Released January 1974 Length 34:53 | Recorded 1973 Release date January 1974 | |
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Similar Just a Boy, Endless Flight, Cool Touch, Living in a Fantasy, World Radio |
Leo sayer the innocent bystander
Silverbird is the debut solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Leo Sayer. It was originally released in January 1974 by Chrysalis (UK), and Warner Bros. (US). It was co-produced by former British pop teen idol Adam Faith and David Courtney.
Contents
- Leo sayer the innocent bystander
- Two steps from hell flight of the silverbird
- Recording
- Track listing
- Side one
- Side two
- Personnel
- Production
- Album
- Single
- Songs
- References
Sayer began his career as a recording artist under the management guidance of Adam Faith, who signed Sayer to the Chrysalis label in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the USA. His debut single "Why Is Everybody Going Home" failed to chart, but he shot to national prominence in the UK with his second single, the plaintive music hall-styled song "The Show Must Go On", which Sayer memorably performed on British television wearing a pierrot costume and make-up. The single went quickly to #2 on the UK chart, as did this debut album, for which Sayer wrote nine of the eleven tracks; the other two tracks were co-written with Courtney.
Two steps from hell flight of the silverbird
Recording
The recording of "Silverbird" was a difficult and somewhat experimental process, Adam Faith and David Courtney were having loads of ideas but had no real experience in record production. The writers were inspired however and the album started to come together with further recording taking place at the Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey's Barn Studio, Burwash, East Sussex, and later at the Beatles' Apple studios. Here the recording took further shape with the team creating, amongst others, the unique "The Show Must Go On".
Track listing
All songs written by Leo Sayer, except where noted
Side one
- "Innocent Bystander" – 3:02
- "Slow Motion" – 1:44
- "Drop Back" – 3:29
- "Silverbird" – 1:12
- "The Show Must Go On " (David Courtney, Leo Sayer) – 3:32
- "Dancer" (David Courtney, Sayer) – 4:30
Side two
- "Tomorrow" – 4:12
- "Don't Say It's Over" – 3:15
- "Goodnight Old Friend" – 2:50
- "Oh Wot a Life" – 2:53
- "Why Is Everybody Going Home?" – 4:14
Personnel
Production
Album
Billboard (North America)
UK Albums Chart (United Kingdom)
Single
UK Singles Chart (United Kingdom)
Songs
1Innocent Bystander3:03
2Goodnight Old Friend2:50
3Drop Back3:29