Love Around the World (1985)

Joel Caballero
Aug 8
2 min read

Love Around the World is the fifth solo album by Christian singer - songwriter Leon Patillo, released on November 14, 1985 by Myrrh/Word Records. Patillo produced the album himself with George Duke as executive producer on five tracks. Duke is best known as an American R&B musician and producer, who produced Deniece Williams' number one 1984 hit "Let's Hear It For the Boy."

Patillo's popularity in Christian and gospel music started to decline with this release. He was at his peak when his previous album, The Sky's the Limit, was Grammy and Dove nominated. Despite that, Patillo still managed a number one song on the Christian AC chart with its lead single "One Thing Leads to Another."

The title song was also a Top 10 hit and a music video. American actor Gavin McCleod (TV's The Love Boat and The Mary Tyler Moore Show) provided narration on the track "Up and Over." Patillo also does a cover of the the gospel standard "The Lord's Prayer" as the final track. Patillo plays all instruments on the album with some studio musicians added on some of the tracks. Love Around the World peaked at number 7 by spring of 1986 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart.

NOTE: in a unique marketing tool reminiscent of Phil Keaggy's 1980 album Ph'lip Side, Love Around the World is presented with two covers. For its digital version, Patillo wearing a jacket is the current front album cover, where as the original front album cover is Patillo wearing a shirt. Each cover shows the five tracks on the lower bottom in small print and shows Patillo as producer one side and Duke as executive producer on the other.

Track listing

All songs were written by Leon Patillo, except where noted.

1. Love Around the World -4:53

2. Up and Over (with narration by Gavin McCleod) -6:00

3. One Thing Leads to Another -4:09

4. Magic Man -5:12

5. Fire -3:20

6. Friends in High Places -3:36

7. I'll Be With You -5:12

8. Treat Her Like a Lady -4:18

9. Safe Delivery -3:31

10. The Lord's Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte; arranged by Leon Patillo) -5:22