Tag: Leon Patillo

This is Leon’s 4th album and one of his most successful. It spawned the #1 hit “Cornerstone” which was at #1 for a couple months. It also had a #15 hit “John 3:17”. The album was very well recorded but personally I found it a little dull. I know that Leon’s music isn’t my preferred genre but I actually liked some of his other albums. This one is way way easy listening. Personally I love his funk keyboard sound that I heard on other albums. That said this was one of the top CCM albums of 1982 and deserves to be listened to for that reason alone.

Tracklist
1 – John 3:17 – 4:40
2 – Cornerstone – 4:11
3 – Praise Ye The Lord – 4:31
4 – Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord – 4:23
5 – I Surrender – 4:52
6 – I’ll Never Stop Lovin’ You – 4:17
7 – Rise And Be Healed – 4:13
8 – Saved – 4:32
9 – River – 5:08

Credits
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Herb Jimmerson
Bass – Freddie Washington
Congas, Bongos, Percussion – Ricky Heath
Design – Dennis Hill
Engineer [Assistant] – Biff Vincent
Engineer, Mixed By – Skip Konte
Lead Vocals, Arranged By, Piano, Organ, Synthesizer – Leon Patillo
Mastered By – Rick Donaldson
Photography – Alan Bergman
Producer – Leon Patillo, Skip Konte
Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Paul Jackson, Jr.

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
Recorded At – Front Page Studio, Costa Mesa, CA
Mastered At – International Automated Media

This is Leon’s 6th solo album and in my opinion his best up to this point. The album has a strong soul pop fell and sound. Leon perfected this very narrow sound as far as CCM music was concerned and his sales numbers showed this. Again Leon essentially played all the instruments though John Robinson did provide a few drum tracks and Leon also wrote all the tracks except one. I have great respect for Leon as he was able to get albums out almost every year. Considering he played most the instruments, did the production and wrote the tracks you simply have to respect that.

Tracklist
1 – Love Around The World – 4:49
2 – Up And Over – 5:59
3 – One Thing Leads To Another – 4:06
4 – Magic Man – 5:14
5 – Fire – 3:19
6 – Friends In High Places – 3:35
7 – I’ll Be With You – 5:11
8 – Treat Her Like A Lady – 4:16
9 – Safe Delivery – 3:29
10 – The Lord’s Prayer – 5:07

Credits
Executive-Producer – George Duke
Mixed By – Raymond Jones
Producer, String Arranger, Songwriter, Guitar, Synthesizer, Drums, Drums Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes, Bass, Horns, Lead and Background Vocals – Leon Patillo
Drums – John Robinson

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Produced For – George Duke Enterprises, Inc.
Pressed By – Electrosound Los Angeles – △27177

This is Leon’s second album. His first album over on Maranatha! Music was a snorefest but his deal here with Myrrh records turned up the funky fun. This was really the album that established Leon’s long standing run in the CMM genre. Myrrh must have had some real confidence in Patillo as they paid licensing fees for 2 tracks that must not have been cheap. George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” and Jackie Wilson’s “Higher And Higher” are both excellent covers and both bring an element of fun to the album. The album did do well garnering 2 charting songs on the CCM charts. “Star Of The Morning” made it into the top 10 at #9 and the title track “Don’t Give In” made it to #16. The album also contains one of Patillo’s most famous tracks “Flesh Of My Flesh” which oddly didn’t single. This is a fun funk album that mainly stands in the Easy Listening crowd but has some upbeat tracks that made for some listening fun in 1981.

Tracklist
1 – Blessed Is – 3:33
2 – Have Faith – 4:33
3 – Flesh Of My Flesh – 4:42
4 – We Must Believe – 4:38
5 – (Your Love Is Lifting Me) Higher And Higher – 3:14
6 – Star Of The Morning – 3:48
7 – Don’t Give In – 4:13
8 – How Can I Begin – 4:04
9 – My Sweet Lord – 3:13
10 – Go – 3:27

Credits
Art Direction – Dennis Hill
Backing Vocals [Background, Additional] – Dennis Correll, Fred Field, Joni Dias, Kirsten Konte, Mickey Rooney, Jr., Patty Bolton, Regunia Peoples, Tim Correll
Backing Vocals [Background] – Donn Thomas, Leon Patillo
Bass – Charlie Souza
Booking – Dharma Artist Agency
Drums – Gaylord Birch
Engineer – Brook Johnson, Willie Harlan
Lead Vocals, Keyboards – Leon Patillo
Mastered By – Richard Donaldson
Mixed By – Willie Harlan
Orchestrated By – Dave Garland
Photography By – Alan Bergman
Producer, Percussion – Skip Konte
Written-By – Leon Patillo

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – International Automated Media
Mixed At – International Automated Media
Mastered At – International Automated Media
Record Company – Myrrh Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Published By – Dayspring Music
Published By – Chevis Music, Inc.
Published By – Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Published By – BRC Music Corp.

