Songfacts®:

• In the '70s, Al Jarreau made his name in the world of jazz, but he made moves into pop and R&B in the '80s, particularly with his hit "We're In This Love Together" and the theme to the TV series Moonlighting. His most popular tracks were candy-coated love songs like "L Is For Lover," where he explains that if you're looking for love, someone else is too, and you just have to go out and find that perfect match.
• Green Gartside and David Gamson of the British outfit Scritti Politti wrote this song. You'll hear similarities with their hit "Perfect Way," released a year earlier.
• The song spells out the word "lover" in the verses, with each letter starting a key word in the quest for love ("O is for an offer," "V you got to venture"). In the verses, Jarreau also lists various cities where this elusive lover might be, including Boston, Kingston and Glasgow. These are tried an true songwriting techniques, but you'll rarely hear them combined.
• "L Is For Lover" is the title track to Al Jarreau's eighth album. It was produced by Nile Rodgers, who around this time was also working with Mick Jagger (his solo album She's The Boss), Steve Winwood (Back In The High Life) and Thompson Twins (Here's to Future Days).