Leo Sayer Homepage
To celebrate the release of his brand new album 'Don't Wait Until Tomorrow', Leo is offering his fans a free download of the fantastic album track 'Tell Me Just One More Time'. To get your free download, just CLICK HERE.
Leo answers 6th round Q&As
Hi Everyone,
I can’t believe it, it’s December and another year has just flown by!
It’s been an exciting year for me, having my 60th birthday in May, and also a cause for great celebration with the release of “Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow”. I guess my next milestone will be 40 years in the music business - but that won’t be 2012! So with Christmas and New Year approaching I’m currently at home in Sydney making some exciting plans for next year, and I hope you’re doing the same…
There’s lots of talk of recession and doom and gloom, but art and music will survive all that I’m sure, and the will to create and succeed will flourish in such an atmosphere. I feel optimistic that we will all achieve a better, more peaceful and humanitarian year next year – that’s my Christmas wish.
I’ve answered some more of your great questions below, and I hope the answers serve satisfy your curiosity. The winner this month is “Diane In London” for a flurry of challenging topics that really made me put my thinking cap on…! Diane can you let us have a contact address by sending an email to: contact@getmusic.com.au and we’ll get your prize to you.
Thanks for all the messages this month, but please be patient with the moderators. As I’ve said before, this is an open forum. I know some of you would like every question vetted before it’s allowed to be posted up, but this would create a huge delay in the entries, and make so much extra work for the moderators. They are hard pressed to keep the site monitored (and clean) at the moment, but it’s being done. All bad, crude and rude messages, will be, and are being removed as fast as we possibly can remove them. Remember that the moderators are at their desks in Australian time, which means there will always be some European daytime troublemakers making an appearance before our girls get to do their job. I don’t like reading this stuff any more than you or they do, but that’s the world we’re in now. Celebrity is a target, and I know to some people I definitely am! But I’m a big boy and can take it, and I ask all you who’ve been offended to do the same. Anyone who abuses this forum will have their messages removed, and you my friends will prevail.
Happy Christmas in advance, but I’ll talk to you all before the New Year, I promise…
Leo
Q+ A’s for November - Round 6
Jennifer Wardale
Hi Leo! I was wondering when did you first start learning an musical instrument and how did you learn and what instruments do you play? Keep up the great singing/writing, you're fantastic! Jen.
Though my sister played classical violin and my father sang Gregorian chant in the church choir, it was my cousin David Day who influenced me the most in my early teens when he played me the first Bob Dylan LP. The guitar seemed too hard, so I took up the harmonica. I wanted to vamp and bend notes like the blues players, but I never mastered that until meeting a mysterious character on Worthing Beach who taught me all the basic tricks. It’s still my major instrument, though I can get around a piano keyboard enough to write my songs.
JoAnn
Leo, I know that you are somewhat interested in politics and wanted a Democrat in the White House. What are your thoughts on our recent election and Sen. Obama ? Thanks, JoAnn.......P S What are your Christmas wishes this year ?
Oh I’m really thrilled about Obama becoming President. Why? Because we must all support what he stands for. It’s mighty significant that he’s the first black president for sure, but basically he’s a true Democrat and a very honest man. He’s promoted a model of change which is the only way forward for America, but let’s hope that America sticks by him when the going gets tough (as it surely will do next year). He’s bringing in a team that’s multi-party and has a wealth of experience and he listens to all advice, so things do look good. My Christmas wish is that America governed by Obama can really change the world for the best. It’s a big wish, but if we’re patient, I do believe that the results will come.
karel mouton
Leo, no - where in South Africa are you able to obtain the cd " Cool Touch". Please help!
Oh dear Karel, there’s not much I can do about this at present as the album is currently discontinued everywhere. There are some moves being made for a new deal on my catalogue, and Cool Touch will be included as a re-release sometime in the future, but you’ll have to be patient for now.
Robin Hall
Hi Leo, you will not remember, but we met, in the late 70's in Johannesburg. I was involved in a company which owned and ran the (then) biggest record retailer in South Africa. You very kindly agreed to do a P/A at our store- JOY Music- which was one of the most successful P/A's we did. It was a pleasure meeting you then and I have remained a fan ever since. (Your Greatest Hits CD is a permanent fixture in my car cd player. Enough for now. Just a quick question- how influential was the late Adam Faith on your early years.? Ciao for now, Stay cool
Thanks Robin, I remember the visit to Joy Music very well. It was great to meet my South African fans that day - and all the staff, and I still have the photos! Adam was a huge influence on me - as you’ll see on this site from an answer in the last Q + A session.
JoAnn
Dear Leo,You mentioned once before that you used to run away from home a lot and that your dad locked you in the garden shed. How old where you when this happened and how long did you have to stay there? Did you ever run away again? Do you remember any other childhood mischief where you were seriously punished?......I recently took a bad fall at work injuring my shoulder so I sympathise with your knee pain. At our age we need to be careful! Keep the pain meds handy! Love and best wishes, JoAnn
It’s true, but I probably deserved it! My hair was the main issue with my father. He shut me in the greenhouse because he didn’t want anybody to see me, and I refused to have it cut off. It was summer, I was 19 and had just left school, en route to Art School. Such a rebel… Thanks for the good wishes! I’m having treatment on the knee, just have to rest and do physio ‘til it heals.
Charlotte
Ah no, Leo you've hurt your knee, how did you manage to do that? Hope it wasn't by falling off the stage, you said you fell off the stage once, I remember you telling us about that on one of your radio shows I think it was. W hat stage and where did you fall off that time? Hope your knee gets better soon.
I think Leo did fall off the stage once in America, some years ago, Please can you clarify this Leo? I look forward to your answers to our questions soon.
Yes it’s true. In 1977, I had a bad fall off stage at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. Since then I’ve had some recurring problems, so maybe that’s what I’m feeling the results from now. It will get better and I can move, but there’ll be no wild dancing for a while…
Steve A
Leo, I have always liked your song "The Dancer" of the Silverbird album, and I would love to know what was the insperation behind this and where I can get a copy of hte sheet music? Thanks and keep singing...
Err, I’ve already answered this question once, here’s what I wrote: “It was written about a beautiful girl, Jeanette, from my home town of Shoreham By Sea. I was sixteen and infatuated by her, and yes she was a dancer, was once a ballerina. She left Shoreham By Sea to dance on the Riviera - Nice I believe, and I never saw her again. I was told that she fell to her death from a cage suspended from the ceiling in a disco club there. So it was a very real tragedy that inspired the song.” I don’t about any sheet music for this song ever being printed.
Chanell Eccles
Hi Leo, I've been a huge fan since I was little, and now my kids are enjoying your music through The Wiggles...very clever :) When are you going to do some shows in Perth? We tend to be forgotten over here and we'd love to see you. Cheers! Chanell xx
Nothing’s planned concert wise for Perth in the immediate future but that’ll change next year I’m sure. Hope to see you soon…
joseph longhurst
leo have you every been to amsterdam's red light district while on your travel's its good place for entertainment look forward to your answer in late november and happy christmas to you mate you rock .
I have and there are a few concert venues and some great music clubs in there, as well as the more famous strip bars and dope cafes. I haven’t been there for quite a while, but Amsterdam is great fun and totally unique, and there’s live musicians performing everywhere!
Diane In London
Hi Leo, I became a huge fan of yours in 1976 when I was 7 years old. I remember your uncompromisingly effervescent performances on TV. During the 80’s and 90’s I was heartbroken not to see much of you anymore, nowadays I still become that excited 7 year old whenever I see footage of you. My questions are (1) what is your secret to being so energetic and young? (2) If you liked someone would you come on strong or would you hesitate? (3) When will the new CD be released in the UK? (4) Why do you think Australia appreciates you more than the UK? You should be a national treasure over here. (5) Who could sing the higher falsetto, you or Jim Gilstrap? (6) Have other artists recorded cover versions of your album tracks? (7) Have you ever performed I Don’t Feel Like Dancing? The Scissor Sisters should overlook the royalties there!
Thanks Diane, nice questions. My answers are:
1. I just love what I do, and I don’t spend time thinking about my age or looking back. Eyes forward and deal with now and tomorrow, that’s what I say – and it works for me.
2. Ha! Like in “How Much Love”? I guess it depends on the other person. But I do tend to ‘come on strong” most of the time…
3. It’s coming next year. A new deal is being done for early next year and the UK release of “Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow” will be part of that.
4. I don’t know if Australia appreciates me more, it’s just that I love being here. People have been nice and it’s a great country, but I’ll be working in Europe again soon.
5. Ha! Jim Gilstrap is a simply amazing singer, and I was always a fan. Maybe he could sing higher than me, but have you heard Prince singing falsetto…? I think maybe he’s the one.
6. Yeah. Roger Daltrey, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Phil Collins, Elkie Brooks, lots of versions..
7. No, not that one! I think it’s a bit too close for me. I’d like to think it was a tribute to my original really…
Rayner
Please tell me the name of your aftershave starts with something tobacco, my husband read in the Sunday paper, a write up of you, he was interested to know what something tobacco was like. Would like to get it for his Xmas present. Regards Rayner
Ah ha… Someone does read all those interviews then! It’s Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanilla. If you’re in Australia you can get it from David Jones in Melbourne or Sydney. Smells fabulous!
Charlotte
Thank you Joann for your kind help, much appreciated. Yes, you're right about you and I being Leo Sayer trivia collectors. One Man Band was recorded/released 1974 in April that year if I remember, and Roger Daltery recorded in in July the same year, I think - please can Leo put me right on that one? Reason I asked Leo about The Beatles question was because am sure he mentioned on one of his radio shows once, something about recording in the adjacent studio to the Beatles at one time, am sure Leo will set us straight on that one. Thank you Joann, and yes, thank you in advance to Leo for all his answers.
Hi Leo, how did you and Elton John becomes friends, and what did it feel like recording One Man Band in Abbey Road Studio's was it? at the same time when The Beetles were recording in next studio to you, did you meet all of the Beetles or was it just John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, and what did it feel like on the occasion when you met HM The Queen? I look forward to your answers and in advance, thank you Leo
In 1972 I did visit Apple Studios in Saville Row. I think we were mixing my first album, and I remember Stealer’s Wheel were recording there too. The studio was in the basement of their London offices, and I saw George and Ringo in the lobby upstairs. Magical times! I met both Elton and Paul McCartney around this time, through Adam Faith. Paul gave me fabulous advice and Elton paved the way for me to perform my U.S. debut at The Troubadour in L.A., where he’d played his breakthrough shows – such a generous and lovely guy.
Charlotte
JoAnn
Dear Leo, A while back I found an interview in which you spoke of your many holidays and adventures. I especially liked the stories of the clandestine trip with Air America, and your meeting Muhammed Ali. Could you tell me please, did you ever get back to see Angkor Wat ? ,or see Muhammed Ali again ? Thanks for answering my questions and I hope you are having a wonderful vacation. Love always, JoAnn
I visited Angkor Wat with a bunch of crazy American helicopter pilots by chopper! The Khmer Rouge were still operating there, so it was very dangerous. The site was amazing to witness in those days, crumbling and deserted. Now it’s world heritage site. I got the amazing pleasure of performing to Muhammed Ali on his 60th birthday in London. It was a highly emotional night.
