Endless Flight Explained
Endless Flight is the fourth album by English singer-songwriter Leo Sayer, which was released in 1976. It was released in the US and Canada by Warner Bros. Records and in the UK by Chrysalis Records.
The album consolidated his international popularity, reaching No. 4 in the UK and No. 10 in the US; it also charted strongly in other countries including Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand, and was certified as a platinum album in both the UK and the US, and double-platinum in Canada. The peak of his career came in 1977, when he scored two consecutive US number one hits, first with the disco-styled "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" (a Grammy Award winner for the year's best Rhythm and Blues Song), followed by the romantic ballad, "When I Need You" (1977), which reached number one in both the UK and US. Written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager, it was Sayer's first UK No. 1 single (after three number two hits).[2] It was also the first of two UK chart-toppers in a row for producer Richard Perry.[2]
Reception
This album received critical acclaim upon release, and won a Grammy Award for the hit single "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing."
Track listing
Side one
- "Hold On to My Love" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Sayer) – 3:08
- "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" (Vini Poncia, Sayer) – 3:40
- "Reflections" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) – 3:07
- "When I Need You" (Albert Hammond, Carole Bayer Sager) – 4:08
- "No Business Like Love Business" (Brad Shapiro, Clarence Reid, Steve Alaimo, Willie Clarke) – 3:50
Side two
- "I Hear the Laughter" (Johnny Vastano, Sayer) – 3:13
- "Magdalena" (Danny O'Keefe) – 4:20
- "How Much Love" (Barry Mann, Sayer) – 3:35
- "I Think We Fell in Love Too Fast" (Johnny Vastano, Vini Poncia, Sayer) – 3:05
- "Endless Flight" (Andrew Gold)[3] – 4:38
Personnel
Musicians
- Leo Sayer – guitar, harmonica, vocals
- John Barnes – piano, clavinet
- Bill Bodine – bass
- Paul Buckmaster – synthesizer, cello, string arrangement, conductor
- Auburn Burrell – guitar
- Larry Carlton – rhythm guitar
- Steve Gadd – drums
- Bob Glaub – guitar, bass guitar
- Ed Greene – drums
- Bobbye Hall – percussion
- David Hungate – bass guitar
- John Barlow Jarvis – piano
- Mark T. Jordan – electric piano
- Clydie King – backing vocals
- Trevor Lawrence – horn
- Bobby Keys – saxophone on "When I Need You"
- Becky Lewis – backing vocals
- Steve Madaio – horn
- Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals
- Andy Muson – bass guitar
- Danny O'Keefe – performer
- Nigel Olsson – drums
- Michael Omartian – electric piano
- Ray Parker Jr. – guitar
- Dean Parks – Dobro, guitar, electric guitar
- Bill Payne – electric piano
- Jimmy Phillips – synthesizer, Mellotron
- Jeff Porcaro – drums
- Chuck Rainey – bass guitar
- Lee Ritenour – guitar
- Rick Shlosser – drums
- Earl Slick – guitar on "Reflections", acoustic guitar on "I Hear the Laughter"
- Leland Sklar – bass guitar
- John Vastano – guitar
- Willie Weeks – bass guitar
- Richard Tee – piano
- James Newton Howard – synthesizer
- Gene Page – string arrangements, conductor
Production
Bill Schnee, Howard Steele
- Photography: Elliot Gilbert
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Notes and References
- 9 October 1976. Leo Sayer single this week. Record Mirror. 3. 22 August 2022.
- Book: Roberts, David. 2001. British Hit Singles. 14th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 46. 0-85156-156-X.
- Web site: Endless Flight – Leo Sayer | Credits . AllMusic . 14 July 2014.
- Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 265.
- Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 429.
- December 31, 1977 . The Top 100 Albums of '77 . . en . 28 . 14 . 15 . 0315-5994 . . November 8, 2021.
- Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1976 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart . . 8 November 2021 .
- 24 December 1977 . Top Albums 1977 . live . PDF . . 14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210309080814/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1977/Music-Week-1977-12-24.pdf . 9 March 2021 . worldradiohistory.com . 30 November 2021.