Top 10 Leo Sayer Songs

Photo: Allrightnow1970, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Leo Sayer songs list looks back at the songs of an artist whose voice will bring back memories of the 70s and 80s rather quickly. Leo Sayer was born in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England, in the late 1940s. This incredibly talented artist has enjoyed a successful career not only as a singer and musical artist but also as a songwriter. Early in his career, Leo Sayer composed songs that were turned into hits by such famous artists as The Who’s Roger Daltrey and our much-loved Three Dog Night. However, what most people remember Leo Sayer for were his huge mid-to-late 1970s hits like “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,” “When I Need You,” and “Long Tall Glasses.” These were such classic 1970s songs that helped define an era of 1970s pop music radio.

Leo Sayer released his first solo studio album in 1973, entitled Silverbird. From that point on, Leo Sayer would release fifteen studio albums and sixty singles. Leo Sayer’s most recent studio album, Selfie, was released in 2019. We hope you enjoy this ride back into time as we celebrate some great Leo Sayer songs.

# 10 – The Show Must Go On

We open our top 10 Leo Sayer songs list with the famous “The Show Must Go On.” Most music fans in the United States recognize this one from Three Dog Night’s big hit. Leo Sayer’s original solo version was never a hit in the United States. However, this song was a big hit in the United Kingdom. It peaked at number two in the UK. The song was released in 1973 from Leo Sayer’s album entitled Silverbird. “The Show Must Go On” would become Leo Sayer’s first gold-selling record. The song was composed by Leo Sayer and Dave Courtney.

# 9 – Thunder In My Heart

We just love these TopPop videos from the 1970s. They just capture the different time periods of the 1970s so wonderfully. Leo Sayer’s “Thunder In My Heart” video indeed captures his disco period, during which he was immensely successful. Leo Sayer gave the Bee Gees a run for their money on the charts with some of his big hits in the 1970s. This great track, “Thunder In My Heart,” presents the intensity of Leo Sayer’s vocals over this smoking dance track.

“Thunder In My Heart” was released on the 1977 album. The song was composed by Leo Sayer and Tom Snow. “Thunder In My Heart” was a top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number thirty-eight. In the United Kingdom, the song hit number twenty-two.

# 8 – How Much Love

In the number eight spot on our top 10 Leo Sayer songs list, we present the energetic song entitled “How Much Love.” The song was released on the album entitled Endless Flight. The album was released in 1976. It was the third single released from the album. After two straight number one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, “How Much Love” was only able to hit number twelve on the US Billboard Hot 100. Still, three top-20 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in a row from the same album is quite a success in a sort of Beatles, Bee Gees, Elton John way.

# 7 – I Can’t Stop Loving You (Though I Try)

In the number 7 position on our top 10 Leo Sayer songs list is the emotionally charged ballad “I Can’t Stop Loving You (Though I Try).” The song was released on the album entitled Leo Sayer. The album was released in 1978. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a top-10 hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number six. The song was also a top 40 hit on the Australian Music Charts, where it reached number 37. The song has been covered by a diverse group of artists from the great Southern rock band The Outlaws to the sensational Phil Collins. “I Can’t Stop Loving You (Though I Try)” was composed by William Nicholls.

# 6 – Orchard Road

Landing in the number six spot on our top 10 Leo Sayer songs list, we present the heartbreaking song entitled “Orchard Road.” This one has a great Elton John feel. The song was released on the album entitled Have You Ever Been in Love. The album was released in 19083. It was the first single released from the album. In the United Kingdom, the song hit number sixteen. The song was a hit on the Australian Music Charts, peaking at number seventeen. “Orchard Road” was composed by Leo Sayer and Alan Tarney.

# 5 – One Man Band

At the halfway point on our top 10 Leo Sayer songs list is “One Man Band.” This great rocking song was recorded by Roger Daltrey on his debut solo album. The song was later released by Leo Sayer on his own album entitled Just a Boy. The album was released in 1973. It was the first single released from the album. The song just broke into the US Billboard Hot 100, creeping in at number ninety-eight. In the United Kingdom, it was a much bigger hit, peaking at number six in the top 10.

# 4 – More Than I Can Say

The next four songs on our Leo Sayer songs list were all major hits in the 1970’s and early 80s. At the number four spot on our top 10 Leo Sayer songs list, we present the well-known hit single entitled “More Than I Can Say.” This song was actually released at the start of the 1980s by Leo Sayer. It was originally written in 1960 by the Crickets just after Buddy Holly lost his life in the tragic plane crash. Leo Sayer’s version was released on the album entitled Living in a Fantasy. The album was released in 1980. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number two. The song moved one spot higher on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, reaching number one.

# 3 – When I Need You

Moving along on our top 10 Leo Sayer songs list, we present the song entitled “When I Need You.” This one was on the radio nonstop when it was first released. The song was released on the album entitled Endless Flight. The album was released in 1976. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a massive hit around the world. “When I Need You” hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1976. It did just as well across the Atlantic Ocean, where it hit number one in the United Kingdom.”When I Need You” was composed by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager.

# 2 – You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

For many Leo Sayer fans, this is the song that should have been at number one. However, we just liked the next one a little bit better. Nonetheless, there’s no denying how great this song is. In the number two spot on our top 10 Leo Sayer songs list, we celebrate the song entitled “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.” The song was released on the album entitled Endless Flight. The album was released in 1976. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number one. In the United Kingdom, the song hit number two. The song also hit number one in Ireland and Canada. “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” was composed by Leo Sayer and Vini Poncia.

# 1 – Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)

We close out our top 10 Leo Sayer songs list with “Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance).” While Leo Sayer had more successful pop hits than this one, it simply has always been our favorite. It’s just a very cool song. There’s a bit of a Randy Newman-meets-Mick Jagger vibe in this, with a circus feel. It’s just perfect early 1970s music. That’s the best way we can explain it. The piano intro on this one captures your attention right away. Leo Sayer rocks this one with spectacular, intense vocals that get hotter throughout the song. The break in the song where Leo goes a cappella was such a brilliant production move that it certainly caught everyone’s attention every time you got to that point. Leo Sayer just lights it up the rest of the way to the song’s exciting climax.

The song “Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)” was released on the album entitled Just a Boy. The album was released in 1974. It was the second single released from the album. “Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)” would prove to be Leo Sayer’s first top 10 hit as a solo artist in the United States, peaking at number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100. number. In the United Kingdom, the song hit number four. On the Australian ARIA Music Sales Charts, the song “Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)” peaked at number seven. “Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)” was composed by Leo Sayer and David Courtney.