Subject: Level 42 Digest, #281 ===================== * LEVEL 42 DIGEST * ===================== Digest 281 Thursday, 01/19/95 110 subscribers Today's messages: Re: Forever Now album in UK Staring at the Sun video greetings Re: Level 42 Digest, #280 Articles & stuff B&S-July/August '85 Help accessing the anonymous ftp site? ------------------------------ From: dcrowson @ amoco.com Date: Tue, 17 Jan 95 12:24:14 +0000 Subject: Re: Forever Now album in UK Item Subject: Level 42 Digest, #280 >From: ChezDan @ aol.com >Date: Mon, 16 Jan 1995 18:42:54 -0500 >Subject: Forever Now, et.al > >Can someone tell me if Forever Now is readily available in the UK? Yes, it is. ------------------------------ From: Michael BROOKS Organization: Technology Date: Tue, 17 Jan 1995 13:27:05 GMT Subject: Staring at the Sun video Can anyone out there locate a video from the Staring at the Sun tour. Fait Accompli isn't good enough for me. I saw them on their final night at Wembley 12/01/89 and they were superb but on top of that, it was their best light show ever. I know Mark has the complete shows from a couple of gigs but Fait Accompli misses out the amazing version of Chinese Way, Tracie, Take A Look and the superb lights for Children Say. So, anyone have any ideas? ------------------------------ From: Crazylips @ aol.com Date: Tue, 17 Jan 1995 15:50:06 -0500 Subject: greetings Hello- I'm extremely glad to find out about and subscribe to this list. The America Online rocklink folder on Level 42 was very helpful, and I assume some folks from there are on here? One of the topics we discussed recently there I thought I'd mention. I'm sure most of you know the late Alan Murphy was also the original guitarist for Go West (another of my favorite groups). He strongly shaped their first 2 albums---the '85 hit self-titled debut with "We Close Our Eyes", and then the album Dancing On The Couch on which he co-wrote 3 songs. He can be heard on related tracks on the recently released Go West greatest hits collection Aces & Kings, and can be seen in one of the videos on the companion vhs compilation. The band's most recent album is dedicated to him in the liner notes. I think it's interesting that both 42 and Go West have heavy male lead vocals and a similar appeal in many ways, although GW is definitely more of a r&b/pop-ish band. Not to mention the fact that both bands emerged at a similar moment in the flurry of the pre-LiveAid 1980's. --As did Nik Kershaw, who as most of you know asked Mark King to play on "Easy" on The Riddle album because Nik is a huge 42 fan. His appreciation for the band is echoed in the bass lines of many of his songs and he confessed his love in an interview I read years ago. I love all that connection crap, since I enjoyed all 3 bands. World Machine became the soundtrack to my 1986 summer, and I traveled from Boston to Providence, Rhode Island to see 42 open for Steve Winwood a year or so later, where they "debuted" RunningITF songs. You could see the sprinkling of 42 fans jumping up and down in every corner of the arena. Unfortunately they seemed to be playing through the PA fader mix for Winwood, or the engineer was just an idiot, so the sound was quite bad. Of course it didn't matter to the few, the proud, the fans. At the end Mark said "well you've earned this i guess" and they played "Something About You". Then he made a point of looking at his watch while we applauded the song. He motioned for us to keep clapping and fill up the "official" time they were contracted to be on stage. Then they left and I sat through Winwood in a daze. I don't think Mark realized how many fans the band had there..... Just a few thoughts. --Jeff ------------------------------ From: John Edward Martin Shuford Date: Tue, 17 Jan 1995 22:43:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Level 42 Digest, #280 I've been going over the last few days worth of posts, so I'll see if I can answer any of the questions which have come up. First, PCM is still at the 56/60 Islington Park Street address. They fan club may be disbanded, but it is my understanding that Mark and Mike still retain Paul Crockford as their management/legal advisor (tho I'm not sure he's a lawyer). And I'm sure if you wanted to direct any L42 questions their way, Liz would still be a good contact. As for the Aussie who is looking for some kind of idea how comprehensive the L42 discography is, I'd suggesting getting into cdeurope.com on telnet. They've got 45 listings for various releases, plus Lindup and King's solo albums. It's certainly not comprehensive, and it is repetitive (they list three and four different listings for a given album based on different countries of origin) and really expensive, but it's a good indicator. As I mentioned previously, I'll see if I can get my discography imported somehow (I'm not exactly driving in the fast lane of the info superhighway yet). For ChezDan, yes Forever Now is readily available, priced around 15 ps (about $23). You'll still be missing bonus tracks and b-sides, but it's a good start. And Chez, you're right--White Funky is a GEM!!! Bad name, great disc (except for that little glitch in cutting out 8 minutes of Foundation & Empire). Don't Worry About Tomorrow/Just Live Forever Now! MicroKid ------------------------------ From: Peter Hadley Date: Tue, 17 Jan 1995 21:35:58 -0500 (EST) Subject: Articles & stuff I will now send all of you an article published in the London ( ? ) magazine _Blues & Soul_ ( " The world's number 1 soul music mag " ). Anyway, post what you think, if you like it I have a few others...or let me know if I wasted 10 hours typing it ( just kiddin' ). Note: All the punctual errors are from the article, I didn't feel like editing too. Enjoy, P ------------------------------ From: Peter Hadley Date: Tue, 17 Jan 1995 21:38:34 -0500 (EST) Subject: B&S-July/August '85 from an article in Blues & Soul, July 23-August 5, 1985 PAST PRESENCE & FUTURE Speaking to Level 42 in the shadow of Chelsea's Stamford Bridge football ground began to take on an appropriate meaning. The story Mark King and Mike Lindup were unfolding before me at the studio where they were mixing tracks for the new album bore startling familarity with a soccer story on the back of the Daily Blat: " Transfer Exclusive. Unsettled striker, Level 42, discovered five years ago in the lower leagues on the Isle of Man and currently spear-heading England's attack against strong European opposition, may be on the move. Having spent five years at first division set-up, Polydor, Level 