Don't Wait For Me
In April Lyn Paul spends three weeks in Portugal. Part work and part holiday, it is her first break for two years.
Meanwhile Sandra Stevens (who Lyn replaced in the Nocturnes back in 1966) has a huge success with the Brotherhood of Man when they win the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK with the song Save Your Kisses For Me.
The New Seekers re-form in April (without Lyn). The line-up includes newcomers Kathy Ann Rae (who takes Lyn's place) and Danny Finn (who takes over from Peter Oliver). There is some speculation in the press that Kathy has been recruited as a Lyn look-alike, but the group is quick to deny this.
"The new girl, Kathy, looks similar to Lyn Paul, yet the group maintain that it wasn't intentional, despite Kathy's once-dark hair having recently been dyed blonde.
'When I first met the boys there was no talk about re-forming the New Seekers. It was simply to record material they had written,' explains the latest recruit.
'And there wasn't a deliberate attempt for me to look like Lyn. It's the contrast between myself and Eve that was needed.' ..." (Record Mirror, 10th April 1976, page 11)
On 16th May the New Seekers hold a reunion concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Lyn attends the concert and is spotted by a reviewer from Record Mirror signing autographs at the bar. The group releases a comeback single, It's So Nice (To Have You Home) (CBS 4391) at the same time that Lyn releases her last single for the Polydor label, Mama Don't Wait For Me (Polydor 2058 737).

The new line-up of the New Seekers.
Pictured (left to right):
Paul Layton, Kathy Ann Rae, Marty Kristian,
Eve Graham and Danny Finn.
Copyright © Chris Walter. Photo used with permission.
See more of Chris Walters' photographs
at the Photofeatures website.

On 5th June Lyn appears at the New Victoria Theatre, London with the Sandpipers. The Sandpipers had first appeared in the UK charts in 1966 with the top ten hit Guantanamera. Before the year is out they will score another hit with Hang On Sloopy (UK number 32).
From 6th June through till September Lyn appears with Freddie Starr in Starrtime '76 at the Winter Gardens, Bournemouth.

Starrtime '76 programme.

During the Autumn Lyn has a full schedule of cabaret dates (and a holiday in Barbados):
- 7th - 9th October, Charleys, Portsmouth.
- 10th - 16th October, Birkenhead.
- 17th - 23rd October, Venues, Dublin.
- 25th - 30th October, Fagins, Manchester.
- 7th - 13th November, Stoneleigh Club, Porthcawl.
- 21st - 27th November, Venues, S. Ireland.
- 7th - 11th December, Bunnys, Cleethorpes.
|
On 19th and 20th October Lyn records a TV appearance on Wednesday at Eight (Thames Television). Hosted by Tom O'Connor, the show also features appearances by comedian Jim Davidson and ventriloquist Roger De Courcey and Nookie Bear. Top the bill is Frankie Vaughan.
Meanwhile, the New Seekers support Andy Williams for a week at the London Palladium and, on 5th November, release a second single, I Wanna Go Back (CBS 4786).
Lyn ends the year with a "record breaking" season in panto (23rd December - 5th February) at the Davenport Theatre, Stockport, starring with the comedy duo Little and Large in Jack and the Beanstalk. Lyn's sister Mandi also joins the cast as a member of the Chorus.

Leaflet promoting
Jack and the Beanstalk

Incidentally ...
The New Seekers had been gone for two years but they hadn't been forgotten! In an episode of the popular TV programme The Good Life entitled Home Sweet Home, Margo accosts her husband Jerry as he sits on the settee with his headphones on:
Margo: Are you listening to the New Seekers?
Jerry: Yes
Margo: Why?
Jerry: I like the New Seekers.
Margo: Well I detest wallpaper music.
Jerry: Oh! That's why I'm wearing headphones.
Margo: I'm sorry Jerry but I don't understand how you can listen to some silly sixteen bar song when you've got the whole of Fidelio on the shelf.
Jerry: I prefer British pop to German pop.
Margo: Philistine!
Jerry: True!
The Good Life
Series 2: Home Sweet Home
Written by: John Esmonde and Bob Larbey.
First broadcast: Friday, 16th January 1976, 8.30pm (BBC 1).


