From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V97 #143 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 97 : Issue 143 496 subscribers Today's topics: Worst Album Cover elson trinidad Guranteed/Staring At The Sun The Bassman Deliverance Will Greer Rare footage etc David Kidd Judas Billy's Silver J Shuford Afros and dashikis rule! Randall L Collins Gary Husband gigs Ken Meacham Sleeping on your heart. DonZipf Break open discussions pleez dirk.vael Crockford and the uninformed Jay Tracy ------------------------------ Subject: Worst Album Cover From: elson trinidad Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 03:30:47 -0700 Worst Album Cover? 'Guaranteed' isn't all that bad. It's a real awkward photo, but at least it being black and white kinda saved it, for some reason. If it were a color photo, it would look kinda amateurish... The worst album cover, IMO? "The Pursuit of Accidents." Rainbow-colored band logo? A cartoonish image of a gutter? Hello? More, cheese, Gromit! The music inside is rather good, on the other hand. The second worst? "Running In The Family." For years I though the little colored mosaic images of Mike and Phil looked like they were making funny faces. As for the music, well it's excellent, as we all know. Never judge an album by its cover...Though all those old Blue Note jazz albums really *did* sound as cool as they looked. Elson -30- =========================================== Elson Trinidad Los Angeles, CA, USA elson @ westworld.com * http://www.westworld.com/~elson ========================================== ------------------------------ Subject: Guranteed/Staring At The Sun From: The Bassman Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 12:00:43 +0100 (BST) Hiya gang You know, it seems strange that people tend to love the SATS/Guaranteed... era or they hate it! Now, I'm going to say that I happen to like this point in the life of L42. Steve Allert is right when he says that a change in lineup also brought a change in sound - guitars more forward etc. To my mind this was a change for the better. I always thought the guitars were a little too understated on the whole (boon). The sound on SATS was very different from World Machine. 1) Gary's different drumming style 2) Alan's different playing style (R.I.P.) 3) Mark's heavy use of a doubled synth bass line People have also mentioned the sound quality of the SATS album. I recall one comment about it having boosted mid frequencies (or something like that). I know that something was different, but I can't put my finger on why it sounds different. I'll have to listen closely to it one day to get an idea. I also recall various people (press and digest) commenting that they might have rushed SATS (only 3 weeks recording time). For this I applaud the band. It really shouldn't take months to record an album if you know what you are doing. My philosophy is that you should turn up at a recording studio knowing what you are going to record - ie having practiced it. It seems obvious to me that they went in - did what they had to do, and didn't have to faff around. As for cover art (or the lack thereof), well the Early Tapes is a real clunker. Call it art???? ;-) Pursuit of accidents - well it's "art", but it doesn't seem a brilliant idea to me. I'm non to keen on true colours either. Biggest question of them all...What were people thinking of re: the Forever Now artwork. It's hideous. I do like the "name in the rounded rectangle though" - see my .sig for that one! Why were the lyrics not included in this CD booklet? [I believe some had lyrics inserted on the early pressings, but mine, bought when it came out has not got them.] Guaranteed cover art isn't _that_ bad you know. It's a picture of the band (granted, it's the touring band), and in my opinion [from memory] it's not "out of focus". I have been wondering why they decided to go for the "american" look. Look at mark's jacket and Jakko's shirt as prime examples. Looks a bit silly to me! I like the SATS graphic. Very nice - ties in well with the whole inlay (other graphics too). Errrrm, this is off the top of my head, but wasn't the artwork done by a member of this digest? Best artwork, yeah - World machine...Though it really bugs me that the thread on the nut and cog is wrong!!!! Oh, and the slot in the bolt is off centre! Obviously wasn't an engineer who drew that then! OOps, it's turned into another epic again. Can you tell I'm sick to death of my 4th year Uni project??? TCOY, Mark. Mark Tweedale mjt101 @ york.ac.uk http://www.york.ac.uk/~mjt101/ ________________________________________ / \ / @ @@@@ @ @ @@@@ @ @ @@@ \ / @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ \ | @ @@ @ @ @@ @ @ @ @ | \ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@ @ / \ @@@@ @@@@ @ @@@@ @@@@ @ @@@@@ / \________________________________________/ ------------------------------ Subject: Deliverance From: Will Greer Organization: Elmore's Tamale Factory Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 07:29:32 -0500 > The pair of you could dress up in dungarees, have cosmetic surgery > (enormous ears, buck teeth, boss-eyes) and take eachother on, man to > man, in the Everglades playing a number of Mark King bass licks at > increasing speed. Wouldn't that be the Ozarks, rather than the Everglades? :) Actually, I'm curious, Jason, if you understand this reference, being from the UK. And count me in on the duel. It'll be a trifecta. -- -Will "This sesame