From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V95 #11 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 95 : Issue 11 Today's Topics: The Chinese Wail / Divorce the Unbeliever Chinese Way Controversy? Level Forty-Two Level 42 Opening For Madonna - 1987 Re: VH-1 A-Z videos Re: Background music Incognito Remixers, etc. BobC's tapes, Remix album& questions... 100' and rising, etc... ------------------------------ Subject: The Chinese Wail / Divorce the Unbeliever From: "F.Frederick Skitty" Organization: The Cellar Date: Tue, 29 Aug 95 13:28:23 > From: Bill Wilson > My wife, who hates L42, promptly left the store, and I of course stood in Divorce the unbeliever ;-) (sorry, I just don't know what came over me:) > From: lolita @ interserv.com > The reason The Chinese Way is controversial is that quite a few LevelHeads > detest the song (I happen to be one of them), basically for being and also becuase it's the cheesiest sounding record they ever did. I'm firmly in the 'hate it' camp. > From: "Afua Preston" > Since your return address is @ Level42 "request" worldmachine.com. Wrong, thanks for playing.......NEXT. Dave in London (who's definitely in a very strange mood today:) 'Follow Me, to the end of the Earth, Follow Me, before it all breaks down' -- IGotAn @ omBomb.demon.co.uk | WeirdGuy @ cix.compulink.co.uk =%^) Hit them in the face, with a Funky Bass, For a Happy Smiling race. ------------------------------ Subject: Chinese Way Controversy? From: The SCATMAN Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 09:48:07 -0700 (PDT) As a person of Asian heritage, and who probably has some Chinese somewhere deep in his family tree, I don't necessarily find "The Chinese Way" necessarily offensive, but I do find it to be offensively CORNY. I thought they could do better that that. Maybe they were inspired by "Kung Fu Fighting" or something. "Micro Kid" leans towards the corny category, but the vocoder solo and (what was then) high-tech puns, as well as the funked-out groove made it one of my favorite songs in the "Standing..." album. Elson ------------------------------ Subject: Level Forty-Two From: The SCATMAN Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 09:41:26 -0700 (PDT) > Subject: Re: Subject: A friendly flame > From: "Julian Arnold" > Date: 28 Aug 1995 07:20:27 -0700 > > Hi, > A quick response to the 'friendly flame'. I've used LFT instead of L42 back > home for a good while with no real objection from anyone. My point is, > wouldn't you agree that perhaps it's a slightly different type of english > used on the other side of the atlantic than is used over here ??? However I'm > not one to argue over such things as this (my vokabulary is phar phrom > ferpect!!) and as I have great respect for all Level 42 fans I will pay more > attention to using an American English (like the song! anyone??). More later > Dudes. I don't think it has anything to do with American English or British English or whatever. It's just that Level 42 is never referred to as "Level Forty-Two," so therefore an abbreviation of "LFT" would likewise seem out of place. Not only that, but "LFT" might stand for "Long Feathered Tractor" or be an abbreviation of "Left." Plus, there are many people on this list from Britain and the rest of Europe, the rest of the world even, who use "L42" on this list. Though there's no formal written rule, "L42" is the common abbreviation of "Level 42" here. It's more of a list thing, knowhutImean? Elson ------------------------------ Subject: Level 42 Opening For Madonna - 1987 From: Cliff Barua Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 10:37:07 +0000 (GMT) In response to Brent's posting from a few days ago, I had attended the Madonna concert at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto on July 4, 1987. Yes, I must admit, it was an unlikely pairing. The stadium was about three quarters full when Level 42 came on. It was strange because I don't think that Level 42's members were not shown up close on the video screen at any time, but a small screen was used to project a series of images prior to their first song, "A Floating Life" (from True Colours). The crowd at that time was made up of die-hard Level 42 fans (who unfurled a huge sign with the Level 42 insignia at the top of the stadium, and who knew every song) and Madonna's typical fans (circa 1987, with their hair teased to the sky - we call them Gina's in Canada). Anyway, I recall them playing their big hits from World Machine and Running In The Family, as well as "Chinese Way". Mark King was wearing a cast on his leg, and sat mostly in a stool, but caused rave cheering when he got up and tried to dance (hop??) during one of the songs. "Lessons In Love" got the biggest cheer. By the way, I think that L42 was only opening the Canadian shows because originally Club Nouveau was announced as the opening act. But when I heard it was going to be Level 42......well, just let's say that I felt truly orgasmic!! I saw them again on September 12, 1987 at Maple Leaf Gardens. This time, it was their own show, and the band was lot more comfortable. Unfortunately, Boon was not present. I'm also glad to see that Brent noticed a good selection of L42 material when he came to Canada. They broke here long before they did in the US; to all you American L42 fans, we bestow honorary Canadian citizenship upon you for your good musical taste. ------------------------------ Subject: Re: VH-1 A-Z videos From: RolfieV @ aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 09:52:28 -0400 Thanks Afua for renewing my faith in VH-1. I swear I was there for the Led Zepplin to Loverboy transition and went..where's L42? Hopefully we're talking about the same show just a few months ago when the list was down. While I'm here I'll put my two cents worth in about "Chinese Way" I like the bass line and I really like the version on the "Live at Wembley" video. Mark adds a semi-bass solo during a break. And if "CW" has it's critics, what about the Peter Pan routine used during live performances of "Hot Water"? Mark "flew" on the Wembley video and both Mark and Mike "flew" on the Fait Accompli video. I take it they do this a lot. Rolf ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Background music From: apaulet @ clemson.edu (Amanda P.) Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 09:49:16 -0400 >My wife, who hates L42, promptly left the store, and I of course stood in >the corner triumphantly playing the ever popular Mark King "Air" bass.... >what a wonderful thing that was. I'm sorry Bill, but to be married to an L42 naysayer is utter blasphemy. I have no choice but to kindly remove yourself from this list...: ) [Just kidding, children. Yes, it is I, Amanda. I have triumphantly returned, same sig and all. This time I'm just stuck in rural northwest South Carolina now [as opposed to rural southwest Virginia], but I think I'll manage.] Anyway, Bill, I'm sure your air bass was indeed a wonderful thing, as was my artistic interpretation at a bar in Georgetown over the summer, much to the horror of my friends, hehe... Fight the power, my brother. And stick it to The Man. [Right on! -Eric] Later! -Amanda Amanda K. Paulette apaulet @ clemson.edu Virginia Tech Class of '95 MA in Professional Communication program Clemson University Document Design Lab ******************************************************************* "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." -- Douglas Adams ******************************************************************* ------------------------------ Subject: Incognito From: "F.Frederick Skitty" Organization: The Cellar Date: Tue, 29 Aug 95 10:55:41 In article: <199508260950.FAA08279 @ worldmachine.com> > From: lolita @ interserv.com > Question: Has anyone bought the latest Incognito (100 Degrees and > Rising)? I haven't heard their new album (yet:), but I was lucky enough to see them perform live last month at the Royal Festival Hall on the south bank. It was _extremely_ hot inside the building, but the performance was hotter. They were fanatastic, and they had a guest guitarist do a walk on, and the guest was non other than George Benson !! (He didn't sing, he just played, which shocked me, as he is brill on the geetar...and I always thought of him as a singer only...) If you ever get a chance to see 'em live do it, you won't regret it. And while I'm here, thanks and much kudos to Eric for getting our daily fix of Levelmania up and running again...It's good to be back. Dave in London 'Follow Me, to the End of the Earth, Follow Me, before it all breaks down' -- IGotAn @ omBomb.demon.co.uk | WeirdGuy @ cix.compulink.co.uk =%^) Hit them in the face, with a Funky Bass, For a Happy Smiling race. ------------------------------ Subject: Remixers, etc. From: PLFlanagan @ aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 15:58:50 -0400 In a message dated 95-08-28 06:04:17 EDT, you write: >Also, in case you didn't know, "Take A Look" was remixed by the same guy >who did "Two Hearts Collide": Tom Lord Alge. Best guy to do L42 remixes >since Shep Pettibone IMHO. Tom Lord Alge is a great remixer. He did a good extended mix for Heaven In My Hands, as well as a great remix of "Higher Love" for Steve Winwood. Shep Pettibone's good, too, though he got a little carried away with the synthesized record scratches and hiphop beats, which came across as a little nerdy on the Something About You and Lessons In Love remixes. WARNING: I'M GOING OFF TOPIC -- Here are the contents of a tape I made for my own personal enjoyment in the car this past weekend. The tape is called "80's Forgotten Classics." The criteria for inclusion on this tape were: 1. Had to have hit the US Billboard Top 40 charts. 2. Now receives little or no airplay on "standard" format radio stations in my area (adult contemporary and flashback shows notwithstanding). 3. All songs had to be recorded from vinyl LPs or 12"ers from my personal collection, no CDs or tapes. and 4. I had to really like the song. (OK, I get a little anal sometimes with my tapes.) I came up with 28 songs (it was a 110 minute tape). Here they are in the random order I taped them: The Right Thing (Simply Red); Breakout (Swing Out Sister); Our House (Madness); Dance Hall Days (Wang Chung); Head Over Heels (Tears For Fears); And She Was (Talking Heads); Blue Jean (David Bowie); Tainted Love (Soft Cell); Come On Eileen (Dexy's Midnight Runners); Hourglass (Squeeze); Paperlate (Genesis); Wishing Well (Terence Trent D'Arby); The Safety Dance (Men Without Hats); Don't Shed A Tear (Paul Carrack); Living In A Box (Living In A Box); Promises, Promises (Naked Eyes); Holiday (The Other Ones); Never Let Me Down (David Bowie); Come Back & Stay (Paul Young); Wot's It To Ya? (Robbie Nevel); Are We Ourselves? (The Fixx); Goodbye Is Forever (Arcadia); Wild Wild Life (Talking Heads); Another Lover (Giant Steps); My Ever Changing Moods (Style Council); Digging Your Scene (Blow Monkeys); Boy In The Box (Corey Hart); The Look Of Love (ABC) Any comments? Reminiscences? If you'd like a copy, you can get one for only 1 cent. Then, every 