| In the News - 1976 |
| |
|
| Jan |
The Archers celebrates its 25th anniversary on 1st January and becomes the longest running serial on radio.
In Northern Ireland, on 5th January, ten Protestant men are shot dead as they return home from work in a mini-bus.
Agatha Christie dies on 12th January, aged 85.
On 21st January Concorde takes off on its first commercial flights. A British Airways Concorde flies from London to Bahrain while an Air France Concorde simultaneously flies from Paris to Rio.
British mercenaries fly to Angola to join the FNLA in its armed struggle with the Marxist MPLA.
|
| Feb |
The Queen opens the new National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.
Guatemala is hit by an earthquake.
The "Cod War" over fishing rights in the Atlantic escalates on 19th February when Iceland suspends diplomatic relations with Britian.
On 21st February Florence Ballard, one of the original members of the Supremes, dies of a heart attack, aged 32.
The UK recognises the MPLA government in Angola.
L.S. Lowry dies on 24th February, aged 88.
The Post Office announces the end of Sunday collections and Saturday afternoon opening.
On 28th February the National Theatre Company gives its last performance at the Old Vic before moving to its new home on the South Bank.
|
| Mar |
On 5th March the Pound falls below $2.00 for the first time.
42 people are killed in the Dolomites on 9th March when a line supporting a cable car snaps.
At 4.50pm on 15th March a bomb explodes in the first carriage of a Metropolitan Line train on London's Underground. The driver of the train, Julius Stephen, is shot dead as he chases after a gunman.
The British Prime Minister Harold Wilson calls a special Cabinet meeting on 16th March to announce his resignation. Tony Benn, James Callaghan, Anthony Crosland, Michael Foot and Roy Jenkins all stand for election as the new leader of the Labour Party.
On 19th March it is announced that, after a 16-year marriage, Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon have decided to live apart.
On 24th March a military junta seizes power in Argentina.
Jacqueline du Pré receives an OBE from the Queen on 25th March.
On 27th March a bomb explodes at the Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia. 85 people are injured.
|
| Apr |
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak form the Apple Computer Company on 1st April.
Howard Hughes, the billionaire recluse, dies on 5th April.
James Callaghan beats Michael Foot by 176 votes to 137 in the final round of the Labour Party's leadership election, and so becomes the UK's new Prime Minister. Two days later, on Wednesday, 7th April, the MP and former Cabinet Minister John Stonehouse resigns from the Labour Party, leaving Callaghan's government in a minority of one.
At the Old Bailey on 9th April the president of the Young Liberals, Peter Hain, is acquitted of stealing £490 from a branch of Barclays Bank.
On 26th April Carry On star Sid James collapses on stage and dies.
|
| May |
More than 550 people are reported to have been killed and at least 1,000 are injured in Italy's worst-ever earthquake, which strikes the northern region of Friuli on 6th May.
On 9th May German terrorist Ulrike Meinhof commits suicide in Stuttgart-Stennheim prison.
Jeremy Thorpe, leader of the UK Liberal Party, resigns on 10th May, following allegations made by male model Norman Scott that they had an affair. Jo Grimond temporarily takes over the leadership of the Liberal Party.
|
| Jun |
The UK has the hottest Summer since Weather Centre records began.
Britain and Iceland sign an agreement in Oslo to end the "Cod War."
On 6th June American oil tycoon Jean Paul Getty dies, aged 84.
In Stockholm ABBA give a special Royal Command performance on the eve of the wedding of the King of Sweden.
