| Just a Boy | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Leo Sayer |
| Cover: | Leo Sayer - Just a Boy.jpg |
| 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 |
| Prev Title: | Silverbird |
| Prev Year: | 1973 |
| Next Title: | Another Year |
| Next Year: | 1975 |
Just a Boy is the second album by 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. Sayer's singles "One Man Band" and "Long Tall Glasses" both hit the charts in the U.K. and around the world. Leo Sayer was now popular in Europe and made many promotional appearances there. He headlined in Paris at The Theatre D’ Champs Elysees, the theatre known as the home of his then-hero, mime artist Marcel Marceau.
The cover is a painting by Humphrey Butler-Bowden. 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.
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.[1] 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.[2]
All lyrics by Leo Sayer and music by David Courtney.
| Chart (1974/75) | Peak Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 3 | |
| UK Albums Chart | 4 | |
| US Pop Albums | 16 |
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | "Long Tall Glasses" | Ireland (IRMA) | 4 |
| "Long Tall Glasses" | UK Singles Chart[6] | 4 | |
| "One Man Band" | 6 | ||
| 1975 | "Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)" | ||
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 7 | ||
| US Pop Singles[8] | 9 | ||
| Canada (RPM) Top Singles[9] | 18 | ||
| South Africa[10] | 9 | ||
| "One Man Band" | US Pop Singles | 96 |
