Just a Boy

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.

Album cover artwork
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.

Recording
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. 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.

Track listing
All lyrics by Leo Sayer and music by David Courtney.

Side one

 * 1) "Telepath" – 3:12
 * 2) "Train" – 4:25
 * 3) "The Bells of St Mary's" – 3:36
 * 4) "One Man Band" – 3:35
 * 5) "In My Life" – 3:23

Side two

 * 1) "When I Came Home This Morning" – 5:17
 * 2) "Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)" – 3:19
 * 3) "Another Time" – 3:26
 * 4) "Solo" – 3:59
 * 5) "Giving it All Away" – 3:52

Personnel

 * Leo Sayer – vocals
 * David Courtney – acoustic piano (1, 8, 10)
 * Cliff Hall – acoustic piano (2, 3, 7, 9)
 * David Rose – acoustic piano (4, 5, 6)
 * John Mealing – organ (5)
 * Paul Keogh – guitars (2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9)
 * James Litherland – guitars (4, 5, 6)
 * Keith Nelson – banjo (7)
 * Dave Markee – bass (2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
 * Bill Smith – bass (4, 5, 6)
 * Theo Thunder – drums (2-7, 9)
 * Michael Giles – drums (8)
 * Andrew Powell – string, woodwind and brass arrangements
 * Jeanie Greene – backing vocals
 * Barry St. John – backing vocals (5)
 * Liza Strike – backing vocals (5)
 * Lucas Piccoli – inspiration

Production

 * David Courtney – producer
 * Adam Faith – producer
 * Louis Austin – engineer
 * Martin Birch – engineer
 * George Sloan – tape operator
 * Paul "Chas" Watkins – tape operator
 * Terry O'Neill – photography, back cover conception
 * Humphrey Butler-Bowdon – cover painting

Production

 * Producers: David Courtney, Adam Faith