From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V97 #69 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 97 : Issue 69 486 subscribers Today's topics: Live Boot, Soul from 70's to the 90's lolita Items for sale - mainly vinyl Pieter van der Heijden Talent and ability. A criteria for musicianship? Randall L Collins More comments dirk.vael Wally Badarou,Tony Banks & Nik Kershaw Paul A. Fucito Jamie.SELL 80s, Synthesizers, etc. Elson Trinidad An Omen? Tampachuck WM, RITF reviews Steven_Libenson EuroLevel CD Burners John Venzon Jay Say, Jay Say, We open our minds as one... John Venzon 90's music, the music industry in general Katie Livingston Re: Level42 Digest V97 #67 Pat Flanagan Several items EMIKATIE Mmmmmm... World Machine album... (Homer Simpson>> MNR. CA MOCKE Stop the insanity! Zaphod Beeblebrox ------------------------------ Subject: Live Boot, Soul from 70's to the 90's From: lolita @ interserv.com Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 06:26:35 -0800 I just have a question..... Why are we including two versions of Turn It On and 88 on the same disc? Maybe I missed something. Are we leaving out other tracks to fit these four on? If so, maybe we should limit the discs to one version of each song only. If I were only ordering one of the two discs (which I'm not - I want both) I would be a little miffed at having them both on the same disc and missing out on other tracks. That's just my opinion. Weighing in on the music tip, there is some good stuff coming out now as well, at least in the funk/soul arena: Erykah Badu, Maxwell, MeShell Ndegeocello, D'Angelo, Tony x 3, and many others. Let's not forget acid jazz either, like Incognito and BNH. The key in my opinion has been the use of live musicians instead of fake synthesized crap. Lots of horns, great backup singers, Fender Rhodes, and slammin' basslines have rejuvenated black music IMO. When you think about it though, a lot of it is reminiscent of 70's and early 80's funk and soul music, which is why it really works, so the bottom line is that the music of that era is the music that will truly hold up the longest going forward. There was so much social change, particularly for Black Americans, that a lot of it couldn't help but come through in the 70's (EW&F, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, etc.). Some absolutely amazing music came out during that time. I'm just mad that I was only 12 years old in 1979, because I wasn't aware of the music when it was actually released and have only come to appreciate it as an adult in the late 80's until now. I'm making up for lost time, though :-). Lolita ------------------------------ Subject: Items for sale - mainly vinyl From: "Pieter van der Heijden" Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 07:35:31 -0800 (PST) Hi Levelhead and levelheadettes! Check out the LevelADS page (http://www3.mistral.co.uk/markhughes/levelads.htm) or mail me for a list of Level 42 items I have for sale... Pieter van der Heijden heydenva @ hotmail.com p.a.a.w.vanderheijden @ ato.dlo.nl http://huizen.dds.nl/~heydenva/ ------------------------------ Subject: Talent and ability. A criteria for musicianship? From: rcol @ ix.netcom.com (Randall L Collins) Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 09:58:53 -0600 (CST) EMIKATIE writes: > On 4-2, I'll be 42!!! That's right, my birthday is on April 2. This > is a sort of convergence. A natural double. See?!? I knew there was something going on! A speeding comet headed toward earth! A leaderless China! No more Level 42 as we know it! Global warming! The collapse of capitalism!! It's a sign I tell you!! Spend all of your money, cash in your investments and live like no tommorrow!! Do something crazy like buy 2 copies of 'Staring At The Sun'!! > Me again, SEE!!??? SEE??!! Don't say I didn't warn you!!! :) Shawn writes: > The problem with the 80's music is that the synthesizer took center > stage. This allowed almost anyone to become a band. All you had to > do is hook up your synth to a computer and PRESTO! instant band and > producer. Oh man! You really hit a chord here (pardon the pun). Back in the 80's, that's the thing that bothered me so much. People, with absolutely no talent and musical ability whatsoever, would punch a few buttons on their synth and BOOM, instant song. What made it worse is that they would "produce" a song, market it, and suddenly, it's a number 1 hit! That was so irritating to me back then. Being a college-educated classical pianist, musician and composer, I couldn't understand it. Now I can hear a lot of people saying, "Jealous?" Hardly. I