From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V97 #183 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 97 : Issue 183 500 subscribers Today's topics: The Excesses... elson trinidad Dear Dolby; don't do it Mark! Roxanne Moore TMDR Lazlo Nibble Cheer up Doug Marcus Bone Dolby Andre Huijts why I call myself Great Anger Greatanger Mark not giving up, Strike !, Sandstorm 12", TSS Andre Huijts You are not alone near LA Boogievin I'm baaaack... DonZipf Re: Level42 Digest V97 #182 Crazylips Re: Level42 Digest V97 #179 SBowden007 Re: Level42 Digest V97 #179 SBowden007 Mark' s still alive ! David Kidd Re: Level42 Digest V97 #182 JazPhreek Something About You 97 / Cool Down... Paul Fucito Dolby NR JVohs misc. JennCyn Speaking of 80's groups... Wesley Holley ------------------------------ Subject: The Excesses... From: elson trinidad Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 03:24:45 -0700 > here's a note from Paul Crockford, forwarded to me by Ian Buck. > > "Yes, Mark has sold his home, studio and a lot of his gear, and indeed > has found a much smaller house, still on the Isle of Wight. He has not > got rid of everything, and still sees music as his career. Thank God. Actually, it's probably a good thing when you think of it. Remember the scenes in "Fait Accompli" with the "Wall of Basses" behind him? I'm sure those are going on sale soon. And I'm sure they're stuff he hasn't touched or doesn't have to touch (What would Mark King need a Fender P-Bass for?). Maybe all that is going into a new mixing board or HD recording system or something. But it's safe to assume he's keeping his Alembics, his JayDee, his Musicman, his MIDI bass, etc...the Essentials, so to speak (No pun intended). Elson -30- =========================================== Elson Trinidad Los Angeles, CA, USA elson @ westworld.com * http://www.westworld.com/~elson ========================================== ------------------------------ Subject: Dear Dolby; don't do it Mark! From: Roxanne Moore Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 07:33:07 -0700 Wow, little did I realize my mentioned that DOLBY NR button would bring in the discussion. Thanks for everyone for enlightening me so far on DOLBY NR, and the differences between the guy Dolby. Geesh! It's been an education. I've only briefly noticed the postings on Mark quiting bass. This downright saddens me. Someone tell me it isn't true please? The man is a genius on that thing, why the hell would he just walk away from it? COuld he really have musicians block that bad? Is he thinking of an acting career? This all jut seems so strange to me. Everytime I listen to my L42 now I'm thinking, "Dont quit Mark!" :( ...objects that confront me night & day, fruits of my material posession, but it seems the more I earn the more I have to pay... rm Roxanne M. ------------------------------ Subject: TMDR From: "Lazlo Nibble" Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 09:30:15 -0600 (MDT) > Speaking of Thomas Dolby, he must be blinded by science himself these days > since he hasn't done any music and focussed entirely on his software > business.... But virtually everything Headspace is doing is related to music. Don't worry -- buzz on the Alloy list is that Thomas is getting antsy to start recording songs again . . . -- ::: Lazlo (lazlo @ swcp.com; http://www.swcp.com/lazlo) ::: Internet Music Wantlists: http://www.swcp.com/lazlo/Wantlists ------------------------------ Subject: Cheer up Doug From: Marcus Bone Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 17:41:46 +0100 Doug Ross writes: > Wh...Wh...WHAAAAAAT?!?!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Cheer up Doug - least you've got Nurse Hathaway to comfort you ;-) Later... Not you, not me, Only memory ------------------------------ Subject: Dolby From: "Andre Huijts" Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 20:52:04 +0200 Hi there ! Gees you guys and galls should go out and buy you all some DECENT audio equipment. Decent audio equipment costs a little bit more than 300 bucks for a complete set. On a good deck Dolby C (let alone S) is an _excellent_ noise reduction system. On a good deck you will not LOOSE any highs. Remember that you have to "Turn it on" BEFORE you record anything ? I'm not going to explain the Dolby NR system here, but if you are interested, Dolby Laboratories has a very good site on the net. The only trouble