Just a Boy
| Just a Boy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1974 | |||
| Studio | Kingsway Recorders, London | |||
| Genre | Soft rock | |||
| Length | 38:04 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis Records (UK) Warner Bros. Records (USA) | |||
| Producer | David Courtney, Adam Faith | |||
| Leo Sayer chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Just a Boy | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+[4] |
| The Village Voice | C+[5] |
Just a Boy is the second album by the English singer-songwriter, Leo Sayer, and was released in 1974. It features his interpretations of two songs ("One Man Band" and "Giving It All Away") written by Sayer and David Courtney for the Who's lead vocalist Roger Daltrey's debut album, Daltrey. The latter song also kicked-off Sayer's run of hits in Australia, to which he subsequently emigrated.[6][7] His singles "One Man Band" and "Long Tall Glasses" both hit the charts in the UK and around the world. Leo Sayer was now popular in Europe and made many promotional appearances there. He headlined in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the venue known as the home of his then-hero, mime artist Marcel Marceau.[citation needed]
Album cover artwork
[edit | edit source]The cover is a painting by Humphrey Butler-Bowden.[8] It is a tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's artwork for his famous novella The Little Prince. The album's back cover pointedly depicted a group of new Sayers giving Pierrot the elbow.
Recording
[edit | edit source]Adam Faith, David Courtney and Sayer had already started work on the album, cutting "One Man Band" while Sayer was on an American tour. More recording took place in London. This time the recording went smoothly and the right results were quickly accomplished. Some of the songs, like "Long Tall Glasses", were written in the studio.[9] Roger Daltrey had first recorded Sayer's songs, "One Man Band" and "Giving It All Away" on his 1973 debut solo album, Daltrey.
A cover of the song "I Can Dance (Long Tall Glasses)" by the Canadian band Shooter hit the Canadian charts the same week as the Sayer original. The Sayer version reached No. 18, where the Shooter version reached No. 22, both on 3 May chart.[10]
Track listing
[edit | edit source]All lyrics by Leo Sayer and music by David Courtney.
Side one
[edit | edit source]- "Telepath" – 3:12
- "Train" – 4:25
- "The Bells of St Mary's" – 3:36
- "One Man Band" – 3:35
- "In My Life" – 3:23
Side two
[edit | edit source]- "When I Came Home This Morning" – 5:17
- "Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)" – 3:19
- "Another Time" – 3:26
- "Solo" – 3:59
- "Giving it All Away" – 3:52
Personnel
[edit | edit source]- Leo Sayer – vocals
- David Courtney – acoustic piano (1, 8, 10)
- Cliff Hall – acoustic piano (2, 3, 7, 9)
- David Rose – acoustic piano (4, 5, 6)
- John Mealing – organ (5)
- Paul Keogh – guitars (2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9)
- James Litherland – guitars (4, 5, 6)
- Keith Nelson – banjo (7)
- Dave Markee – bass (2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
- Bill Smith – bass (4, 5, 6)
- Theo Thunder – drums (2–7, 9)
- Michael Giles – drums (8)
- Andrew Powell – string, woodwind and brass arrangements
- Jeanie Greene – backing vocals
- Barry St. John – backing vocals (5)
- Liza Strike – backing vocals (5)
- Lucas Piccoli – inspiration
Production
[edit | edit source]- David Courtney – producer
- Adam Faith – producer
- Louis Austin – engineer
- Martin Birch – engineer
- George Sloan – tape operator
- Paul "Chas" Watkins – tape operator
- Terry O'Neill – photography, back cover conception
- Humphrey Butler-Bowdon – cover painting
Charts
[edit | edit source]
Weekly charts[edit | edit source]
|
Year-end charts[edit | edit source]
|
Certifications
[edit | edit source]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[17] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[18] | Silver | 60,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ AllMusic review, AllMusic
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- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6143a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Leo Sayer – Just a Boy". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ "Leo Sayer Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Just a Boy at Discogs (list of releases)
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