L Is for Lover

Last updated
L Is for Lover
Lisforlover.jpg
Studio album by
Al Jarreau
ReleasedSeptember 8, 1986 (1986-09-08) [1]
Recorded1986
StudioSkyline Studios, New York City
Genre
Length45:01
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Nile Rodgers
Al Jarreau chronology
In London
(1985)		L Is for Lover
(1986)		 Heart's Horizon
(1988)
Singles from L Is for Lover
  1. "Says" (Germany-only release)"
    Released: 1986
  2. "Real Tight" (Germany-only release)"
    Released: 1986
  3. "L Is for Lover"
    Released: 1986
  4. "Tell Me What I Gotta Do"
    Released: 1986
  5. "Give a Little More Lovin'"
    Released: 1986

L Is for Lover is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer Al Jarreau, released on September 8, 1986, by Warner Bros. Records. [2] It peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart, No. 9 on the Traditional Jazz Albums chart, and No. 17 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Nile Rodgers, the album's producer, called it "the best thing I ever made that didn't sell" in the July 27, 2015, issue of New York magazine. "The theme from [the TV series] Moonlighting was on it, but Al and I thought it wasn't cool enough. So we took it off the album. That becomes a hit, and the album sank. Shows what I know." [6] The single version of the Moonlighting theme, originally included on the show's 1987 soundtrack album, was added to Friday Music's 2011 reissue of L Is for Lover along with a remix of the album's title track and the 12-inch extended mix of "Tell Me What I Gotta Do." The Rodgers-produced version of Moonlighting's theme song was used in the opening and closing credits of each episode of the show's fourth (1987–1988) and fifth (1988–1989) seasons.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Number One Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]

Richard S. Ginell of AllMusic called the album "a perhaps surprisingly scintillating collaboration with one of the leading dance-music producer/guitarists of the time, Nile Rodgers (of Chic). Not only did Rodgers and Jarreau assemble some strong tunes from many sources, Rodgers took advantage of Jarreau's rhythmic capabilities, for some of the material is too deliciously complicated for any old R&B soulster to pull off." He added, "Hear the way Jarreau brilliantly threads his way through the rhythmically complex hornet's nest of 'Says' in English and French, or savor the sheer ecstatic energy of the chorus of 'Pleasure' and the rapid-fire list of cities in the title track; this is first-class pop recordmaking." [7]

J. D. Considine of Musician wrote, "It isn't simply that Rodgers reins in the singer's almost freakish virtuosity, although that helps; more to the point, the arrangements provide both focus and contrast for the singing, so that the flash bits truly excite. Best of all, from the EW&F swing of 'Golden Girl' to the Chic-style groove of the title tune, Rodgers ties the vocals so closely to the beat that it's impossible not to be captivated." [9]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Tell Me What I Gotta Do"
4:00
2."L Is for Lover"
5:25
3."Says"
3:51
4."Pleasure"
4:00
5."Golden Girl"Jimmy Felber5:50
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Across the Midnight Sky"
5:35
7."(We Got) Telepathy"
  • Paul Bliss
  • Ian Prince
4:27
8."Give a Little More Lovin'"
5:12
9."No Ordinary Romance"Michael Gregory3:31
10."Real Tight"
3:10
Total length:45:01

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the L Is for Lover liner notes. [10]

Production

Charts

YearChartPosition
1986 Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums 17 [3]
Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums 9 [4]
Billboard Top Soul Albums 30 [5]
Billboard 200 81 [11]
Australia 65 [12]

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References

  1. ↑ Grein, Paul (September 6, 1986). "Multiplatinum Acts Lead Sept. Product Onslaught". Google Books. Billboard. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  2. ↑ Al Jarreau: L Is for Lover. Warner Bros. Records. 1986.
  3. 1 2 "Al Jarreau: L Is for Lover (Contemporary Jazz Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  4. 1 2 "Al Jarreau: L Is for Lover (Traditional Jazz Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  5. 1 2 "Al Jarreau: L Is for Lover (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  6. ↑ Marchese, David (July 26, 2015). "The Deep Hidden Meaning of Nile Rodgers". Vulture. New York Media LLC. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  7. 1 2 S. Ginell, Richard. "Al Jarreau: L Is for Lover". allmusic.com. AllMusic.
  8. ↑ Naughton, Anthony (13 September 1986). "Albums: Al Jarreau – L Is for Lover (WEA)". Number One . No. 169. London: IPC Magazines Ltd. p. 42. ISSN   0266-5328. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024– via Flickr.
  9. ↑ Considine, J.D. (December 22, 1986). "Short Rock Takes". Musician . No. 98. p. 122. ProQuest   964145718.
  10. ↑ L Is for Lover (CD booklet). Al Jarreau. Warner Bros. Records. 1986.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ↑ "Al Jarreau: L Is for Lover (Billboard 200)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  12. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 154. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
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