I have with Dolby is that no car radio seems to have it, and _then_ it sucks big time. That's why I bought me a car CD player. No hassle with any NR since there is no N ! The worst thing to do is record with Dolby on, and play it back with Dolby off !!! The audiosignal will be reproduced _VERY_ distorted. You are kidding yourself. If the highs are not good enough, than your deck sucks or get yourself some _good_ speakers. (i.e. NOT AKAI, SONY, TECHNICS etc. but B&W, Wharfdale, Heco, Infinity etc.) Other problems are due to the limitations of the sytem: the very best decks can only record up to 17.000 Hz, that is using very expensive metal tape. This is caused by the fact that Philips develloped the Compact Cassette for memorecording only. The tapespeed is simply to slow to record high frequencies. And let's face it people. CC is a system of the past... CD recording has the future ! Groetjes, Andre "The body electric and the vision thing is all it takes to make the people sing, let's hope they don't get fooled again" huijts @ worldonline.nl Take a look at the official LowLandsLevelFeest Page: http://home.worldonline.nl/~huijts/index.html [as far as I know, most aftermarket car cassette players do have Dolby NR (although it's usually type B, and rarely B/C). And as for the future of CC vs. CD, some crazy folk would claim that MD is the next big thing! -Eric] ------------------------------ Subject: why I call myself Great Anger From: Greatanger @ aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 13:39:56 -0400 (EDT) I know this isn't what you expect, but here it is... I borrowed my boyfriend's car for a week. One of the doors on it doesn't lock. Yesterday I forgot to take my cd case out of the car when I went to work. My cd's were stolen. All of them. All my Level 42 cd's were stolen. This is why I call myself "Great Anger"... because people are evil, and do things like this. Later. Ann ------------------------------ Subject: Mark not giving up, Strike !, Sandstorm 12", TSS From: "Andre Huijts" Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 19:16:08 +0200 Eric writes: > hopefully later this year and, in the U.K., do some live > shows to coincide with it, with Boon on guitar. " > - Paul Crockford, 1st July 1997 Where can I reserve tickets ??????? I want to be in the front row ! ! ! ! ! Re: Strike sampling L42 Bought the CD5 yesterday. It's one of those louzy rap-songs in which "artists" lack enough imagination to think up their own melody, so they steal it from some famous song... Still have to buy it if you're a die-hard collector ! Can anybody tell me how many copies were made of the Sandstorm 12" ???? Something else: Am I the only one who has the feeling that "TSS" (.......uuuuuh what song is that than ? O well I will help you: The sunbed song) is faded early ??? I really have the feeling they went on for some 4 more minutes or so on the original tapes.....well they should have.....it's the f*cking grooviest part of the entire song...... Groetjes, Andre "The body electric and the vision thing is all it takes to make the people sing, let's hope they don't get fooled again" huijts @ worldonline.nl Take a look at the official LowLandsLevelFeest Page: http://home.worldonline.nl/~huijts/index.html ------------------------------ Subject: You are not alone near LA From: Boogievin @ aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 15:25:14 -0400 (EDT) I live in the Ventura area, about 50 miles north of the Valley. Its right near the ocean, so its breezy here today. ( I know you guys are sweating it in the LA area today!) I haven't met any of the digesters as I'm pretty busy up here. Would be great to meet some of you sometime, as I do frequent the music stores in LA from time to time. ------------------------------ Subject: I'm baaaack... From: DonZipf @ aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 16:39:47 -0400 (EDT) Howdy, Levelheads: Well, I just returned from a week in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and read the half-dozen Digests piled in my box - whew! First, as for Mark quitting...I only hope that Elson is correct that it will be like Jordan quitting b-ball - a mistake he will regret & correct. On the Dolby Type B issue, sure many people record with/playback without to get the 'emphasis', but most recording engineers prefer the following: No NR whatsoever, but rather use a very high-quality high-bias