wasn't in that same market. I wasn't even trying to make it big. I think most people can distinguish talent from no talent. Look at Mike Lindup and Howard Jones! It's obvious who has the most talent! Howard Jones, even though he's wriiten some great songs, is more of a techno-wizard than actual musician. I don't mean to offend any HJ fans but I'm just saying it like it is. Do you notice that it's the people with talent that actually have some longetivity in this industry? And 'longetivity' is, of course, subjective. Shawn also mentioned that the same thing exist today in the 90's. Guitars have replaced synths for the most part. Dial in a bit of distortion and there you have it. As far as the computer thing goes, I do that. I have a studio setup in my home and recreate different sounds and instruments to create my own works. People with no talent can do the same thing but there is a difference. I would like to know what you all think about that. Who do you feel has a real honset-to-goodness ability to PLAY music as oppose to having a computer play it for you? In what decade do you think had the most able-bodied musicians? The 60's? 70's? 80's 90's? I know there are exceptions to all rules but just look at it objectivity. Also, I would like to know if anyone is a fan of 'Penguin Cafe Orchestra'? Well...there it is! Randall "Anything valuable to deposit? Any bricks?" ------------------------------ Subject: More comments From: "dirk.vael" Date: 10 Mar 97 16:49:43 Loz wrote: > When all this overtime comes through I think I will probably but a > Minidisc, what I do worry about is that a more popular medium will > replace it before it even becomes popular itself, leaving me with a > redundant device? And now we're in the whole year 2012, and Loz still uses his tape recorder to record something... ;-) Believe me Loz, Sony & others are really serious about this. Just check out the websites and commercials... almost every month, two or more new models are released... prices going down like hell... Sounds like a promising future to me! And since there's no real alternative, I'd say go for it (like the thousands of others doing right now) Jay wrote: > 11 - Physical Presence [Spectrum's "On A Level"] > Isn't this also available on the _Turn It On_ CD ? If so, this could be > scraped, most bought this CD... I think different about this: it's a GREAT performance, and it would be nice to have all the live b-sides scattered on some CD5s and/or 12"es (the great Beggar's Wood stuff, like the Dune Tune tune) onto 1 CD. > 12 - The Spirit is Free [Guaranteed Live] (4:40) > I commented before on how this should be passed, but if it is a must, > weren't there better version than this one ? Yes, agree! > Also, does that cover *all* of the 12" b-sides ? I thought there was a > version of Micro Kid that a few have said Mark just beat the shit out of > the bass... ??????????? Doesn't exist to my knowledge (or it is a boot perhaps) > I still vote for Tracie and the bass solo (and whatever else was left > out) from the SatSun _Live at Wembley_. Just so that concert is > complete. YES! Eventually, the Hot water version from this gig also exists (broadcasted on some radio stations, but don't ask me for it, since I erased mine by accident :-( Lars-Ove has this one, I think). And don't forget the different version from the 10" flexi of Love Games and the 12" EP of APP with the different Follow me version!!! > John, keep up the great work ! Yep, that's true :) Msg to JohnV: I hope you apply some technical wizardy to filter the Namm show a bit (it's possible to make a rather crisp version with advance DSP functions - at least on my machine) Msg to DrE: already received the goodies? Write me! Msg to Gert: discs sent, please inform me when they arrive Msg to Lazlo: I hope you're convinced now! Msg to ERiC: ... you know ... ;-) See ya Dirkies ------------------------------ Subject: Wally Badarou,Tony Banks & Nik Kershaw From: "Paul A. Fucito" Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 11:34:09 -0800 Well, I was recently cataloging my vinyl collection and nearly forgot about this one....A soundtrack from 1982 for the movie "They Call It An Accident" features two tracks by Wally Badarou: The First Flower Gabriel's Dream Anyone see this movie? Found a track by Nik Kershaw called "You Might" on the 1985 soundtrack to Secret Admirer... The main score for the film was done by Jan Hammer by the way... (He's now doing the music for Prince Street).... Any websites for Jan Hammer? Speaking of Kershaw...I have a great disc by Tony Banks (Genesis) called Still, featuring