3 weeks, you'll receive the next tape in the collection. If you choose to keep it, pay only $9.95, plus a small shipping and handling charge of $4.50. Toodles, Pat [Pat, the tape is phat enuf, but you forgot Talk Talk "It's My Life". BTW, this might be a "hint" for the next mailing list on worldmachine.com... -Eric] ------------------------------ Subject: BobC's tapes, Remix album& questions... From: Mikep3099 @ aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 00:43:24 -0400 Hi all, It's great to have the list back isn't it? Thanks for all your hard work Eric! I'm one of the problem child AOL users who is having trouble getting the digest consistently so if any or all of this redundant please forgive. Bob C's tapes are incredible! Most are must haves. The first three have several early shows between them, early being up through True Colours, and a few other interesting tidbits. #4 is sort of disturbing to watch, at least for me. It contains a lot of fan shot home video. It begins with a small group visiting Mark's cafe. They met Mark then Paul Crockford and Mike appears a little later. Mark is congenial and pleasant but is in a bit of a rush. They proceed to pester the shit out of him about getting into a party and show there later. They then move on to Mike and zoom in on him from a distance and just stay on him while he has a meal and visits with a woman.. It really bothered me that these fans could show so little respect for these folks outside public performing environment. Seeking an autograph and saying "Hey, I really dig the tunes" is one thing, but this was disturbing.Tape 4 does have some audience shot footage from the Guaranteed Tour and a live gig opening a Hard Rock in France. Tape 5 has the Princes Trust benefit shows from 87&89. Running In The Family with Clapton . Mark playing the bass line to Go Wests "Don;t Look Down" and Alan"s badass self throughout the 89 show are highlites. Another must have. Tape 6 has some really interesting "stuff" but not a whole lot of interest musically except... This crazy tune with Stewart Copland singing and playing lead guitar, Mark playing bass, and just ripping all way the through, and Nik Kershaw singing and playing rythum guitar. Bob writes on the tape that this is a Comic Relief supergroup. This leads to my first question. Does anyone know if this is available anywhere on record, cd or laserdisc? It appears to be from about 1986,. Any further info on this group would be greatly appreciated. Also on this tape is a show called Driving Force in which celebrities compete with professionals in off=road driving events. This show features Mark and is fun to look at if you are into driving or off-roading. Whew!! Has anyone gotten their hands on a copy of Forever Now with the 3 xtra tracks on Voice Print yet? The importer I always buy from orders the new version but keeps getting the old BMG issue. He says that they may have a contract stipulating that all the existing copies of FN must be distributed before the new version w/xtrks can be sold. Also he thinks that he can still get the Remix Album probably. Call ABCD's in Conn. 1-203-831-8031 ask for Bill the owner . He deals with my L42, Prince , Sting, Sylvian etc. cravings regularly and will know just what you're talking about. Now the remix album. 2Hearts Collide is the only exclusive track. Some of the others are rare but all have been available before. Sun Goes Down , 12", SAY Shep Pettibone vers. , a bunch of places, Children Say,12"&cdsingle and I believe on the platinum vers of RITF but I could be wrong, Hot Water , slightly shorter vers. of the 10+min vers. on various 12", RITF Dave'o' vers. on the It's Over 12"&cdsingle And platinum vers., Love Games , I believe is the U.S., vers. prev. available on a 7" double pack and on the Lessons... CDV, Chinese Way same as x/trk on cd but drop out is repaired, Wings of Love U.S. mix is on U.K. 12" when reissued by Polydor shortly after they sigined , 2HC already discussed, LIL , another Shep travesty, on var. 12"'s and platinum vers., and finally the hits combo, unique to this set and also a 12"&cd single but typical meguhmix BS. Last question and then I'll shut up. Soon after I got on the list someone mentioned a band or group called Ellis, Beggs & Howard. Does anyone know anything about them? Is the Beggs in there Nick Beggs who once played bass and Chapman Stick in Kaja(googoo)? Don't laugh, he was really a pretty badass bass and stick player. Again any info would be great. Sorry for being so long winded especilly if this has already been discussed to death. See ya Mike ------------------------------ Subject: 100' and rising, etc... From: "Eric J. Hansen" Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 23:49:30 -0400 (EDT) Wooohhhhhhh Miami! [One cyberbuck to the first person to place the above quote... hint: it's from a non-L42 song that deals with _precipitation_...] I've made a half dozen or so listens to Incognito's "100' and Rising", and while I do like it, I don't think it's as strong as their other stuff. I'd probably put it on par with Positivity, which is 3rd on my "fave list": 1) Tribes, Vibes and Scribes 2) Inside Life (2nd by only a hair) 3) Positivity/100'... I am not that big a fan of their 1st album, Jazz Funk (I think it's called - I don't own it). BTW, I made a change to the way the list queues off mail, so if people (particularly AOL users) *have* received all recent (i.e., past 3 or 4) digests, then maybe it worked. Oh well - I just picked up my tickets to see Jamiroquai on Sept 5th! Yippee! -Eric