From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V97 #13 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 97 : Issue 13 463 subscribers Today's topics: Why Are You Leaving... N Collier Will Greer Uncloaks. . . WJGreer SITL on Polydor Winman42 More Bits (still not naughty) Randall L Collins "Love In a Peaceful World" tabs ByrdLvl42 NOT ANOTHER "BYRDMAN 'PLAY ME' LIST"!!!! ByrdLvl42 Kevin Gilbert, More on Mike Payne's L42 tape Marc_Dupuis Crystal Palace Gig... Jonathan Playle On (duh!!) Level EMIKATIE Live Level 42 Disc Update John Venzon The M Factor J Shuford Dirk! AYGB Euroversion Note!! John Venzon ------------------------------ Subject: Why Are You Leaving... From: N Collier Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 12:26:59 +0000 > I may have discovered my least favorite Level 42 song! No, not The > Chinese Way but rather, Why Are You Leaving? Sounds like a Bill Murray > lounge lizard vocal. The music and instruments are very good, the > melody is good, the recording is good, the "sound'" is good. Actually > the only bad thing about it are the vocals. Mark's vocals are very good on this track. I remember someone posted a press review of one of the band's albums a while back which described Mark's vocals as limited but good. I think this track is a good example of Mark singing well but keeping within his limitations. I also love the key changes and the fact that quite a solid, brash slap bass is used for a ballad - unusual but it works. I've finished The Prodigy and have finished writing the summary - it's pretty long so I'll probably post it over two days to save Kb's. What a depressing book!!! "my theory that the majority is ALWAYS wrong shines brightly", Joe P ------------------------------ Subject: Will Greer Uncloaks. . . From: WJGreer @ aol.com Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 09:04:26 -0500 (EST) > Level 42 Unplugged would have been great to see. Heres my list: > > I wonder how Mark would play an acoustic bass, what I mean is can you > slap an acoustic bass? if so does it sound good?? I've seen Stanley do it a few times. It helps a lot you EQ the bass with a whole lot of mid and high end, making it almost too bright for other types of playing. But that's Stanley's sound anyways, so it works well for him. But, having said that, I think that the better move for an unplugged version on Lessons in Love would be to do a completely new arrangement, that does not depend so much on that particular bass riff. As I've seen them, unplugged sessions move along a continuum with one end being "turn the distortion off of the guitar, sit on a stool, and play the exact same songs in the exact same way", and the other end being new takes on familiar songs, done in a way to flatter the song differently. Sting did it this way fairly well. You don't see much of this because a) most fans aren't sophisticated enough to appreciate it, and b) most of the musicians you see on MTV Unplugged probably wouldn't know how to go about making these changes intelligently. But, personally, I think it's better. > Why Are You Leaving? Sounds like a Bill Murray lounge lizard vocal. I LOVE IT!! You have placed an image into my head that will remain there for a while. "Tell me (thank you. . .), why are you leaving, when there's no place to go (thank you, thank you. . .)" Red Velvet and everything. By the way, I don't care for "If you were mine". I think the lyrics are shallow, not up to par for the group. Everyone else seems to like it, though. Anyway, I've definitely been lurking recently. Been really busy, and also these digests have been so long lately that I have to download them and read them in Notepad. Makes it tough to reply to stuff. -Will ------------------------------ Subject: SITL on Polydor From: Winman42 @ aol.com Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 09:32:11 -0500 (EST) Shuf, I have the A&M vinyl version of SITL, but have never seen it on Polydor or Polygram. Very interesting. Perhaps Polydor thought of releasing it here, then changed their mind. Then the lp was licensed to A&M, who decided to do their own cover art. Anyone have a clue regarding this? Winston ------------------------------ Subject: More Bits (still not naughty) From: rcol @ ix.netcom.com (Randall L Collins) Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 07:56:55 -0800 Did I not subscribe to the IL42 fanlist? I know I did. Let me know if I need to do it again. Zaphod: Thanks for posting for me concerning a tape for AYGB. What do you think about me giving you a blank CD disc? I actually would prefer a digital format but I would be content with whatever is available. How many digesters have minidisc players? If you have one, what do you think of them? MY STEPCHILDREN'S FAVORITE LEVEL 42 SONGS (so far): -The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) (or