Throughout the history of CCM many artists made their way over from secular music to Christian Music. Barry McGuire, Joe English, Bonnie Bramlett and a host of others. But few ever reached the critical mass success as former Santana lead vocalist, Leon Patillo. Patillo got his start in the late 60’s as the focal point of the funk band, Creation. He would later work with Martha & the Vandellas as well as with George Clinton’s Funkadelic. His greatest success would come during an eight year stint with guitar god, Santana. Patillo would leave Santana in 1981 to begin a Christian music solo career. Each of his first three studio album would contain a few CCM classic, but were never stellar projects from beginning ’til end until the release of “The Sky’s the Limit.” Earlier releases would contain monster hits like Dance Children Dance, Flesh of My Flesh and Cornerstone, but here Patillo sparkles from beginning to end. The album contains several top hits including J.E.S.U.S., the title track, “I’ve Heard the Thunder, Love Calling and his second hugely popular wedding song, Security. Several of the more upbeat tunes were often “re-mixed” into extended dances versions that were immensely popular at the time. No Christian roller skate night was ever complete without the extended version of J.E.S.U.S.

Contributor David Lowman – https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/

Tracklist
1 – I’ve Heard The Thunder – 4:04
2 – Security – 4:04
3 – Life Is What You Make It – 3:57
4 – Come To Receive – 3:28
5 – J.E.S.U.S. – 3:58
6 – Love Calling – 4:30
7 – Fear Not – 4:07
8 – Sing Unto The Lord – 4:25
9 – The Sky’s The Limit – :43
10 – Small Still Voice – 4:27

Credits
Art Direction – Dennis Hill
Backing Vocals – Donn Thomas, Elisecia Wright, LaVoughn Thomas, Linda Evans
Concept By [Album Cover] – Jackie Patillo
Engineer [Assistant] – Biff Vincent
Photography By, Concept By [Album Cover] – Alan Bergman
Producer, Composed By, Drums, Bass, Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer [Obx-a, Emulator, Dx7, Lynn Drum, Dmx, Simmons], Programmed By [Synthesizers], Lead Vocals – Leon Patillo
Producer, Programmed By [Synthesizer], Engineer, Mixed By – Skip Konte

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Front Page Recorders
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.

This was Leon’s first solo album after leaving Santana and his first Christian album. The album is very easy listening and has a good amount if the funk sound Leon is known for. The album spawned 2 singles, “Dance Children Dance” which made it to # 12, and “Temple To The Sky” made it to #7. Pretty impress result from a first album but then again Leon’s sound was tailor made for the adult CCM charts.

Tracklist
1 – Dance Children Dance – 3:29
2 – High On You – 3:27
3 – These Signs – 3:31
4 – Born Again – 2:59
5 – Temple To The Sky – 3:58
6 – Trinity – 3:31
7 – He Is Comin’ – 4:21
8 – Come – 3:15

Credits
Artwork – Larry McAdams
Backing Vocals – Jackie Patillo, Joyce Luis, Leon Patillo
Bass Guitar – Leon Patillo
Drums – Leon Patillo
Horns – Darrel Gardner
Keyboards – Leon Patillo
Lead Vocals – Leon Patillo
Mixed By, Recorded By – Chris Taylor
Photography By – Stephen Kelly

This is the 8th album from Leon and his first on Sparrow after moving over from Myrrh. It really continues his previous work with some easy listening songs with a funk feel and some funk songs with an easy listening feel. The album had 3 singles. Isn’t It Crazy peaked at #4 with 14 weeks on the charts. I’m Brand New made it to #9 while staying on the charts 14 weeks. The 3rd single Strong Tower spent 10 weeks on the charts peaking at #30. I’d like to comment more on the album but really it’s very difficult to pick out anything to comment on this album vs his other albums. Bottom line if you liked Leon’s previous work you’ll like this one.

Tracklist
1 – I’m Brand New – 4:39
2 – Isn’t It Crazy – 4:36
3 – Deliver Me – 4:48
4 – Strong Tower – 3:24
5 – Melody Of Praise – 5:58
6 – Alpha & Omega – 4:52
7 – Blessed Are You – 3:30
8 – Golden City – 3:35
9 – New Thrill (Extended Version) – 3:53
10 – Try, Try Again – 4:08