Shirley Poon
Hi Leo, when will you come to Hong Kong to have a concert again? You haven't been here for many many years!
Yes please! I want to come back soon. I have lots of H.K. friends here in Sydney talking about the very same thing, so I’m sure to be there soon.
george solomon
when are you coming to dubai again?
There are lots of developments in the wings for me to play more concerts around the world next year, and I’d love to visit the Emirates again.
JoAnn
Dear Leo, Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I was wondering...re the "Seaside Tour" mentioned in a past question...Was it the tour done after your first visit to the States ...mid 1974...when you wore the "Gatsby " suit ? Also I see by the net that you have been off to the races again in Singapore and India. Hope you had fun . Did you see Shilpa while in India ? Much love and good wishes, JoAnn
I think the UK “seaside” tour was just when you say. It’s a long time ago bow, but it was summertime and most of the gigs were in seaside towns or resorts. We went around on caches with a big open top double-decker bus as well. It was great fun, and I think I was wearing the black and white suit and the hat, yes. I didn’t go to India this year, but I saw Shilpa at the Singapore Grand Prix. It was great seeing each other again, and we walked on the racetrack together before the race.
Glenn
Hi Leo, Can you let me know when you'll be back in Canberra. Unfortunately I was out of Canberra last time and missed my chance of getting a signed copy of a LP Record. I bought an album back in 1987 for "Orchard Road" one of my top 2 songs. Between you and Bonnie tyler's "Faster than the speed of Night" I took it out and promptly dropped the album completely scratching the other side. Luckily the side with Orchard Road was not damaged so I still got my money worth. So all I need now is to get that signed and one more of my life's goals achieved. anyway, nice to see I can actually email you. should have searched the net a long time ago ;-) Glenn
Hi Glenn, I’ll be in Canberra in January, for Australia Day. See you there!
Charlotte
Dear Leo, Do you still support Brighton and Hove football team or do you support a totally diferent football team now?
I still try to follow their progress, but I can’t say I’m much of a football fan these days. Good luck to them though… Go Seagulls!
Shane
Hi Leo Shane again one more question. All your fans know your love of F1 but any chance you have had a chance to watch our Aussie v8 supercar series and would the Clipsal Adelaide 500 interest you next year?. Thanks again.Shane
I keep getting invited and I must go, as the series is great. I must say though that when push comes to shove I still prefer open wheel cars like Formula One best.
Shane
Hi Leo thankyou for all the great music and shows! My question is who is the person you sing about (if anyone) on "we got away with it "and when are you comming back to Adelaide? I hope real soon. Thankyou agian big fan Shane
It’s about lots of people, mostly ficticious, but there’s some reference in there to all the mad rock and movie stars I met. It’s amazing what we did get away with, and even more amazing that most of us survived with our brains and limbs intact! I’ll be back in the Festival State early next year.
JoAnn
Dear Leo, Will the cancellation of your show in Adelaide change the plans to record a DVD of you performing your new musical style? I certainly hope not. I would be first in line to buy it ! Thanks for so many years of wonderful music, JoAnn
I’m working on a live recording that was made of the Melbourne Hamer Hall show at the moment. Not sure how and when it’ll get released right now, but there’ll be more news soon. I was gutted that the Adelaide date was cancelled but it was out of my hands. I’m hoping to reinstate the show for next year, so finger’s crossed.
Jackie
Dear Leo, wasn't Sharon O'Neil your support act when you toured the UK in 1999 for the first time in over ten years during your knock out come-back tour?
No, that’s not quite right. I first met Sharon in the 80’s when we toured her home country New Zealand together.
anne collard
Hi Leo, What are your plans for ADELAIDE now? When in Rome..........do as the .......... Id buy a Xmas album. Like your shirt in the web photo, who was the label? How have your recent Aussie concerts been received? If Id known Adelaide would cancel, I could have booked good seats for Melbourne........you can apologies personally :) Dont ever 'give away' what makes you LEO, you've done that B4. Theres a lot to be said for effecient managers and promoters. Your Fans have always been there, I wonder why you took such a long sabatical? I turn 50 next month! I saw you first when I was 17. How remarkable that an artist can maintain a charismatic appeal for three decades, across the globe! Please don't retire on this album, or this website. Mind you, the question volumn is now beyond control. Anyway, hope you get this and are enjoying Rome. I was there once, I took the train from Rome to Zurich, you'd love the mountainous scenery. Happy Birthday xxx
I’m so sorry to everyone who bought tickets for the Adelaide show. The band and I were all looking forward to it, but there you go… These things do happen even if we don’t always understand the reasoning. This was a very expensive concert to stage and I guess there weren’t enough tickets sold in advance, though I’m sure it would have been a success on the night. Hey, I love Italy too. I had a wonderful holiday, mostly spent in Tuscany.
31/10/2008
Leo answers your Q&As!
Hi Folks, CHARLOTTE: ?Now I wonder whether Leo Sayer will be appearing with the fabulous SAS Band at The Brook venue in Southampton UK, as a surprise guest of theirs again this year. The fabulous SAS Band usually have a line-up of stars including surprise guests and in the past the fabulous Leo Sayer has been one of those pleasant surprises! No, not this year. I haven’t been invited, but I guess it’d be difficult to get there from Sydney. My best to all of them and all attending though, it’ll be a great show as always. Padraig: Hi Leo, We've always loved your Music and have seen you in concert twice - Any chance you might do a christmas CD ? Continued success - Hope you are happy in OZ. - You have many fans here and always will. From one brit to another - You've done us proud . Thank You Blimey Paul, you’ve outdone yourself this time. Glad to hear you received the albums I sent and I hope you enjoy them! Okay, here goes… 1.I heard that you were the original singer of the band free but you were replaced by paul rodgers (who is not as good a singer as you).can you tell us the whole story? Paul is a fantastic singer, one of my heroes, but yes there was a band I sang with, that he sang with too. I like to think at the time we had similar styles but he was much further “ready” than I was at the time, so he got the job. They became Free and the rest is history. 2.What is the song innocent bystander about? Just about being the outsider (like Albert Camus’ book), waiting for that train (the future) to come and carry me away. 3.The vocal recordings on the silverbird album have a very unique feel to them-ie-out of tune on the dancer and bad quality recording on slow motion.was this intentional?i think it adds a great atmosphere to the album. Hey, we didn’t know what we were doing really and techniques were much simpler in those days, but Adam faith liked atmosphere, and generally never gave the engineers time for perfection, and wanted to roll tape as David Courtney, the musicians and I created the songs, so that’s why it’s like it is – rough but ready! 4.Why was the song silverbird chopped like it was? Probably for the same reasons 5.Did you ever really have a bad gig as you described in the show must go on. Yes, quite a few. Adam wanted me to learn by experience and we frequently opened for bigger bands, who’s fans hated us, just wanting to see the stars. They would pelt us with everything, rotten food, bottles… 6.Why does the show must go on begin with circus music? Just Adam’s idea. He rolled this massive traveling organ into Olympic Studios to record. That’s “Entry Of The Gladiators”. Quite appropriate we all thought. 7.To me,your first 2 albums are like a set.silverbird is sad leo.just a boy is happy leo.was this intentional? It wasn’t intentional, maybe it feels like there’s a link because it’s the same creative team, but to me these are two very different records. 8.When you first became famous,who was the first celebrity that you met and were you star struck? When I met Roger Daltrey, I was truly ‘Blown away’! 9.Why did you sing telepath in the style you did?(like a sheep,i think) I don’t really know. I loved to play with my voice in those days and sing like other singers. I was probably thinking of Roger Chapman (Family) here. I do this song in the current show but use my normal voice. I’m very proud of this song. 10.Another year has a very thin production quality.i know it was made in 2 weeks,but was that sound intentional or did it just happen to turn out that way because of the time constraint you had? Again it was one of Adam’s ‘rush jobs’, but I think it sounds great for all that, warts and all! 11.how did you feel going to america in 1976,knowing that you were going to work with all those fantastic musicians? I didn’t know what to expect, didn’t have any illusions, so to play with such amazing players was a shock, albeit a very pleasant one! 12.how did you decide to record endless flight by andrew gold?i think the two of you should have made an album together. It was just a song that was suggested, and I wanted to record it. Funnily enough Andrew and I only met once. Great guitarist and songwriter. 13.how come you never released a live album until live in london? I would love to hear one of your concerts from the 70's.any chance of getting one??? Ironically, there is the BBC in concert footage (with the Pierott from 1974), but it’s only available on YouTube. I’m surprised that this never went to DVD, and I don’t know if there’s any others. 14.any of your songs that were not released as singles that you wish had been? Oh lots, but the past is the past. 15.did you choose what tracks should make your albums or was it the record companys decision? Always me and the producers. 16.how was the album cover for endless flight achieved? Great fun… I was bouncing on a trampoline and the photographer was on a ladder. The background was printed wallpaper, all real items captured on a negative. Nowadays they would’ve used Photoshop! 17.any unreleased tracks that you wish had made it onto your albums. So many, I don’t know where to start… 18.i dont think you are given enough credit for disco.i mean,you recorded you make me feel like dancing in 1976 and disco didnt happen for another 2 years! What do you think? I agree, we were ahead of our time. The real pioneer though was Dona Summer (and Giorgio Moroder). 19.why did you include a booklet of drawings with the just a boy album? And why didnt you keep that up with all your albums. I was always drawing, so it felt like a nice idea for the fans, and to give some atmosphere to the lyrics. But later on, inserts and books with albums became too expensive to produce, so that’s why it didn’t continue. 20.your albums are very impressive.they all sound different!most artists stick to whatever sound they think is their style but you keep changing your style and suceeding.every style works for you.do you intentionally do this? Yes, it’s intentional. I’d get bored sounding the same all the time! 21.what happened in the 80's and 90's.very little music from you.can you tell us the whole story? Not much of a story to tell. I guess we all go in and out of fashion at some time, even the Beatles! Amazingly enough it’s all coming back again now. I don’t like to dwell on these things too much, just keep movin’ on… 22.do you wish the internet was around when you first started out? No! It’s great we have it now, but there’s a certain mystique attached to the old ‘offline’ days, don’t you think? 23.i was looking through a discography of youRs on the net and i saw an album leo sayer-the missinglink-soundtrack.what is this?how come its not listed in your discography? It wasn’t my project. Just music for a film. I did co-write some of the material, but I didn’t have any input into the project really. 24.is it true you dated raquel welsh? (envy) No Comment! 25.did you ever go down the classic music business route and do drugs? No. 26.i think you and queen would do a fantastic album together.what do you think? No. I think we are very different really. There are a lot of things I love about that band though. 