as Mark King would sing on the Live At Wimbley 87 CD; "Livin ih Tup" -Past Lives - they swear that they're singing "Last Night". My 6 yr old thinks they're singing "Fein Stein"......hmmmmm I'm gradually converting my wife into a L42 fan, so that leads me to the next catagory. SONGS TO PLAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF LEVEL 42 BUT WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM INTERESTED: (this catagory open to much discussion) -Coup D'Etat (arguably, their funkiest piece) -Something About You (duh!) -Guaranteed/Forever Now (big happy songs) -Leaving Me Now (one groovy ballad) -Chinese W....uh, no wait a minute.... -Micro Kid -You Can't Blame Louis Mi esposa loves funky, rhythmic songs. One last catagory; MOST AMUSING L42 VIDEO: Level Best (I love to see how Mike Lindup's hair changes in each of the 16 tracks.) That's all, folks. "World peace...at the point of a gun", Ran ------------------------------ Subject: "Love In a Peaceful World" tabs From: ByrdLvl42 @ aol.com Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 12:52:35 -0500 (EST) It has been a long, cold weekend here in the desolate mountain paradise that is Denver. It has reached 15 degrees below zero, so travel is foolish, if not unlikely. My driver's test was a failure due to snow covering a turn lane (and I got in a snowy fender bender on the way back.) My beloved Broncos, now a playoff memory, and 2 months till Rockies Spring Training, there was nothing to do but sit (hours by the window....). As I was contemplating Sobuku, polishing my Katanna for the deed two bright stars shone: 1) I have bought a new VCR, so I can finally watch my Level Best video without the inevitable wavy tracking error lines, and 2) I finally completed my collection of all the L42 albums on CD. (Before anyone lifts me on their shoulders and race me around the room in a circle, I mean the original releases). I had did this once on tape, but my ultimate goal was CD. This weekend I found my copy of "Live at Wembley" at a obscure but dependable local import store, as well as Video Disc of "Heaven In My Hands", and my copy of the Remix Collection at good 'ol Wax Trax (those in Denver should know this place well...). The point of this rant is that I NEED NEW MATERIAL!!!!! ANYONE WITH ANYTHING THAT I DON'T HAVE WRITE ME!!!!! I HAVE MONEY AND NO SENSE OF PRIDE!!! NO OFFER REFUSED WHEN L42 IS CONCERNED!!!!! Here's What I Need: "Influences", "Changes", "Tin Man", clean underwear (just kidding (sort of)), good quality boots, sheet music and Bass tabs, a lock of Mark's hair (Its for a potion I'm making for better Bass playing skills, etc. Also I desperately need a recording of "Love in a Peaceful World" WITHOUT vocals, or sheet music to the same. It is for a tremendous project for Church and is need most desperately. Anyone with this will be elevated to Immortal status in my eyes (free to roam the world, taking the heads of hapless fellow imortals till the time of the gathering...). PLEASE WRITE ME IF YOU POSESS ANY OF THESE ITEMS OR OTHERS I MAY NOT HAVE MENTIONED BUT MIGHT THINK I WOULD WANT! sorry for shouting, Byrdman ------------------------------ Subject: NOT ANOTHER "BYRDMAN 'PLAY ME' LIST"!!!! From: ByrdLvl42 @ aol.com Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 12:52:54 -0500 (EST) Having finally listened to LAW and The Remix Collection this long cold weekend I was again inspired to pen some L42 bests: BEST SONG MAKEOVER "Take A Look (Extended)"- Was this song on a album? I seemed to remember a song LIKE this on "Staring At the Sun", but it sucked so badly that Stephen Hawking declared it a Black Hole, and wouldn't go near it. I used to only listen to this song to get to the meat of SATS (like "Tracie", or "Man"), or when watching "Fait Acompli" (but then I just fast fowarded past the song, like the technican on the tape). Woa! What a difference a remix can make! BEST SONG TO INTRO THE DENVER BRONCOS/COLORADO AVALANCHE/COLORADO ROCKIES/(but not) THE DENVER NUGGETS WITH "Heaven in my Hands (EXTENDED REMIX)"- This version is PHAT! This song almost made "Best Song Makeover" but I decided that it needed more praise. It is hyped up with a very active rythmn and tempo that is just enough in the pocket to be funky. The keys are tight, the bass is intense (as always), and the samples are intelligent. Each time I hear this one I keep picturing Shaq stuffing in a poor guard's mug, or John Elway scambling in the pocket, or Dante Bichette going downtown on a Mile High Homer. In other words, if this song can't get you out your chair, you'll probally need a crane to do it anyway. MY FAVORITE "TRACIE" "Tracie (Original)"- This one is an honorable mention for a song that has undergone several unnerving changes. The video and single versions of this is upbeat, but lacking the remorse the lyrics demand. I mean how can