several collaborations with Nik Kershaw singing...Also features Pino Palladino on bass.... Good stuff for anyone to hear.... Just a little input.... At This Great Distance Paul ------------------------------ Subject: From: Jamie.SELL @ sb.com Date: 10 Mar 97 11:35:33 -0400 Right, regarding my previous message about the 90's being superior, I, like a few others come from the UK, I know most of you are Americans but not the whole digest is. In Britain we regard the 80's as a bit hit or miss for music, there were some classics but a lot of MOR crap. Everyone in the USA seem to think that if a band is from the UK it's "alternative" and/or credible. Let me tell you that if you came to the UK saying you're a fan of Go West or Nik Kershaw, Culture Club etc you would get laughed at (and probably have the shit kicked out of you) likewise if you mention Bruce Hornsby and Hall and Oats (these should have stayed within the confines of the USA). Even, and I'm sure the UK fans would agree with me on this, L42 has not really been a credible band to be a fan of from RITF onwards unless you are a musician. These bands (except L42, I am biased on that point only) have really dated almost immediately. I am 26 now so I grew up in the 80's (I did collect Smurfs but in the 70's, when they were popular) and like many of you I thought the music was good at the time but now most of them are just nostalgic beacons bleeping in the vast nothingness of the decade. Just because these were big bands in the UK and not as well known in the USA, you are not being "cool" by liking them. Now, and this is to the British digesters, we have had an excellent few years in music. We started with Baggy, went to and surpassed Britpop (I hate that term) and we are still ruling the world. All I can think of is that for people to long for these bands a decade later, the music in their OWN country must have been really shit or still is. Come to the UK, there is such a great vibe everywhere you can feel something happening to the music and people, it's made the whole country tighter. But, I have had my faith restored in the USA. I bought "Odelay" by Beck a couple of weeks ago and I love it, I haven't stopped playing it. Now this is true "alternative" music, I put it with "Surfer Rosa" by the Pixies as my favorate US buy. So I think that when I originally stated my opinion about the 2 decades I should have addressed it to the UK readers, even if they didn't agree with me we are on the the same wave length. So US digesters I hope this makes sense, don't flame me (I'm not doing a Joe P.) it's my own opinion. EMIKATE, happy 24th birthday! I better do a L42 paragraph. I have a copy of the Rockpalast, it's in stereo too but a bad copy, I'm sure there's a better copy floating about though. I have got a give away, I have a L42 "It's Over" poster. It's massive, about 5-6' by 3-4' and some one can have it if they send me the P&P. The poster is the same as the single cover with the girl and the letter. A` demain. Jamie S. ------------------------------ Subject: 80s, Synthesizers, etc. From: Elson Trinidad Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 10:58:07 -0800 > The problem with the 80's music is that the synthesizer took center > stage. This allowed almost anyone to become a band. All you had to do > is hook up your synth to a computer and PRESTO! instant band and > producer. Hey bud, I take HUGE offense to that statement. I initially learned guitar at age 10 but due to a bad teacher I lost my patience to play guitar. A couple years later the synth pop bands of the early 80s *inspired* me to become a musician. And yes, I took lessons. I wanted to take lessons. And just for your information, you don't just turn on a synthesizer and press one button and music comes out. Your statement reeks of pure technophobia, with the "synthesizers are not musical instruments" mindset. The stereotype of "synthesizers just try to copy other instruments" is a false one, especially when you can use synths to create a new sound you can't do on other instruments. And as for emulating other instruments, let me ask you, are you a keyboard player? I seriously doubt it. Most keyboard players are also adept at other instruments as well - I'm also a bassist, sax plaeyr and know a little guitar, percussion and drums. Also, many keyboard players *choose* to play synthesizers for sake of ease of portability. Would *you* like to schlep a 400 lb Hammond B3 organ to every gig? I don't think so, pal. > This trend has really taken off into the 90's. (Notice we heard more > from BabyFace about his producing than the