27.in a previous post,you told me that all your masters are missing! How did that happen and would you like to have them.i mean,all the hard work that went into making them.have you any idea where they might be? They are still missing, yes, but many great artists have this situation with their past material. I don’t think it matters though, as no-one can mess with them, and they’ll stay sounding the way they were originally intended, which is good. 28.is there any of your songs that you were never happy with the final mix. Oh plenty, but you have to live with it! 29.how did you work in the studio in the old days? Was everything recorded live or was each instrument and your vocals recorded seperately? Generally everything was recorded with a band and my vocals at the same time. We had separation, and so you could fix up things later, and add more instruments, like strings and horns and backing vocals. Generally my producers and I always loved my live takes though. These days, we tend to put things together piecemeal, as there are so many more options available now at the recording stage. 30.i have the very best of vhs and you make me feel like dancing and thunder in my heart are different versions than the album versions.why is this? I think it was because they were from UK TV performances. The songs were originally recorded in America, but had to be replayed by UK musicians here, thanks to a stupid rule by Musician’s Union. The UK players did a fine job, but it didn’t really compare with the on record US performances. 31.looking back on your career,is there anything that you would do differently? Hmmmn… nothing I can do now, is there? 32.would you write a book about your life? Yes, it’s about time, so I’m preparing for it at the moment. 33.i know its a touchy subject,but you have said that you were ripped off.what happened? Oh, I don’t want to get into that now. Strangely enough, it’s all worked out for the best. I’m comfortable and happy now. 34.im trying to get EVERYTHING that you have done.i have the albums and b sides.but i cant get a list of apearances you made on other artists albums! Can you name a few. I’m going to put a total discography up on the website soon, but if you search the net, there is a lot of stuff available, like the RPM records re-releases. 35.how come the b side to easy to love, haunting me, wasnt included on the singles a's and b's 3 disc set? Well spotted. I wasn’t aware of that, but I don’t think ‘Easy To Love’ was ever released as an ‘A’ side in Europe, so maybe for this album it didn’t qualify. 36.where did the inspiration for the album cover of living in a fantasy come from? It was designed by those crazy guys at Hipgnosis, and we had all these Japanese torn paper collage, Japanese magazine layout and Manga comic ideas, so that’s the theme. Tres chic at the time, and I still like it. 37.i have the very best of vhs and there are 11 videos on it.what other music videos have you made?i know of only 2 others but ive never seen them,dancing the night away and once in a while.any plans for a dvd of ALL your videos and possibly a commentasy on them?that would be great! This collection wasn’t compiled by me, but as far as I remember, I never made that many videos. I keep meaning to search out more, but must admit to being more a ‘sound’ than a ‘visual’ man in those days. There were big problems keeping onto all the visual material while I was at odds with the record companies, and I fear that a lot of material has been lost. Ah well… 38.does any footage exist of you recording in the studio in the 70's?i would love to watch some. No, sadly I don’t think there is. 39.looking back over your career,what has been your favorite moment and your least favorite moment? Favourite moment: hearing Roger Daltrey singing “Giving It All Away” for it’s first performance on the radio in 1973. Least favourite moment: I can’t think of a particular one, there have been many! 40.any plans to do a show here in ireland?even just a one off?i would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to see you live and possibly meet you! I’m waiting on some plans to play UK again and Ireland will figure in there somewhere, I’m sure! Anyway,theres all the questions.i know its alot! But i hope you answer them.thank you for making me last months prize winner.im looking forward to reading your answers. Thanks leo Phew….! Thanks, Paul. Carol: Leo was that you on Sam Newman's Footy Show or was that a footballer imitating you? It was me, re-creating the 1976 video performance. Just a bit of fun for the Footy Grand Finale, but I hope you liked it. rosemarie brookes: leo have u ever done a concert where u wished hadn't botthered turning up. No never, I love my job. I’ll perform even if there’s nobody there! Charlotte: Hi Leo, I have only recently discovered you collect books. I read about that on an Internet site. Interesting. What books do you like reading, who's your favourite author and why? I look forward to your answers, thanks Leo. I love books and have been collecting for years, all sorts of subjects from travel writing to art and history books and of course quite a few novels. I have so many favourite authors, from Ernest Hemmingway, Victor Hugo, John Paul Satre and John Steinbeck all the way to John Fowles and John Le Carre, but the list could be endless…. I the guess literature I’ve read has shaped the way I think, and the way I am. Craftygirlwithruffle (Ann Marie): Hi Again, My question for October....... are you planning to write a book about your life? It would make one great read I'm sure. Ann Marie Yes I am. I’m thinking about it now, so and I’ll start soon. Not much more to tell, but I’m determined that it’ll be different and entertaining, that’s what I hope. Craftygirlwithruffle (Ann Marie): Hi Leo Thanks for answering my question about the T-Shirts (very exciting) and for making me one of the winners of a double pass to see your concert in Melbourne. I am rapt. I was at your Voice in Your Head concert in 2005 at Hamer Hall. I also appreciate how accessible you are to your fans. Keep it up. By the way, you live in a great part of Sydney. I visit my mum there often who lives by the water. Tell me... did you put your skills to work and design the T-Shirt? Regards Ann Marie No, the designs are not me. The companies that do the merchandising usually do all that, but I always have an input. Charlotte: Leo, another question, I'd like to ask you is since you've been living in Australia have you picked up any Australian terms? Strewth mate, bloody oath, yeah! I particularly love “she’ll be right” – it works with anything. Charlotte: Thank you for the details will take a look. - and I'm sure Leo does know the copyright. Regarding Leo's song 'Bye Bye Now My Sweet Love', have I remembered right that that song is about the girl you had an affair with with called Caroline, and didn't she come from Yorkshire? No, it was just a great song that Alan Tarney wrote and recorded before we met, for the Tarney/Spencer band (with drummer Trevor Spencer). I loved the song so we cut it for a single, and though it wasn’t a hit, I think we did a great job. More on the Tarney Spencer Band here (check out their great version of ‘Cathy’s Clown’): See: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=141389237 peter brooke's: leo can u remember the very first concert u did and the song's u sung? The first big headlining concert I did was at The Dome in Brighton in 1973, and the opening number (from “Silverbird”) was “Tomorrow (is the first day of the rest of your life)”. It seemed appropriate! Charlotte: Hi Leo, here's hopefully another challenging Leo Sayer question for you. In your song 'The Bells Of St. Mary's' you talk about the folk pub called The Lady Jane. Well in actual fact The Lady Jane is as you know situated close to the River Adur. Well since that name it has changed to a new name. Please can you tell me what the pub is called now, and also what was its original name before it became 'The Lady Jane'? I’ve no idea if it’s still there or what it’s called now, but the pub in the song was In Shoreham on the river Adur, and as far as I know, it was always known as the Lady Jane. Just before I met David Courtney and became Leo Sayer, I was living on the river on a houseboat moored beside the pub, and was involved in running a humble folk club there. The song recalls those days and growing up in Shoreham By Sea, and tells the story of my early days. Gary Parish: Hi Leo, I have been a fan since you first started. I moved to the US in 1991 and so I was wondering. I know you have a lot of fans here. Are you planning to play any dates in the US anytime in the forseeable future? Best Regards, Gary Parish I repeat this every time I get asked, but I do want to come back and perform in the States again. There’s been lots of talk, but I’m just waiting on the right offer. Andrew van den Berg: Hi Leo, What was the most hardest job in the music industry in your life that you have ever done? I think performing on television in my own series for the BBC in the UK. There were two or three series. I’ve no idea how I got talked into that. It was mostly a nightmare, a theatre of compromise, and to me the results were mediocre. Everything I wanted to do creatively was a problem. That’s how it is in TV, it’s all budgets, restrictions and set ways of doing things. Very rarely, excepting for shows like Jools Holland’s in the UK, or the old Midnight Special in the USA, does music making get a true representation. In hindsight, I guess there were some good moments, and though many of the UK fans would love to see these programmes again, if they come out on TV, I won’t be watching! My favourite TV show I ever did was In Concert (in 1974). You can watch that on YouTube. Charlotte: Leo, in your re-issue album 'Silverbird' in conversation you and David Courtney, you mention about a song you seem to recall called 'Long Gone' was that a title of one of the songs you wrote but never released it and is there by any chance that you will release it in the future? Or was that a title I think you said a song called something else but it should have had that title as you regarded this particular song as a lost song of yours? Yeah, there was a song called “Long Gone”, but I can’t recall how it went. Funnily enough whenever David and I get together we talk about all the songs we wrote that were never released. But every writer is like this, we all have our favourite ‘ones that got away’. There’s usually a reason for this though, as it seems it always takes writing ten songs before you find you have a good one. Maybe we should just let those ‘lost songs’ be, and celebrate the ones that worked! Darren: Hi Leo One of my favourite songs is "Moonlighting". Are the lyrics based on a (semi-) true story? Yes, the story comes from when I was in one of my first bands. It's about our van driver Dave, who loved a girl whose parents wouldn't agree to them seeing each other. Dave's intended was in fact the daughter of the chief of the local police force, hence a scheme to run away to Gretna Green for an instant wedding. The 'Mexican Discotheque' in the song was 'The Mexican Hat', a local dive where the band used to meet up, and was - as the song indicates - in Montague Street, Worthing, Sussex, where the band played most of their gigs. The song covers the lover’s journey, but they never actually made it, as the Worthing police in a joint operation with Carlisle police, picked them up 10 miles outside of Gretna. At the exact point the song ended in fact. Well, I just thought it should end on a happy note. Rosemarie and Charlotte: how long leo have you been intrested in motor racing? Ever since my Dad took me to Goodwood race circuit when I was 10 years old. The racing oil got into my nose and I’ve never been the same since. As I write this I’m hoping that Lewis Hamilton wraps up the drivers Grand Prix championship in Brazil, I think he’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to the sport in many years, in fact since Ayrton Senna. So, go Lewis….!!! I was hoping to take this new show we’re performing (with ‘The Southern Cross All Stars’, as I call the orchestral band) there, but it hasn’t worked out yet. Hopefully we’ll be there early next year, as I love the Perth audiences. Finger’s crossed!!!
Sorry to be so slow in answering your questions this month. I’m currently in London, on a hectic trip to Europe, doing some business, but basically on vacation here - and I’ve been visiting Italy too. I must say that it’s great to be in London again, even if it’s a little bit too cold!
Meanwhile a big thanks to my Australian fans for your support and all your great comments and reactions to the recent Sydney and Melbourne shows. I had a ball, and I know all the musicians did too. Hopefully we’ll be doing more of these style concerts soon.
Please keep your questions coming, for I’m really enjoying answering them. There’ll be another session at the end of November, with a special Christmas prize for the best question!
That brings me to this month’s winner… It’s Clare Woodward, a regular contributor from the UK. Congratulations Clare, please let us know your postal address by sending it to contact@getmusic.com.au, so I can send a prize.
Okay, I’m back in sunny Sydney soon, but all the best from me in London right now, to you, wherever you are… Thank you all for your questions and comments, and your loyal support.
Bless you all,
Leo.
