# Leo Sayer Had to Completely Redo This Song (And It Became His Final No. 1 Single)

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/leo-sayer-had-to-completely-redo-this-song-and-it-became-his-final-no-1-single/
- Published: 2026-10-24T11:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T12:14:09+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/leo-sayer-had-to-completely-redo-this-song-and-it-became-his-final-no-1-single/
- Topics: Culture, Entertainment, Music, Travel

## Key points

- Sayer scrapped a blues version of “When I Need You”.
- The 1977 song became a US No. 1.
- It was his final US chart-topper.

## Summary

Leo Sayer had to abandon his first recording of “When I Need You” after deciding its blues arrangement did not suit the song. Returning to the original demo’s approach helped turn the 1977 track into a US No. 1, and Sayer’s last chart-topping single there.

Written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager, the song appeared on Sayer’s album *Endless Flight*, which also included “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and “How Much Love”. The first version featured Booker T. Jones on organ and drew on Otis Redding’s style. Hammond and Sager were later sued by Leonard Cohen over alleged similarities to his song “Famous Blue Raincoat”; Cohen said the case was settled after a musicologist argued the motif was in the public domain.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.