music he produced in the last > year or so) I think the 90's is full of crap. Nothing really > memorable really sticks out in my mind. This includes most (not all) of > the Seattle sound. By your argument, the same could be true for the electric guitar - The problem with the 90s is that the out-of-tune, distorted electric guitar took center stage. That allowed anyone to become a band... I mean, any 10-year old could buy a Fender Squier Strat, an amp and some distortion pedals, learn three chords and play like Pearl Jam, right? (and believe me, this is true. I was at a music store recently and saw a kid barely into puberty wearing a grungeboy/mechanic's shirt and a NIN cap getting his dad to buy him a guitar...it was amazingly pathetic) But obviously you never brought that up. Your prejudice shows. As for Babyface, I don't consider him a musical genius, but he does come out with good product now and then - the first Toni Braxton album and his recent collaboration with Eric Clapton, for example. He does have a problem with being idyosyncratic (meaning he falls back on his own habits and cliches), but if you were a very in-demand producer, obviously you're going to experience burnout fairly often. But it's no fair to knock him as a "no-talent". The guy has talent, possibly more than you have, and he does take his music seriously. Open your mind Elson ------------------------------ Subject: An Omen? From: Tampachuck @ aol.com Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 14:34:13 -0500 (EST) Hey Level family! I've been quiet for a little while, I didn't contribute to the profile era (I know you want to know more about ME) and I'm sure you've all been asking yourself, "Where's Chuck been?" Well, I just came back from Cultureburg. Anyway, get this....for two weeks in a row, I've gone out to dinner at a few of my nearest trendy chain restaurants, with my new girlfriend, and two weeks in a row, playing on the muzak, I have heard.....Lessons in Love by Level 42!!!!! (That was my DJ voice) Can you believe it? It's just that, as you all know, it's a rare occurrence. Plus, my new girlfriend is from Kansas City, and her last name is Heath! Two more level connections. Is this an omen? Is it a sign of good things to come? Are the level gods trying to send me a message? Well, if they do, you know who I will tell first. BTW, if any of you are pro wrestling fans, (I'm not, but...) I just happened to be stopping by Panama City Beach over the weekend, where Spring Break 97 is in full force, and Monday Nitro WCW wrestling on TNT was video taping on the beach all day. I was in the Sumo wrestling competition (the kind where you get into the bulky plastic sumo suit) and I won my round, so you might see me on TV doing a promo. What a blast! Imagine, a 29 year old at spring break. I need to grow up some day. See you in Vegas, Chuck ------------------------------ Subject: WM, RITF reviews From: Steven_Libenson @ monitor.com Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 14:38:50 -0400 The posting of the WM review reminded me that Rolling Stone also did a review of Running in the Family. As I recall, they gave it pretty high praise. They singled out Fashion Fever as the only loser, which even many L42 fans would agree with (I secretly like both FF and The Chinese Way). I believe the review was in the early summer of 1987 (my bizarre memory suggests that it was in the same issue with the review of The Joshua Tree). Does anyone have old issues from that time period? ------------------------------ Subject: EuroLevel CD Burners From: John Venzon Date: Mon, 10 Mar 97 12:17:28 -0800 > can we make some arrangement someone from the States could send me or > another Euro CD burner (f.ex. Morgan) a copy of the Live disc(s) once > it's finished, so we Euro-Levelheadz can obtain the discs much faster > and somewhat cheaper through Euro burners?? Would take off some workload > from the US burners as well. Blank CDs are now widely available over > here (well, at least in Belgium) and the prices are going down aswell. > (only $6.40 per disc now (TDK, Maxell, Fuji) >>was $8 a few weeks ago Ah Dirkes... after all that MD talk.. this is non-ATRAC Compressed music to my ears!! I will burn a master to send to you, and you can handle the EuroLevel side of things. Email me and let me know how you want the disc formatted. This is why the digest is sooooo cool! Thanks, John V ------------------------------ Subject: Jay Say, Jay Say, We open our minds as one... From: John Venzon Date: Mon, 10 Mar 97 12:17:30 -0800 Howdy.. Says Jay: >> 11 - Physical Presence [Spectrum's "On A