From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V98 #134 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 98 : Issue 134 561 subscribers Today's topics: Various Bill Leslie-Miller Re: Amnesty picture disk Lars-Ove Karlsson MP3's, Boon Barua, Cliff [Ontario] No Subject Walter.Franken Pia/20-bit DonZipf Canadian supplies, Boon's bane alex.friesen Boon you say? Winman42 Boon and thangs!! Terek Richie Boon's guitarwork J Shuford RE: Boon... Adam Hankinson Re; Boon Mike Prudence ILF sendoff & other musings Chuck Roehm more on FS Tracy, Jay FS part II Tracy, Jay GODZILLA VS Mark King ????/ The Saint Boon's limited guitar parts Greg Jamate ------------------------------ Subject: Various From: Bill Leslie-Miller Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 12:02:04 +0000 Levelheads I rang Eagle records yesterday, I suppose hankering to maybe get some promo stuff of the latest MK album (no chance of that unfortunately), and I was told that no actual release date had been set.. (Mr Buck.......You are bound to know more than me about this....) Apparently there is set to be a huge feature on Mark King and his forthcoming release in the July Edition of Bass Player magazine...I am hoping to get about 30 copies and will keep the digesters informed if anybody wants a copy. Also Andy Smith.....Andy I was wondering how good Paul Hammond would sound on FN !!!!!!!!!! I also heard a radio ad on Capital this morning about the Thresher Party Day and that Hall and Oates would be performing live in their only UK appearance this year, i'll try and find out more and when... As for the ILF, I think the only reason Mark King would be at Jo Da Flo's would be to collect the nights takings!!!!, I really don't think he will be there. Atmosfear - hmmm good rare groove/funk outfit....... See y'a'll soon Bill Miller ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Amnesty picture disk From: "Lars-Ove Karlsson" Organization: IAR Systems AB Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 13:16:21 +0200 > Subject: Amnesty picture disk > From: GJWillett > Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 17:43:38 EDT > > Walter Franken wrote: > > I went home with the Guaranteed 7" Gatefold sleeve including press > announcement, CD5 demo of Live at Wembly (3 track) and a picture disc of > Mark, doing something for Amnesty. Supposed only three were made (I hope, > else I was ripped off :( ) > > If the picture disk of MK was of him with a red checkered jacket on and > giving it a thumbs up then I saw the same one at a record fair in London > on Sunday! Didn't buy it though. So that could be two copies. Who's got > the third???!! I assume it was the same guy on the International Record Fair I went to a couple of weeks ago where I bought one copy of the Amnesty single too. I seem to recall it saying something like three copies on it. Anyway, I have it too. If it is rare? I have no idea. To me it was yet another L42 item to have. /Lars-Ove e-mail: love @ iar.se --- I asked you what was going on You said that I'd been gone too long And the rain that fell in West Berlin Was nothing like the rain that fell within Out of sight and out of mind Level 42 - Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind ------------------------------ Subject: MP3's, Boon From: "Barua, Cliff [Ontario]" Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 10:08:26 -0400 A couple of things from yesterday's digest: firstly, Steve asked about MP3's. This is a very touchy subject these days. The RIAA is on a rampage. My advice would be to e-mail files privately. A lot of sites have been shut down recently. To those sending them, it would be easiest to encode them in 128-44, zip them, then send them. But I must say, Steve, this might be a bit unnecessary if you just took a drive up to to Toronto, or down to Detroit (I believe you are in Windsor). At HMV and Sam's on Yonge St in Toronto, they usually have a full supply of early Level 42 for about $18 Canadian. For "rare" stuff, you may wish to speak to our "label" here on the digest (excellent productions by the way). I recently picked up Mark King's "Influences" for $14 Canadian (about $10 US) at Sam's. HMV also does mail order. Yes, Boon's guitar playing (or lack thereof) has been much discussed. When I raised this point before, I was informed that his playing is "understated". I think that guitar is considered to be the least important tool in the Level 42 arsenal, and is more of a rhythm instrument. All in all, I preferred the "understated" playing to that found on the Boon-less albums. To all our friends in Europe, I'm looking forward to the World Cup as well. With all due respect to our English, Scottish and Dutch friends, I must say I'm salivating at the idea of the USA-Iran match - though I wouldn't want to live in Tehran if the US loses!! Cliff Barua - Toronto ------------------------------ Subject: No Subject From: Walter.Franken @ frco.com Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 09:43:21 -0500 > From: GJWillett > Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 17:43:38 EDT > > Walter Franken wrote: > > I went home with the Tracie 7" Gatefold sleeve including press > announcement, CD5 demo of Live at Wembly (3 track) and a picture disc > of Mark, doing something for Amnesty. Supposed only three were made > (I hope, else I was ripped off :( ) > > If the picture disk of MK was of him with a red checkered jacket on > and giving it a thumbs up then I saw the same one at a record fair in > London on Sunday! Didn't buy it though. So that could be two copies. > Who's got the third???!! Yep, that's the one I got. Although the contents of the single is crap, I like the picture very much. Now lets find the third copy. Walter ------------------------------ Subject: Pia/20-bit From: DonZipf Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 11:07:20 EDT > If you have the book "The definitive biography" you can read about > how Mark got to know Ria (his first wife) during the shooting of a video > clip for a Dutch TV show. I believe you mean "Pia". Ria is his current flame. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > Who says a record company is obliged to put such a logo on the CD ? To the best of my knowledge, all of the 20-bit processes are either "licensed", meaning that a royalty on each disc must be paid to the company who makes the processor and their logo must be displayed on every pressing, OR they require a special decoder to get true 20-bit playback - so the disc would have to have a logo on it to tell you that. Leaving today! See you all at the ILF - Z. ------------------------------ Subject: Canadian supplies, Boon's bane From: alex.friesen @ sickkids.on.ca Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 11:23:16 -0400 "Steve \"Crow\"" wrote: >I live in Canada and its really hard to get anything related to them at ALL. Au contraire. HMV in downtown Toronto carries the complete stock. They've done special (expensive) orders for me for Forever Now (resurgence) and Live at Wembley, then started carrying both as regular stock. JDoody @ checkpoint.co.uk wrote: >Am I the only one who thought Boon was a real waste of time as a guitar >player? Ooh, baby, are you wearing your asbestos undies? Actually, I would be hard pressed to disagree with you from World Machine on, but the earlier stuff is great, if somewhat subtle. His forte (other than lyrics etc.) is clearly in the rhythm department. 'Nuff said; you'll be reading other opinions, I'm sure. >Was this how he wanted to play? Is this all he could play??? A good question. I'm always on the lookout for his Tin Man album in hopes that it will answer that question, but can't find it anywhere. ...Alex... ------------------------------ Subject: Boon you say? From: Winman42 Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 11:44:10 EDT Jon, good thread regarding Boon's guitar playing abilities. I for one always enjoyed his playing. I was recently watching the band on the Rockpalast shows of 1983 and 1984, not to mention the Veronica's Rocknite show that Carl turned me on to. Perhaps you missed these show? Boon's playing is excellent, especially his solos. Perhaps he didn't change his solos that much during the World machine & Running In The Family tours, but that can be expected. Guess it was the beginning of the end for him. Can blame him for resting on his laurels a bit at that point. Check out his solos on Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind, it's classic. I've always enjoyed his background rhythm playing, and he is one of my faves in this area. It takes a confident musician to not overplay every tune in my opinion, and every tune doesn't need a guitar explosion on it. I think one of the positive things of the band was the fact that they played well together. You didn't get the feeling that it was 4 musos all trying to hog the spotlight at the same time. I'm interested to hear what others have to say on this issue. Boon is the most under appreciated guy in the band IMHO. Tcoy, Winston ------------------------------ Subject: Boon and thangs!! From: tereknbobbie @ webtv.net (Terek Richie) Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 12:11:35 -0400 Hey Yinz!! (a little Pittsburgh-ese for you) Hello Adam, long time no e. (e.mail that is) First of all, I'd like to welcome Carla aboard!!! I'm fairly new too. Don't you just hate getting in on a good thing late!!!! Jon, I think Boon was definately the weakest link in the L42 chain. Not that every guitar player has to be this macho "tuff guy", but Boon did leave something to be desired. Just think if Boon was a showman as well as Mark!!! Phew!!!! His solos weren't always the most communicative. They were more like he was just moving sporatically throughout the mode, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. And for those who have his album, you know why he never sang. Mark was deinately the coolest on stage. And with a cool frontman you usually can't go wrong. The corniest ever would have to me Mike. The voice is cool, but some of his onstage antics.............Yikes!!!! His actions on stage could never take away those keys though!!! I've said it before and I'll say it again. Between Wally and Mike all bases were covered. Mad creations from those two!!!! FN is just another stage (hopefully not the final stage) in L42's evolution. I love this album like I love all others, unconditionally. The greats have the ability to evolve. You just have to evolve with them! Take care, T. ------------------------------ Subject: Boon's guitarwork From: J Shuford Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 09:46:18 -0700 (PDT) For those who read the whole