1980s
In terms of output, the 1980s were Leon's most prolific decade ever, with four new solo albums appearing as well as his first and only 45 single. Leon had just launched his own record label, Fuse, which would act as the conduit by which his work reached
the general public throughout the 1980s - and, indeed, for the next 30 years. (Fuse also re-issued several of
Leon’s earlier Acorn albums.)
Through the 1980s, Leon also continued his interest in writing shows and plays, performing with collaborators Frankie Armstrong, Sandra Kerr and Roy Bailey (among others) on the musicals, Love, Loneliness and Laundry, No Cause for Alarm and The Liberty Tree. (There were others too: apparently Leon wrote a show about the Spanish Civil War, and adapted one of his own books, I Thought I Heard a Goldfish Singing with Sandra Kerr (never staged). We might also mention another play called A Cure For Crackling, which centred on three people in a psychiatric hospital waiting room. The character "Susie" (she who bites policemen) originated in this play, which was apparently only staged once, at the University of Hull.)
Leon's first single was issued in 1987, and was written and released to provoke a reaction from the establishment by openly defying their ban on reporting the contents of the book, Spycatcher (Peter Wright). It was then included on his final album of the 80s, I Didn't Mean It.
The period 1987-1991 also includes Leon’s most sustained work on songs for children since the early 1970s. Most of his period songs (eight of which we can positively pin down) were written for specific book projects. Full details can be found on the separate Children’s Songs page. These children’s projects span the turn of the new decade, but would not be Leon’s last.
Through the 1980s, Leon also continued his interest in writing shows and plays, performing with collaborators Frankie Armstrong, Sandra Kerr and Roy Bailey (among others) on the musicals, Love, Loneliness and Laundry, No Cause for Alarm and The Liberty Tree. (There were others too: apparently Leon wrote a show about the Spanish Civil War, and adapted one of his own books, I Thought I Heard a Goldfish Singing with Sandra Kerr (never staged). We might also mention another play called A Cure For Crackling, which centred on three people in a psychiatric hospital waiting room. The character "Susie" (she who bites policemen) originated in this play, which was apparently only staged once, at the University of Hull.)
Leon's first single was issued in 1987, and was written and released to provoke a reaction from the establishment by openly defying their ban on reporting the contents of the book, Spycatcher (Peter Wright). It was then included on his final album of the 80s, I Didn't Mean It.
The period 1987-1991 also includes Leon’s most sustained work on songs for children since the early 1970s. Most of his period songs (eight of which we can positively pin down) were written for specific book projects. Full details can be found on the separate Children’s Songs page. These children’s projects span the turn of the new decade, but would not be Leon’s last.
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For the Good of the Nation LP, Fuse, 1981 |
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Temporary Loss of Vision LP, Fuse, 1983 |
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Bringing the News from Nowhere LP, Fuse, 1986 |
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Ballad of a Spy Catcher / Song of the Free Press 45, Upside Down Records, 1987 |
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I Didn't Mean It LP and cassette, Fuse, 1988 |