Level"] > > Isn't this also available on the _Turn It On_ CD ? If so, this could be > scraped, most bought this CD... > >> 12 - The Spirit is Free [Guaranteed Live] (4:40) > > I commented before on how this should be passed, but if it is a must, > weren't there better version than this one ? While I agree that most of us have purchased "On A Level" I am trying to collect all the live songs that were 'B-Sides'. If space becomes an issue (as it might, I haven't done timings) "Spirit.." will be the first thing to go. > Also, does that cover *all* of the 12" b-sides ? I thought there was a > version of Micro Kid that a few have said Mark just beat the shit out of > the bass... Ah yes! Many astute readers have pointed this out to me, epecially EMKATIE! He has a B-Side version that runs 6:47, and is having a DAT copy made and is shipping it out to me at his own cost. John, you are the coolest! (note to reader: I am not a meglamaniac... EMKATIE has the same name as I do.) [Just in case you were wondering, 360 of the almost 400+ subscribers on the digest are named "John" - Eric] [John V - quit 'fake quoting' me!! I'll kick your ass!! - Eric] So it seems we now will have 2 versions of MicroKid, the 'offical' version off of B-side (on disc one) and the Wembly Microkid (on disc two). should make all you completists happy... I know it makes me..... something like that. I will continue to MicroRevise the list an post it soon. Keep those cards and emails coming! John V PS Those who are wondering "How can *I* get my hands on one/both of these beauties" just hang on. When I finish the master(s), Zaphod will start taking orders. I don't want to make folks crazy while they wait for the disc to be shipped BEFORE they are finished. Keep your ear to the digest for future postings. [N.B. the _real_ Eric nearly always quotes at the *bottom* of the message =) -Eric] ------------------------------ Subject: 90's music, the music industry in general From: Katie Livingston Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 16:49:50 EST There was an interesting article by Caitlin Moran in Friday's Times of London about the 90's British music industry (The Copse may well want to get a copy for his thesis research!). A few choice quotes: "But the music industry is the UK's third biggest business, so it means millions of pounds' worth of commerce is being manipulated. And, even worse for people who love music, it means that an awful number of good bands on little, independent labels simply can't afford to get into the charts, while rubbish bands on big labels regularly stroll into the Top Ten." "Everyone loves the Spice Girls. If they didn't, it would have been because someone in marketing goofed...[they were] designed by committees of businessmen heady on demographics; served by production-line songwriters, and presented by sculpted, styled, scripted two-bit hoofers... These stars are designed, and their success is not down to the wonder of the music, or the lighthouse brilliance of their personality; merely how much money their record company has to throw at them, and how canny their manager is." All I could think of when reading this were the scenes in Fait Accompli showing the meetings of Polydor execs talking about promotion strategies and the photo shoot for the SATS cover. *shudder* I used to work in commercial radio, amd saw enough of this sort of thing to put me off that career path entirely. On the brighter side, the recent success of Jyoti Mishra (aka White Town) is nice to see. He recorded for an indie for several years, and started getting airplay from a few DJs who liked what they heard (and who presumably were not locked into a preselected format). He's now had a UK #1 and has been picked up by EMI. I heard that he refuses to appear in videos or do televised interviews -- good on ya, mate! :) Oh, and if anyone wants the full text of the above article and can't get it from the Times web site, let me know and I'll mail it to you. ----------- Cheers, Katie ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Level42 Digest V97 #67 From: pfpd @ pfpd.com (Pat Flanagan) Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 17:43:42 -0500 (EST) > Just thought I'd name drop so you can all get out your dusty copies of > UB40's Rat in the Kitchen and listen to Watchdogs and Sing Our Own Song Man, what a great album. All I Want To Do would also be good, as well as Come Out To Play from the "UB40" album which followed RITK. > It's time to make my announcement. I think I am the oldest member of > the digest at 41. In reading the Profiles, no one is older. He's not