From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V97 #25 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 97 : Issue 25 472 subscribers Today's topics: N Collier New Remixes? L42DAD Just saying hello! Troy Smith Battleground EMIKATIE Political correctness and a "new album". Randall L Collins JoeP: The Bonnie Situation J Shuford Viva Las Vega$ J Shuford The Level 42 Effect Mysterio71 Viva Level Vegas J Shuford Jazz and other stuff Shawn Foster sigh! gromit Nik Kershaw CDs JennCyn Seattle Levelfest, Chinese Way JennCyn Level 42 t-shirts, music dictation matthew rice For what it's worth... Sean Kane OH HAPPY DAY!! JNSMITH ------------------------------ Subject: From: N Collier Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 13:00:06 +0000 Political correctness and freedom of speech are all very well but there really must come a time when what people say and, perhaps more importantly, the way they say them crosses the line. Those people who seek to trivialise what Joe P has done on this Digest and tell all the people whom Joe has offended that they should live and let live, ignore Joe or even (astoundingly) "be ashamed of themselves" have grossly misunderstood what has gone on over the last few weeks. Including continuous mindless and unfounded abuse and (even more sinister) racial inferences in an e-mail is utterly unacceptable (whereas "I vote we kick his pasty white ass OFF the list" was meant as a joke, and a fitting reply to Joe's comments). I would not agree with a vote to kick someone off the Digest. If an individual had made comments like Joe's then there would be no need for a vote - he or she should be thrown off without call for a popularity vote! As many people have already said, that great privilege of 'freedom of speech' MUST carry with it responsibilities and cannot be used as an unquestionable right to peddle antisocial opinions. If anyone is still of the opinion that 'the Digest community' should learn to ignore or accept Joe's comments or that Joe has been unfairly treated then I would urge them to carefully reread all the e-mails since Dec 30 and reconsider whether the whole issue has been so trivial as 'an exchange of petty put-downs'. Responding to the vile poison which Joe has injected into the Digest lately does not mean one is 'immature' - since when did burying your head in the sand and allowing outrages to go on for the sake of political correctness make one 'adult' - incredible! As long as such an unreasonable and bitter individual was allowed to stay on the Digest then sporadic outbursts were inevitable - how much better to tackle it head on and get it over with - after all, we ALL want harmony on the Digest and none of us enjoy posting negative mails. With Joe P out of the picture I am confident that peace, family atmosphere and Level 42ness will quickly return to the Digest, how quickly would it have returned if people had not have been so vocal about Joe I wonder? BTW, Joe has never attacked me privately by e-mail and only once via the Digest and so my opinions above are the result of Joe's attacks on other people, not formed by personal insult to my 'eggshell ego' - the mind boggles! Come back Loz ------------------------------ Subject: New Remixes? From: L42DAD @ aol.com Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 08:55:50 -0500 (EST) Is there really a new Remix Album? I was jamming to 'The Bends' in my car and I was thinking about how cool it would be if there was a new remix album. If there is I need to know about it. Can someone let me know : ) Thanks, George ------------------------------ Subject: Just saying hello! From: "Troy Smith" Date: Sat, 25 Jan 97 16:16:52 UT Good day Friends! Just sending an introductory note to say hi and present myself! My name is Troy Smith and I live in Cleveland, Ohio. I've been listening to Level 42 for about 12 years and I am still in love with them (as am sure we all are). I have much trouble in trying to acquire L42 merchandise (imports, clothing, etc.) I did join their fan club back around the time of Staring at the Sun. Unfortunately it was too expensive at the time, plus I did not get much out of it. But I enjoy the Digest thourougly and I am able to purchase some imports through the internet. Welp, I won't take up anymore of your space. My e-mail is Ken_Clean-Air_System @ msn.com. I sure would appreciate some mail on Levelfests, the AYGB CD and anything else you good people can enlighten me on!! Thanks for listening, Troy A. Smith Ken_Clean-Air_System @ msn.com ------------------------------ Subject: Battleground From: EMIKATIE @ aol.com Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 12:54:39 -0500 (EST) Members, I've lurked for a couple days licking my wounds. Thanks to all who applied band-aids for me. Also, thanks to all who invited me to the birthday party yesterday. (If I was more agile on the computor, I would have joined in the celebration!!) Try this excercise. Go back and read the two posts from Joe. Now, after reading them, ask yourself, "What would have to have been done to YOU or said to YOU that would make YOU write this sort of message?" Regardless of what he was responding to, there