Adam was my first manager, and though he’d had an amazing career as a pop star in the U.K. where he was a huge star, in those early days there was a lot he would have admitted he didn’t know about artist management. But I loved spending time with him, because he was so charismatic and loved by everyone, plus he taught me so much, from basic stagecraft to how to attain that cool attitude that real stars were expected to possess. We worked very intensely together while making my first 3 albums, nevertheless I can’t say we were ever “that” close at the time. Later when he seemed to be losing interest in me, I foolishly persuaded him to hang on – long past our relationship’s sell by date. This led to me suspecting him of all sorts of nefarious activities and him losing patience with my need to control my life and career, so we didn’t part on the best of terms. He died a few years ago and I’m glad that I got to spend a bit more time with him at the end, and was proud to be at his funeral. I realize now that there’s a lot of him in me, in the way I am and the way I think, a maverick quality that if he’s looking down on me now, I hope he’s proud of - as I feel truly honoured by my long association with him.
Oh, and yes I’ll be sure to look you up when I’m in Hull again.
That’s very kind. In 1975, my version of the Beatles’ “Let It Be” was released as a Christmas single. For some reason I never made another one, maybe it’s time I did…
Dennis J: Hi Leo,we once briefly met in London back in 2000.I was curious to ask if you had taken out Australian citizenship,and what do you like more in Australia than the UK apart from the weather ? Thankyou.Have a nice xmas.
I haven’t become a citizen yet, mostly because I haven’t had the time to apply, but I will soon. There’s not a lot I can find to dislike about life down under, and I feel healthy and very much at peace here, so I’ll be happy to make my move more permanent soon.
Charlotte C: Dear Leo, I am looking forward to the Leo Sayer calendar when it comes out . funny someone asking you about your current concerts appearing on You Tube as I too was thinking and would like to know please if there's going to be a live recording of them out either on DVD or CD or both would be a real treat for us all so we Leo Sayer fans can all get to see a taste of your new style songs as well. Thank you Leo.
No, nothing is planned yet re. filming or recording the new concerts for a release on DVD or CD. That would be a big undertaking at this stage, but it’s something we may look at in the future.
Diane In London: Leo, bearing in mind the career path of your early 1970’s peers; from those now in obscurity with their millions, those who are behind the scenes in the music business to the ones who still have chart success, how would you have liked your own career to have panned out? You talk about being disappointed with treatment from the industry, so heres your chance to tell us all what the ideal would be. Also, can you please arrange for footage of your current Australian performances to appear on YouTube. Us fans in the rest of the world are missing out and I love to get my weekly dose of Leo.
When all is said and done, I don’t think I have much to complain about in the way my career has panned out. It’s true that I’ve been overlooked at times by some people in the music industry, but having such a strong bunch of fans, a return to the limelight is always on the cards. This is what happened with the remix of “Thunder In My Heart (Again)”, when many were trying to write me off. As I said above we haven’t filmed the new concerts yet, but that will happen soon I’m sure.
Matilda: Leo, i drove 350km each way to attend your concert on saturday, it was brilliant the acoustics were fantastic and you were amzing live (being born in the 70's i missed your early stuff) you hinted you may collaborate with the artists you worked with on saturday next year can you give us a hint as to what your next direction will be?and when you will return to the Arts centre?
Well thanks and I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ve put a lot of work into this show and must tell you that all of us in the band and orchestra are excited about the prospect of playing more shows like this. At the moment plans look hopeful that for more concerts next year, maybe we’ll even get to tour the show.
steve: hi leo, when u dressed up as the clown for the song the show must go on did kursty climo have anything to do with this. i have heard of a great make up artist of this name and was wondering if its the same person who looked after you.
Yes, that was Kirsty (Climo). She created the Pierott make up that I first appeared wearing on the cover of “Silverbird” in 1973. She was wonderfully creative to work with - a truly great make up artist. Kirsty was Kate Bush’s stylist too, and has worked both in both fashion and theatre.
julia garrick: Husband and I saw a fantastic show at Hamer Hall last night, and couldnt believe how smooth you are, just like Terrys chocolate mmm. but back to business We loved your rendition of Waltzing Matilda and I was a little disappointed it wasnt on your cd that we purchased on the night. Where are we able to get a copy of it. thanks again Julia
“Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow” is all about re-working my own recording catalogue, but I just thought I’d add some favourite songs by other artists in the style of the album for this current live show. That’s the Tom Waits song “Tom Traubert’s Blues” your talking about - an old favourite of mine, and such a fabulous song. I just thought it’d be perfect to perform with it’s “Waltzing Matilda” chorus line, and in the context of the show, it seems to have gone down better with the audience than I thought it would. Maybe it’s time for an album of covers?
Simon Corrigan: I'm trying to find a copy of the DVD One Night in Sydney-Live at the Basement but it seems to have been discontinued. I saw it a couple of years ago and it is sensational. Can you please let me know where I can get one? Regards Simon
Don’t know – I think it’s out of print. It was never planned to be manufactured in large numbers, being just a document capturing a live show in a small club, with no big production. It was mostly made for ABC TV.
Charlotte: Hi Leo, I think I seem to remember you saying you played a part in The Railway Children. That's interesting. Please can you tell me what part your part was, what year was it when you were in there and was it broadcasted ? I would have loved to have seen it and especially when you were in it. I look forward to your answers many thanks in advance Leo.
No, that wasn’t me.
LOLA OSUNA( GRANADA-ESPAÑA): HELLO!! I`m very interested in your album LIVING IN A FANTASY... and I adore one song,...." she's not coming back".....please, how can I GET IT???? THANKS!!!
Hola Lola! It’s available now on RPM records. See: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/rpm/artists/leosayer.htm.
steve: hi leo, i went to see u in 1974 at the liverpool empire you sang the song the dancer and mention jenette was a dancer i knew her so well whats the story behind this song, its one of my fav songs of yours. you sang the song with mirrors all behind whoes was that idea because it came across so beautiful, fantastic song, keep the music going leo.
It was written about a beautiful girl, Jeanette, from my home town of Shoreham By Sea. I was sixteen and infatuated by her, and yes she was a dancer, was once a ballerina. She left Shoreham By Sea to dance on the Riviera - Nice I believe, and I never saw her again. I was told that she fell to her death from a cage suspended from the ceiling in a disco club there. So it was a very real tragedy that inspired the song.
Clare Woodward: Please, please come to the UK soon. I need my Leo fix. Better watch out though - I'm planning to capture you and keep you locked up in my spare room , only bringing you food when you write me songs (a bit like 'Misery!)Important question no 1 - do you have any pets?, important question no 2- I've heard you're a closet intellectual - who are your favourite writers? IQno3. Do you remember that woman who emerged from the crowd and garbbed hold of you at Delamere forest? (it wasn't me by the way!) IQno4. Did you know there is a group on Facebook dedicated to tracking you down in Sydney? that's it for now. You seemto have your work cut out answering all these questions don't you? Love Clare x
Ha ha, don’t worry I’ll be back in ‘blighty’ soon. Just got to get the business for that sorted, but it’ll happen. I don’t have any pets now, since I’m always traveling and it’d be cruel to keep them boarded. In England I had a small Yorkshire Terrier, Tito, who was with me ‘til he died at the grand old age of 14. Ah, I do love literature. I still keep Shakespeare and Dickens volumes handy and I’m always “in a book” these days. No particular favourites, maybe Herman Hesse? I remember the Delamere concert, but don’t think I can recall the particular incident. A fun show though! I’ll have to watch out for the FB Group. I’m pretty easy to find though, people call out wherever I go and I don’t try to escape!
JoAnn: Leo,Please ignore the idiot posters that have nothing better to do than insult people.Your true fans would never do that.I remembered another question.Did you ever participate in sports in school,on a team? Some one said once that you had been a long distance runner. Is that true?...Also if anyone has a copy of Leos interview with Glenn A Baker or Rockwiz could you please post it so others could enjoy it? Thanks,love JoAnn
Thanks JoAnn. As I’ve said before we don’t want to censor the site, so the “idiots” will always be able to get in before we remove them. I want to be fair and let people have their say. Okay, I was never a ‘joiner’ of groups at school, and was good at cross country running mostly because I wanted to run away (out front) from all the others. I used the same technique for the mile (5000 metres as it is today), and one year I won, surprising everybody, as I was so much smaller than the other lads! I think you can see the Rockwiz quiz show online.
Look at: http://www.sbs.com.au/rockwiz/past/219/Leo-Sayer-and-the-Wolfgramm-Sisters
JoAnn: Dear Leo, Did you have any pets as a child, do you have any now? I remember reading that you and Janice had pet rats for a time.,and little Florence passed away in Beverly Hills.How lond did you have Tito?I read that some people in the U.K. were giving you grief because you would carry Tito with you everywhere. What did people expect? It was a very tiny dog.It could easily get stepped on and injured.Best wishes from your animal loving American fan,JoAnn
Yes I love animals, and though it’s a long time ago now, true that my ex wife Janice loved pet rats. Please see my previous answer for the lifetime of Tito, and yes for a time we were inseperable.
charlotte: hi leo, i know we can ask you questions too as you said 'keep 'em coming!' i would like to know please how did you become associated with the sas band and jill the secretary of that band ?
Yes I’ve had lots of fun playing with the SAS band. In the 70’s I knew all the boys from Queen and Spike Edney was the keyboard player – still is. This is Spike’s project, “Spike’s All Stars” (SAS). I haven’t performed with them for ages, but it was something I got involved in before coming to Australia, and a fun gig to do. The other vocalists were Paul Young, Chris Thompson, Tony Hadley, Fish, Midge Ure, and of course the backing vocalists, the fabulous ‘Fabbagirls”, and Jamie Moses is an amazing guitarist and singer too. I send ‘em all my love if they get to read this!
Charlotte: Leo, you have performed musical nights of fun with the SAS BAND haven't you? And they are your musical friends too aren't they? They include Spike Edney, Jeff Scott-Soto, Jamie Moses, Chris Thompson/Thomson - and oh what's the girls name you sang with her on stage at Eastleigh and the FABA Girls ?
See above.
julie: Leo, why don't you start a mail fan club up again - it is lovely to receive proper mail and we would only receive genuine information.
It’s a nice thought, but impossible for me to do now I’m traveling so much and am based in Australia. Gotta keep working, I think that’s more important don’t you? Anyway, we do have this forum…
Dylan Rowlands: Hi Leo - my favourite LS is an obscure one "Tomorrow" but I can't for the life of me find it on a CD anywhere - none of the greatest hits packages I can find inculde it. You wrote it right ? Do you know why it isn't popular for re release and is that going to change anytime soon it ain't on itunes either. Elkie Brooks did a cover of it on her "Rich Man's Woman" in 1975 did you like that cover ?
Yes, well spotted with the Elkie Brooks cover, one I’d forgotten about. “Silverbird”, the album the song came from, is available.
See: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/rpm/artists/leosayer.htm
Adrian Frost: I'm a trombone player in my 50's who used to play in symphony orchestras around the world. I have always enjoyed your music. I had the privilege of playing some back up on an album that was tentatively called Orchard Road when I lived in Singapore between 1980 - 1983. What album did it end up being, I don't recall Orchard Road being one of the songs I played. As you are aware, most of the songs had no name and we didn't hear all of it, being a trombone player, I only heard the rhythm and my part.