you lament the loss of the childhood love of your life while Mike has a big, happy grin on his face? I have heard this sing maybe a hundred times since '90, in all its forms, and although the remix version sounds great, maybe even better than the single, I will never forget the first time I REALLY heard the original. I was in a car with a friend, it was pouring rain outside and we were scared to get out of the car for fear of getting slogged. His car system had it all, and we blasted this song to its limits, because I was busy trying to make a convert to the Level-Head faith. Well with all the elements together (car system, rain, friendship, etc...) it came out full blast like an long forgotten memory. I may not like other elements of SATS, I will always like this song as it is. BEST NAME FOR THE WOMAN FIGURE ON THE ALBUMS COVERS Tracie"- It has been sugested that the sillouetted figure of the woman on the earlier album covers should be named "Regine" as in "Out of Sight, Out of Mind". Sure, thats all well and good, but then I thought again about the lyrics of "Tracie". Hear me out. The song "Tracie" is about lamenting about a love thats gone, and where are they now. This came on SATS when things weren't going to well artisticly for the band, or at least different from their jazzier orgins. Then I realized, why not think that in this song they are singing about the earlier forms of the band, when they were starting out, when this figure covered their albums. So why not let this figure be "Tracie", and represent the band's more innocent years. (Tracie/Where are you now, girl?/I don't know why this feelings so strong...) BEST HYPOTHETICAL "MTV: UNPLUGGED" PLAYLIST "Children Say" "The Pursuit of Accidents" Introductions "Something About You" "Silence" "88" "I Want Eyes" "Sleepwalkers" "Gresham Blues" "Model Friend" "A Kinder Eye" "She Can't Help Herself" "Foundation and Empire" "Love Games" "Leaving Me Now" "Love in a Peaceful World" "Lessons in Love (Mark on Upright Bass "finale")" BEST LINE SPOKEN BY MARK KING IN A VIDEO "We're only human after all..." (mouthed on the train after guitar solo before end of vid) BEST LEVEL 42 BABE tied between the "scantily-clad" girl in the ill-fated SATS photoshoot, and the "noting but the drawers" clad girl in the "To Be With You Again" (although I must admit I have a weakness for redheds, and I think the redhead in "The Chant Has Begun" video is a tremendous babe.) HONORBLE MENTION- Barbra from the "Children Say" video (future heartbreaker) (For the Ladies) BEST LEVEL 42 STUD The sax player in "The Chant Has Begun"- I don't claim to know this one well, but my girlfriend swears he's "da bomb". I don't see it. HONORABLE MENTION- Gary Husband/Mark King (my girlfriend, Linda, picked these too, so direct your mail comments to her, not me) BEST SOLO Mike's piano riff in "Leaving Me Now"- This catagory could easily be filled by Mark by any one of his many knuckle-cracking, thumb-blistering, interval-busters. But due to the sheer mass of requests for this bit on the digest, Mike will have to take this one. BEST GUITARIST (GUEST OR PERMANENT) Alan Holdsworth- It would be easy to say Boon because he is a founding member, or Alan Murphy because he died tragicly, or Jakko or what have you. But Alan Holdsworth is legend. It would be like picking Yanni over Motzart for Best Composer. I can only hope that Mark can do some solo work where Alan might sit in. BEST DRUMMER (GUEST OR PERMANENT) Phil Gould- Gary has the intensity, but Phil has the groove. If you don't understand that, you'd better ask someone who does. BEST KEYBOARDIST Wally Badarou- Sorry, Mike. You were the reason I learned to play keyboards, but Wally really can play circles around you. Again, sorry. (PLEASE GOD DON'T LET MIKE READ THIS EVER!!!!) BEST BASS PLAYER Oh, honestly. What do you think? BEST SONGWRITER The combo of W. Badarou/M. King/B. Gould/P. Gould/M. Lindup- Sounds like the guys who did SAY. There's something to be said of teamwork. BEST MIKE LINDUP HAIRDOO The "Love Games" mega-afro. I didn't have an afro like that in '80, and I'M BLACK! BEST GROUP COSTUME TIE "The British Solider" uniform in "To Be With You Again" vid and "The Level 42 Team" shirts in "Love Games" video BEST INDIVIDUAL COSTUME The world-famous Mark Clown costume. finally... BEST REASON TO BUY "LIVE AT WEMBLEY" CD If you don't have the video, but you do have "Fait Accompli", finally you can hear the full live versions of the songs they slice up so handily in the "Fait Accompli" video. BESIDES, ITS LEVEL 42!!!!! well that's it for me "we're only human after all..." Byrdman ------------------------------ Subject: Kevin Gilbert, More on Mike Payne's L42 tape From: Marc_Dupuis @ MADISONUSA.CCMAIL.CompuServe.COM Date: 13 Jan 97 13:11:37 EST Nice to see all the Kevin Gilbert talk (sorry to those who aren't interested!). For