NEW WORLD

An early version of the group was called The Folksingers which consisted of, John “Fuzzy” Lee who was born on 9 March 1944, Ashtead, Surrey, England and Mel Noonan who was born on 10 November 1943 in Sydney. Lee was a former carpenter and Noonan had been a television technician. As folk singers, they performed around Brisbane clubs. In 1965, they added Robert Elford who was born in Townsville in 1932. For three consecutive years, they partook in the national TV talent quest show, Showcase, finishing in the finals.

In 1966 as The New World Trio, they recorded a David Kirkcaldie composition "What the World Needs''. Attracting the right attention, it was printed as a single distributed by RCA. Selling for a dollar, the proceeds went to the Australian Freedom From Hunger Campaign. In 1968, John Kane (born 18 April 1946, Glasgow, Scotland) joined the group replacing Robert Elford, and by the end of the decade they were a popular act. Picked up by EMI they recorded ''Try To Remember'' in 1968 which charted well around the country and ended up going #11 nationally. 

In 1970 they moved to the UK and recorded a couple of singles ''Something's Wrong'' and ''I'll Catch The Sun'' on the Decca label. Both these singles weren't released in Australia. Famous songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman booked the group on television and also took the band to Europe, where record label owner Mickie Most signed them immediately to his imprint RAK. Their first single for RAK was a cover of Joe South’s "Rose Garden", which hit #15 on the UK Singles Chart in 1971. A version of "Rose Garden" by country singer Lynn Anderson, released in late 1970, was an international #1 hit.

The group's biggest hit in the UK was a version of "Tom-Tom Turnaround", also recorded by Sweet. This was followed by "Kara, Kara", which was a hit in the United Kingdom and Germany, although a German language version of the tune was a bigger hit for Peter Orloff. They had a fourth hit in the United Kingdom with "Sister Jane", but their next release, "Living Next Door to Alice", was a flop although it sold well and charted in Australia. This song would later become a worldwide hit for Smokie in 1976. In the early 1970s, New World were musical guests on the BBC shows, The Two Ronnies in 1971 and The Morecambe and Wise Show in 1973. The group appeared on the British talent show Opportunity Knocks. They were at the centre of a trial over alleged fixing of the results of the show which ended their career. The events were covered in John G. Lee's March 2005 book, New World Guilty: Vice and Payola Scandals Oust Watergate. New World's last releases were issued in 1976.

Members

John "Fuzzy" Lee (vocals/guitar), Mel Noonan (vocals/guitar), Robert Elford (vocals), John Kane (vocals/guitar)

SINGLES

''Try To Remember (#11) / The World I Used To Know'' 1968 Parlophone
''Feed The Birds / The Water Is Wide'' 1969 Parlophone
''Rose Garden / Ain't Nobody Ever Gonna Wonder Why'' 1971 Columbia
''Tom-Tom Turnaround (#23) / Lay Me Down'' 1971 Columbia

''Kara, Kara (#53) / Lord Of The Dance'' 1972 Columbia
''Sister Jane (#19) / First Steps'' 1972 Columbia
''Living Next Door To Alice (#20) / Something To Say'' 1972 RAK
''Rooftop Singing (#51) / Lady Sunshine'' 1973 RAK
''Old Shep / Sally's A Lady'' 1974 RAK
''Do It Again / Guitar Happy'' 1974 EMI

EPs

'The Single Hits' 1978 Star

ALBUMS

'The New World' 1968 Parlophone

'New World' 1972 Columbia

'Believe In Music' 1973 RAK

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_%28band%29

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/