Thanks Adrian, that’s amazing considering that my ‘Orchard Road’ has nothing to do with Singapore!
peter brookes: hi leo i would like to ask u can u you remember your first day at school and if u played with a toy on your first day canu remember what it was .
It’s a long time ago, but I do remember a little toy, a matchbox metal racing car, a British Racing Green Bristol, rolling it along the playground…
JoAnn: Dear Leo, On your "Live in London CD there is a short piece of classical music between tracks 14 and 15. What is it and why did you add it? Is it one of your dads favorites?,and do you listen to classical music? Another question; Did you include a song to or about your wife on each album? and did the tone of the songs change as your marriage changed? Thanks for your answers. One complaint; the newsletter sign up still wont accept my postal code. Is the newsletter only for Australian and English fans? I hope not. Your loyal American fan, JoAnn
I’m looking into the international log in access, and we’ll let everybody know when that’s fixed. On the “Live In London” CD, the classical playing on the intro to “Thunder In My Heart” was really just keyboardist Josh Phillips jamming, nice though it is! My father got me hooked on classical music at an early age, introducing me to everything from Bach to Stravinsky, and I do listen still, love it in fact. No I don’t include a song about my nearest and dearest on my records, that’s a myth that someone would probably like to be true. The songs are for everybody, and always were…
Jackie Twine: Leo, I have been watching your video on You Tube 'When I Need You' is that you walking along the sea, the hills and in the town of Shoreham-By-Sea? And also once I either read or heard that you did a sea-side tour. Please can you let me know what year that tour was and the sea side places you visited? I look forward to your answers, with thanks Jackie
Oh dear, I can’t remember it in too much detail (or the year) but yes there was a seaside UK tour. That was when the famous Cornish guitarist Al Hodge was in the band, happy times and we had lots of fun on the road. We played in Plymouth, Skegness, Brighton, Bornemouth, Southend, Scarborough, Blackpool… all those places. It was great fun. Maybe someone out there can enlighten me further. Anyone with a better memory…?
Charlotte: Hi Leo, was it a cousin of yours who introduced to you Bob Dylan. Also when were you introduced to him, and in what way did Bob Dylan influence you? Again, I look forward to your answers. Many thanks, Leo. From Charlotte Coates
Yes, it was my cousin, David Day. And yes, Bob Dylan still influences me. To me he’s the ultimate hero, like no other.
Paul sheerin: Hi leo. I am septembers star prize winner,i have some more questions for you to rattle your brain
Charlotte: Leo do you believe in past life?
No, I’m too busy dealing with this one.
Charley: I must say you still look good and young at 60 what's the secret?
I don’t know, perhaps it’s because I won’t let any stress get to me, and because I’m a very optimistic person. Obviously inside I must be sixty - I mean my bones are definitely that old! But I feel pretty healthy these days. I pace myself and I haven’t lost any of my zest for life. It must help that I love my life and my job, and in that I know I’m very fortunate, as so many people out there are unhappy with their destiny.
Geoff: Hi Leo - is it true you're going to become a naturalised Aussie next January?
Oh dear, I want to do it but I’ve been so busy I still haven’t filled out the forms. It’s on the horizon, yes, though I don’t know if I’ll make Australia day.
Kevin Gilfoyle: Will you be doing any touring in the UK this year. not seen you snice you did the Hotel Royal, (Green Room) and then a few weeks later Leeds were i spoke to after gig.
Sorry Kevin, but there are no dates planned for this year, but I hope to be playing somewhere in the UK in 2009.
Andrew: Leo, I was wondering by any chance are you planning to come to Perth. I'm sorry to be annoying but i am a 15 year old boy who loves old music and the old artists. I really want to see you live no matter what, where your here in Perth or the Eastern States, but because i can't go over the eastern states I would love to know fi you are planning to come to Perth.
24/10/2008
Q&As... coming soon!
Leo is travelling in Europe at the moment but is still working hard on aswering all those Q&As from last month! Keep them coming for him to answer next month, and Leo will be posting the answers soon!
Hi Everyone,
Busy travelling at the moment, flying from London to Rome today, but I've started on the answers and will post them soon! Thanks to the moderators for keeping the messageboard 'clean' and to all the nice messages left on the board for me to read.
Best regards to all!
Ciao, Leo x
24/09/2008
Adelaide show cancelled
Bluehawk Presents wishes to advise that due to a scheduling conflict, Leo Sayer will not be performing at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday 22nd November.
Patrons should present their tickets at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Box Office for a full refund.
22/09/2008
More Q&As for the fans!
Hey folks,
Here we go with this month’s Q + A session…. It’s late September, so it’s round no. 4.
Thanks for all the intelligent enquiries and I hope you find your question amongst the selection, and that my answers are informative or helpful. I must say that I’m really enjoying the dialogue, so please keep the questions coming and I’ll be back with more answers next month...
There will be a prize for each month’s best question. I’m looking for something that’ll truly challenge me, yeah?
This months winner is Paul Sheerin – he had a brace of great questions that made me have to go and research the answers. Great stuff Paul, but now we need your address – so please get back to us with it…
On Sept. 6th, with a great company of 26 musicians, I performed at Sydney’s beautiful State Theatre. It was a completely new show, with stellar players, strings and William Motzing, my conductor/arranger from “Don’t Wait”, all onstage with me. I was so glad to see some of you made it there.
We’ll be performing again at The Hamer Hall at The Arts Centre in Melbourne on Saturday October 18th, and I hope that some of you can make it there too. I’ll have photos and inside news about the shows posted up here soon.
Meanwhile, keep well and here’s wishing you all much peace and happiness…
Leo.
shep - 17/09/08
hey leo, just wondering if by any slim chance you might be interested in helping our cancer care nurses make a music clip to 'show the rest of Australia' just how great they are! we are planning to perform '..you make me feel like dancing' and reckon your sense of fun attitude would help 'get us noticed. i know its a loooong shot but, youve gotta give things ago in this life! we would like to attct nurses to nursing cancer patients and show that we can have fun as well as work really hard. so thanks anyway Leo smiles shep oh, and if you do come to townsville ....we'd show you just how spectacular our tropical north queensland is..
That sounds like fun for a very worthy cause. I’m very busy for the next couple of months, but after that… Let me look into it, yeah?
Adam thomas - 16/09/08
Hey Leo I saw on Dave and kim morning show that you found a new love in Darwin, does that mean you will be touring up here? if you need a place to stay give us a hoy!
Err, I think you may have got the wrong end of the stick here, Adam. Yes it’s true I said to David and Kim that I was in love with Darwin. But I meant just Darwin itself – not with anyone IN Darwin. I was up there last week for a week of R+R, and to support friend and artist Geoff Todd on the opening. I had a fantastic time with Geoff and friends, stayed at a fantastic wildlife resort, Feathers Sanctuary, and just kicked back in the fabulous climate there at this time of year. It was my third visit (including a performance at The Darwin Cup Ball last year). It’s a great city and I’ll be back before Christmas, hopefully playing another concert next year.
Charlotte - 15/09/08
Leo, its nice to see some decent messages coming on your board now from your genuine fans. I hope it keeps that way for you. A friend and I would like to know please, what top ten albums did you have in the UK and US, were any at number one (I see you've had a few at number 3 in the Australian charts) and what were they? My memory is failing me to recall even though I have read about them in the Guinness Book Of Records. I look forward to your answers and again in advance thanks for answering all my Leo Sayer queries.
I’ll be posting up a list of my chart hits in the discography section soon, so you’ll get all these questions answered there, but here’s a quick overview. In the U.K., I had one No.1 album with “The Very Best Of Leo Sayer” in 1979. “Silverbird” went to No.2 in 1973, and “Just A Boy” and “Endless Flight” both went to No.4, in 1974 and 1976 respectively. See Wikipedia for more details: “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Sayer”
Charlotte - 15/09/08
Hi Leo, Will you please release a DVD with you performing with your 25 piece orchestra your new melody style hits? It would be great to see you perform them with your orchestra on DVD You could call the DVD 'Don't Wait Until Tomorrow' What do you think to that idea? And also, will you ever release a completely brand new CD with no old songs on it and only with brand new songs featuring 'The DJ Song' ?
This is in the pipeline, and the show features live versions of many more of my songs than the “Don’t Wait” tracks, plus covers of other songs that inspired me too. I talk onstage about my life and how I wrote or recorded the songs too, so yes, it’d make a great DVD. I’ll perform a couple more shows to break it all in, and then we’ll film it. The show’s called ‘An Evening With Leo Sayer’, so that’d be the working title.
Diane In London - 13/09/08
Hi Leo, what is the meaning behind the song Magdalena? Its very beautiful and I hear reference to religious iconography, but who is “this little red haired girl?” Its not you and its not the songwriter Danny O’Keefe :)
So nice that someone likes this song as much as me. I’ve been a fan of Danny’s songs since he came to my studio and sang me almost his entire catalogue. I gotta say “Magdalena” was a pleasure to record. Yes it’s full of a lot of things, iconography and poetry, Though I never got to ask him who Magdalena was, knowing him it’s gotta be about a real person. She sounds like a fiery nightmare, but beautiful too. Donny Hathaway covered this too, and I reckon his version is better than mine. You can find out more about the great Mr. Keefe on: http://www.dannyokeefe.com/ He’s a lovely guy, so maybe you should ask him your question.
James Hand - 13/09/08
Hello Leo I was just wondering if you could enlighten me as to what your favourite type of biscuit is. Mine is a Chocolate Digestive (formerly styled 'Homewheat'), but I am also partial to a Butter Crunch. If you have any questions for me I would be more than happy to answer them. Yours in anticipation, James Richard Hand.
For me it’s gotta be chocolate digestives (and in the U.K. McVitie’s makes ‘em like no other!)
Sandra Ehlers - 13/09/08
Leo i have been a fan since i was a little girl in the 80's my kids now know all the words to your songs and can frequently be seen in shopping centres singing along to your songs. I would like to know when you are coming to Queensland, or at least back to twin towns? i went the last time and have promised said children that they can come next time...please come soon!
That’s sweet. I’ve been up there a few times recently, but mostly to play private shows. But you’re so close, so I’m bound to be up there soon.
charlotte - 12/09/08
leo, in your answers to your fans questions last month you mentioned there was a question which you considered a star question put to you well i've been thinking, and here's a suggestion and i wonder what you think to it. well who ever in future asks you a star question why not present them with a prize say something like either a signed photo or a signed album of yours?
Good idea Charlotte! I’ll think of something for next months’ question and answer session – so keep ‘em coming…
Gareth Costello - 11/09/08
I luv your hair - how do you get it so puffy?
I don’t know about ‘puffy’ but it’s all natural. I have found a great hairdresser in Sydney – “Valonz” and I do have a bit of colour in these days, but the curls are still pretty plentiful and I’m not receding much – lucky I guess! In the morning I pour on water and add a little gel or light wax, and bingo…!