tape (preferably Sony UX series) and keep the meters into red when recording. This really sounds best, but remember to make sure the NR is off during playback! Most car players/portables don't have it anyway. I had a great time in NM - Matt Rice kindly invited me up to Los Alamos, but it didn't work out this trip (thanks, though, Matt!), nor did I get a chance to meet with Vince. But there was a weird bass-player-thing goin' on this whole trip which I must share: I'm a bassist. I went to Albuquerque to visit my friend, the bassist for Nite Wolf . On the flight out, I sat next to a man and his daughter, both of whom are bassists from Las Vegas. On the flight back, one of the other passengers was Bill Daily (Major Roger Healey from "I Dream of Jeannie") - also a jazz stand-up bassist! What up in the bass dimension? Sun spots or something? Z. ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Level42 Digest V97 #182 From: Crazylips @ aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 19:09:01 -0400 (EDT) re: MK, via Eric Hansen: > he still intends to eventually release a solo album, hopefully later > this year and, in the U.K., do some live shows to coincide with it, > with Boon on guitar. " > - Paul Crockford, 1st July 1997 ==== I say we forget about international Level fests and save our money to go all together to a couple of these shows, if they ever materialize..... ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Level42 Digest V97 #179 From: SBowden007 @ aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 19:13:31 -0400 (EDT) > I have all of Jamiroquai's CD's, and they are all excellent, especially > the latest. Travelling WIthout Moving, I feel is one of the best CD's I feel a little behind in just hearing Jamiroquai but I really like the latest release. Is it me or does the singer remind you a bit like Stevie Wonder? When I heard the first released single, I thought it was him. So are all the CD's worth buying? Michele ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Level42 Digest V97 #179 From: SBowden007 @ aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 19:15:21 -0400 (EDT) > p.s. Are there any LevelHeads in the Los Angeles Area? I'm in Burbank, > CA, just wondering if I'm a loner out here. Not exactly in the L.A. area but Orange county. Ever heard of Mission Viejo? If not, it's neighboring Laguna Beach. Michele ------------------------------ Subject: Mark' s still alive ! From: "David Kidd" Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 01:57:13 +0100 Well what can I say !! 'Nuff respect to those who have replied to my last two e-m's. To confirm some of the reply's, it seems that the rumour of Mark giving up was, after all, unfounded, but I thought I'd put forward what I had originally heard to you all, as at the time it was 'news'. I'll be honest and say it did seem strange, but after hearing about some of the crap he's been through in the last few years personally, I wouldn't blame him if he really did chuck it in. It seems that Mark is doing the 'Libran' thing, and completely wiping the slate, but he will be back with a new album (featuring Boon) later in the year (or maybe not if my sources prove me wrong again !!!!!). As regards to the 'non-42' related e-m's that I've moaned about, can I set the record straight ! Perhaps it's my fault for not explaining myself fully, but I don't have ANY PROBLEM WHATSOEVER with stuff not to do with band, e.g.. Dolby NR and other INTERESTING or USEFUL info, but endless winging about the best bands/musos etc to ME are just a waste of space. Music is not about competition, is it ? That's my opinion, and I don't expect everyone to subscribe to it, because that world doesn't move to the beat of just one drum does it ? (What you talking about Willis ?). Also, my musical influences encompass much more than Mark K. and co, so yes, I'm not some sad Lev head pining for a band that no longer exists. To be honest, I lost some interest in the band after Phil and Boon left and that was 10 years ago !! I play music and I listen to music, I like it and I dislike it, that's me. Lev are one of a million bands who come and go. I've got just as much from listening to Holst, Kurt Cobain, Stevie Wonder, The Prodigy, the guy playing down the pub to two people, etc I'm only human after all (haven't I heard that somewhere before ?). Still it's been fun being able to write something which has caused such a stir :) My fingers are knackered, so 'nuff said.... Take Care not Drugs Dave K. ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Level42 Digest V97 #182 From: JazPhreek @ aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 22:13:25 -0400 (EDT) Eric, thanks for clearing up this MK situation. That would have been very heartbreaking. Roxanne, I'm in San Diego, Carl and laurel are in Hemet. Maybe one day, all of us SoCal Levelheads can meet at some coffee shop or whatever and talk about the triumphs and tribulations of our beloved group. Winston, thanks for the tip on Changes, I appreciate it. Guys and girls, remember those kick-ass songs like: Mr. Pink, 88, Why Are You Leaving? I realize that sometimes groups have to go down different avenues, but when a group puts out music like that, it leaves you starving for more of the same. While those songs all had that distinctive L42 sound, each song was something different for me. I mean Mr. Pink was the jam! I could put that on and the next thing I know, I'm jamming on my sax to it. Now I love everything our guys have put out, but the newer music doesn't even come close to their older stuff. Once they tried to hit the mainstream, I believe that was the beginning of the bands difficulties. World Machine was their best commercial CD to date. But who, aside from us diehard 42ers, could relate to their style of music? It's a hard audience here in the states especially when all people want is Madonna (who can't sing worth a f**k) and all of these other "pop group" icons. I just would love for them to get back to that jazz-funk they're known for. I think people are starving for real music and that music was real. We are are overrun with sampling, Babyfacelike impersonators, Boyz-II-Men wannabees, Spice Girlies, and grunge groups...I guess that's becuase of MTV ands all of the lame radio stations out there (except for 92.3, but unfortunately they don't play L42). It would be great to have a radio station with a jazz-funk format. Then we'd hear artists like L42, Incognito, Count Basic, JTQ, Ronny Jordan, Vibraphonic, Soundscape, et al. I'm tired of hearing the same old stuff everyday. The smoothjazz stations will occasionally play a L42 song, but most of the time they play the same old s**t. I needs to start with radio. Radio, didn't give our guys a fair shake. So they played SAY, but what else have you heard on the radio from L42. That is the only song I have ever heard on the airwaves from them. Just give me a chance to unhypnotize everyone with the redundancy of radio... I'm sorry guys, I tend to get a little out of hand. Please forgive me. Sorry Eric, I promise to keep it short and succint next time. Everything is good and brown, I'm here again with a sunshine smile upon my face-My friends, are close at hand, and all my inhibitions have disappeared without a trace..... Paul ------------------------------ Subject: Something About You 97 / Cool Down... From: Paul Fucito Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 22:34:48 -0700 With the 80's long gone, our affection for the music has remained..Many acts are still around (Alphaville, Wang Chung, Go West, Depeche Mode, OMD, Echo & The Bunneymen.....) In addition to the flux of 80's re-issues and compilations (even Time Life has a set out now...) there have been numerous so called "90's Remixes" of classic 80's songs. "Dance Hall Days 97" by Wang Chung is the most recent, but there are 90's mixes of "Relax" (FGTH), "Don't You Want Me" (HL), "Tainted Love" (SC) and "Hey Little Girl 97" (Icehouse) etc.... So, why hasn't somebody done a "Something About You 97"? Top 40 radio would be on it.... A perfect time to remind the world who Level 42 was in preparation for any future projects....... And here's a thought..... Sure, from time to time we all deviate from the "pure level 42 only" entries in this digest, but this digest goes beyond just the band itself. It focusses on the fans and what links us all together... Everything from Dolby Noise Reduction, Wang Chung, Racing, Monty Python, and occasional masturbation (wang-king...) to our careers, lifestyles, beliefs and ideals....Our dislikes and likes and music. Music is the key here and there's plenty of it to talk about. For now anyway, Level 42 is no more, we'd run out of things to say waiting for new material. So, if anyone gets upset over something that may seem "unrelated" to Level 42, just