is not much that would make me write this sort of thing. Just read his words as a stand alone message and see if any of you would be capable of penning his message. See, I think not. BTW, a few have queried as to what the hell EMIKATIE is. First, take a guess. The goods being mentioned lately are exciting and are definately keeping the digest alive and kicking. The CD,s from Dirkies and John V, the CD rom, the shirts, the hat, levelfest, etc. Special thanks to Winston for the extraordinary job he did on the color cover!!!! As Earth Wind and Fire figure prominently in the Biography book and I think some members are into them, I noticed that a new album is due out. Check out ICE MAGAZINE web site for listings. They have not posted the Level 42 though. Isn't it funny, even though Joe P may be gone, I'll bet all 475 of us can't wait to see his closing arguement if he makes one. I have a very significant event coming up in my life in April. A few of you know what I'm talking about. I'm thinking of a way announce it. I have to add, it's self-promoting but keeping with the mood of most of my posts, it is going to be cool!!! AND true. I could not make this stuff up. All of you will be jealous!!! ha ha ha The machine stops. John M ------------------------------ Subject: Political correctness and a "new album". From: rcol @ ix.netcom.com (Randall L Collins) Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 10:54:17 -0800 I'm sure the best news we levelheads have heard in a long time is the decision Eric made to remove Joe from the realms of our beloved digest. There has been some interesting statements made that I was unaware of based on what Lolita said. I read the remarks by Joe which appeared to have tinges of racism and it was made more clear by reading the last digest. Lolita says: > I take EXTREME offense with his GHETTO comment. I, Winston, Tony > Bassette and a number of other people on this digest are black, and > although I never pull out the PC slogans of the '90s, I don't like > hearing any unwarranted racial epithets or comments. Yes, I hear you. I'm glad that Eric has a firm policy on that. I, like the others you've mentioned above, am black and perhaps if I ever encountered Joe the way some people have, I'm sure I would have experienced some of what you and others have dealt with, and what's so amazing is that this (or was) the work of one individual who, thankfully is no longer with us. Let me finish this comment by saying I surely don't want this to be a black and white issue. I believe there are good, good people on this digest and color, sex, religion, etc makes no difference. That's why I like this digest! > ...if you want to bring out the angry black woman in me, do so at your > own peril. Oh, Lord, do I know about that. Joe would probably pee in his pants at that thought! You GO girl!!! :) From: Michael Payne > I play and compose music occasionally to mainly keep me off the > streets! I was thinking that it would be a "neat" project for some > of us fellow musicians to write and compose a L42 type album. Hmm. This sounds very interesting. I would like to be in on a project like this. As some people know, I'm a musician. I play the piano, mostly jazz even though I'm classically trained and I write music too. If you or anyone else for that matter would like to hear some of the stuff I did, let me know. What do you have in mind as far as an ensemble, Mikey? Anyway, just thought I'd let you know I'm interested. Good idea! "World peace (finally?)...at the point of a gun (Eric)". Randall ------------------------------ Subject: JoeP: The Bonnie Situation From: J Shuford Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 11:38:53 -0800 (PST) Okay, for any questions about "does Joe have any friends left on the Digest"? Well, I had been his friend for close to five years. I saw that he had a chip on his shoulder and an inability to 1) differentiate between humility and meekness, and 2) to think from another person's perspective and consider the effects of his speech rather than just what he "meant" by it. None of us are perfect in these areas, but Joe made it clear in the last few weeks what his problems are in these areas. For anyone who recalls my original defense of him around the first of the year and who conversed with me privately afterwards, I am no longer friends with Joe. I'll tell you the same thing I told him: we're through, but I hope that he'll someday find his way out of his own negative worldview. Now, if my original defense of Joe assisted this debacle in some way or allowed it to carry on longer than it should, I sincerely apologize. I was trying to support a friend and at the same time let him know that his actions were inexcusable. Perhaps I should have just stayed out of it altogether. As far as the issue of being prepared to be flamed back for his original post about the State of the Digest, I warned Joe that he was going to get flamed and that he should seek to turn the other cheek, that the confrontations weren't worth it. Somehow he construes that meekness and that his actions were always operating from the defensive. Let me say that I would be HIGHLY surprised