seed is bigger than my head" [I think Nigel gets the reference... obviously he's seen the movie. The real question is, do *either* of you _really_ get the reference!! To send you out on an egg hunt, try doing a search for the word "deliverance" on the Digest search engine and you'll be surprised what turns up! http://www.worldmachine.com/level42/#archive You'll see that Dave Crowson posted some info in January 1995 that deals specifically with Level 42 and a reference to this movie... -Eric] ------------------------------ Subject: Rare footage etc From: "David Kidd" Date: Thu, 22 May 1997 13:54:41 +0100 Hi there, I was wondering if anyone on the mailing list would be interested in swapping video footage of Level 42 in action. I've got stuff like :- Rockpalast Show - Germany 1983 (With cool version of Love Games !) Play at Home - UK Documentary on Level 42 broadcast by Channel 4, England in 1984 Plus other bits and bobs of 'Thunderthumbs & Co.' from UK and Europe. I also have cassette bootlegs of various gigs and radio interviews over the years, from around 1982 upto 1990's. So if you've got anything to swap/copy etc, MAIL ME !!! Respect- Dave Kidd Ilford, Essex England David.Kidd1 @ Virgin.Net ( Also if any bassists want a chat about M.K. and stuff, go for it, cos I play as well !!! ) ------------------------------ Subject: Judas Billy's Silver From: J Shuford Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 09:15:48 -0700 (PDT) Well, after the recent deal with Thomas Richmond that had many of us wondering whether we are too quick to judge and come down too hard on others who express contrary opinions, I am GREATLY encouraged to see how the "judas silver" thread seems to have played itself out. Thanks to people who spoke up but did so in a less-than-flaming manner. But the biggest thanks go to Bill Miller, I believe, for seeing that while something that was said was a little disconcerting, no one on the Digest wanted to embarrass him or see him leave. Bill handled the criticism gracefully and in a positive manner. Maybe we should put this up somewhere as a model of how to manage a potentially difficult situation and get on about our business here??? To steal a phrase from Jan Hooks in those Nike commercials..."You know what you're doing right now, Level 42 Digest??? You're GROWING!!!" Yeesh. Just a bit touchy-feely for me... Shuf John Shuford Department of Philosophy University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-1295 (541) 346-1054 shuf @ darkwing.uoregon.edu ------------------------------ Subject: Afros and dashikis rule! From: rcol @ ix.netcom.com (Randall L Collins) Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 08:48:08 -0500 (CDT) Winston wrote (to Lolita): > Hey!! What's wrong with an afro and a dashiki? I admit a had both in > the 70's, and I thought I looked good. Guess I was wrong, huh? Please > stop laughing at me... No, my brother, there is nothing wrong with an afro and dashiki. I wore an afro too, and sometimes a dashiki. My hair was so fine, my afro waved back and forth in the slightest breeze. It looked like a big maple tree on a windy day (stop laugh at ME!). In fact, I think everyone should wear big afros and dashikis when we come to Vegas just for homegirl. On a side note, I was noticing that afro/dashiki Mike looked a LOT like the afro/dashiki look that jazz pianist Keith Jarrett had in the 70's. They both have light skin and the same moustache too! Separated at birth? If you were to look at them side by side....well...it's possible!! :) Herbie Hancock had the same look too, back in his 70's fusion days. Take plight! Afros and dashikis WILL be back in fashion! If disco can make a come back, anything's possible. Dirkies writes: > to Randal: !nEw! Sony MDS-JE500 PRO (no SCMS system installed!!) $600, > or $900 with pitch control ... yahoo! Good deal! With no SCMS, you can dub MD's, provided you have a second player. You should be able to dub if one player has SCMS and the other doesn't, shouldn't you? You also mentioned sometime ago about an ES version of a Sony MD player. I can't find anything about that around here. Know where I can pick up a brochure? Does Sony have something online that I can order that? sTa writes: > Worst Album Cover? > > Without a doubt I would have to vote for 'Guarenteed'. Kinda like George Washington (Mark King) sailing the Delware in the dead of winter with his frozen troops by his side. I have mentioned this before but my favorite (back) cover is from WM. I think they look so sharp and dignified. I like Mark's moussed semi-buzzed haircut and Mike's flat-top (Do you like that style, Lolita?) and the distinguished beret Phil is wearing. I'm going to see if there's someplace I can go to get this blown up into a poster or something. If I'm able to get this done satisfactorily, would anyone be interested in getting one? Right, then! Randall "Exit, stage right". ------------------------------ Subject: Gary Husband gigs From: Ken Meacham Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 17:40:14 +0100 Bruce said: > It was bad enough to open up the leaflet and discover that I had > missed the gig, it happened on May 1st. But imagine my shear terror > when I looked at the line up of the band. Yep, you guessed it, Gary > Husband AGAIN on drums. So it turns out that Gary Husband played TWO > small gigs in obscure venues in Southampton in the same month - I'm > just glad that I got to see one of them! Doh! Missed it