Riots erupt in Soweto on Wednesday, 16th June when protesters demonstrate against the compulsory use of Afrikaans as the main teaching language in black schools. It is the worst outbreak of racial violence in South Africa since the Sharpeville massacre of 1960.
On 20th June the US navy evacuates 270 Western tourists from Beirut, following the murder of the American ambassador, Francis Meloy.
|
| Jul |
Donald Neilsen is found guilty of murdering 17-year-old Lesley Whittle and three sub-postmasters. He is sentenced to life imprisonment.
Israeli troops mount a raid on Entebbe Airport in Uganda to rescue Jewish hostages being held there.
David Steele is elected leader of the UK Liberal Party.
Four mercenaries (one American and three Britons) are executed in Angola on 10th July. The men had been sentenced to death by firing squad at the People's Revolutionary Tribunal in Luanda on 28th June. Nine other mercenaries were given prison sentences ranging from 16 to 30 years.
The UK breaks off diplomatic relations with Uganda on 28th July.
|
| Aug |
John Stonehouse is jailed for forgery and theft.
The UK's main car manufacturer British Leyland is nationalised.
On 25th August Jacques Chirac resigns as French Prime Minister.
A work-to-rule by Spanish air traffic controllers causes delays for holidaymakers.
On 31st August George Harrison is found guilty of subconsciously plagiarising the Ronnie Mack song He's So Fine (a hit for the Chiffons in 1963) when he wrote his 1971 chart-topper My Sweet Lord.
|
| Sep |
On Wednesday, 1st September, despite a Bank Holiday deluge two days earlier, the Yorkshire Water Authority (YWA) installs the first of 11,500 standpipes in the streets, following the UK's longest period without rain for 80 years.
On 3rd September a riot at Hull prison is brought to an end after 67 hours of unrest.
Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, dies at 10 minutes past midnight on 9th September, aged 82.
The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester is opened on 15th September.
Eight men are killed on 23rd September when a fire breaks out at Swan Hunter's Neptune shipyard, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. More than 500 men had been working on the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Glasgow at the time.
On 24th September Ian Smith accepts Henry Kissenger's proposal for a two-year transition to black majority rule in Rhodesia.
|
| Oct |
In the West German general election Helmut Schmidt's coalition government is returned to power on 3rd October with a reduced majority.
British Rail's first InterCity 125 high speed train goes into service on Monday, 4th October, making its journey from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads in 92 minutes.
The Sex Pistols sign to EMI on 15th October.
In China Chairman Mao's widow is accused of plotting to seize power. She and the other members of the "Gang of four" are arrested.
Bill Gates founds Microsoft.
On Monday, 25th October the Queen opens England's new National Theatre, designed by Sir Denys Lasdun.
|
| Nov |
Jimmy Carter wins the US Presidential election held on 2nd November with 51% of the popular vote. President Gerald Ford concedes victory at a White House press conference at midday on 3rd November. It is the first time since 1932 that a sitting president has been dismissed from office.
On 15th November peace-keeping troops from Syria move into Lebanon and take up station in the capital Beirut.
Lol Creme and Kevin Godley leave 10cc on 26th November.
|
| Dec |
Bob Marley is wounded outside his home in Kingston, Jamaica when a gunman tries to kill him.
The composer Benjamin Britten, who had been made a life peer in the Queen's birthday honours list, dies at his home in Aldeburgh on 4th December, aged 63.
Isaac Hayes files for bankruptcy on 22nd December.
|