if anybody else on the Digest made private and public comments to anyone at any time that were as disparaging and uncalled-for as Joe's. This is not to mention the sum total of garbage he spread over all of us. Yet Eric Hansen was patient with the situation. In the end, Joe hung himself. He just couldn't listen to others. Ironic isn't it, coming from someone telling us that "the majority always shines brightly"? To all of you who have been wronged in this situation but have carried on, thank you. Let's get back to 42! Shuf shuf @ darkwing.uoregon.edu ------------------------------ Subject: Viva Las Vega$ From: J Shuford Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 11:52:39 -0800 (PST) Levelfest in Vega$? Originally, I was against the idea of Level 42 ever performing in Vegas. Can you see Mark and Mike doing "The Chinese Way" at the Bally's? Eeeeeewwwwww! However, I think Vegas is a great location for the Levelfest. Reasons why: 1) probably cheap airfare 2) probably inexpensive hotels available (I recently stayed at the Mirage, which is not particularly cheap on weekeneds, but it fairly reasonable on weeknights. I know that MANY other places in town are more reasonable on a consistent basis) 3) always something to do, always something to see 4) can find food, alcohol, any many not-so-good for you things round the clock (is that a plus or a minus? I can't tell! :-) ) 5) there's a good chance something cool will be happening in town while you are there. The Hard Rock frequently books in great acts, for example. And the other places get cool stuff too. At the above-mentioned Bally's, I saw Penn & Teller. Hate to spoil it for the rest of you who don't know this, but TELLER SPEAKS! 6) always a cavalcade of 4th-tier celebrities around town. I met Rip Taylor at a trade show, for example. 7) if we get bored, we can always pair off and get married at the Chapel of Elvis. If that's too committal, we can always just catch a show (Nevada should be renamed: The Land of 10,000 Elvises) 8) pretty lights! (hey, who let Homer in here?) ...and on and on. You could even add to your useless plastic cup collection, as I have, bringing home coin cups from no less than 19 different casinos! My plan was to liberate them from their infernal toil and send them out with my recycling, but now I'm sorta fond of them! Seriously, there is an IMAX at Caesar's Palace (and another one around town somewhere), plus there is a Star Trek film/ride thing at the Hilton this summer. Several Places have rollercoasters or amusement parks (MGM, Stratosphere, NY NY). If you're looking for mass ersatz fun, Vegas seems the place. shuf shuf @ darkwing.uoregon.edu ------------------------------ Subject: The Level 42 Effect From: Mysterio71 @ aol.com Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 15:45:20 -0500 (EST) Levelfans, How's it going? Sorry I havn't wrote in a while, I've been very busy. Hey, I finally got the Level Best and LAW videos. WOW! I love them so much that I can't put it in words. My God, their so great. I can't stop watching Level Best... 1.) Love Games - This one must be pretty old, they all look so young, especially Phil. And how 'bout Mike with his "John Oates" look? I finally found a song where Phil gets to put in some singing. You know, "...the things they really feel inside." Jeez, Phil must have a pretty high voice to be harmonizing Mike the way he did. 2.) Sun Goes Down - This is probably one of my favorite videos. I love that desert scene in the middle of no-where. I also liked the silhouettes of them prancing down that hill. 3.) Leaving Me Now and Running In The Family - These are also among my favorite videos on the Level Best tape. The occasional facial expressions made by Mark in Leaving Me Now reminded me a lot of Phil Collins. Running In The Family was a very colorful cheerful video which grew on me real quick. Also, I loved Phil's hair in this video. I wish I could do that with my hair, but my hair is too rough and wavy while Phil's is loose and straight. For some reason, I grew this strange love for Phil Gould. Not LOVE love, well, you know what I mean. I just love the way he looks. He has one of the most original looking faces I've seen, I just like it! It was sad to see him go in '87. Does anyone know what he looks like now? LAW.... I've never known how well our boys could put on a show until I got this video of LAW. Lindup was spectacular as was Mark, however, I was surprised to see a lack of emotion in Boon the whole time. I think my favorite part in the whole video was the part during "The Sun Goes Down" when Mark was waiting for the crowd to sing. First he yells, "Pathetic!" and then, I just started cracking up to Mark's facial expressions. He had a look as to say..."What the heck is this? Sing!" Then after combing his hair back in frustration, he gives a glance back at Phil which made me laugh histarically. What a great video I ordered the "Level 42" and "The Pursuit Of Accidents" albums a couple of weeks ago and will be expecting them any day now. Like I told Winston the other day, I got the "Forever Now" album for Christmas. At first, I hated it. I listened to the songs wondering if they