The Fire Station website tempted me: “British music legend Leo Sayer will be touring the UK, and he still feels like dancing! Leo has spent over five decades as an iconic singer and songwriter. 2024 will also see the release of his upcoming autobiography, Just A Boy. With this performance, Leo and his band bring boundless energy, exuberance, and a hit packed show to some of his favourite venues across the country.”
“Known the world over for his army of hits which include Thunder In My Heart, Moonlighting, One Man Band, I Can’t Stop Loving You, More Than I Can Say, Have You Ever Been in Love, The Show Must Go On and the transatlantic number ones, When I Need You, and of course, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing. This is a hit packed, high energy evening not to miss.”
The Fire Station is a great Sunderland venue, which is pulling way above its weight in attracting class acts to the city. Everyone who plays at The Fire Station always comments how great venue it is, which is of course true. And Sunderland is fast becoming a true Music City.
But first before I go any further let me reminisce a little. Leo and I go back a long, long way (50 years to be precise) as some of my previous blog entries remind me. It is not long since I saw him at Whitley Bay Playhouse on his 50th anniversary tour. But before I get to recent years, I will return to some of my previous blog entries below.
Leo Sayer Newcastle City Hall 11th September 1974
This might seem a guilty pleasure today, but trust me, it seemed far from it “back in the day”. Leo Sayer was a pretty cool guy, with a hot debut album Silverbird. He first came into the public eye as the guy who appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test dressed as a clown (or in a Pierrot style costume, to be precise), co-wrote songs (with David Courtney) for Roger Daltrey’s solo lp including the hit single “Giving it All Away” and was managed by Adam Faith (another cool guy). Leo’s second single “The Show Must Go On” was of course, a massive hit.
From Leo Sayer’s bio on his website: “the B.B.C. offered Leo a slot on their T.V. rock show, “The Old Grey Whistle Test”. Leo came on the show dressed as the Pierrot and such was the reaction to his performance, the entire business noted that a new star was born.” I had the Silverbird album and played in endlessly, my favourite tracks being the rocky “Drop Back”, “Slow Motion” and the very dark, moody, almost scary “Dancer”. Listen to the album, and don’t be put off by Sayer’s later poppier and disco material, it’s classic stuff, he was a great singer-songwriter when he emerged.
I first got to see Leo Sayer when he toured in September 1974, calling at Newcastle City Hall. By then the clown outfit had gone, Leo, his songs and his excellent band were strong enough to stand in their own right. The tour came just before the release of his second album Just a Boy. I was hooked, particularly on seeing him perform “Dancer”. Support for the UK tour came from Wally, a progressive rock band from Harrogate, who were presumably named after the festival chant. [Does anyone remember shouting “Where’s Wally?” during the middle of the night to the annoyance of many people trying to sleep?]
Sputnik music says of the Silverbird album: “The first – and, in this reviewer’s opinion, only worthwhile – album from British artist Leo Sayer. Few people know that before Leo Sayer became the white Afro sporting King of Disco, he was an artist……Silverbird is very dark and depressing at its heart. It’s a concept album, in that the themes of isolation and sadness weave each of the songs together. I would give this album a 4 out of 5. This is a side of Sayer we only see briefly in his follow up album Just A Boy, and then it dies, replaced by a bad disco singer who sold out.”
Leo Sayer Newcastle Odeon 16th October 1975
It’s funny how certain songs stick in your mind. I loved “Moonlighting” when it was released in 1975. The catchy tune, the story of star-crossed lovers. OK cool it certainly wasn’t but there was just something about the song that hooked me and still does. I just couldn’t get it out of my head. We would call it an “ear worm” today.
