Endless Flight

by Leo Sayer

Overview

Richard Perry's production on Endless Flight, coupled with the tremendous song selection, makes it superior to the 1977 follow-up, Thunder in My Heart (also produced by Perry, but with not as much heart), with this project remaining big through most of that same year. The two number one hits, a catchy Vini Poncia/Leo Sayer co-write, "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing," and a cover of the title track to Albert Hammond's 1976 disc, When I Need You, are essential career components that sound great years later. It's amazing how much more substantial this album is over the somewhat contrived Thunder in My Heart which followed. Opening the disc with a Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil/Leo Sayer song like "Hold on to My Love" is how to get yourself into the history books before the record is even out of the box. The Barry Mann/Leo Sayer composition "How Much Love" on side two was the third chart single, going a bit beyond the Top 20 in the U.S. With strings arranged by Gene Page, Ray Parker on guitar, and Steve Gadd on drums, Sayer had a leg up on the competition. There's a cool photo of the tall Richard Perry walking down the street with the smaller-framed Sayer, and their working relationship reached its commercial zenith here. Willie Weeks provided the bass to "When I Need You" with Jeff Porcaro on drums, David Bowie's guitarist Earl Slick on guitar, and Michael Omartian and James Newton Howard on keys (Omartian and Larry Carlton both show up on Albert Hammond recordings as well); it's perfect musicianship and perfect timing for this most artistic project by Sayer. The title track, written by Andrew Gold, is a standout, featuring Nigel Olsson on drums and Paul Buckmaster on strings, both borrowed from Elton John's camp. As this writer has stated about Albert Hammond, the same holds true for Leo Sayer; both these artists could have challenged Elton John for chart dominance had they put as much into all their albums as Hammond did with It Never Rains in Southern California and as Richard Perry and Leo Sayer put into Endless Flight. Covers of Danny O'Keefe's "Magdalena" and the Supremes' "Reflections" embellish the album chock-full of hits, a stirring title track, and superb musicianship. It's a career album with lots to offer the world. ~ Joe Viglione

Product Details

Release Date:	02/28/2020
Label:	Demon Records
UPC:	5014797901452
Rank:	114201

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Leo Sayer   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica
Danny O'Keefe   Primary Artist
Paul Buckmaster   Cello,Soloist,Conductor,Synthesizer
Andrew Gold   Guitar,Soloist
Bob Glaub   Guitar,Bass
Bill Payne   Piano (Electric)
Larry Carlton   Guitar
Chuck Rainey   Bass,Guitar
John Jarvis   Piano
Clydie King   Vocals (Background)
Earl Slick   Guitar
Steve Gadd   Drums
Steve Madaio   Horn
Andy Muson   Bass
Rick Shlosser   Drums
Gene Page   Conductor
Michael Omartian   Piano (Electric)
David Hungate   Bass
Dean Parks   Dobro,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Lee Ritenour   Guitar
Jeff Porcaro   Drums
Leland Sklar   Bass
Nigel Olsson   Drums
Richard Tee   Piano
Bobbye Hall   Percussion
Ray Parker, Jr.   Guitar
Sherlie Matthews   Vocals (Background)
Mark T. Jordan   Piano (Electric)
James Newton Howard   Synthesizer
Ed Greene   Drums
Willie Weeks   Bass
Auburn Burrell   Guitar
Bill Bodine   Bass
John Barns   Clavinet
Rick Gadd   Drums
John Vastano   Guitar
Jimmy Phillips   Synthesizer,Mellophonium
Becky Louis   Vocals (Background)
John Barnes   Piano
Trevor Lawrence   Horn

Technical Credits

Paul Buckmaster   String Arrangements
Steve Alaimo   Composer
Bill Schnee   Engineer
Bill Payne   Musician
Lamont Dozier   Composer
Larry Emerine   Remixing
Richard Perry   Producer,Audio Production
Cynthia Weil   Composer
Earl Slick   Musician
Andrew Gold   Composer,Musician
Steve Gadd   Musician
Gene Page   String Arrangements
Vini Poncia   Composer
Smokey Robinson   Composer
Michael Omartian   Musician
Albert Hammond   Composer
Danny O'Keefe   Composer,Performer
Eddie Holland   Composer
David Hungate   Musician
Lee Ritenour   Musician
Jeff Porcaro   Musician
Leland Sklar   Musician
Leo Sayer   Composer
Howard Steele   Engineer,Remixing
Richard Tee   Musician
Ray Parker, Jr.   Musician
Brian Holland   Composer
Joe Reagoso   Remastering,Reissue Producer
Adam Faith   Management
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Henry Cosby   Composer
William Clarke   Composer
James Newton Howard   Synthesizer Arrangements
Barry Mann   Composer
Carole Bayer Sager   Composer
Elliot Gilbert   Photography
David Larkham   Design,Art Direction
John Vastano   Composer
Allen Zentz   Mastering
Trevor Lawrence   Horn Arrangements