anybody who is screaming to get more of his stuff, I have Toy Matinee, Thud & the EP, Marc Bonilla's discs (live guitarist from TM) which has contributions from KG. I also have a video of his reincarnation of Giraffe performing Genesis' Lamb Lies Down complete with vintage instrumentation. I'll copy this stuff if you email me. Anybody who has anything else related to this guy or the fabulous musicians he's worked with (Tim Pierce, Guy Pratt, Nick D'Virgilio, Brian MacLeod, etc.) I'd love to arrange for trades, etc. John Wallace: I know Gentle Giant had done some recordings (some of which was funded by an internet fan club!) after "Free Hand" - in fact KG was involved with some of their later efforts (John Shuford will probably know more about this). I have a friend who has some live footage of GG and I'm trying like hell to wrestle a copy from him. BTW, you're from Columbus, right? There is a monster prog-rock keyboardist in your town named Mike Mikula, know him? I used to play in a band called The Other Half with him. Used to play a mean Firth of Fifth. Alrighty then, this is the L42 digest, so here goes... On Mike's L42 tape #1 there is some footage of Phil playing Hot Water. Well those beautiful ruffs going backwards on the toms are missing!! I was so disappointed. I mean Gary improvises some of his parts so that's not the problem, it's that the parts that he was substituting were grossly substandard to what's on the studio cut. Bummer. Mark's drumming, however, was impressive. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I didn't know that was Mark on Influences until Shuf gave it away - does he play on the entire album? He's one of those guys who can pick up any instrument and be convincing on it - like Kevin Gilbert (there's my tie-in!!). -Marc ------------------------------ Subject: Crystal Palace Gig... From: Jonathan Playle <101506.1764 @ compuserve.com> Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 21:36:29 +0000 Hi Y'all, I went to the Crystal Palace Gig (also have a tape of it broadcast Christmas that same year - from Radio 1). I agree with Alex as the sound was a bit lost in the open air, and the quality wasn't up to most of the inside gigs, although the atmosphere was great. Personal fave gig ? Not sure, all were so good (compared to alot of acts I've seen). The last gig at the Albert Hall was very special (Anyone remember seeing Lenny Henry in the audience ?) and quite emotional, anyone know who the guy was who jumped on stage at the end and got pulled off by bouncers was ? MK looked a little annoyed at that if my memory serves me correctly. I distinctly remember MK's solo, including a short solo version of Love Games. I was sitting about 15 feet (5 metres) from Jakko, and so heard most of the gig through his foldback and mainly heard guitar all night. Does anybody know if this gig is going to be released. I heard that it was, but Mark was going to have to dub over some of the bass parts. The Hammersmith gigs were excellent also, with Allan Holdsworth on guitar, a slightly different feel as the grouping together of such musicans from the Jazz fraternity and a smaller venue gave much more of a "club" feel. (I also have some of this gig on tape from Capital Radio). Sorry, got a bit carried away ! Just thought you might be interested. Beee Good ! Jonathan ------------------------------ Subject: On (duh!!) Level From: EMIKATIE @ aol.com Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 16:44:55 -0500 (EST) Hello, As I was arranging my L42 CD collection in chronological order, it dawned on me that there may be one person on the digest that doesn't know the following. This message is for them. Everyone else knows the info and can jump to the next post. But at the risk of sounding ridiculous, I'll mention it anyway in case that one person does not know (and you know who you are). There are 2 discs with very similar titles... On The Level - PWKS 4078 P Pickwick Music (UK) 1989 On A Level - 5500102 Spectrum Music (UK) 1993 The machine stops. John M - USA (To further differentiate all of the Johns) ------------------------------ Subject: Live Level 42 Disc Update From: John Venzon Date: Mon, 13 Jan 97 14:21:13 -0000 Happy new year... er... a bit late... John V saying 'hello' from the heart of Hollywood where he is hard at work on the follow up disc to AYGB, better known as "Live Disc". Not to be confused with the other two live discs being done of the 81 & 84 gigs, this one will be a mixture of different performances rather than a single show. So, just to update everyone on the list, I have changed my ISP, so the jvenzon @ primenet.com is no longer valid. I have switched to jvenzon @ earthlink.com. My jvenzon @ aol.com is also still working, so if you've sent me an email to primenet in the last week or so, I didn't get it. With that said, here is the update of the track listings. I have been under the radar due to my moving, but now that I have the 'studio' put back together, work has started again. so far: 1: Turn it on 2: Mr. Pink 3: 88 (All three deleted tracks from Physical Presence) 4: Mark King Bass Jam from Expohal Hilversum, Holland (1985) 5: The Spirit is Free (Level 42's version from Guaranteed Live) 6: Running in the Family (Original Lyrics - 1 of 2 performances not decided yet) 7: 42 (live - NOTE: Not '43' but, 42) (From the Dronten, Holland 12-10-81 show) Those are the tracks that made the previous 'cut'. The following are now up for debate, with more being added daily!) 