life on tour with the Blood Brothers cast.

Watch the interview online on the stv player.

3rd October 2009

Ready Steady Sunday

On Sunday, 3rd May Lyn Paul was interviewed by John Curtis on Bay Radio's Ready Steady Sunday. John covered Lyn's career from the Chrys-Do-Lyns to the present day.

The show opened with the Nocturnes' track Why - great to hear that on the radio again - and featured the New Seekers' hits Never Ending Song Of Love, I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, Beg, Steal Or Borrow, You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me and I Get A Little Sentimental Over You. John also played Crying and Hurt from Lyn's album Late Night.

During the interview Lyn talked about Peter Doyle and lamented his departure from the New Seekers: "He was asked to leave... One other person... wanted to leave, if he didn't. And poor old Pete drew the short straw... The thing is the group was never the same, was never the same, after that... That voice was the talent... Eve and I had a sound together which I think was pretty good but that sound that Pete had was special."

Lyn also revealed that she is back in touch with Eve Graham: "I'm hoping that I can coax Eve out... I was talking to a journalist... Peter Robertson, and he and I are on a mission to try and drag her back into it... Maybe an album together? It would be nice."

John also asked Lyn about a possible return to Blood Brothers? Lyn's answer: "He [Bill Kenwright] asked me to do it just recently but, of course, my life is over here now... I love doing musicals but I'd like to concentrate on doing something over here."

Ready Steady Sunday again

Lyn Paul joined John Curtis for another chat on Bay Radio on 7th June. If you missed it, here are some of the highlights.

John asked Lyn to comment on "a current bit of controversy - you and Eve vs.the current band called the New Seekers " Lyn said: "I wouldn't say 'versus'... It's not that it's us vs. them... For many, many years I had to go and have CDs taken off the shelf because... the New Seekers... were re-recording all our stuff but were actually putting it out with a picture of myself, Eve Graham and Peter Doyle on the front, which, basically, is misleading for the public... I managed to get, I think it was about six, taken off the market but, of course, it costs a fortune. That's really the problem that Eve and I have, and Peter would have if he were here, God love him. If you're gonna do it, do it - no problem with that - but do it as yourselves... If you want to re-record them put your own pictures on the front... That's what upsets Eve and I, that our names are still being associated with this line-up of the New Seekers and we're nothing to do with it."

Lyn continued: "It's tantamount to stealing your identity. Eve and I were beginning to feel like we weren't there. When you see them interviewed or you read anything about them, they talk as if they were actually at the inauguration of President Nixon, they actually sang in front of the Queen, they did the Royal Variety, they recorded all these songs. It's as if we didn't exist. It's a strange thing. It's a very funny feeling."

Talking about her days with the classic line-up of the New Seekers, Lyn described how the process of recording and releasing records worked: "They said: 'You're doing this' and that was it! ... Dave Mackay, who was our record producer, he would just say: 'Right, there's this number, that number, that number. Here'
s your tapes.' We'd take a tape away with our own harmony on it, go away and learn it, come back and then we'd record it... You go in and record half a dozen songs. They are then sent to the record company. The record company decides which one is going to go out as a release... We had absolutely nothing to do with it other than going into the studio and recording. That was it! But they served us well."

Lyn again talked about the group after Peter Doyle had left: "We had Peter Oliver come in and he was terrific. He had a great voice but it wasn't Peter's voice. The sound then changed because we didn't have Peter Doyle's voice there and also the dynamics in the group changed. It just wasn't the same... If you bring somebody else into a format that's already established, there's going to be, not a problem, but there's going to be such a huge change that it either moves on to a different sphere or it has to finish." Had the classic line-up with Peter Doyle stayed together, Lyn's hunch is that "it would have lasted an awful lot longer... we could have carried on for another four or five years. Maybe even longer, who knows?"

Featured tracks during the interview were: Circles, What Have They Done To My Song, Ma (as John said: "kind of appropriate for the current situation"), You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me, Pinball Wizard / See Me, Feel Me, ("a show-stopping moment in the current Lyn Paul New Seekers' tribute act'), Just An Old Fashioned Love Song, It Oughta Sell A Million and Sail The Summer Winds.

4th June 2009
Updated: 11th July 2009


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Read All About it ...
 

What the papers say

Lyn Paul's move to Spain has been covered in the English language press on the Costa Blanca.

Round Town News, 23rd April 2009
Round Town News, 6th May 2009

Back in Britain, Lyn has been featured in two articles in the Daily Mail, along with online articles on the Daily Telegraph and News of the World websites:

Daily Mail, 6th May 2009
Daily Mail, 16th May 2009

Daily Telegraph, 6th May 2009
News of the World, 27th September 2009

Speaking about these articles on Bay Radio, Lyn said: "A lot that was said wasn't actually printed correctly, which is par for the course when you talk to the press... They only wanted to drag up dirt from 30 years ago, rather than tell what was going on." (Ready Steady Sunday, Bay Radio, 7th June 2009). When John Curtis, who was interviewing Lyn, urged his listeners to read the article of16th May online, Lyn replied: "No, please don't!"

Astounding!

Lyn Paul's two-week return to Blood Brothers in August brought more great reviews:

"Other highlights of the superb cast include... Lyn Paul as Mrs. Johnstone, who captured the raw emotion in the last show-stopping song that could move a heart of stone." Nicky Findley, Daily Echo

"Lyn Paul is astounding as downtrodden single mum Mrs Johnstone, reprising the role she played in the West End more than a decade ago.
It’s a role she obviously knows inside-out and is utterly believable, even if the plot is not at times.
Lyn steals the show whenever on stage and her vocals are as powerful and stirring as her acting." Matthew Jenkin, News Shopper

"Mrs Johnstone (Lyn Paul) plays the part of the doting but struggling mother very well, who carries the guilt of giving up her baby around with her... A magnificent play, with a magnificent cast. A must see for all."
Natalie Jones, Denbighshire Free Press, 9th September 2009

Updated: 27th September 2009


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Autograph.


 

 
Who said that?

Today

Yesterday is a cancelled cheque; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so spend it wisely.
Kay Lyons

O, that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come!
William Shakespeare, 'Julius Caesar' (Act V, Scene I)

What next?

Prediction is very difficult, expecially about the future.
Niels Bohr

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. It is the dark menace of the future that makes cowards of us.
Dorothy Dix, 'Her Book'

I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.
Albert Einstein

The future is hidden even from the men who made it.
Anatole France

There are two options: adapt or die.
Andrew S. Grove

My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.
Charles Franklin Kettering

It is not wise to look too far ahead; our powers of prediction are slight, our command over results infinitesimal.
John Maynard Keynes

What we call our future is the shadow which our past throws in front of us.
Marcel Proust

If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages princes' palaces.
William Shakespeare, 'The Merchant Of Venice' (Act I, Scene II)

Where next?

The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are.
John Burroughs

It isn't where you came from; it's where you're going that counts.
Ella Fitzgerald


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Autograph.


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URL: http://www.lynpaulwebsite.org
E-mail: lynpaulwebsite@hotmail.com

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