From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V96 #120 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 96 : Issue 120 313 subscribers Today's topics: Changes steve Various things Benedict Poole Matthew's CD-R Blanks John Venzon Random Input Fabfriday New York 42 Michael W Stewart Can't Walk You Home at My Leisure John Edward Martin Shuford ------------------------------ Subject: Changes From: steve @ slamsoft.netkonect.co.uk Date: Sun, 28 Apr 96 12:14:23 PDT I was interested to read that somebody wasn't that keen on Mike's solo album "Changes". IMHO it probably stands as one of my favourite albums of all time. When I bought the album back in 1990, it took me several plays to get into it (always a good sign of an excellent album), and after that I was hooked. My personal favourite track from the album is Desire (particularly when played very loud), although I think each track is excellent in its own way. In fact as far as my list of top all-time albums, it probably beats all the level 42 albums (uh-oh, am I after a fight, or what?), not because of any other reason other than Mike's album is a very "complete" piece - ie, no fillers, no duff tracks - it all just gels together really well. Whether this is because it is primarily one musician working on his own, with no compromises to make to other people involved, I don't know. Anybody any views of their own on this? Cheers, Steve. ------------------------------------------------------ | / |_ / / | 04/28/96 12:14:23 | | \ | |- | | |- |--------------------------------| | / \ \ \/ \ | steve @ slamsoft.netkonect.co.uk | ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Subject: Various things From: ben @ flump.netkonect.co.uk (Benedict Poole) Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 15:26:19 +0000 Live at Wembley: >2) The Live at Wembley stuff is driving me nuts. L42 never played >Wembley Stadium, let alone sold it out for 8 straight nights, six >straight nights, etc. Wembley stadium seats around 72,000 to 75,000 (I >believe). Wembley Arena seasts something like 11,000 to 14,000 (I >think). A kind Brit could supply correct figures for us. But the point >is that the Live at Wembley stuff was at the arena, not at the outdoor >stadium. Who's talking about the stadium? Chill! Why let a silly little thing like this 'drive you nuts'?? You are correct on the numbers however. Computers: DON'T let's get going on this Mac vs. PC thing; it's very childish, and tedious in the extreme after the umpteenth outing. Everyone has their preferences, so let's leave it at that. If, however, you think Apple are about to immediately go down the pan, then you're not too clued-up in matters of business. Yes, I use a Mac. I also use a PC. I know which I prefer, but I'm not saying, because who cares? New albums: Several people are going on about not finding the Live at Wembley album yet. Well, to my knowledge there's a good reason for that. Last time I looked, the release date was TOMORROW, ie 29th April, in the UK. US may well be different - come to think of it, the UK date will probably change too! Level 42 covers: I'll provide the bass. Er... can't do anything else though. (well, I play a mean 'Big Bubbles' with my new Stick, but that's about it!) A few years back I did an instrumental of Heaven in My Hands (well, if you'd heard my singing voice...) It was on crappy 4-track. I'll see if I can find it for a laugh! TTFN! Ben -- ben @ flump.netkonect.co.uk - from the UK Chapman Stick #091 - from the US of A ------------------------------ Subject: Matthew's CD-R Blanks From: John Venzon Date: Sun, 28 Apr 96 13:34:56 -0800 To those Level Best, >I'm organizing a quantity buy of CD-R's to help save everyone money. So- >if you're interested in getting your CD-r through this, please drop me a >line, and I'll try to keep everyone informed. I was thinking that it >might do us well to purchase the CD-r's for all three discs at once. . . >We might get a grand deal! John here. I just wanted to add my .02 to this idea. DO IT! Right now there is a worldwide shortage of blank recordable CDs. I live in Los Angeles, and had to go to 15 different computer/music/mail order stores to scrounge up enough to cover the first 30 discs I am going to burn! Finding one source that will sell in bulk is the best way to ensure that everyone gets a disc in a timely fashion. Keep in mind that the blank needs to be rated for double speed burning, as I can get more discs out if I do them at double speed. Plus those of us overseas don't have to worry about currency exchange for each disc we burn, you can just send the blank and a prepaid return envelope to the person making the disc. This shortage won't end soon, and prices will go up: Demand goes up as supply goes down (Livin' it UP.. Livin' it Up.. I can feel it! The supply goes down....) Get into it, if it's good for ya, it's gotta be good to ya... or something like that. XXOO, John ------------------------------ Subject: Random Input From: Fabfriday @ aol.com Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 16:49:07 -0400 Hmmm...Well, I guess nobody was interested in the idea of working with Oglio Records on releasing a b-side CD or re-releasing old L42 albums in the states. at least nobady got back to me so I had nothing to tell Carl Caprioglio ( Owner of the company). As for the Men Without Hats CD, it's just begining to reach stores. Soon it will be followed by Rythm Of Youth and Folk Of The 80's for those of you who like Men W\O Hats.... Thanks for the input on the Pet Shop Boys changing labels, they really weren't getting promoted. (Forget now who told me). Like the idea of L42 cover songs...I did a few instrumental versions myself, but never really taped anything. I was toying with the idea of Hot Water though. B-Side album title? Saw lots of good ones. Here's mine: "B-SIDES THE HITS" (covers the idea of B-sides, and the idea that they had other great songs that were never played). **********ATTENTION AGAIN***************RESPOND PLEASE***************************** Do any of you wish to see the near (USA) out-of-print LEVEL 42 Album Catalogue reprinted? Perhaps new compilations and rare tracks too? Like I said earlier, I am in constant contact with OGLIO Records (SONY) here in the US and can forward any requests by L42 fans. IF enough people show an interest, we may be able to persuade OGLIO Records to take on LEVEL 42 in addition to their existing 80's acts (Men Without Hats, Freur, King, Etc....)