Subject: Level 42 Digest, #10 ===================== * LEVEL 42 DIGEST * ===================== Digest 10 Tuesday, 08/31/93 Today's topics: Re: Level 42 Digest, #9 Back in business "Have" lists Oh yeah... ------------------------------ From: etrinida @ scf.usc.edu (dadinirT noslE) Date: Mon, 30 Aug 93 09:05:15 PDT Subject: Re: Level 42 Digest, #9 As far as I know, checking out the periodical rec.music.misc postings on new albums, coming out between Aug 93 and April 94, I see NO Level 42 album. :( Personally, I think "Guranteed" is a masterpiece. Every song is a reference to some phase of their career - Don't you agree "The Ape" was based on some of their old stuff? I do agree that their previous works showed off more chops. It frustrates me every time I turn some bass player on to Mark King and they go out and buy an album and ask, "So?" Actually, I don't think any L42 album does his bass playing justice. You just HAVe to see him live. Those bass solos he does and the fact that he can play like that AND sing is amazing. Of course, in the studio, I doubt that he sings and plays simultaneously while cutting a track. Bands always change direction at some point in their careers. I would guess that in Level 42's evolution, there was a trade off of some kind: In the early days, they did break new ground, and displayed more musical chops. On the other hand, today, Mark and Mike are much better singers (remember that they became singers by default, i.e. they were the "least worst sounding singers in the band") and their songs are more finely crafted works, rather than repetitive jams. I must say that if it had not been for their most commercial work to date ("Something About You") I (and probably lots of you, most likely American fans) would have never turned on to Level 42. I liked their current work at the time, and, upon discovering their early stuff, came to like that as well. While the music may seem "accessible," keep in mind that NO songs from "Staring At The Sun," "Guaranteed" and their single from Level Best, "Take Care Of Yourself" (their stab at hip hop), got ANY airplay on American radio. I never even saw singles being sold from those albums. So I guess regardless of how they sound, they will always have some kind of "Underground" status here in America. (I would like to hear comments from those of you outside the USA) Recently, I was driving around town with a friend who had never even heard Level 42 before...It just so happened "Guaranteed" was in the tape deck, and I could tell by his foot tapping and neck nodding that he liked what he heard, especially the funkiness of "Overtime" and "Set Me Up," the New Age Country & Western (my best description) of "My Father's Shoes" and the pulsating rhytm of the title track. Then finally, at one point he asked, "Gosh...this band is a trip! Who are they?" Kansas City Milkman, Elson ------------------------------ From: eric (Eric J. Hansen) Date: Mon, 30 Aug 93 12:10:45 EDT Subject: Back in business Hey, all... well, I'm back from my week-long vacation! I got messages for one person saying that the digest mailings he received had subject listings, but no messages attached. Did anyone else have this problem? Please feel free to email me with any suggestions for and/or problems with the mailing list! Mail to . As of today, we have 23 members on the list. Not bad for a list which is just over a week old! Anyways, I hope we have smooth sailing and some good discussion about the band. Sooner or later, I'll do a breakdown of the countries from which our members come from. Right now, I think there are more non-U.S. members than ones from The States! A quick note... most of you probably already realize this, but I'll mention it anyways. If there are no messages for a given day, then there won't be any mailing! Pretty simple, but some people mailed me wondering where the digest was on certain days. If you don't get one by 7:00am EST, then it's because there are not any messages. OK! So, does anyone have any Level 42 bootlegs? I would think that there must be some out there. Even if there are no "official" ones (like ones which may be on CD), it would still be significant to know that there are ones on tape or record. Take Care of Yourself, Eric ------------------------------ From: Lazlo Nibble Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1993 12:12:59 -0600 (MDT) Subject: "Have" lists As per earlier requests, here's the list of what L42 I've got (not counting assorted tracks folks have taped off for me): LPs --- Standing In The Light, True Colours. CDs --- True Colours, A Physical Presence, Early Tapes -- July/Aug 1980, World Machine, Running In The Family (regular + platinum editions), Staring At The Sun, On The Level, Level Best, Guaranteed, The Remixes. 12"s ---- Starchild/Turn It On, Weave Your Spell/+2 live, MicroKid (mix/dub), Hot Water (mastermix/live/lp), World Machine (remix/dub), Lessons In Love (x3)/+1, Take Care Of Yourself (ext)/+2 CD5s ---- Running In The Family, To Be With You Again, Heaven In My Hands, Take A Look, Guaranteed, Overtime, My Father's Shoes 5" CD-Videos ------------ Something About You (US), Leaving Me Now (Japan) Other Stuff ----------- Hot Water/Dream-Crazy 45, Children Say 7" PD, Heaven In My Hands cassingle, Fait Accompli LD, Level Best LD I've got a little stack of the Hot Water 12"s; I looked for it for so long with no luck that every time I see it I forget that I have it already and pick it up . . . sigh -- Lazlo (lazlo @ unm.edu) ------------------------------ From: Lazlo Nibble Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1993 15:36:36 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Oh yeah... Some L42-solo-stuff: Mark King: Influences (CD) Mike Lindup: Changes (CD) Wally Badarou: Echoes (CD), Words Of A Mountain (CD), Chief Inspector (precinct 13 and promo 12"s, nomad soul mix CD5), Spider Woman (12"), Hi-Life (12"). -- Lazlo (lazlo @ unm.edu)