LEO SAYER: Nobody’s Clown

Trenton, New Jersey is not the likeliest place to go hunting for good vibes. Situated precariously close to Philadelphia, the city is a unique mixture of the very dull and the very, very dull. Yet, backstage at Trenton’s War Memorial arena, the atmosphere is decidedly “up.” Gaggles of lobotomized groupies stand in hallways not quite knowing what to do as various British rock munchkins dart in and out of dressing room doorways, completely ignoring the nubile emissaries from Mary Quant Inc. Alex Harvey^is there, complete with white-faced band members and he finds the scene fu,nny as hell. He laughs boisterously.

Leo Sayer finds the experience humorous too, but he just giggles. With two hit LP’s (Siluerbird and Just A Boy) and a smash single (“Long Tall Glasses”) under his belt, the daffy, diminutive singer-songwriter genuinely enjoys wowing a crowd and loves to be wowed back—which is ' just what happened bare moments before. “The kids out there are amazing tonight,” he beams, wiping ,his face on the way back to his dressing room. “When we first came here a year ago, we played mostly clubs, you know. It was an older crowd since yomhad to be old enough to drink. I thought This is fantastic! I can’t believe it!’ But this is really IT: to play bigger halls with younger fans. Wow! This is fantastic!” He is wearing a smile that looks like the front grille of a Cadillac. “Sometimes I just get so happy about all this,” he laughs, “piy head hits the ceiling when I walk. It’s like walking on clouds.”