were made by the real L42, but after a couple weeks, I underwent what me and Winston call...The L42 Effect! The L42 Effect happens to me almost everytime I get one of their albums. At first, I only like one or two songs, and the rest isn't worth listening to. BUT, after several weeks of listening, I end up loving every track on the album, listening to them non-stop. This happened to me most in the "Standing In The Light", "True Colours", and "Forever Now" albums. Does anyone else out there undergo the L42 Effect? Winston and I felt we had to bring this out in the open. That's all for now, later Levelheads! Tim - Pittsburgh, PA USA ------------------------------ Subject: Viva Level Vegas From: J Shuford Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 13:48:00 -0800 (PST) Just had a strange thought. We had been talking about trying to get 42 to come play at Levelfest, right? Well, what about this? I wonder if Level 42 would consider re-forming to come play at the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino in Vegas for one or two shows? Just to do it up properly? I don't know how many the Hard Rock holds, but perhaps we could get loads of us from the Digest to catch the shows there. All it takes in Vegas is a little publicity to fill up a show. We could even work on spreading the word accross the Southwest, if we were concerned about filling the venue for a couple of nights. Anybody who is currently corresponding with Crockford might want to mention this to him. Obviously, there's lots of contingencies and difficulties with this plan, but I think we could make a go of it. Hell, we could even guarantee room reservations at the Hard Rock Hotel, if that was enough to convince the Hard Rock to book them in, if the members of 42 are willing to do it. This may not be something we can pull off right now, of course, as they are all doing their own thing and need some time away from 42, but I think we all want a chance to see them (again), and those who made it to the last shows feel that they didn't really go out with a bang. Well, here's a chance. shuf shuf @ darkwing.uoregon.edu ------------------------------ Subject: Jazz and other stuff From: Shawn Foster Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 17:58:52 -0600 Salutations to the LevelHeaders! > [I thought New Orleans was the official "Birthplace of Jazz"?! -Eric] New Orleans has done a great job of being the 'offical' birthplace of jazz...but if you REALLY look into it, jazz started right here in Kansas City in the 18th and Vine district. By the by....I am not originally from KC, so I have absolutely no bias about this situation. By no means am I downgrading the significance of the relationship that jazz has to New Orleans...New Orleans just is a better place to party and hang out etc. But jazz music really really got it start here. Now that I have leaped before I have looked, I'll be back with some info to back it up....not that it really matters, mind you. That's what this posting fest is all about...good spirited opinions about what we think....noticed I said good spirited... As to some other things going on I've read (and wish to interject): Definately check out the Incognito stuff....awesome stuff. If you're into some classic jazz with some moving grooves....try Flim and the BB's...the "Neon" album is my favorite... Want some more stuff? Go get an Average White Band CD and listen....great classic funk from a bunch of Scots....whodathunkit? What else....have you all checked out Jude Cole yet? If you haven't or if you're like...Oh...I've known about him forever..he's old news blah blah blah...so what...Check him out...."A View From 3rd St" is an excellent Cd Still trying to find L42 stuff around here....wanting a local source before I go out webbing for it....Also...information please: What songs were left of the Physical Presence Cd that are on the album? Thanks...I've rambled enough for now....TTFF Shawn 'Though I live on the edge....time is on my side...' Shawn ------------------------------ Subject: sigh! From: gromit Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 17:14:28 -0800 *Big sigh of relief*.... So...anyone ever heard of a group called Level 42? (Insert hearty laughter here).... No one stopping this machine..... Mike Dutra aka Gromit (We have enough Mikes here)... ------------------------------ Subject: Nik Kershaw CDs From: JennCyn @ aol.com Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 20:18:57 -0500 (EST) Friends -- re: NK, "Easy", etc.... If you're interested in finding the track on which Mark K. appears, you could also try checking around for NK's "Anthology" CD, which I bought at Silver Platters today for a whopping $8.49. (I had a three-dollar discount on that, admittedly, but even at the normal price, it's inexpensive.) "Easy" is track 13, and Mark's name is right about in the middle of the personnel list on the back of the CD case... -- Jenn aka "Jeen", who believes in aliens, thank you very much..... ------------------------------ Subject: Seattle Levelfest, Chinese Way From: JennCyn @ aol.com Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 20:52:04 -0500 (EST) From Joe: > SEATTLE