on the digest, but I can attest to the fact that my dad is a Levelhead (I inducted him into the religion) at age 56. On a non-Level note, I just got back from Vegas, where I won enough to A) pay for my ticket there and back; B) pay for all my meals; C) pay for all incidental expenses (cab fare, etc.); and D) bring home the exact amount of money I took out to gamble with. HOORAY, to paraphrase a Neil Diamond song, thank the Lord for the BLACKJACK. Pat Flanagan Publishing & Design PO Box 281, Granger, IN 46530-0281 email: pfpd @ pfpd.com website: http://www.pfpd.com TOTALMEDIA PUBLISHING: Print * Disk * Interactive * CDROM * Internet ------------------------------ Subject: Several items From: EMIKATIE @ aol.com Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 19:46:15 -0500 (EST) This is to several people whom I would like to mention on the digest. Would DUPUIS at MADISONUSA please send me a personal email. Your address d/n seem to be working. To Billy Wilson: Got your package. Cool stuff indeed. And thanks to all the contributers on the Cover Tape. PS: What the hell is the last song on side 2? To Gert: Thanks for the package. You are wonderful. My race results will thank you. TO MIKE PAYNE: COME IN PLEASE!!!! I HAVE THE GOODS. I NEED $10.00 SENT TO ME PER MY PREVIOUS 3 MESSAGES. LAST CALL. YOU'VE GOT TILL SUNDOWN, MARCH 14TH WHEN THE GOODS WILL REVERT BACK TO A BALL OF PLASTIC. (at least let me know if you are interested) (no - make that let me know if you did not get the messages.) (no - just send me the loot) Actually, I'll put them up for sale in the Digest. To Dirkies: I'm getting closer to a decision re: MD. To Blake Phillips: Got your letter and will advise when your package is on the way to you. To Winston: I hope you are enjoying your vacation. I am enjoying your package. To Matthew: The shirt sounds cool no matter which way the designs are. But I must insist that the label is not in the front. To John V: I'll let you know when the item is in the mail. This posting makes me sound like a package store. My mailman has been complaining of hernia symptoms The machine stops. John [everyone, meet John "Damark" Mower... -Eric] ------------------------------ Subject: Mmmmmm... World Machine album... (Homer Simpson - style!) From: "MNR. CA MOCKE" <9413693 @ narga.sun.ac.za> Organization: Stellenbosch University Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 13:20:36 +0200 Hi again Levelheadz... :-) I think I am FIRST ON THE DIGEST this time!!!!! I want to order WM but I need to know if it has the same style as Running In The Family album (which I like very much). How does these two albums compare? I don't have internet access so I can't look up on any of the sites for a tracklisting for WM. Could someone pleeeaaaz mail me and give me a list of the songs on WN, as well as how many of them are any good? Thanks in advance!!!!!! Cheerio, .... C Mocke .. "Those changing years... they add to your confusion..." - Something About You, World Machine, Level 42, 1985 ------------------------------ Subject: Stop the insanity! From: Zaphod Beeblebrox Organization: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 22:35:07 -0600 OK, I need to interject something here. . . Our friend John has been bombarded by people asking about the live album. I made a bit of a misstep in announcing it so early, especially since it probably won't get to me for another 6-8 weeks. And anyway, I'll likely be doing the primary burning for people on the digest. So, if you want to prepay for the discs (understanding that there's already a waiting list, and that won't start moving for 7-10 weeks), send mail to ZAPHOD, not John. Here's the address for information on getting the albums, paying, and whatnot associated with the actual distribution of the disc - zaphod @ iname.com. If you have some pressing comments about what you think should be done with the actual material for the live disc, then write JohnV @ primenet.com. If you do write me, though, even about the Live albums, put 'AYGB' in the subject field, as I'm getting upwards of 30 pieces of mail a day now! One last note, we had a bit of excitement here today - it seems a fire left my family and I without electricity, phones, and a fence for a good part of the day (we're still without fence). Anyhow, I didn't get to put the AYGB packages together this evening, so I'll try to knock those bad boys out tomorrow, and make sure that they're all in the mail by Wednesday. Anyone who has a disc going out in this batch, please make sure that your check will clear (I'll take them to the bank Thursday). Later all! Zap