JackieReno - 11/09/08
Hi Leo, Not sure if you've been asked this one before, and since it was the competition question for us fans, could you tell me which is your favourite song on the new CD and why. Thanks for your music ! Jackie
It’s too hard to choose one track, Jackie. Like chapters in a book, they all fit I reckon. See the discography section for my three favourites though. I guess I’m proud of all of it!
JoAnn - 11/09/08
Dear Leo,You have mentioned in the past that your dad had motorcycles.How old were you when you learned to ride,and how old were you when you got your own bike? Would you ever consider getting a bike again? Best Wishes,JoAnn.
While still at home my younger brother Brian got a Francis Barnett 350 and I tried his, but Dad had long given up the bikes when I was growing up. In the U.S., I had a Harley Davidson for a short time, a police style Duo Glide. It was marvelous fun, except when I had to lift it! In Sydney I live near an amazing specialist manufacturer, Deus Ex Machina (reconstructing old Triumphs and Nortons amongst other projects), and I’m sorely tempted every time I look in their window.
Diane In London - 10/09/08
Leo, I’m very curious to know if you have any sons and daughters (yet). If so, are they in the music business :) By the way, its great to see that you have a new lease of life in Australia.
No, I never had kids. I’d never say never forever, but it hasn’t worked out for me to be a dad yet, I guess I was too busy giving birth to songs instead!
shane hopkins - 10/09/08
Hi leo i have been a great fan of yours since i was knee high to a grass hopper i love all your music!!!! could you please help me as i have tried everything possible and have been pulling my hair out ...i have checked shops,email sites all your albums come up apart from the one i feel was your very best COOL TOUCH i had this on cassette but over time it wore out and broke,i have wanted to replace it with a CD and not a single place has it i live in New Zealand and have tried here and also online sites and nowhere is that album listed the only one i found was just the single COOL TOUCH please help Leo...i thought the best person to ask would be you. thankyou and may you continue to make such beautiful music songs that are timeless thankyou once again Shane Hopkins
So sorry Shane, but “Cool Touch” has been discontinued and is no longer available. You could find a second hand copy on Ebay or Amazon. If you’re shopping in Europe that task might be easier, because the biggest amount of discs were produced by Electrola in Germany. I could burn you a copy I guess, but would that be piracy? To hell with it – I’m glad you like the album, so if you can send another message with your full address, I’ll do it anyway!
anthony - 10/09/08
leo i have a question for you why did'nt you realease the song you gave to cliff richard called dreaming . i have alway's thought you could sing that song better than sir cliff?
I did used to perform it live in the 90’s but never had the chance to record or release the performance. I’m very proud of the song though – and Cliff sings it great. Interestingly we are featuring an instrumental version to kick off the second half of my new concert tour here in Australia. I’ll put out a version of my own one day, I’m sure.
charlotte - 10/09/08
Leo, What is your favourite drink ?
For alcohol I like Mexican and Japanese beer best. Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is favourite at dinnertime. Apart from that it’s all tea. Yorkshire Gold teabags in boiling water with a little milk, no sugar. That keeps me going anywhere, I can drink it all day.
Paul sheerin - 09/09/08
Hi leo.thank you so much for answering my previous questions.i have a few more- 1.is there any songs on any of your albums that you dont like? 2.in easy to love,why did you choose to sing the verses in that kermitesque voice? I f#cking love that song btw!i can totaly hear justin timberlake doin it? 3.is there anybody you wish you had the chance to work with? 4.i saw on youtube that you did songs for the cartoon show the racoons!is there anywhere i could get these?were they ever officialy released? 5.on the endless flight album,why does the ending of no business like love business differ on the chrysalis and warner bros.lp's? 6.why did the leo sayer album only have your name as the title? 7.do you have any tapes of unreleased tracks and recording sessions?if so,would you ever consider putting them up on the site as mp3's to download? For a fee,of course.i wud love to hear you recording in the studio? 8.why did re record train for the very best of album 1979? 9.i heard barry gibbs demo of heart stop beating in time!i think your version is so much better.how did you get to record the song? 10.have you heard westlifes cover of have you ever been in love?what do you think? 11.finaly,what do you think of music nowadays?i dont like it.im glad there are some real singers and musicians like you that still produce proper music. I hope you can answer all my questions.thank you in advance. Bye. . . For now
Hold on, there’s a lot of points here…!
Okay,
1. I never liked “Have You Ever Been In Love” ‘cos the words were so damn wimpy! I’m doing it now with the orchestra though and I must say I’m coming around.
2. “Easy To Love” I always felt like a conversation, right from birth. A duet between my male and female sides, so it needed two voices – I’m serious! I agree, Justin T could do it great. I reckon this is a great candidate for a remix. In Canada Boule Noir released a French Canadian version which became a hit there and in France. See: “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkXmTcdlgQ&feature=related”
3. Loads of people I’d have loved to work with. Jimmy Hendrix, The Stones, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Otis Redding to name just a few…
4. I think the Racoons on Ice is only available on YouTube at the moment, although the DVD rights were signed off, so you could try Amazon Canada.
5. Cutting engineers in different countries do their work independently, so you do get anomalies. I wasn’t in control back then but these days I oversee and centralize everything, so that wouldn’t have happened – well spotted!
6. The marketing idiots thought not enough people knew who I was, so they wrote the title. And there’s been plenty of confusion ever since. Some record companies didn’t want to re-release it ‘cos they thought it was a ‘best of’!
7. I have many great unreleased tracks - you wouldn’t believe how many. I reckon most will see the light sooner or later - and as I have my own recording set up, production isn’t a problem. If I was rich I’d market this stuff myself, but I’m not, so that’s the only thing holding this material back. In fact I’m re-working some self-penned old songs from 1974/75 at the moment - and I reckon they sound as great as anything I’ve done since.
8. As it was a ‘best of’, Adam Faith and Dave Courtney thought that a contemporary version of one of the songs would be a good inclusion. It wasn’t as good as the original in my opinion, but it wasn’t my call…
9. Barry gave producer Arif Mardin the song for me to sing as an exclusive. Nice gift, and a great song. I’ve never heard Barry’s version of it actually.
10. No, but I don’t think I’d like to hear that anyway!
11. Hardest question last, eh? Sad to say most of it disappoints, but there are some fine artists and bands out there. It’s just the records and live production that I have trouble with. No passion, no brevity, no soul, no wit… Know what I mean?
*Paul, please give us your email or phone details. You are the winner of this month’s prize question - for sheer content alone. You really got me thinking, and I like that!
Now let me think of a prize….
p sanderson - 08/09/08
leo do you ever think u will tour new zealand
Yeah! Find me a promoter and bring it on. Sadly I have no control over these things as I have to be offered a show, before I can visit your beautiful country, and right now I have no offers. I’m working with a lovely Maori singer now, Camille Te Nahu, so it’d be the right time to come. Let’s start up a petition…!
Karen - 08/09/08
Leo, Your concert at the State theatre last night was excellent. I would have liked to have heard a bigger mix of the rock and roll songs as well as the others. I am still wondering though; was the record signing with 'Rhonda' planned? It was a nice touch anyway, and it was good to see so many names from the music industry represented there. Well done.
I honestly have never met Rhonda before, though she was such a good sport! I’ve had lots of people telling me the concert went well, and I hope you liked the choice of material, though in the spirit of “Don’t Wait” it couldn’t be a rock show. Thanks for coming.
Jennifer - 07/09/08
Hi Leo! Thanks for answering my last question. I love your new rendition of Don't Wait Until Tomorrow, but I also love the original with Hank Marvin. How did that solo come to be played by Hank? Thanks, love ya!
That was a big thrill for me. You’re referring to the original version of the song, from 1983. When Alan Tarney and I wrote the song I knew I just had to have Mr. Marvin on there. I called him up and he got straight into his car, and we recorded that great solo in just 20 minutes – 2 takes - what a cool guy!
JoAnn - 04/09/08
Dearest Leo, as a fan for the past 33 years, my children were raised on your music and now my grandchildren are learning all about you. I am a devoted collector of all things Leo so I practically live on E-Bay looking for treasures.Another question if I may; What did you and the band do to pass the time on the tour bus? Wasnt it boring riding around in a steel tube for months on end? With all my best wishes, JoAnn
We were like very naughty schoolboys. All sorts of pranks and fun went on, never a dull moment. Those guys were my best mates, and I hope they’d agree we all had the time of our lives. In the States I had my own bus called The Silverbird. We had amps, drums and keyboards on the bus so there was music all the time. We all slept on the bus and it was great to see America going past through the windows. Not boring at all.
Craftygirlwithruffle - 02/09/08
Hi There Leo Are you going to have T-Shirts for your latest tour? I loved the last one from the Voice in My Head tour. So much so, that I need a new one. Cheers Ann Marie
New “Don’t Wait” shirts have just been made. Haven’t seen ‘em yet, but I’ll be giving some away very soon. They’ll be on sale at the Melbourne and Adelaide shows.
Jackie Twine - 31/08/08
I remember going to Jersey in 1999, I think it was in the summer of that year and I tried working out the days when Leo would be going there. Well guess what? I missed bumping into Leo Sayer at Jersey's airport by one day out -it was the time when Leo bumped into Gilbert O'Sullivan at that airport. It was also during that time when Leo performed at a nightclub by the name of Rock Galexy in St.Helier. I understand that nightclub was burned down. But I am just wondering, do you remember that night club Leo?
It’s a bit hazy, but I do. Jersey was such a fun place in those days, and I bet it still is. I think I first met Gilbert somewhere else. He was a nice bloke and we used to get mistaken for each other. People always asking, did I write “Claire?”
JoAnn - 31/08/08
Dear Leo,I was thinking again about all your great shows in Reno and Tahoe and remembered the time my husband and I met Big Al walking through the casino and talked with him a little bit. The harmonica and guitar battles between the two of you were absolutely fantastic! I was sad to learn of his passing from cancer a couple of years ago. Did you get to speak with him before he died, and did you attend the funeral? The whole band from that time was great! Thanks for your answers. Love ,JoAnn.
We had such a great time in Nevada. I didn’t get a chance sadly to attend the funeral. Big Al was such a great guy – sadly missed now by all who knew him. I feel quite privileged to have played and sung with such an amazing talent for so many happy years.
Alan Roberts - 30/08/08
when you first appeared on 'old gey whistle in clowns make up' was the band you had your own, and did you ever use ' is there any song you wish had been given to you rather than someone else.
Good question Alan, the band was a one off ‘studio’ band really. It was Dave Courtney on piano, Russ Ballard on banjo, Dave Wintor on bass, and Bob Henrit on drums. That was the band that recorded “Silverbird”, but it was the only time we all appeared together on TV, or outside the studio.
Charlotte - 30/08/08
hi leo, i would like to ask you a question, i would like to know please why do you ebb out christmas songs?
I did release my version of The Beatles “Let It Be” as a 1975 Christmas single in the U.K. actually. It wasn’t a hit!
julie baines. age 22 - 30/08/08
hi leo i would like to ask you a question what do you thing of the revival of the 90s boybands over the last 2 years.
