ArtistDirect News
Leo Sayer Unveils 18-CD Leothology Box Set, Spanning Five Decades of Studio Work
Leo Sayer is set to release an 18‑CD career‑spanning anthology, ‘Leothology: The Studio Albums 1973‑Now’, on August 14 through Edsel Records/Demon Music. The collection pulls together 16 of the singer‑songwriter’s original UK studio albums, a previously unreleased 2008 Melbourne live recording, and a 14‑track rarities compilation, giving listeners a single, chronological view of his output from 1973 to 2024.
The set’s core comprises Silverbird (1973) through to the 2024 release of unreleased 1992 material, plus the 2008 Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow – Live and Return To Paradise. The live disc was recorded in Melbourne in 2008 and features 20 performances, including chart‑topping hits such as ‘The Show Must Go On’ and ‘You Make Me Feel Like Dancing’. Return To Paradise showcases tracks recorded between 1984 and 2024, among them ‘Wrapped Up In Love’, ‘Evil Ways’, and the brand‑new 2024 track ‘Learn To Love Yourself’.
Each disc arrives in a mini‑vinyl replica wallet, a nod to the original vinyl era that appeals to collectors worldwide. The package also contains a 28‑page booklet that includes a 3,000‑word foreword written by Sayer and track‑by‑track notes for Return To Paradise. The artist was heavily involved in compiling the collection, noting that the project was conceived after his earlier limited‑edition box set, Just A Box, sold out quickly.
The anthology does not include the 2008 Australia‑only Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow album, the 2013 Just A Box bonus‑track discs, or the RPM 2002 reissue bonus tracks. Those omissions reflect licensing and editorial decisions rather than an attempt at a fully comprehensive catalog.
Pre‑orders opened on August 1, with the set slated for retail release on August 14. The design choice of mini‑vinyl replica wallets and the extensive booklet are intended to resonate with long‑time fans and new listeners alike.
Sayer’s career began with the 1973 debut Silverbird, followed by a string of UK and US hits such as ‘The Show Must Go On’, ‘You Make Me Feel Like Dancing’ (which earned a Grammy in 1978), and ‘When I Need You’. While his output slowed in the 1990s, he continued to release new material, including Cool Touch (1990), Voice In My Head (2004), and Restless Years (2015). Recent releases include Selfie (2019), Northern Songs (2022), and the 2024 album of previously unreleased 1992 recordings.
Sayer is preparing for a final full UK live tour in autumn 2026, opening at De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill‑on‑Sea on October 9 and concluding at Usher Hall in Edinburgh on November 15. Dates also include Glasgow, Birmingham, London, York, Liverpool, and other cities.
Leothology offers a comprehensive, chronological snapshot of Sayer’s five‑decade career, combining his most celebrated studio albums with newly released archival material. Its release ahead of the 2026 UK tour positions the set as a definitive collection for both long‑time fans and new listeners alike.
The set’s core comprises Silverbird (1973) through to the 2024 release of unreleased 1992 material, plus the 2008 Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow – Live and Return To Paradise. The live disc was recorded in Melbourne in 2008 and features 20 performances, including chart‑topping hits such as ‘The Show Must Go On’ and ‘You Make Me Feel Like Dancing’. Return To Paradise showcases tracks recorded between 1984 and 2024, among them ‘Wrapped Up In Love’, ‘Evil Ways’, and the brand‑new 2024 track ‘Learn To Love Yourself’.
Each disc arrives in a mini‑vinyl replica wallet, a nod to the original vinyl era that appeals to collectors worldwide. The package also contains a 28‑page booklet that includes a 3,000‑word foreword written by Sayer and track‑by‑track notes for Return To Paradise. The artist was heavily involved in compiling the collection, noting that the project was conceived after his earlier limited‑edition box set, Just A Box, sold out quickly.
The anthology does not include the 2008 Australia‑only Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow album, the 2013 Just A Box bonus‑track discs, or the RPM 2002 reissue bonus tracks. Those omissions reflect licensing and editorial decisions rather than an attempt at a fully comprehensive catalog.
Pre‑orders opened on August 1, with the set slated for retail release on August 14. The design choice of mini‑vinyl replica wallets and the extensive booklet are intended to resonate with long‑time fans and new listeners alike.
Sayer’s career began with the 1973 debut Silverbird, followed by a string of UK and US hits such as ‘The Show Must Go On’, ‘You Make Me Feel Like Dancing’ (which earned a Grammy in 1978), and ‘When I Need You’. While his output slowed in the 1990s, he continued to release new material, including Cool Touch (1990), Voice In My Head (2004), and Restless Years (2015). Recent releases include Selfie (2019), Northern Songs (2022), and the 2024 album of previously unreleased 1992 recordings.
Sayer is preparing for a final full UK live tour in autumn 2026, opening at De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill‑on‑Sea on October 9 and concluding at Usher Hall in Edinburgh on November 15. Dates also include Glasgow, Birmingham, London, York, Liverpool, and other cities.
Leothology offers a comprehensive, chronological snapshot of Sayer’s five‑decade career, combining his most celebrated studio albums with newly released archival material. Its release ahead of the 2026 UK tour positions the set as a definitive collection for both long‑time fans and new listeners alike.