42 has come to the end of his contract and told me: " Five years is a long time at one place and I may be looking for a fresh challenge. I want to achieve more success abroad and if Polydor can't convince me they're the people to get it with, then it may be time to move on. " As is befitting a sports reporter with an inherent forte for hyperbole, I have somewhat overdone the whole ' transfer ' buisness, but there should be no doubt that the rumblings are there. It all began when Mark explained to me the routine ( he may have meant rut ) that the band have settled into. " It's become like riding a carousel. January and February we write songs; March and April we do some work in Europe; May and June we record the album; July and August we play the UK and then promote the album which has been released by then. So January and February comes around... " " That set rountine has become more unbearable because of our lack of success in the States. " Aha, so _that_ skeleton is still at residence in the Level 42 cupboard! So the work the band did in the States with Larry Dunne and Verdine White didn't mature into anything fruitful, US-wise ? " No, no impact at all, " Mike told me, " but that was not the fault of Larry and Verdine. They told us - and if two members of Earth Wind and Fire don't know then who does ? - that the music we made together was right for the American market. The fault lies with the record company - they didn't have any idea what to do with us. " But this, as you may remember, is not a new story. You may recall when B&S last spoke to the band ( on the back of the excellent _True Colours_ set ) that they were less than enchanted with the handling of the band by the American parent company. It would seem that, as opposed to being forgotten for what's going to happen tomorrow, the rot has set in and festered - even extended itself to the home label that signed them, Polydor. " You know, " Mark said with a notable taste in his mouth, " that this album we were ' obliged ' to have out nowwas very nearly a " best of ". Very original, eh! " It was us, the band, who insisted on making it a live album because we wanted the fans to see we weren't turning into some sort of money-spinning machine. On the back of the album - _A Physical Presence_ which is also a double package for the price of a single record - we dedicate the album to the fans who have supported us and come to hear us over the years. Short of actually giving the record away, it was the best tribute we felt we could make. " This album we are recording now is the last obligation of the current contract, so who knows what could happen after that ? It's all up in the air. " So, in other words, there is no reason to suppose that the next time the fair comes to town and Level 42 have to jump on the merry-go-round that Polydor will be paying for the ride. Mark summed it up as far as he could by saying: " The release of the new album in September could be the end of an era and the beginning of a totaly new one - I mean, everything could easily change. " We, the band, are all real good mates but we're all also very ambitious. What we need is the next quantum leap, a real career move, as such, to keep it interesting for all of us. " In Europe, we more than pay our way for Polydor. We are a success, but the American thing must become a realistic target if we are to continue as we are. This next year is real make or break. " I don't think this statement should have us all fearing the worst. Level 42 are still without a doubt a team and don't appear able to fathom a situation in which they would not be, but, nevertheless, they are all aware that somewhere at the end of this tunnel is a neon light saying ' crunch time '. Never has such a short, simple statement meant as much as when Mike said, " touring the US is now a necessity. " However, Mark and Mike have not let these problems manifest themselves too vehemently just yet. Number one priority is still the new album. " In January and February we had twenty-one ideas ", said Mark, " from which came fourteen great songs and that has now come down to ten titles for the new LP. " However, we had made room for stuff to be ' manufactured ' in the studio - music that comes spontaneously as we work - because it shouldn't be forgotten our two biggest success, ' Hot Water ' and ' The Sun Goes Down ', came about in that manner. We are very pleased with the way the music is shaping up. It is still music made on our own terms...we have always insisted on that. But I myself, with my bass-playing, have become more aware of the overall sound as opposed to just blasting out and many people have commented that there is much more maturity here with our song-writing. " And at least two or three of the tunes are excellent for crossing over the water to the States ", Mike added but also showed the spectre is still hanging around by adding, " that is, if the record company can actually _do something_ with them. " Mark picked up on this point: " You see we can steam on musically and artisitically creating stuff, but the buisness side of it is agonisingly slow. It's just like driving a car - you can only go as fast as the one in front. " Mark, in fact, nearly burst the bubble of intrigue and uncertainty when he virtually concluded, " anyway, it doesn't matter how down and depressed you get- it's only bloody music. " But Mike ( a more serious character who still harbours ambitions for solo work with plenty of material already to hand ) reminded us that this thing that is ' only music ' can feed millions of starving people as well as incite riots and when Mark conceded that the least it did was feed his family, we all, I think, realised this thing we all live called musicis a nagging itch that wont go away. Level 42 are simply too good a band to let the last five years go to waste. The only question that remains is...where will the scratch turn up next ? ------------------------------ From: John Edward Martin Shuford Date: Wed, 18 Jan 1995 14:58:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: Help accessing the anonymous ftp site? I'm still pretty new at this info superhighway thing, and I'm having difficulty accessing the anonymous ftp site (for the FAQ and discography). Could someone(s) please respond privately if they know the proper steps I must take to do this? BTW, does anyone have an idea on the release date of Gary Husband's solo album? I know it's coming later this year, but I don't know when (and if it is only a european release).