I’m not really a fan of boy bands. I do love the old Doo Wop bands of the 50’s and 60’s though – that’s what I call music!
Charlotte - 27/08/08
Leo, my motto is stay young keep young and you'll never grow old. Now do I remember rightly, you said on an episode during The Entertainers programme, that's your motto too isn't it or do you have any others and is that right, you don't recall any incidents you have of meeting your fans or indeed recall what they look like? I look forward to your answers and in advance thank you for answering my Leo Sayer queries, much appreciated.
My motto is: “Have a good time, all the time” - like the band’s keyboard player says in the movie: “Spinal Tap”. I do recall most of my meetings with fans, but it’s so hard to remember everybody individually. It’s crazy just how many people you meet doing what I do….
JoAnn - 27/08/08
Dear Leo, My family and I moved to northern California in 1981. Being so close to Lake Tahoe and Reno we were able to see you quite often when you played there, usually with Bill Cosby. They were wonderful times, great music and great laughs! We have seen your show at least 20 times. Question: Did you and Cosby get along off stage?- because you seemed very friendly with each other. Thanks in advance for answering my questions. There will be more coming in the future. Love, JoAnn
Yeah, Bill and I got on great. He was a real gentleman, very kind and gracious to me, considering he was such a huge star. I think we brought each other’s audiences together on those shows in quite a unique way. They were great shows for me. Offstage he was the same guy completely, funny and philosophical. It’s a shame I don’t get to work in the States anymore, ‘cos I miss him actually.
David Pick - 26/08/08
I was listening to "Moonlighting" recently and seem to remember from years ago that it was based on a true story. Is this correct?
Yes, it’s all true. The story comes from when I was in one of my first bands. It's about our van driver Dave, who loved a girl whose parents wouldn't agree to them seeing each other. Dave's intended was in fact the daughter of the chief of the local police force, hence a scheme to run away to Gretna Green for an instant wedding. The 'Mexican Discotheque' in the song was 'The Mexican Hat', a local dive where the band used to meet up, and was - as the song indicates - in Montague Street, Worthing, Sussex. The song covers the lovers journey, but they never actually made it, as the Worthing police in a joint operation with Carlisle police, picked them up 10 miles outside of Gretna. At the exact point the song ended in fact. Well, I just thought it should end on a happy note. ?
Charlotte - 25/08/08
It would be good see Leo Sayer more on UK television as well as Australian TV, please be fair and share Leo in other parts of the world in stead of just allowing him to remain in one place more or less all the time. America and Hong Kong have asked when's Leo going to perform out there too. Is Leo Sayer going to appear on UK television a bit more as well as on Australian TV?
I’ll perform anywhere but I’m simply not getting any offers from the U.K. at the moment, though that may be hard to believe. We are working on a release plan for “Don’t Wait” over there at the moment, so it could all change. As for the rest of the world, the same applies. It’s tougher than ever in showbusiness these days, and since I’m not rich enough to bankroll my career, I have to wait on offers. I’m sure things will change, so please be patient. My life in Australia keeps me very busy though, there’s loads of shows, so personally I can’t complain.
JoAnn - 25/08/08
Dear Leo,Packing up and moving your entire household is such a major pain in the backside, especially if it any distance. One has to find a new doctor, dentist,grocer,dry cleaners etc.etc. How many times have you moved, and arent you sick of it by now?Love,JoAnn
It was a big move, coming to Australia, but I managed it because I wanted it so much. It did take time to get things set up, but this is a great place to live – and it’s full of immigrants who’ve shared the same experience. I now have a great doctor, great hairdresser, great landlord, honest accountants and a fabulous business manager here – and great, great musicians! I must say I didn’t do it alone, because Donatella came with me and came in advance, putting all of this together for me. I’ve moved so many times, living all over the U.K. and in the U.S.A for a while, but that’s the nature of my job, you go where the work is. And not having kids or pets, or living parents, has made all this possible too.
peter brookes sunderland - 25/08/08
what was your favourite childhood sweets ?
Sherbet lemons!
Charlotte - 24/08/08
Another question I have for Leo is, I have read that you've wrote songs for Dolly Parton firstly have I remembered that right and if so please can you tell me what songs they were that you wrote for her? I look forward to your answers to my Leo Sayer queries.
Dolly covered a song called “Fool For Your Love”, that I wrote with keyboardist (and Christopher Cross producer) Michael Omartian. Tina Turner covered that too. Interestingly Dolly’s sister Stella Parton covered “Stormy Weather” (written with Tom Snow). They were all great versions.
rosemarie from sunderland - 24/08/08
leo i have a question for u what size shoes do u wear. look forward too your answer rosemarie.
I have big feet for a little guy – 8 and a half.
from owen south wales - 23/08/08
leo when did u last sing the song unchained melody?
I’ve not performed that since I recorded it. A truly classic song - and a big challenge to sing well.
Charlotte - 22/08/08
Leo, do you think there will be a chance of us devoted Leo Sayer fans having a copy of your 1970's BBC television shows on DVD?
Sadly I hear that the BBC doesn’t have those shows anymore, never kept them. I wonder what happened to them and if they still exist, as so many of the productions have been wiped or lost.
Chris Leggatt - 22/08/08
Hello Leo, First saw you in Chester Jan 73, last in Leeds (Branigans) late 90s and many times in between. In Sydney 23 Dec next. Leaving 20 Jan. Will you be performing anywhere during this period? I'm the guy who has the copy of the lost BBC tapes of your shows and made them available to your UK fan club some years ago. Hope we meet again.
Hi Chris, ….ah so you have the tapes…! Funny that I never saw them though. I will be In Sydney over Christmas and may be performing here at that time, but I don’t know yet.. I’ll keep everyone posted on developments though.
Charlotte - 20/08/08
Hi Leo, here's a joint question. I have been asked to ask you on behalf of a friend of mine who's also a Leo Sayer fan - Would you ever consider publishing a Leo Sayer calendar for 2009/2010? It would be brilliant to have a Leo Sayer calender other stars have them and it would be good to have one of you sold in shops and on the web etc...It would be brilliant to have a pic of Leo Sayer for each of the twelve months a year different scenes with you in Sydney/Australia. That would be good.
It’s a good idea, Charlotte, but I may be too late for 2008. I can get it together for next year.
kare deaney northern ireland - 19/08/08
where are your favourite venues
Oh there’s so many, but some of my favourite venues have long disappeared. In Ireland there’s still a few – The Belfast Opera House is fantastic. Some worldwide favourites, still there: In Amsterdam, The Carre Theatre. In London, I still like best The Shepherd’s Bush Empire. City Hall in Newcastle upon Tyne (is that still there?). In L.A. there’s The Greek Theatre. Auckland – the Town Hall, In Sydney it’s The State Theatre – where I just played. So many great theatres, so little time left….!
Keep the questions coming on the wall - and Leo will answer them next month! Thanks for all of your contributions!
26/08/2008
Leo is touring - and you could win tickets!
Leo will be hitting the road again, this time taking the music from his latest album ‘Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow’ to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, giving the audiences a truly breathtaking experience of hearing his reworked greatest hits, supported by a 25 piece orchestra! Tickets are available now for these live shows – so don’t miss out! See tour dates section HERE for more information, and where to buy tickets.
And to celebrate Leo’s upcoming tour dates, which follow the release of ‘Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow’, we have a new Competition! Leo has specially allowed us to give away double passes to each of his upcoming gigs. Simply tell us in 25 words or less which song on Leo’s new album ‘Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow’ is your favourite song (in its reworked version) and why? ENTER HERE!
Please note the Terms and Conditions: NSW residents will have a different competition closing date due to an earlier show.
19/08/2008
Leo's answers just keep coming!! More fan questions...
Message from Leo - Tuesday 19th August 2008
Thanks for all your feedback, though I'm noticing that many bad apples are spoiling the fine crop of messages we're getting. I'm determined not to introduce censorship - I'd hate that - but for all those who wish to abuse the message board, I'd only warn you of the wrath of the dedicated fans. If you want to play tough, they'll certainly prove tougher..!
As for myself and the moderators - we'll remove and keep on removing abusive messengers, but it's an open forum and these idiots will always get in, especially at night when Sydney's sleeping and the rest of the world is awake. It's pretty cowardly and offensive to disguise yourselves by using somebody else's name too, and please be aware that the moderators here at Universal are young people, girls - so please don't get crude.
Okay, it's up to you, this is your site and I can only request from you decent behaviour, clear questions and short succinct messages.
It's not meant to be solely a conversation board or chat site either, so please point your questions and comments to me and the moderators and be aware of everyone who's listening to you. Also please don't set up little private groups that only talk to each other here - use your emails for that. Good behavior creates good forums - so, as I say, it's up to you...
On a positive note, it's been great to welcome so many visitors from all around the world. Like the Olympics it proves we're all not so different! The re-designed site has been up for nearly four months now and every now and then we aim to add more details and info to it.
Please check out the Biography section, which some of you long time LS.COM visitors will recognize is a re-write of "Leo's Story" on the old site. It's been completely re-vamped and updated and if you click on the highlighted words pictures will appear. There are 90 of them in total!
Okay, here's the latest round of answers from me to your questions... Keep 'em coming and we'll talk again in a month's time.
I'm very busy right now preparing for the 'An Evening With Leo' shows, which kick off at Sydney's beautiful State Theatre on Saturday 6th of September. It's going to an exciting night and I do hope to see some of you there.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding, and your loyal support - and bye for now....
Leo.
Q+A WITH LEO - MID AUGUST '08
Jacqui - 15/07/08
Where did you get the idea of the title 'Voice In My Head' from? Is it some spiritual connection, or is it because there's both songs from the past you've written on the album as well as new ones? I look forward to your answer the next time you answer our Leo Sayer queries. Thank you Leo, from your lifelong friend and fan, Jacqui
Well it is actually the title of the song “Voice In My Head” (track 9 on the album), and when looking for titles this seemed appropriate to describe the way that all these songs came to be written. From the internal voice, as it were – my conscience.
rosemarie brookes redhouse tyne and wear - 15/07/08
dear leo i would like to ask you do still have your clown outfit love from rosmarie brookes
No that’s long gone now. But in the 90’s one of the stage suits was discovered in an attic or cupboard of a house I lived in at the time I was doing the Pierrot. It was auctioned off for charity in London, but I did get to see it before it went. I was amazed when holding it up against myself that the end of the trousers didn’t reach my feet! And the arms were too short and the body of the suit was so narrow. I must’ve been tiny then, ‘cos it just wouldn’t fit me anymore.
anne collard - 15/07/08
Hi Leo, just wondering.....I guess your already working on your concert and song inclusions, I love your new CD and play it in my car and home. Can I expect to hear some of the original versions of your songs like in previous concerts? I imagine you will take us on a journey from start to finish, but this is going to be a challenge for you to present more layed back Leo. Your new sound suits intimate mode, ie like Elton John recently did in the Barossa Valley. If I can be of any assistance, I have two degrees and super keen :)
Good question Anne. I’ve been working on the list of songs for the concerts and it’s all sorted now, thanks. I’ll sing all the tracks on the album in the style as newly recorded, but I’m including some other old favourites. I think it’s important at this stage to treat this concert as something different, so the musician line up and the style of the presentation will reflect the approach of “Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow”. I’m also fitting in some favourite songs by other artists.