|
| In the Charts |
| |
| UK Chart Debuts |
| |
- Boney M
- Barbara Dickson
- Daryl Hall and John Oates
- Billy Ocean
- Real Thing
- Rose Royce
- Sex Pistols
- Donna Summer
- Bonnie Tyler
|

|
| UK Best-selling Singles |

|
- ABBA
Dancing Queen
- ABBA
Fernando
- ABBA
Mamma Mia
- ABBA
Money Money Money
- Joan Armatrading
Love And Affection
- Bay City Rollers
I Only Wanna Be With You
- Bellamy Brothers
Let Your Love Flow
- Barry Biggs
Side Show
- Brotherhood of Man
Save Your Kisses For Me
[Eurovision Song Contest winner]
- Tina Charles
Dance Little Lady Dance
- Tina Charles
I Love To Love (But My Baby Loves To Dance)
- Chicago
If You Leave Me Now
- Dana
Fairy Tale
- Kiki Dee
Loving And Free
- Detroit Spinners
The Rubberband Man
- Barbara Dickson
Answer Me
- Dr. Hook
A Little Bit More
- Dr. Hook
If Not You
- David Dundas
Jeans On
- Electric Light Orchestra
Livin' Thing
- Yvonne Elliman
Love Me
- Andy Fairweather Low
Wide Eyed and Legless
- Fatback Band
(Do The) Spanish Hustle
- Four Seasons
December '63 (Oh What A Night)
- Four Seasons
Silver Star
- Fox
S-S-S-Single Bed
- Peter Frampton
Show Me The Way
- Gallagher and Lyle
Heart On My Sleeve
- Gallagher and Lyle
I Wanna Stay With You
- Glitter Band
People Like You And People Like Me
- Guys 'n' Dolls
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
- Elton John
Pinball Wizard
- Elton John and Kiki Dee
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
- Gladys Knight and the Pips
Midnight Train To Georgia
- Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Blinded By The Light
- Manhattans
Hurt
- Manuel and The Music Of The Mountains
Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto de Aranjuez (Theme From 2nd Movement)
- Johnny Mathis
When A Child Is Born (Soleado)
- Simon May
The Summer Of My Life
- John Miles
Music
- Miracles
Love Machine
- Dorothy Moore
Misty Blue
- Paul Nicholas
Dancing With The Captain
- Billy Ocean
Love Really Hurts Without You
- Mike Oldfield
In Dulce Jubilo / On Horseback
- Dolly Parton
Jolene
- Pussycat
Mississippi
- Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody
- Queen
Somebody To Love
- Real Thing
Can't Get By Without You
- Real Thing
You To Me Are Everything
- Cliff Richard
Devil Woman
- Cliff Richard
Miss You Nights
- Rolling Stones
Fool To Cry
- Diana Ross
Love Hangover
- Demis Roussos
The Roussos Phenomenon EP
- Demis Roussos
When Forever Has Gone
- Sailor
Glass Of Champagne
- Leo Sayer
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
- Showaddy waddy
Under The Moon Of Love
- Silver Convention
Get Up and Boogie
- Slik
Forever And Ever
- Smokie
I'll Meet You At Midnight
- David Soul
Don't Give Up On Us
- Billie Jo Spears
What I've Got In Mind
- Candi Staton
Young Hearts Run Free
- Rod Stewart
The Killing Of Georgie
- Donna Summer
Love To Love You Baby
- Sutherland Brothers and Quiver
Arms Of Mary
- Tavares
Don't Take Away The Music
- 10cc
I'm Mandy Fly Me
- Andrea True Connection
More More More
- Bonnie Tyler
Lost In France
- Walker Brothers
No Regrets
- War
Low Rider
- Barry White
Let The Music Play
- Barry White
You See The Trouble With Me
- The Who
Squeeze Box
- Wings
Let 'Em In
- Wings
Silly Love Songs
- Wurzels
I Am A Cider Drinker
|
| One Hit Wonders |
| |
- Eric Carmen
All By Myself
- Climax Blues Band
Couldn't Get It Right
- Rick Dees and his Cast of Idiots
Disco Duck (Part 1)
- Yvonne Fair
It Should Have Been Me
- Harpo
Movie Star
- Billy Howard
King Of The Cops
- Kursaal Flyers
Little Does She Know
- Laurie Lingo and the Dipsticks
Convoy GB
- C.W. McCall
Convoy
- Hank Mizell
Jungle Rock
- Our Kid
You Just Might See Me Cry
- Lou Rawls
You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
- Robin Sarstedt
My Resistance Is Low
- Sherbet
Howzat
- Starland Vocal Band
Afternoon Delight
- R & J Stone
We Do It
- Twiggy
Here I Go Again
- Wild Cherry
Play That Funky Music
- Gheorghe Zamfir
(Light Of Experience) Doina de Jale
|
| Hit Albums |

