Leo Sayer

2018 three CD collection. Leo Sayer, in a career spanning 45 years, has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. The Gold Collection, which Leo personally compiled and sequenced, is a 54-track set. It delves into Leo's deep and rich catalog, delivering all of his UK Top 30 hits, including 11 Top 10s and his two UK #1's 'When I Need You' and 'Thunder In My Heart Again', the latter with Meck and the US #1 (UK #2) hit 'You Make Me Feel Like Dancing'. The Gold Collection also includes many key album tracks from the early part of his career, many of which were written/composed by other major artists of the time, as well as a number of recordings written for him by other international singer/songwriters. All in all, this is a fantastic collection of his classic recordings that will remind everyone that Leo Sayer is one of the UK's great singer/songwriters of all time.

Richard Perry's 1978 production of the self-titled Leo Sayer album is one of the artist's most serious and heartfelt, though it only generated a minor hit in the cover of the Boudleau Bryant/Felice Bryant tune "Raining in My Heart." With Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham on electric guitar, Waddy Wachtel on slide guitar, and Ben Benay on acoustic, the performance and production of that particular song offers much on an album that is equally impressive. James Brown/Russell Smith's "Dancing the Night Away," with David Lindley's important and unobtrusive fiddle and steel guitar, and "Stormy Weather," the Tom Snow/Leo Sayer collaboration which opens the album, all work in unison, providing evidence that Sayer had superstardom just within his grasp.

Leo Sayer is quite an enigma. Mention his name today in most music discussions, and people look at you like you've lost your mind. Of course, anything you say after that is not likely to be taken seriously, and your friends will never let you forget it. What they probably don't know, however, is that there was a time when Leo Sayer was a very popular artist, and when you listen to the man himself rattle off the list of names he has worked with, you begin to understand that his musical influence and success is a lot greater than he is given credit for.

Searching for hits in the '70s, Leo Sayer became a tender balladeer, an Elton John wannabe, a falsetto-voiced disco crooner, and a straightforward pop "entertainer." Remarkably, Sayer was good was at everything-from the Tin Pan Alley pop to the power ballads. While he will certainly be remembered for "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing," Sayer's versatility is what's immediately obvious on this compilation. And aside from its obvious nostalgic charm, The Very Best of Leo Sayer sketches a portrait of a singer not only loaded with talent and ability, but also with resourcefulness, dedication, and an ability to remake himself with a speed that might impress Madonna.