remember the big picture here... The digest is conversation between the fans through Level 42.... So, without flaming or shouting or condemning non-level 42 facts and info, lets keep this thing going...... Any objections????? Paul (I will be leaving this site July 6th and do not know when I will return, but Pat, your tape will be coming and I will rejoin as soon as my new e-mail is set up....) ------------------------------ Subject: Dolby NR From: JVohs @ aol.com Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 23:24:14 -0400 (EDT) My understanding of Dolby NR is this. First, when recording, the high frequencies are increased in volume by 10 dB before the music is put to tape. Then, when the music is played back with Dolby NR, the high frequencies are reduced by the same 10 dB after they are read from the tape. This is good because on playback the tape hiss is also reduced by the same 10 dB while the music is reduced to its original level. So, if you listen to music recorded with Dolby NR without using Dolby NR to play it back you are getting a 10dB high frequency boost. It just sounds brighter when played without Dolby NR but that is because it has an artificial high frequency boost. However, the music recorded and played with Dolby NR is truer to its actual sound but the hiss is reduced 10 dB. Jay in DE, USA ------------------------------ Subject: misc. From: JennCyn @ aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 01:13:20 -0400 (EDT) From Vince: > Ok Jenn-chan, it's your turn now ... ....aaaaaaaaaaand Jen Griffee Jr. steps up to the plate......... (<-- my perpetual misidentification problem. The joys of living in a town where the star baseball player's name is Ken Griffey Jr.! :) From Bruce: > I want to be the first to congratulate Eric Hansen and his brothers > on the success of their record :). Nice singing Eric! Yeah, we should have noticed that before.... we knew Eric was into inline skating; check out the video...... (ha!) re: Thomas Dolby: I heard "I Scare Myself" on 103.7 - The Mountain this afternoon, along with the following plug from the DJ: "That came out on his album The Flat Earth in the early 80's, but I think it's out of print. If you want to get it, your best chance is to pick up a great disc called Retrospectacle, which also features.... (etc)...." He went right ahead and launched into a major advertisement for that CD. Nice. On that same station I've also heard "Screen Kiss", "I Love You Goodbye", "Valley of the Mind's Eye", and "The Ability to Swing," along with the obvious "She Blinded Me With Science" (which, btw, has made Pop-Up Video -- unfortunately I didn't see it). not bad...... From Winston: > Jeff, congrats on getting some cool stuff. The tape and the promo CD's > sound very interesting. I for one, dont think I'veheard that entire show, > or the interview. (hint,hint) I doubt most of us have -- that's a great find. Got any friends at Polydor? :) -- Jenn ------------------------------ Subject: Speaking of 80's groups... From: Wesley Holley Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 02:32:16 +0000 Speaking of 80's bands.... Are there any other New Order fans out there? Another, albeit alternative, bass-driven band. Peter Hook's style and sound are one of a kind. I have to say that Blue Monday is one of my favorite songs of all time. Anyway, if any of you are fans of New Order, Hook has released a brand new cd this week with a band called Monaco. It is just he and a guy by the name of David Potts (who sounds a lot like Bernard Sumner). It is a GREAT cd! Also, Echo and the Bunnymen have reunited (with Ian McCullouch back on vocals) and released a brand new cd this week as well. I havent heard it yet. As far as imports go, Echo also has a new greatest hits that came out recently. Other good news is the new Swing Out Sister. Incredible stuff! A much better effort than their Living Return cd. Be on the lookout in your local import sections for their greatest hits cd. There are 2 different versions floating around out there. I've only seen the one. I would have given just about anything to have caught them at the House of Blues! It is so hard to catch them live unless you are living in Japan, where they've done numerous performances. By the way, any other Everything But The Girl fans? I was told that Ben Watt released a new solo cd recently but I haven't found it yet. Wesley Holley the good man in a storm...