Seeing a full musician’s career in a box set takes some getting used to.

For a start, if you have followed the artist your memories of career and family come flooding back with each song and those unforgettable melodies. Leo Sayer is now 78 and says he is not planning many more shows as he approaches 80.

It was 1973 after all when we were introduced to his Silverbird album which contained the white-faced clown in costume and a uniquely quirky pop song called The Show Must Go On. Top Of The Pops TV show on BBC was at its peak and was made for outrage and something different as young Leo’s perfect pitch and dance, pre-dating Puddles Pity Party made a talking point turn into a hit record.

He followed this with the Just A Boy album growing even further in popularity with Long Tall Glasses, One Man Band and Giving It All Away, which he did to give Roger Daltry of The Who an unexpected hit.

Leo Sayer has two dates in Scottish later this year (Pic: Elliot Gilbert & Silverbird)

placeholder image — Leo Sayer has two dates in Scottish later this year (Pic: Elliot Gilbert & Silverbird)

From then on there were gems on every album. Another Year had The Last Gig Of Johnny B, Goode and Moonlighting, Endless Flight album had the disco hit You Make Me Feel Like Dancing which topped the charts in the US winning a Grammy and the colossal When I Need You which again topped the US Billboard chart and was number one in the UK for three weeks.

Leothology, The Studio Albums released next week is an 18 CD box set covering all the albums from 1973 to now on Edsel Records/Demon Music.

Included in the set will be Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow, a live album recorded in Melbourne 2009 and some personally chosen unreleased songs on the bonus CD Return To Paradise. His autobiography is nearing completion too I hear and he closes a huge UK tour with dates at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on November 13 and Edinburgh Usher Hall on the 15th.