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There's some interesting history behind today's Great Song of 1980-81.
"More Than I Can Say" by Leo Sayer was written by Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison of The Crickets--Buddy Holly's backup band--and then recorded and released by the surviving members of the group after Buddy's death in the infamous plane crash of 1959. Nothing much came of their version, but shortly thereafter, Bobby Vee covered it.
Note #1: Bobby Vee was hired to take Buddy's place on tour after the crash, which started him on his own career full of hits throughout the '60s.
Note #2: Sonny Curtis is most famous for writing and singing "Love is All Around," the theme from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show!"
Bobby's version of "More Than I can Say" was a hit---in the UK---reaching #4 on the British Charts. In the US, however, it stalled at #61 on The Hot 100.
Note #3: According to several sources, The Beatles performed the song on a regular basis during their early days at the Cavern Club in Liverpool--but no recordings exist.
And that was about it...until Leo Sayer resurrected the song for his 1980 album, "Living in a Fantasy." It was released as a single in late 1980, and in early 1981, it became a Top 10 hit in 7 countries, including the US, where it went to #1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart and reached #2 on the Hot 100.
Note #4: According to Leo, he saw a TV ad for Bobby Vee's Greatest Hits, which featured "More Than I Can Say," went out and bought the album, and then recorded the song--all within 24 hours!
"More Than I Can Say" by Leo Sayer: Taking a Great Song and turning it into the hit it should have been all along!
Leo Sayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGKnSdikqjw
Bobby Vee:
"The Crickets:
And Just for Fun: "Love is All Around"
Tomorrow: Fast Times with Jackson Browne.
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