|
- ABBA
Arrival
- Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
- Eric Carmen
Eric Carmen
- Neil Diamond
Beautiful Noise
- Eagles
Hotel California
- ELO
A New World Record
- Peter Frampton
Frampton Comes Alive
- Gallagher and Lyle
Breakaway
- Genesis
A Trick Of The Tail
- Emmylou Harris
Elite Hotel
- Nils Lofgren
Cry Tough
- Cliff Richard
I'm Nearly Famous
- Leo Sayer
Endless Flight
- Status Quo
Blue for You
- Rod Stewart
A Night On The Town
- 10cc
How Dare You?
- Thin Lizzy
Jailbreak
- Stevie Wonder
Songs In The Key Of Life
|

|
|
| At the Movies |
| |
| |
- All The President's Men
- Bugsy Malone
- Drum
- Jaws
- Lipstick
- Mahogany
- The Man Who Fell To Earth
- Marathon Man
- The Message
- The Missouri Breaks
- The Omen
- The Pink Panther Strikes Again
- One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
- The Outlaw Josey Wales
- Shout at the Devil
- Taxi Driver
|
|
| On Television |
| |
| |
- Are You Being Served?
(Series 4)
- Ask Aspel
- The Bionic Woman
- Charlie's Angels
(USA)
- Dave Allen At Large
(Series 5)
- The Duchess Of Duke Street
- The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
(Series 1)
- The Freddie Starr Show
- George and Mildred
(Series 1)
- The Good Life
(Series 2 and 3)
- I, Claudius
- It Ain't Half Hot Mum
(Series 3 and 4)
- Last of the Summer Wine
(Series 3)
- The Liver Birds
(Series 6 and 7)
- Look - Mike Yarwood!
(Series 6)
- Man About The House
(Series 6)
- The Morecambe and Wise Show
(Series 9)
- Multi-coloured Swap Shop
- The Muppet Show
(Series 1)
- The New Avengers
- Nuts In May
- One Man and His Dog
- Open All Hours
(Series 1)
- Paddington
- Rich Man, Poor Man
- Ripping Yarns
- Rock Follies
- Sailor
- The Sweeney
(Series 3)
- The Two Ronnies
(Series 5)
- Two's Company
(Series 2)
- When The Boat Comes In
|
|
| Sporting Heroes |
| |
BBC Sport
BBC
Sports Personality
of the Year:
John Curry
|
|
Ice Skating: in January John Curry wins the Men's European Figure Skating Championships in Geneva. In February he wins a gold medal in the Men's Figure Skating at the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. In March he makes it three in a row by winning the Men's World Figure Skating title in Gothenberg. He is the first Briton to win all three titles.
Horse Racing: Rag Trade wins the Grand National. Red Rum, the winner in 1973 and '74 and runner-up in 1975, finishes second.
On 2nd June, 22 years after his first victory on Never Say Die, Lester Piggott wins the Epsom Derby on Empery. In so doing he becomes the first jockey to ride seven Derby winners.
Football: On 4th May Liverpool become Football League Champions for the 9th time.
Second Division Southampton beat Manchester United in the FA Cup Final.
Tennis: Sue Barker wins the women's singles title at the French Open.
Chris Evert wins the women's singles at Wimbledon, beating Evonne Cawley in the final in three sets (6-3, 4-6, 8-6).
Björn Borg wins the first of his five men's singles titles at Wimbledon, beating Ile Nastase in the final in straight sets (6-4, 6-2, 9-7).
Golf: Johnny Miller wins the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale by six strokes. The 1966 and 1970 British Open Champion, Jack Nicklaus, is runner-up.
Motor Sport: Barry Sheene wins the World 500cc motor cycle title.
James Hunt wins the Formula 1 World Championship.
|
|
| Pageturners |
| |
Man Booker Prize
Winner:
David Storey
Saville
|
|