8: Fashion Fever (Boston 1987 Soundboard Tape - Nice performace - good sound) 9: I Want Eyes (I have 5 performances to choose from) 10: It's Not the Same for Us (fair to so-so sound, but wonderful performance) 11-16: The Live tracks from B-side discs (Including Man, Her Big Day and more!) (I am partial to including them as they are great performances and they sound even better..) 17: Heathrow (From the Dronten, Holland 12-10-81 show) 18: 43/Dune Tune (From the Dronten, Holland 12-10-81 show) (I know that these come from the same performance that is proposed in the 'other' live disc offering, but heck, not everyone is going to get both. discuss..) 19: Sandstorm (I have a couple of performances of this) There you have it, post what you think, and I will continue compiling... John V ------------------------------ Subject: The M Factor From: J Shuford Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 15:07:33 -0800 (PST) For anyone who is interested, there is WWW page for "M". Just point yerself in the direction of http://www.nexus-pt.com/intermission. It contains the same biographical info that appears in the liner notes for POP MUZIK: THE VERY BEST OF M. On another note, do any of you Brits have an answer on the STANDING IN THE LIGHT question I posed yesterday? I think Winston and I have further honed the question in the following way: did Polydor originally release STANDING on vinyl using the same shot of L42 leaning over the railing by an escalator that A&M used on its US release of STANDING back in 1983? That is, was THIS (and not the Mark with his sleeves rolled up and the other three members standing in the yellow light) the original artwork, and subsequent versions (both American and European) made use of the later artwork? If so, then this album that I found not only is new, it's first-UK-printing new. Does that sound right? Loz, others, HELP! Shuf shuf @ darkwing.uoregon.edu ------------------------------ Subject: Dirk! AYGB Euroversion Note!! From: John Venzon Date: Mon, 13 Jan 97 15:54:23 -0000 > A. About this AYGB Euroversion (see some Digests ago) > I would replace the All She Wants version (4:14) with the version I have > from the Guaranteed CD5, which is identical to the original version, but > it lasts nearly 15 seconds longer (later fade) (4:29). The rest would be > unchanged. Dirk (and the rest who are interested in the Euroversion) Being as I was the one who put the AYGB master together, and yes, was the one that added the earlier fade out on All She Wants, I wanted to explain why the fadeout was added, as well as give you a quick warning that will save you a bunch of time and even more money... While recordable CD's (CD-R) are the wonderful things they are, it's a bit tweeky. In that, I mean while the blank CD-R might stipulate 74 minute length, you might not be able to record out to edge. When you do find one that fits that amount, it won't play on all CD player. This was the case on almost all CD's I tested. When you have a disc that goes out to the edge, most earlier generation CD players can't track it correctly, and tend to shut down, mid-song. This is also the case with most portables and some CD-ROM drives. It really has to do with the individual CD recorder and the software used to create it. You might not have a problem, but then again you might... Before I burned the master which went out to the other two 'burners' here in North America, I tested burning the CD on the following blanks: TDK Maxell 3M Taydo-Yuden (3 varities - they OEM a bunch of blanks for different companies) Sony Each of which got a bit cranky after 69-70 minutes. Taydo-Yuden yielded the best results, and caused the least amount of bad discs. While I wasn't too happy about losing the 15 seconds, it was repetition without anything new to the end fade out, and by shortening, it allowed me to fit the entire disc in the space without having too many returns for reburning. Believe or not that 15 seconds allowed the disc to fit perfectly on the blanks I was using. So between droping an entire song, and dropping the last 15 seconds it was the lesser of two evils. So, good luck, feel free to add that last track, but beware... CD-R weirdness abounds... John V