...... E-MAIL ME and let me know your thoughts.. fabfriday @ aol.com The future is in our hands!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------------------------ Subject: New York 42 From: Michael W Stewart Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 17:27:00 -0500 (EST) Hey folks, I am an Indiana person about to head out to Binghamton, NY for a summer intern. Any Binghamton levelheads. I kind of doubt there are but i might as well ask anyways. I plan to take a road trip or two to New York City. Which are the best stores for Level 42 stuff there. The two albums that I am interested in getting are Changes and Influences by King and Lindup. Luckily, I was a fan back when all of there other stuff was on domestic release, so I won't be needing to buy those. This brings up an interesting viewpoint that I had and I wondered if anyone agreed with me. Most of my older Level 42 collection is on tape. I have been tempted to by them on CD and there are many stores around here that carry the old albums, but there is a certain charm about listening to cheesy 80's music ( no flames please :) ) on the most popular cheesy recording mechanism of the eighties. I think listening to the older albums on CD would lose some of the magic. I bought "Level 42" on CD and I still listen to the tape more often. (Mainly because my car doesn't have a CD player, but also because of the cheesy aura.) There is something magic about boogeying down the Indiana flatlands listening to a worn out copy of Standing in the Light with lots of hiss on it. I am sure the audiophiles will disagree but hey, who cares. Anyways, have a good day. ------------------------------ Subject: Can't Walk You Home at My Leisure From: John Edward Martin Shuford Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 19:12:47 -0700 (PDT) Well, I just received a copy of Turn It On today. Yep, that's definitely a song (Can't Walk You Home). Can't say it's one of their better songs, or one of their better b-sides. Also can't say that I think it belonged on Standing In The Light ahead of any track, with the possible exception of A Pharoah's Dream, but even Can't doesn't fit the mood of that album the way Pharoah's Dream does. Sigh... I can't say this is always the case, but sometimes there's a reason why songs are designated as b-sides. On the other hand, I picked up a copy of Aces & Kings--The Best of Go West (I've been meaning to pick it up for awhile, I was just waiting for a cheap copy). Some nice remixing of the older tracks. And much to my dismay, I found only ONE other bit-o-vinyl from Leisure Process. I have no idea who's doing what on this stuff, but we do know Gary Barnacle co-wrote and played on this stuff. This is the 12" for the single "Cashflow" with the 7" by the same name and a b-side called "The Emigre" that is really groovy. It's sorta Bond-ish with a way-too-cool flute. Nice stuff. Not so sold on "Cashflow," unfortunately. It sounds maybe a bit like Madness (whom I do like, but enough for someone to sound like them). For anyone who is interested, please note the listings as possible contributions for the Discography: XSS 170179 Leisure Process: Love Cascade (G. Barnacle/R. Middleton) Produced by Martin Rushert. Mixed by Leisure Process. Columbia Records, USA, 1982. 44-02989 (6:19) XSS 170180 Leisure Process: A Way You'll Never Be (G. Barnacle/R. Middleton) Produced by Martin Rushert and Leisure Process. Columbia Records, USA, 1982. 44-02989 (6:44) XSS 170871 Leisure Process: Cashflow (Million Dollar Mix) (G. Barnacle/R. Middleton) Produced by Martin Rushert. Columbia Records, USA, 1983. 44-03806 (7:04) XSS 170872 Leisure Process: Cashflow (G. Barnacle/R. Middleton) Produced by Martin Rushent (ed: the correct spelling is "Rushent" not "Rushert"--sorry!) (3:38)//The Emigre (G. Barnacle/R. Middleton) Produced by Leisure Process International (3:47) Columbia Records, USA, 1983. 44-03806. Note: the 12" of Cashflow is much better than the 7". Nice funk bass inserts, though definitely not Mark's style or sound. Robin Scott (M) is not singing this time, and I can't place who it is, but he sounds familiar (though not famous) On my previous topic: Turn It On is a HUGE rip-off at any price. The sound quality is not as good as On A Level (I don't know how they managed to screw it up, but they did). They took the same photo that they used for On A Level and just used a larger version of it and changed the shading from gray to pale blue. The other artwork is fine, but they couldn't even be bothered to print the track listing on the disc itself. As for the accuracy, well, it's about the same as On A Level (Wally Badarov, anyone???). On the back cover, it lists an incorrect disc time (the disc is 70:34, not 69:47), and on the insert it mentions "18 tracks" not 16, as they gave us. Finally, did anyone else notice anything missing from the bio on 42...like mention of what they did their last five years together??? Hello!!! Two more albums in the top 10 and four more singles in the top 40!!! Cheesy. Rather than sell anything for RCA, they'll also screw Level 42 in the process. That's amateurish, especially when RCA obtained rights from Polydor to put old tracks on the b-sides for All Over You and Love In A Peaceful World (and thus had to mention Polydor and the Polydor titles where the songs could be found). Well, at least we can expect more of the same from their next compilation (and I fully expect that they'll hit us with another). What's a poor boy to do?