John Leyton - Look For A Star

Ambles and tributes down memory lane

Though an accomplished TV and film actor, Leyton arguably became more renowned as a pop singer when he made records under the aegis of Joe Meek. Today, he is most visible working the 60s nostalgia circuit, his Meek-helmed hits being forever advantaged by decades of availability and airplay. But Look For A Star opens up the wider picture. The principal focus is on workmanlike arrangements of set works from classic rock, and revivals from Leyton’s own portfolio. The 1961 Top 20 death disc, Son This Is She, comes complete with Clam Cattini, the drummer on the original. If the dusty old 45s have emotional significance, however, such modern dayreworkings might leave a peculiar aftertaste. Leyton himself steered clear of his biggest smash, Johnny Remember Me.

Lone Rider | LRR 001

Reviewed by Alan Clayson
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