"Watch Yer Image, Leo!"

December 25th, 1976 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS Page 5

KAY, WHO said the traces of crap on the floor pleased about is that it's still "I wish this jet was and other charming souvenirs. got the simplicity of Leo Sayer. Oon the ground? " He cancelled all interviews Which is nice for Adam, 'cause Wrong. Andrew Gold the next day to save his throat it was a very brave move of wrote it, but Leo Sayer but relented for this one, which Adam's when he turned sings it. Me, I said it — is just as well since after what I around to me and said 'Look, I make that "shrieked it" — went through to get there I'd'a don't think I should produce you any more.' " several times on `1Endless killed him if he'd cancelled. Flight" 555 en route from We agree to meet in the posh Mention Adam Faith in rela- tea room of the ever so Plaza tion to Leo Sayer and the London to Leo Sayer's Hotel, at the corner of which image of a Svengali New York opening at the Victorian hansom cabs queue manipulator comes to more Bottom Line. I won't bore for expensive trots around than a few minds. Leo vehe- you with all the details, but Central Park. mently protests against any a flight that's supposed to such suggestion. "It's not true take about six hours at all. Anybody who really stretched to thirteen, with A EO ARRIVES looking knows me knows I'm a very very natty. I introduce stubborn, strong-willed more people throwing up Ihim to the photographer person. I don't, can't, won't simultaneously than on the and ask him if it's okay to take have people like that around last train to Manchester photos. He says sure and we all me — anybody just sitting after an away match. sit down to have tea first. there telling me what to do. When we actually landed at Leo these days is exactly as I'm very hard to work with and Kennedy there was only time he describes himself: "Sitting getting worse and worse as I for Leo's second set, and Iwas pretty, really happy about mature," he says, leaning with digging the idea of doing the everything, nicely confident". amusement on the word down-to-the-wire transatlantic After several years of trying to mature. dash-to-the-gig-routine — so assemble astrong band behind "I'm a pig to work with. rock and roll. Ialways thrilled him and keep it together, he's Like Ijust can't stand unpro- to the image of CSM or Nick come to the stage where first fessionalism. I like a band Kent swanning off jets straight rate musicians want to work that's doing the gig, doing their into waiting cars to the with him, and he's glad to have best, keeping it well together. I auditorium, but instead Ifled them for as long as it works. don't like to turn around and directly to the hotel at 11 pm Naturally, he's openly excited some guy's out of it. I don't for ashower, to find my room about the current tour line-up. like to work with people who still in ruins from a previous Nicky Hopkins didn't even are messing me about or kind tenant. Somehow Idon't think know who Leo was until ment on the word of mothering Charlie or Nick would have Richard Perry played him me, you know? Adam's great burst into tears and sat on the "Endless Flight", while Leo to work with because he's dresser until the maid who was in England rather desper- totally straight with me, totally materialised and delivered a ate for apiano player. "All of a honest. If he feels something lecture on -people who sudden Igot a phone call and strongly he'll say it for my own "wouldn't do this in their own it's "ello mate, this is Nicky good and Iappreciate that. He homes" grudgingly produced 'opkins 'ere. I'm your new comes back after every show some clean towels. pianist.' It was an absolute gas, with alittle list of all the things Then, after I'm safely tucked this is 12 o'clock at night, that he thinks I cocked up. in at the Bottom Line, I'm straight out of the blue, and And he's always right, abso- made to feel guilty for making I'm goin"Oh my God, Nicky lutely always right. it at all when New Yawkers Hopkins!' Who's this talking?' "We seem to agree so much start belly-aching to the wait- thinking it was someone send- on everything we talk about ress that "Ya wait for an ing me up. Really amazing. and all the ideas people think houer anna half in the cold and And he's really digging it. 'Oh, look, look, look, he's got get in, and all the best seats are "The musicians all dig that it to be manipulating him, there's resoived for these record doesn't have to be a blowing one person here making the company BOZOS." Bozette band, it's a very tight set-up. decision.' It's not like that at pretends she's never seen any I'm hoping it's going to go on all. We laugh it off. I think of these record company into the next year. Ireally want we've got something incredibly people in her life and orders to bring it to England. Ithink rare. We're very close, very something unfamiliar to drink "Watch yer England deserves to see that ambitious, very alike. Like because women order them in band. They've been good brothers really," he states, Police Woman and things. Gin enough to me, and Ifeel that laughing at his own insistence. fizz it was. Tasted like neat I'll be repaying them alittle bit "He wants amillion and Iwant PLJ. with that band. But you have a million". Adam Faith strolls in and I to realise with these guys that Adam Faith's arrival shortly start babbling the story of they're creatures of whim, and after this conversation left me Flight 555, but he's just had a so much in demand. At least more puzzled and embarras- similar ordeal on another plane image, Leo!" they're all really into it now. I sed. On introducing him to and wasn't bothered because feel at home with these guys, photographer Ritchie Aaron he's cool. At least Rory which is incredible. he said "You're not supposed Gallagher and his band, come "The other delightful thing to take photographs." When I to