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Monday, October 13, 2014

Seals & Crofts, The #88 Artist of the Seventies*

This Texas duo first met when Dash Crofts was a drummer for a local group.  Crofts and Jim Seals played together in a band called Dean Beard and the Crew Cuts.  The two then moved to Los Angeles to join the Champs, and while with that group, they re-recorded "Tequila". 

In 1962, Seals, Crofts, Glen Campbell and Jerry Cole left the Champs to form the group Glen Campbell and the GC's.  That group stayed together for two years, playing notably at The Crossbow in Van Nuys, California. 

Eventually, Seals & Crofts decided to form a duo, with Seals playing guitar, saxophone and violin, and Crofts on guitar and mandolin.  They signed a recording contract with Talent Associates in 1969 and released two albums, the second of which sold enough to make the Album chart. 

In 1971, Seals & Crofts signed a new deal with Warner Brothers Records.  Their second album with Warner Brothers caught on, thanks to the title track.  "Summer Breeze" led the album to #7 on the Album chart.  The song peaked at #7 and features backing vocals by the Isley Brothers.
 
 
 
 
 

"Hummingbird" was the follow-up, one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era* with a peak of only #20 overall and #12 on the Adult chart.
 
 
 
 
 
 

The following year, Seals & Crofts released the album Diamond Girl, and once again, the title song led the way by going to #6.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"We May Never Pass This Way Again" reached #2 on the Adult chart and #21 overall.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The duo played at the California Jam festival in 1974.  Despite the great exposure, the group hit a downturn with the release of the album Unborn Child.  Both singles went nowhere, and the next album, I'll Play for You, did not fare much better.  It did feature this gem, which hit #4 on the Adult chart and #18 overall.
 
 
 
 

But in 1976, the duo struck paydirt with their biggest career hit, the title song from their album Get Closer.  Officially a #6 song, it reached #1 in many markets, and hit #2 on the Adult chart.
 
 
 
 
 

The following year, Seals & Crofts reached #2 again on the Adult chart with "My Fair Share", a song they recorded for the "One On One" Soundtrack.
 
 
 
 
 
 

In 1978, Seals & Crofts landed a third #2 song on the Adult Contemporary chart with "You're The Love".

In 1980, the duo lost their contract with Warner Brothers and set aside their music careers for a while, although they have reunited twice since.

Seals & Crofts sold over two million albums in the decade and had 12 hits, with three reaching the Top 10.  On the Adult chart, the duo enjoyed seven Top 10 songs.

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