“He sees her at the same time every night, at the Mexican discotheque. She gives him French kisses; he gives her French cigarettes. They sit at the same table every time, the lights are low, but their eyes shine, just digging the music from those sweet soul bands. She keeps him outta fights, holds on to his hand. He whispers slowly “Tonight’s the night”. Months of planning so it’s gotta be right. Under the table her bag is bursting at the seams. She made sure to bring everything. Moonlighting, they’re leaving everything. Moonlighting, they’re losing all their friends. Moonlighting, it’s the only way. It’s frightening, but it means they’ll stay, together. They’re gonna make it together………. We’re only ten miles to Gretna, they’re three hundred behind….Moonlighting.” (Leo Sayer, 1975)
Looking at the lyrics it really isn’t cool. No excuses, and I have no way of explaining my taste at the time….
“Moonlighting” was Leo Sayer’s fourth UK top ten single, reaching No 2 in the charts in September 1975. He went out on tour to promote his third album Another Year, calling at Newcastle Odeon this time. Leo still played “The Dancer”, which remained by favourite Leo Sayer song and made the concert worthwhile for me, even if I couldn’t get “Moonlighting” out of my head.
Leo Sayer Newcastle City Hall 23rd April 1976 and 5th October 1977
I saw Leo Sayer on two further occasions before I started to lose faith. The first was on 23rd April 1976 at Newcastle City Hall. Sayer was becoming increasingly popular, both in the UK and the USA, and was starting to transform into a middle of the road family entertainer. He was soon to have a massive No 1 hit which would take his career in a new direction and would enable Leo to front his own TV show on BBC every Friday night, guest on The Muppet Show, sing a duet with Miss Piggy, and appear with his idol, Fred Astaire on TV in Hollywood. There was no new album or single to promote for Leo’s Spring 1976 tour; he released his fourth album Endless Flight later in 1976. Endless Flight featured two US No. 1 hit singles, “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and “When I Need You”.
My final Leo Sayer experience took place at Newcastle City Hall on 5th October 1977. Leo’s 1977 UK tour came after massive No 1 success with the single “When I Need You” which was written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager, and first appeared as the title track of Hammond’s 1976 album. Leo Sayer’s version was a big hit worldwide, reaching No 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in February 1977. Leo Sayer performed it on the second show of the third season of The Muppet Show, and his transformation to a successful middle of the road artist was complete. Leo’s 1977 tour was hugely popular and sold out very quickly. A whole new audience were clammering to see Leo perform “When I Need You”. I went along to the concert with a mate, and we both knew that we had lost the singer-songwriter who created the wonderful Silverbird album. The tour was to promote Leo’s fifth album Thunder in My Heart, which featured the hit single of the same name.
We saw a different, new Leo Sayer at the City Hall that night in 1977. The transformation had been coming about for some time, but it became very apparent at that concert. Gone were the serious, dark, moody early songs, replaced by singalong hits. Leo had become a song and dance man. Just look at the covers of his albums and you can see how his persona has changed. The sold-out audience was also different. Gone were the rock fans who had followed him in the early days, replaced by a crowd who came to sing along to “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and “When I Need You”.
At that point I stopped going to see Leo Sayer for many years. Big mistake on reflection. However he soon dropped out of the charts and disappeared for quite a long time. He reappeared recently and I was so pleased to see him again at Whitley Bay Playhouse a couple of years ago.
Move forward to the present-day:
Leo Sayer is a very underrated songwriter, singer, and artist. I remember seeing him in the early days at Newcastle City Hall during the 1970s, several times. I began to lose faith in him, and started to view him (quite wrongly, on reflection) as a middle-of-the-road artist. But he was always much more than that. I used to play and play his first album Silverbird which contained such classic tracks as “The Dancer” and “Drop Back”. And then, of course, he wrote a lot of songs which were taken up by Roger Daltrey on his self-titled album, including “Giving It All Away”. His performance as the Pierrot for “The Show Must Go on” is for ever etched in everyone’s mind. And I love the song “Moonlighting”. The guy was a great storyteller back in the day.
Over the years Leo has suffered financial difficulties as a result of mismanagement by the late great Adam Faith (now there’s someone I would have loved to see in concert) and now lives in Australia. But he is back, here in the UK, touring smaller venues on his 50+ years anniversary tour (is it really more than 50 years?); back where he belongs, on stage singing those songs. And sing them he does. He looks great, particularly for his 76 years, and his voice is really strong.