What I’ll be singing I’ll keep as a surprise, but I reckon it’ll go down very well. Nevertheless it’s a big show for me and quite a challenge.
Paul Sheerin - 16/07/08
Hi Leo. Thanks for answering my previous question. It made my day!!!!! I was just wondering if you have any plans to re mix your back catalogue in 5.1. i can just imagine songs like endless flight and thunder in my heart in surround. Heaven!
Yeah I love 5.1 surround and Voice In My Head was recorded for it – loads of microphones were placed everywhere in the studio and a mix was made that sounded fantastic. The problem was that at the time nobody was interested in releasing it, or paying for the complex mastering of it! The rest of the catalogue albums would be a problem to mix anyway, as the original masters seem to be lost. Ho hum…
stephen proctor - 17/07/08
hi leo. i have been a big fan of yours since 1973 and was wondering did you bring out where has everybody gone, out as a single. i have been told that was your first single out. stephen
That’s interesting, and you’re right. “Why Is Everbody Going Home?” was my first single in 1973 (unless you count “Living In America” by Patches – 1971). It was from the “Silverbird” album (1973), (which is available on RPM records by mail order. See: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/rpm/artists/leosayer.htm. This single didn’t sell very many copies, but the follow up, “The Show Must Go On”, pretty much put me on the map!
angie Konkle - 17/07/08
Hi Leo i just wanted to send you an email, letting you know that my son Tristan is your BIGGEST fan - he is almost 5 yrs old and knows almost all of your songs!! Do you ever come to Canada? I would love to bring him to see you. Thanks Leo Angie Konkle Ontario, Canada
That’s nice! I used to tour Canada in the old days, and loved it. I had a lot of success there and even won a Juno award (best song for “When I Need You” in 1977). I’d really love to come back again. Keep your fingers crossed for me…!
Chloe-Louise - 17/07/08
I absoulutly love your music. My favourite song of yours is hard to say though.. I am listening to Thunder In My Heart, ultamite !! May I just ask you something though, who were you inspired by? That has always
wonderd me, thank you Chloe-Louise xx
Thanks Chloe-Louise. I guess there’s a little bit of every piece of music I ever listened to in my songs. I reckon that’s why people like my songs, and I love to give full credit to my heroes. My main inspiration has come all the way from Blues – Robert Johnson, BB King, Ray Charles; through to Folk – Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell; and soul – James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Sly Stone, to name but a few. In pop I loved Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Brian Wilson, The Kinks, The Who and The Beatles. I’m just continuing what all these great people started really…
Jackie - 20/07/08
Leo, what's your favourite key in music?
Well I used to sing most of my songs in C – high C. These days my voice is a little older, so it seems my keys have moved down a bit. For instance: “When I Need You’ was recorded in C, then onstage it became B, now on the new album it’s in G.
peter brookes tyne and wear - 19/07/08
hi leo what type of car do you drive ?
I like German cars best ‘cos they are so reliable. I had an old Ford Mustang once. It was so beautiful, but unbelievably temperamental. In the UK I used to drive BMW’s, but currently here in Australia I drive a Volkswagen Touareg. It’s perfect for the long drives. It silver and has a big V8 engine with 4-wheel drive, and is comfortable and very safe.
Caroline Farmer - 22/07/08
Hi Leo My sister loves your new CD. Infact I've had to order her two more for friends. You must remember Frances from Bishops Waltham, Southampton. You danced with her at The Mayflower, Southampton in the aisle when she was 7 months pregnant with her daughter. Gemma is now 25. Frankie has been a fan of yours for years along with her friend Pat Lewington. All the best for the Auzzie tour, how about the UK again? When Leo when? Don't forget your loyal fans over here in the UK. Caroline Farmer
I can’t remember everything so well these days, but Frances does ring a bell. It’s a tough business back there in the UK these days and we are still trying to find a promoter who’ll tour me again and a record company that’ll release “Don’t Wait…” over there. It’ll happen eventually though, so thanks for keeping the faith!
rosemarie sunderland - 22/07/08
hi leo i have a question for you the picture of you on your website where you are lying on your side was it photographed in sydney or somewhere else in australia
That photo was taken here in Sydney by a great young photographer, Kristian Dowling. It was early last year, one evening at sunset, and I was looking out on a lovely spot that overlooks the ocean. Typical Sydney light, crisp and pollution free…
Starsha - 22/07/08
Hi Leo! What ever happend to the photos of us at Crown Casino March 2007?! I really really really really wanted a copy because my camera didn't work! Kristian Dowling took them... I was the Australian Flag girl... I'm now a mummy of two tiny twin boys... Koby and Max, born very prem and in hospital for 5 weeks, they are just beautiful and I play your new album (sorry, CD!) to them all the time! Take care of you! Starsha :-)
Sorry Starsha, you must think I’m very bad. Can you send your email to me and I’ll get the photos to you (they look great!). I love my flag and used it in a photo session just recently. Hey and congratulations on the twins!
Jef Cripps - 22/07/08
Hi Leo, I'm a Studio owner a Producer and would LOVE to know what your first dozen Albums you bought were.. P.S.there's an Album there i reckon..!!!
Well, the first records I bought were singles actually. My best school friend had a juke box at home and we’d fill it up with our favourites. I hope that qualifies… Here goes (in order of purchasing):
Jerry Lee Lewis: “Great Balls Of Fire”
Buddy Holly: “Oh Boy/Rave On”
Elvis Presley: “Return To Sender”
Little Richard: “Lucille/Good Golly Miss Molly”
Muddy Waters: “You Shook Me (EP)” – still got that one!
Bo Diddley: “Pretty Thing”
Chuck Berry: “Memphis Tennessee”
The Ronettes: “Be My Baby”
Tommy Tucker: “High Heel Sneakers” – still got that too…
Ketty Lester: “Love Letters Straight From Your Heart”
Nina Simone: “I Put A Spell On You”
The Beatles: “Love Me Do”
I think that’d fill up a juke box brilliantly, oh happy days!!
rosemarie brookes sunderland tyne and wear - 26/07/08
hello leo i have a question for you . i would like to know if you can remember the first time you travelled on a aeroplane.and which country it was to .love rosemarie .
I do remember the first time I got on a plane, but it wasn’t a commercial flight. It was at Shoreham airport, just near the house where I was born, in Sussex, around 1969; would you believe. I was straight out of Art School and working for a publishing company as a young illustrator. There was an air mapping company that were clients, and they wanted me to go up in this beautiful little plane, a De Havilland Dragon Rapide, to draw the photo mappers and pilot at work. They used my sketches in their brochure. I don’t know if the drawings were that great, but it was such a thrill!
JoAnn Rose - 26/07/08
I hope you dont think I am trying to psychoanylize you or any thing,that is not my intention,But I was thinking about these things in my own life,and wondered what your ideas were on these subjects. Here goes. What is your favorite memory of your childhood living at home? also....What do you regret the most about your relationships with your parents and siblings? Are your brother and sister still living? Sorry about the deep subjects, just curious. Thanks so much from your biggest American fan, JoAnn PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE come back to the U.S.
Hi JoAnn. I guess most people in music and other performing arts, get triggered into their craft by the experiences of their upbringing. Sometimes the encouragement to communicate isn’t given to us at that early age, so we make up for that by writing about it later. That’s how it was for me anyway. I was a shy, misunderstood kid, and got lost in my own world. My brother and sister got on with Dad better than me, as they were more successful at school and more attentive than me, while I was generally described as a dreamer. But now, as a late developer, I have a very fortunate life, and my introspective experiences at an early age have certainly fed my creativity. My Dad and Mum are long gone now but my sister and brother are still alive, yes. We get on great, but are very different. Hey, and I’d love to come back to the US!
Jacqui - 28/07/08
On your other website Leo, you had a page titled 'Story So Far', are you go to edit the Story So Far on this website? would love to know - thanx Leo
Yes Jacqui, it’s finally up there now – see the “Biography” section. Sorry for the delay, but it took a little while because I updated all the photos, so the hard working team here at Universal Music Australia had a big job to do in setting up a URL code for each one of them – there were 90 in all! THANKS GUYS!!! Anyway, we do hope you all like the result.
Les - 28/07/08
Hi Leo, When was the last time you "Slept in the gutter on a winter's day" OR "Bummed cigarettes in small cafes"? Les
Hi Les, that’s this edition’s star question I reckon. It was all true, I was sleeping rough when I wrote that, and the experiences described were tough, but such are the journeys we artistes translate into song. These song lines are from “Bedsitterland”. It was about squatting in a tenement block, and here I was writing about those who CHOSE that path, like I did – and dare I say Bob Dylan, Jack Kerouac and their peer group did before me. Naturally, I don’t live like that now, but I often spare a thought when I buy my copy of The Big Issue, or see some helpless young person living rough. It could happen to any of us, and often does.
Esme - 29/07/08
Hi Leo, didn't you live in London during the sixties when you busked the streets in the daytime, and played in clubs at night time?
See above. I went up to London for work as an artist. When I couldn’t find any, I should’ve left. But I fell in with a very bohemian crowd, and found an alternative lifestyle that didn’t involve needing money or paying rent. I learned a lot. It must be said that London was so vibrant at that time, and a lot safer.
Garry - 30/07/08
I'm interested to find out details of your early band members and am hoping you can help me.
My goodness – there are so may people I’ve played with from the start right up to the present day. That’s what a solo singer does. I first started out with the gentleman mentioned in the next question. That was in 1970, I think. Please let me know what period you’re wondering about and then maybe I can help…
Charlotte - 31/07/08
Leo, wasn't Max Chegwin an early band member of yours in Patches including David Courtney? Please can you tell me who was in your other band you formed called Jester? I look forward to hearing. With thanks, Charlotte
It was Jester that led to Patches (with whom I made my first single “Living In America”), and yes, guitarist Max Chetwynd was in both of those bands. He and I wrote songs together and he also played on the “Silverbird” album. He was a great guitarist and friend, and had played with most of Worthing’s premier bands, even before I came along. I think we first met in 1970. Incidentally he dated my wife Janice before I met her. This was when Max and I both lived on a houseboat (The Anzac) on the river Adur in Shoreham. The other guys in Patches were bassist Ian Whitmore, who had success with a band called Starry Eyed And Laughing, and Mick Morris on drums. You’ve made me wonder where they all are now, and what they’re doing, but it’s such a long time ago...
Charlotte - 02/08/08
Leo, Rosemarie and I would both like to know please How long have you performed musical nights of fun with the SAS BAND for? We look forward to hearing from you, with love and thanx Charlotte and Rosemarie
I can’t remember the exact dates of the shows off hand, but I met Spike Edney (who runs the band – Spike’s All Stars) in the 90’s with Queen drummer Roger Taylor, when Roger was promoting his solo wo