too, and I actually live in Southampton! Reminds me of a similar mail I sent to the digest, back in Nov 95... > I recently did a guitar course at the Guitar Institute in London > (they also have a Basstech and Drumtech school as well). Sometimes > they have masterclasses with famous musicians, and when I was at the > Open Day, I saw on the wall a notice about a masterclass with Gary > Husband and Allan Holdsworth. I couldn't believe my luck, so I went > to get details from the office, and the guy said "Sorry mate, that > was last year - yeah, it was really good". Bogus.... Keep yer eyes peeled folks. You never know when an ex-Level42 drummer might be playing in your local jazz club... Cheers, Ken. P.S. I listened to the new Jim Mullen CD (featuring Gary Husband), and it's pretty good. --------------------------------------------------------=================== | Ken Meacham | /| /| /| | | Parallel Applications Centre | / | / | / | | | 2 Venture Road | | | | | | | | | Chilworth | | | | | | | | | Southampton Phone: +44 (0)1703 760834 | | | | | | | | | S016 7NP Fax: +44 (0)1703 760833 | | | | | | | | | United Kingdom E-Mail: kem @ pac.soton.ac.uk | | / | / | / | | | |/ |/ |/ | --------------------------------------------------------=================== ------------------------------ Subject: Sleeping on your heart. From: DonZipf @ aol.com Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 15:01:39 -0400 (EDT) Yesterday, Winston wrote.... > Hey, while everyone is in the mood to explain lyrics. Help me with this > one. What's the deal with 'I Wanna Sleep On My Heart'. Love the song but > could never figure out what the heck it all means. I've probably asked > about this before, but give me a hand if you can. "I Sleep On My Heart" seems to be another Phil Gould 'I can't stand being successful' song, a la "World Machine," but this time grafted onto a 'where's my dream lover' song kinda like "One in a Million." Sounds like he wants to leave the band and hole up with some woman (which is pretty much what his midset was like when this album was made, if I read the history correctly). The 'fame and success' have left him cold, but maybe that elusive Miss Right will be the end-all be-all of his tortured existence, and he's just sleeping on his heart until she comes along. Dork! And I still think "My Father's Shoes" is simply a class-guilt thing. Hmm...would've suspected Phil here, too, but his name's not on it. ;-) "I'm sitting here surrounded by possesions/objects that confront me night and day..." Like this damn computer! Z. ------------------------------ Subject: Break open discussions pleez From: "dirk.vael" Date: 23 May 97 19:57:17 Yes I agree with someone on this Digest, the Guaranteed cover also sucks as hell. To sum up: ranked from * to *****, with 0 as an absolute throw-away Early Tapes (Polydor) - one of the worst covers I ever seen - it's hardly a cover 0 Level 42 - sober, not hot for selling it, but intelligent *** The Pursuit Of Accidents - quite amateuristic, esp. the photo on the back * Standing In The Light - Brrrr, still a bad reference, with the mystifying woman again ** True Colors - not good again ... looks more like a techno cover, again with that woman ** A Physical Presence - pretty good, although they should've used real pictures instead of these 8 color repro's *** World Machine - ah, now we're getting somewhere- just cool, except the tL42 logo itself ***** Running In The Family - good good good, great logo, great pictures, Andy Warhol-alike backdrops ***** --> platinum ed is a castrated version :-/ Staring At The Sun - see Level 42, pretty sober, stupid picture on back (I REALLY prefer the in sleeve piccy) *** Level Best - sober, but pretty intelligent *** Guaranteed - yuk, really stupid, but very nice booklet * Remixes (Polydor) - as most remix cds, no inspiration at all * Forever Now (RCA) - is this techno?? * Forever Now (Resurgence) - pretty cool picture of the boys, but site too desolate - really US/street-style **** Remixes (Conoisseur) - good cover, as most Connoisseur compilations anyway **** Wembley 89 - yes! That's what I meant with APP > I love Alan in blue - megagreat booklet, but so little piccies **** Turn It On - almost same style as Connoisseur remixes **** the white one with blue square (what's that name again?) >> yuk, so stupid, nonsense * Carrousel compilation - pretty nice piccy, but lacks warmth *** Master series - that's okay, bit poor, but good picture of Mark *** AYGB - logo overkill ;-) don't dare to rank this one Haven't seen the other CD compils around ... And keep those pics coming for the CDROM website!!! To all Minidisc critics/DAT lovers: !!! THE FIGHT IS IN ITS FINAL ROUND !!! just surf to this: http://www.connact.com/~eaw/minidisc/ja50es_review.html For once, don't 'learn to say no' ;-) Randall, we got a great reference now! msg to Afzal: your address!! Dirk ------------------------------ Subject: Crockford and the uninformed From: "Jay Tracy" Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 18:11:18 -0400 (EDT) > the Royal Albert Hall but apparently the master tape is damaged and is > being repaired as we speak!!!! I believe the last we heard was that Mark had to re-do the bass lines. Hopefully it's already in the can. > and (like Tori) he's just a "big phoney"... -Eric] Eric, hate Tori a bit, eh ? As I mentioned before, Tori is far from a fake of any kind. Whereas Crockford **is** a shitty manager. ..jay jtracy @ bics.bwh.harvard.edu