Subject: Level 42 Digest, #11 ===================== * LEVEL 42 DIGEST * ===================== Digest 11 Wednesday, 09/01/93 Today's topics: Howdy! Re: Level 42 Digest, #7 RE: Level 42 Digest, #10 Mark King's bass guitars Level 42 Airplay Outside The US. Discography for Level 42 available. Mike Lindup's "Changes" Take Care Of Yourself Lyrics... Level 42 outside USA ------------------------------ From: jlaw @ irus.rri.uwo.ca Date: Tue, 31 Aug 93 10:09:08 EDT Subject: Howdy! Even though I've been on the list since day 1, I haven't quite found the time to write an introduction message. My name is Jeff Lawrence and I'm a 23 year grad student at the Robarts Research Institute, at the University of Western Ontario. I first got into L42 back in 1987, when my brother brought a tape of "World Machine" home from a trip to Britain. At the time, I was distinctly NOT into pop/rock music, being a jazz/blues purist. I wasn't really interested at first in listening to some British "pop" band (as I so stupidly thought), but my brother persisted until I gave in and listened. And was I amazed at what I heard! The song that really got me was not "Something About You" or "Leaving Me Now", but "A Good Man In A Storm". The jazzy-funky licks that Mark were laying down were so good, I couldn't help but like them. I was hooked! Over the next 18 months, my brother and I managed to get all the albums up until that time. It seemed that each album we got was better than the last, and my L42 addiction grew. It peeked with the release of "Running In The Family", which (IMHO) is their zenith. Since then, I haven't been as impressed with them as their earlier work. "Staring At The Sun", which I feel (IMHO) is at best as good as a Kenny G. album ( and boy do I HATE Kenny G.!!!), they have progressively gone downhill. It seemed to me that they were falling apart as soon as they had broke through. Although "Guarenteed" was a far superior effort to "Staring At The Sun", it still cannot match their earlier work IMHO. However, I keep hoping they can find the spark they had back in the early 80's. Has anyone seen L42 in concert? I've actually managed to see them twice! Both concerts were for the "Running In The Family" tour, but under different circumstances. The first time I saw them was courtesy of my girlfriend. In the summer of '88, L42 were opening for Madonna (yes... Madonna!) at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. My girlfriend (a Madonna fan) had won 4 tickets for the show on a local radio station, so my brother, myself, her and her friend went to the concert. I hated (and still HATE) Madonna, but the chance to see L42 for free couldn't be passed up. L42 put on a show that rocked the Ex, but since the vast majority of the crowd could care less, their efforts went to waste. I was one of the very few pepople in the place who were actually up at the front grooving along. The set was too short for my tastes. Madonna, I had already guessed, blew big chunks! Oh well ... it was free, so who am I to complain? The second time I saw L42 was October of that same year in Kitchener. This time they headlining at the Centre In The Square, with some crap (VERY crap) band opening. This time, the 2000+ audience were VERY into the groove, and L42 didn't dissapoint, rocking the house about 2 hours. This was also the first night that the guitarist who later died of AIDS (I can't remember his name right now) joined them on the tour. He was very good & quite impressive. I really wished he'd lived, since he could of significantly helped to contribute to the band. Oh well ... Sorry to ramble on, but that's the tightest I could get my narrative! Talk to you later JEFF LAWRENCE | Advanced Imaging Research Labs, Robarts Research Institute | | University Of Western Ontario, London, Ont. N6A 5K8 | | Email: jlaw @ irus.rri.uwo.ca Ph:(519)663-5777 ext. 4132 | ------------------------------ From: jlaw @ irus.rri.uwo.ca Date: Tue, 31 Aug 93 10:32:07 EDT Subject: Re: Level 42 Digest, #7 You wrote : > >Standing at the ????? ???? ????? <--- What does he say?????? >Then with patience he confides >Secret knowledge, sacred ways >Pearls of wisdom from the dragon days <----??? I am not sure of this. It's : Standing at the MASTER'S SIDE Then with patience he confides Secret knowledge, sacred ways Pearls of wisdom from the dragon days <----CORRECT Just thought this might help! JEFF LAWRENCE | Advanced Imaging Research Labs, Robarts Research Institute | | University Of Western Ontario, London, Ont. N6A 5K8 | | Email: jlaw @ irus.rri.uwo.ca Ph:(519)663-5777 ext. 4132 | ------------------------------ From: BARSON @ DEVL.FNAL.GOV Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1993 12:28:14 -0500 (CDT) Subject: RE: Level 42 Digest, #10 Hi,there! I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what the make and model of the headless bass Mark King used and promoted in the late '80s. I think it might have been Washburn. Also, do you know what he's playing on now? Mark is the member who captured my interest in L42, being a bass player and singer (but not together!) myself. Has he been interviewed where he discusses simultaneous singing and playing? ------------------------------ From: eric (Eric J. Hansen) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 93 14:44:24 EDT Subject: Mark King's bass guitars Heyz guyz - In regards to the question about Mark's basses, doesn't it say in several of the albums' liner notes that he uses "J.D. and Status basses"? I don't know whether this makes sense (since I'm not a bass player), but I think that's what it says. On the topic, though, how about the bass he's got in the video for "To Be With You Again"?! Talk about killer bass!! I bet he's got a substantial collection of gear. I have this really cheesy poster of Level 42 which pictures Mark holding a rather plain looking dark wood- grain bass. This is the only time I've seen him pictured with it, though. I think the photo was taken mid-eightees, as Mike still has somewhat of an afro. (On that tangent, it surprises me how many times the band has changed their look/image -- like every time they release a new album!!) Does anyone know if Mark endorses any brands? You often see various well- known musicians endorsing their sponsor's instrument in musician mags... one would think that Mark is respected well enough to be known in the bass world, but I've never seen him in any magazine advertisements. Can some of the bass players on the list elaborate on whether or not Mark is "known" in the world of bass musicianship? Almost There, Eric *---------------------------------------------------------------------* | Eric J. Hansen .................... eric @ enterprise.bih.harvard.edu | | ........ Administrator of the LEVEL 42 DIGEST mailing list ........ | *---------------------------------------------------------------------* ------------------------------ From: Mark Brewster Date: Tue, 31 Aug 93 11:55:57 PDT Subject: Level 42 Airplay Outside The US. Well, I'm a Canadian, and have only been in the States a year... As far as Level 42 play goes, I can tell you what happened (to the best of my knowledge) in Toronto. There is an alternative station (now called modern rock) CFNY, that played Level42 tracks from all their albums including some of Wally Badarou's work. But the most commercial success they had was with World Machine (Something About You, Hot Water, Leaving Me Now) and Running In The Family (RITF, LIL, and Children Say). I would say that Level 42 probably has better exposure in Canada than in the States. For one thing, Level42 has been the backing band for a few Prince's(or Princess) Trust concerts in England and MuchMusic (Canada's version of MTV) has broadcast a few of these in the past. So when everyone else is looking for Eric Clapton etc and they see which band is holding everything together, Level42 gets some reflected glory. I can only bass "success" in terms of what I hear on that radio station but let's not be too hasty to put Level 42 underground just yet. Something I've listened to (on ocassion mind you) are those adult contemporary stations. They will play the syrupy Kenny G stuff and some "light" jazzy stuff and Level42 seems to fit into that type of programming rather well!! I know for instance that one station in the San Francisco Bay Area with the title "The Quiet Storm" (can't remember the call letters) played It's Over. So I think they are getting airplay... maybe not Top40 airplay but maybe that is more of an asset than a liability. BTW, Mark King absolutely rules as a bassist. For those of you interested in Mark King, I think the Jan/Feb 1992 issue of Bass Player magazine has a decent write-up about him and the band and Guaranteed. It talks also about the death of their guitarist (his name escapes me but he was the chap that played on Staring At The Sun). Which brings me to a question, what happened to the Goulds? Phil and Boon that is? Anyway, this has been way too long... "And I suppose you'll be leaving me now...." Mark B. ------------------------------ From: eric (Eric J. Hansen) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 93 15:04:33 EDT Subject: Discography for Level 42 available. For those that didn't already know... there is a reasonable complete (39k!) discography for Level 42 available via anonymous ftp at . Go to the directory "/pub/music/artists/l/level.42". There are some other files there, such as pictures and tabulature. Eric *---------------------------------------------------------------------* | Eric J. Hansen .................... eric @ enterprise.bih.harvard.edu | | ........ Administrator of the LEVEL 42 DIGEST mailing list ........ | *---------------------------------------------------------------------* ------------------------------ From: etrinida @ scf.usc.edu (dadinirT noslE) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1993 14:14:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Mike Lindup's "Changes" ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHH!!!! To Lazlo Nibble: WHERE DID YOU GET THE LINDUP ALBUM?!?!?!?!? ARRRRGHHH! ARRRGHHH!!! (calming down) Okay...to paraphrase an L42 song..From the mountains to the sea I've run across this land...looking for a copy of Linup's solo CD to get in my hands! As far as I know this CD came out not too long ago (1990) on Polydor (probably the last L42-related release on that label), and released` in England. I have heard only one track, which is "The Spirit Is Free" which L42 played live on a video I have called "Guaranteed Live" (Japanese import). I think it's an awesome song, and I dig Lindup's writing style... PLEASE DO tell how you got your copy. I live in a large metropolitan area (Los Angeles) with tons of chain stores, import stores, used CD stores and America's only Virgin Megastore outlet, and my search has been unsuccessful. Should I special-order it? Silence, Elson ------------------------------ From: etrinida @ scf.usc.edu (dadinirT noslE) Date: Tue, 31 Aug 93 21:18:25 PDT Subject: Take Care Of Yourself Lyrics... First off: Thank you all for helping me with the "Chinese Way" lyrics. All along I thought Mark was singing "Saring at the large tin sign" or "Standing at the Mao's Tse sign" or whatever. Now: Take Care Of Yourself. The most recen albums have all the lyrics, but Level Best has no lyrics for TCOY. I'll put up what I can hear, and hopefully some of you can help me out. Take Care of Yourself (Mark King) Are you ready? (yeah yeah) Are you ready to rock? (yeah yeah) Do you wanna do it? (yeah yeah) Get down on it (yeah yeah yeah..) ?? ?? clock now he don't stop Seen a crowd aloud and he says: Take care of yourself Old man sighs, shuts his eyes Leaves behind another lie Take care of yourself Please don't swing round your thing Pay the tax and alimony Take care of yourself Raise that boy, he'll go far Does he have new real good teacher? Take care of yourself a good God... Take care of yourself ?? don't go, don't go far Sell your life to any paper Take care of yourself Sleep too deep, time he sleep All along it has to be Take care of yourself Oh yeah Piece of mind Is hard to find But he don't mind No he don't mind no Big D don't care, no we don't mind Said she don't care And it don't matter yeah yeah yeah Take care of yourself ???? na na no here we go Read the next and bring them all Take care of yourself Mr. Good gone away Looking out for number one said Take care of your self Did she stay where you have to stay? When the party's over? Hey yeah Can you face the longest parts to come Now you know you're not the number one Yeah yeah You feel alright (yeah yeah) You know it's packin' in the mind (yeah yeah) But the heroes say (yeah yeah) I get blind anyway (yeah yeah) Doesn't matter to me (yeah yeah) Whatever you say (yeah yeah) I got more than yesterday! (yeah yeah yeah...) Mark King clock no he won't stop Seen a crowd aloud and he say e care of yourself Old man sighs, shuts his eyes Leaves behind another lie Take care of yourself Don't go swing round your thing Pay your tax and alimony take care of yourself Raise that boy he'll go far Never work for no one else Take care of yourself Take care of yourself You got to take care of yourself... You got to... ========================================================================== PLEASE help me with this. Corrections MORE than welcome. Most of the lyrics don't make sense, but that video...awesome. Take A Look, Elson ------------------------------ From: "Ruen" Date: 1 Sep 93 11:13:52 SAT-2 Subject: Level 42 outside USA Level 42 has a bit of an "underground" status down here in South Africa, too. Besides "Lessons in Love" and "Running in the family" which received extensive air-play, they seem to be ignored by most radio stations (does anyone have possible reasons why? I can't think of any). Of course, all it takes is a tour of SA and all their albums will shoot straight to no.1 by people who have never even heard of them before! This was proven by visits from Crowded House (another of my favorites), Duran Duran and a host of second rate dance cover-version type groups. Such is the state of music in SA... ------- Ruen e-mail : rgovinde @ cs1.uct.ac.za