LEVELFEST: Star Wars Special Edition on Friday the 31st. An > evening show, say around 8pm. let's catch dinner before that. We could > either order out for pizza and listen and watch some level 42 stuff > while doing it (if Bill's place is available) or we could just go out to > dinner somewhere. This sounds good to me -- just keep in mind that there will be lines, and we'll have to get there early! As for going out for dinner, I suppose that depends on which theater we head to.... > It's important to note as well that there will be a special screenig, > one time only, on Thursday the 30th. I get home late on Thursdays, so it would be a squeeze (unless, of course, I skip my final class, which actually might be doable :) ... how about everyone else? Let's get the local mailing list fired up again, shall we? From Kara: > I sure have been reading alot about "The Chinese Way".. and at first I > have to admit that I wasn't too fond of the song, but after really > listening to it and talking about it, it really grew on me. Same here. I progressed from ambivalence to calling it The Song From Hell and then went back to ambivalence, and finally after giving it some honest listens, decided I, er, liked it. The performance on Guaranteed Live really clinched it (just watch that trumpet fly!). I suppose you should check back with me in another year or so and see if I've changed my mind again.... you never know..... From Dirk: > I WON THE DJ CONTEST!! Congrats! From Fab: > Speaking of radio commercials, in Pennsylvania a few years back, there > was a car dealer who ran some spots using the music from Children Say > and Running In The Family. hmm..... we just got Cal Worthington and his dog Spot..... ;) Still sleepwalking, -- Jenn ------------------------------------------------ Signs You've Been Watching Too Many Level 42 Vids ..... #28: When you see a bottle of Tabasco sauce in a restaraunt/kitchen/hotel room/etc. and immediately check out the light fittings. ------------------------------ Subject: Level 42 t-shirts, music dictation From: matthew rice Date: Sat, 25 Jan 1997 22:47:00 -0700 Information about ordering brand new Level 42 t-shirts will be sent in a few days! Check out digest #23 & #24 for previous info ( http://www.worldmachine.com/level42/index.html#archive ) > Level 42 T-shirts by Matt Rice: Hey, I'm ALL for it! Fantastic > idea! I'm a big guy so you'll have to make some 4X-sized shirts. > Like your ideas about the L42 t-shirts. If you can organize that, kudos > to you. One question though: I'm assuming that these shirts are > short-sleeved. Have you considered including some long-sleeved t-shirts > for us deep-freezed, ice covered folks living in the upper two-thirds > of the USA? No problem, I will check on the availability of long sleeves and extra large sizes . . . In fact, I'll check for extra small sizes too -- my wife & I are having our first child in about 2 months and I will be dressing him/her in a level 42 shirts everyday . . . if my wife doesn't object. Amanda: I have a degree in music & love to do music dictation - as soon as I get some dictation software for my PC I will transcribe anything you want. Keep my address handy and e-mail me in a while with requests. ********************************** Matt Rice mtr12160 @ statsun4.byu.edu ********************************** ------------------------------ Subject: For what it's worth... From: Sean Kane Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 01:07:18 -0500 (EST) Hi All, Just coming out from lurking land to say a few things... I wanted to let everyone know that this list is by far the best I have ever been on. The organization and style are great. Without the members of the group, I'd never known about Forever Now, the breakup, or much of anything really. I've heard music, both from the band and from the list members, found new bands to listen to and listeners of bands I thought only I knew of, can proudly shown my true colors with a T-shirt, and can hear from people literally from all over the world with a common bond. I won't list name for fear of leaving anyone out, but there are a lot of talented people out there, in a huge variety of specialties, and I thank you all for you efforts. It'd been a great year and so, and here's to many more! Take Care of Yourselves! Sean ------------------------------ Subject: OH HAPPY DAY!! From: JNSMITH @ MSUVX1.MEMPHIS.EDU Date: Sun, 26 Jan 1997 01:15:02 -0600 (CST) FOR THE RECORD: Mr. Parrington makes me sick. I am very sorry for the way he offended folks on the digest. If anyone actually feels bad about him being removed, COME ON!!! Don't you have enough stress in your everyday life. I sure do! I'm glad he's gone! Hell, I was going to organize a levelfest in Seattle just so we could jump his ass if he had the guts to show. Well, enough about him. Let's continue as if he had never been here. I hope that those who were unsubscribing got yesterday's digest and stopped in time. Matt: count me in! Our last shirt was great and I still wear ir with much pride! If I can be of any help, let me know. HURRAY!! WERE BACK TO NORMAL!!! JOE p.s. I can now go back to signing my posts with my first name.