see Chrysalis stable-mate says ADAM FAITH to his erring is to get a band of this calibre try to argue the point Leo Leo Sayer's big night, have the happy to play Leo Sayer's hurriedly starts asking about grace to look sympathetically charge, scattering photographers like numbers. They're happier to something until we are left to bilious when I tell them how confetti. And all this after ANGIE play "Train" and "One Man carry on talking. "We'll give many people puked on my Band" than any of the bands you some pictures that make plane. (Blecarch! — Ed). ERRIGO nearly lost life and lunch that I've met before. Isn't that him look like Adonis," Faith A comic comes on and amazing? All the guys I've had said later. Okay, but why can't humiliates people in the front alike on the endless flight from before were always saying 'Oh we take our own pictures of row. "You're a student?" he London to New York .. . . man, we're above that, man'. him looking like Leo Sayer? I asks a balding character in But these guys love it. That is a mean, it's not as if the guy's corduroy. "What are you knockout." spotty or anything. "Watch yer image, Leo!" studying, ageing?" He also "Endless Flight" is another If Leo wasn't such a nice does impressions of famous cause for celebration in Leo's fella Imight have had a rapid people singing -Dylan. corner: a deliberate departure attack of the sulks. Anyway, Humphrey Bogart singing from his recognized style into we started talking about his Dylan, Jack Nicholson singing Tamla Motown, doowop, funk criteria for selecting other Dylan, you get the picture. He and collaborations from Sayer people's material and he said was so good everybody was Oliver C. Brown; on synthes- doing other people's material considerable bore to watch, with Barry Mann, Vini Poncia that "Endless Flight" afraid to go to the bathroom in iser, Don Preston; on trumpet, besides his own. Although it's but for a number like this it -and Johnny Vastano. represented suggestions that case he picked on them if he Steve Madaio; on sax, Bobby a definite loss that he hasn't works. Close your eyes and Produced by Richard Perry, were about 50 per cent Richard saw them moving, you know? Keys; providing backing gone in for sweaty interpreta- jhe voice does it all. who Leo found both sympathe- Perry and 50 per cent Leo. When Leo springs out I've vocals, Becky Louis and Milli- tive rock as Joe Cocker and The other total knockout is tic and inspiring, "Endless "Endless Fligheivas asong that done up enough gin fizz to feel cent James. And on keyboards Frankie Miller did — and he the old Supremes hit "Reflec- Flight" startled some fans. But he wanted to cut a long time as relaxed as he looks. The is none other than Nicky certainly has the voice — I tions", where he gets the he says it is more the real him before. " 'When INeed You' company he's keeping these Hopkins, looking healthier and can't fault him on the execu- balance between punchy, and closer to his roots than was a song that came into days, he can afford to stay younger than he did ten years tion of the kind of material he rhythmic phrasing and asense people think. Richard's publishing firm from calm. This band is one classy ago. has chosen. And on acquaint- of the lyrics just right. The "Although the production is Albert Hammond and Iover- outfit. Faithful retainer Les The band is agas and Leo is ance with "Endless Flight" I student of ageing up front is very sophisticated and very Nichol is still on guitar, a delight, mixing old faves do find it more and more invol- throwing up his hands, in clean, as you'd expect from • continues over page surrounded by session men of from the Sayer Songbook with ving than at first. wonderment and a whole Richard Perry, what I'm the highest order: on drums, the varied and surprising "How Much Love" really bunch of overweight New Alvin Taylor; on bass, Reggie repertoire from "Endless cooks, Hopkins swings in Yawkers get up to flaunt the McBride, who's been in Stevie Flight". The dynamics are "Hold On To Your Love" and flab. Wonder's band; on congas, carefully arranged, with the Nichol turns in some nice Even the eternal finale of girls and horns backing off for Hawaiian slide in "Long Tall "The Show Must Go On" is clean, simple, fresh deliveries Glasses". But the real breath- injected with new life, most of "Just aBoy" and "One Man taker is Albert Hammond and noticeably from Taylor, the Band", and the ensemble turn- Carole Seger's exquisite most stylish, inventive drum- ing up the power for "Train" "When I Need You". Leo mer Sayer has ever worked and "There's No Business Like stands perfectly still for this, with. Love Business". shifting the emphasis from Backstage, the whole band is As a performer Leo has sophistication that it has on in high spirits and Leo is rush- matured dramatically. Gone record to one of personal ing back between his equally are the Frank Spencer intensity: "When I need you/I tiny wife Jan and all corners, impressions (mind you, they'd just close my eyes and I'm with raving about the band, the set, he lost on an American audi- you/And all that Iso want to the new numbers. John ence), gone is the most give you/Is only a heartbeat Lennon's invited him to outrageous hamming and the away." dinner, and he's even laughing occasionally embarrassing Later Leo will tell me about the state the dressing prolonged clowning. Apart "Adam often says 'If Icould room was left in by Patti Smith from the record company just nail your feet to the floor and her boys, who'd finished a bozos this audience is still over and tie your hands in your stint at the Bottom Line the "They try to make yer look 21, and wildly impressed. I've pockets you'd be a great night before. Seems the place silly always wanted to hear Leo artist." He would also be a had to be fumigated to kill of " .and sometimes they manage it."

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