Thunder in my heart - Leo Sayer

'Thunder in my heart' was the title track of Leo Sayer's 1977 album. It was released as a single in the autumn of 1977 and reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in the Dutch Top 40.

The song found fame once more when it was remixed by Meck in 2006. Entitled 'Thunder in my heart again', the track reached number 1 in the UK and number 7 in the Dutch Top 40. According to Leo Sayer: 'It wasn't just because it was a hot tune, it was all because [people thought] 'Oh my God, it's Leo Sayer!''. Still, nothing beats the original.

My collection: 7" single no. 4761
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Thunder in my heart' / 'Get the girl'

Till you come back to me - Leo Sayer

'Till you come back to me' is a cover of a song originally performed by Stevie Wonder. Leo Sayer recorded it on his tenth album, 'Have you ever been in love', which was released in 1983. When it was released as a single, it effectively ended a run of chart hits Sayer had since the early Seventies. The single reached number 51 in the UK singles chart.

I heard the track on the radio very frequently back in 1983 and 1984. When I found this single a decade later, I was pretty happy as I'd never seen a copy!

My collection: 7" single no. 1943
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 11, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Till you come back to me' / 'Train'

When I need you - Leo Sayer

'When I need you' was written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager. It was first recorded by Hammond on his 1976 album of the same name.

Leo Sayer recorded his version later that year and included it on his album 'Endless flight'. The single reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 1 in the UK singles chart in February 1977. Three months later, the single also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Sayer performed the song on the second show of the third season of The Muppet Show.

My collection: 7" single no. 1215
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, April 22, 1990
Cost: 0,5 guilder
Tracks: 'When I need you' / 'I think we fell in love too fast'

More than I can say - Leo Sayer

'More than I can say' was written by Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison, who recorded it with their bad The Crickets in 1959 soon after Buddy Holly, whose backing band they were originally, died. The single was released in 1960 and became a hit for them.

Leo Sayer recorded his cover version of the song in 1980. Sayer commented later that while he was looking for an 'oldie' to record for his album 'Living in a fantasy', he saw a TV commercial for a greatest hits collection by Bobby Vee (who recorded a cover version of the song in 1961) and chose the song on the spot: 'We went into a record store that afternoon, bought the record and had the song recorded that night'. It turned out to be a good choice: the single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK singles chart, and also peaked at number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1151
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, January 19, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'More than I can say' / 'Only fooling'

Have you ever been in love - Leo Sayer

Leo Sayer was born as Gerard Hugh Sayer on May 21, 1948 in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England. A popular singer in the Seventies and early Eighties, he released his tenth studio album 'Have you ever been in love' in November 1983. The single of the same name was released a year earlier and reached number 19 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 10 in the UK singles chart.

In later years, Sayer has been maligned because of these ballads, that are perceived to be overly sentimental. Personally I think it is just within the boundaries of good taste - the melody is beautiful anyway.

My collection: 7" single no. 964
Found: All that music, Leiden, August 10, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Have you ever been in love' / 'I don't need dreaming anymore'