The concert comprised two sets with an interval. He starts off going back to the beginning with “Giving It All Away” followed by more classic hits: “Moonlighting” and “One Man Band”. Then he does a mix of songs; some containing great blues harmonica and other classic Leo hits. You forget how many chart hits this man had. Set 2 includes “Thunder in My Heart” and also other hit songs such as “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and “Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)”. The encore takes us right back to the start and “The Show Must Go On”. Fantastic and thank you Leo.
Leo came down into the crowd and shook hands with some very grateful fans. A great concert by a great artist who deserves much more recognition. Perhaps his time will return. I hope so. I remain a fan, and I am proud to say so. Images from my own collection and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
I bought myself a signed poster (see image). Many thanks to Jackie for the photographs and to Chris for manipulating the site.
Setlist: (something like this)
Set 1: Giving It All Away; Endless Flight; More Than I Can Say; Train; Stormy Weather; Moonlighting; One Man Band; Raining in My Heart; When I Need You.
Set 2: Wonderworld; Thunder in My Heart; Orchard Road; You Make Me Feel Like Dancing; Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance); How Much Love.
Encore: Bells of St Mary’s; Have You Ever Been in Love; The Show Must Go On; I Can’t Stop Loving You (Though I Try).
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by TerriersFan on January 7, 2025 at 8:33 pm
Excellent review, Peter, encompassing more than one performance!
I saw Sayer back in 1974 – my first ever gig – and he was really good then, too.
Roger 🤘👍
Posted by vintagerock on January 8, 2025 at 11:50 am
Thanks Roger. I am pleased that you enjoyed my review. Happy days Peter
Posted by David Pallant on January 7, 2025 at 8:47 pm
Now here’s a funny thing. In mid to late 70s I was a massive rock fan and the heavier the better ( still am actually) but I also really liked ‘Moonlighting’. I have just tried thinking what it was about it and I think is just it was a really catchy, upbeat track with a good story. I will have to go and play it now.
Posted by vintagerock on January 8, 2025 at 11:49 am
Hi David yes I really liked Moonlighting and I still do. There is something about the story it tells. Class even after all this time happy days Peter
Posted by clearlycherryblossomf91bf00714 on January 8, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Amongst my group of hardcore metalheads I sometimes left them looking at me in total confusion. For example, they couldn’t ‘get’ folk or cleverly constructed progressive rock. Steeleye Span, Fairport, Lindisfarne, Caravan, vdgg etc. I even liked well constructed pop, disco etc. Only two types of music: that which you like and that which you don’t like.
Posted by vintagerock on January 8, 2025 at 2:39 pm
I agree. I like all sorts of music. I usually can see some good in any form of live performance. Happy days Peter
Posted by Bryan on January 7, 2025 at 9:19 pm
Adam Faith was supported by his backing band The Roulettes. There was a young guitarist called Russ Ballard, who Adam asked to play banjo on The Show Must Go On. Russ told me that! Another great review!
Posted by vintagerock on January 8, 2025 at 11:46 am
Hi Bryan and I guess that was the same Russ Ballard who was in Argent? Respect my friend Peter
Posted by Paul Newcomb on January 8, 2025 at 9:59 am
Excellent review. To my mind the best I have seen from you … and yours are always good. Thanks
Posted by vintagerock on January 8, 2025 at 11:40 am
Thank you so much Paul. I am so pleased that you enjoyed my review happy days Peter
Posted by SICKS6SIX on January 10, 2025 at 7:34 pm
the first time I saw Leo was on the OGWT dressed as the clown singing The Show must go On. I was transfixed. Every word resonating with me. I played it the other day and was transported back to that nigh back in the early 1970s watching him on the telly. He hasn’t got the wide appeal many have but he is a real trooper and master of his craft..
Posted by vintagerock on January 11, 2025 at 11:47 am
Yes Leo Sayer was pretty cool in those days. He has lost his (sadly and wrongly in my view) following and the respect he deserves over the years. Perhaps his time may come again. Happy days Peter