digest today I'm sure this topic will trigger a large response, so I'll be brief. One of the things that initially attracted me to L42 is the presence of cool use of tech (not as a replacement but as a supplement to talent) and a fat, complex bass groove. When I started following L42 I thought Boon was the weakest link, but I think there may be some things to say in his defense here. L42 was never a "guitar hero" band, at least not until later on after the split. Their orientation was more funk than rock, so the guitar in some ways took the place of the bass (in that it assumed a minimal presence but provided some "flavor"). I think Boon didn't seem so happy in the Live at Wembley vid and his "stepping up" didn't seem to have a lot of heart in it. But think about what was going on with him & the band at the time! Also, those songs by and large weren't written for a big guitar performance and L42 was rapidly becoming Mark King's band, not a group of 4 equals. Take a look or listen to earlier L42 where guitar is more of a focus (watch an old Sight & Sound concert, listen to Physical Presence or the White Funky), and you'll see Boon is much more of an involved figure, and when he is he has a terrific though sorta understated musical presence. In this sense he's very much like the other original members of L42, save Mark King. By the way, I'm not meaning to rip on Mark here. His over-the-top playing is what got me hooked on L42 and what keeps them as my favorite band. Done now... Shuf John Shuford Department of Philosophy University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-1295 (541) 346-1054 shuf @ darkwing.uoregon.edu ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Boon... From: Adam Hankinson Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 17:31:02 +0100 Jon wrote: >Am I the only one who thought Boon was a real waste of time as a guitar >player? Hi Jon, Boon was the perfect guitarist. (IMO) I love playing with guitarists that have mastered the art of NOT overplaying. This comes with experience. REMEMBER: the secret to music is what you leave out and not what you play (this is the best piece of advice I have ever been given) There is nothing worse than a guitarist that plays too much and drowns out the rest of the band with his Marshal set to 11. Long live Boon (although "Tinman" was alittle disapointing) Adz ------------------------------ Subject: Re; Boon From: Mike Prudence Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 14:05:03 +0100 Mr JDoody @ checkpoint.co.uk wrote: > Am I the only one who thought Boon was a real waste of time as a guitar > player? Fine, He is a great song/lyric writer, but I just thought he > was a bit "girly" as a lead guitarist. He never impresssed me. I couldn't let this one float by as it really is completely opposite to what I've always thought - not that I'm right! I would say that the dominance of Mark as the front man didn't give much opportunity for Boon to step forward. The couple of live solos I can think of - a brilliant one on Heathrow from 1982 and the one on a Physical Presence - were both restrained, creative (ie, they went somewhere) and melodic. The rest of the time, if you listen carefully, you'll hear Boon playing little interleaving licks and fills that played a kind of tag with whatever Mike or Mark where doing with their voices or instruments. The kind of playing that doesn't impress, but the music would be a lot less intricate without it. Now, the sax players on the other hand - maybe I just prefer a guitar solo to a sax solo.... + Cheers, Mike. mjp @ films.demon.co.uk Films at 59 Ltd, 59 Cotham Hill, Bristol. BS6 6JR ENGLAND +44 117 923 7287 ------------------------------ Subject: ILF sendoff & other musings From: Chuck Roehm Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 19:58:03 +0000 To all outside of the UK who are making the pilgrimage to the IoW, I hope you all have a fantastic trip! If I didn't have two six-month olds to take care of, my wife & I would be meeting you there. What a unique and amazing experience you're about to participate in. So many people from different parts of the world coming together because of one comon bond...I wish I could be there.....take me with you....I'm jealous. Enjoy! I've never heard the word "stonker" before this week, but it sure is popping up alot lately. Andre: I'm glad SOMEBODY is paying attention. That was a test. But doesn't flag mean light in Dutch? Every man wanted to be like Frank?? I'd rather be like Mike. Boon could jam. Put on your flame-proof suit. That's me today, Chuck ------------------------------ Subject: more on FS From: "Tracy, Jay" Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 19:37:04 -0400 (EDT) Joey, Nice post on Sinatra. In a sensible world people would not think they have a right to their opinion, but only to an _informed_ opinion, but then this forum and every other would contain maybe 1 or 2 posts per day...sounds nice actually. ..j a y jtracy @ bics.bwh.harvard.edu Copied from letter by: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com ------------------------------ Subject: FS part II From: "Tracy, Jay" Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 20:26:47 -0400 (EDT) > You really don't understand Level 42 if you don't > dig this song....you must hate the really old stuff too then. Here is more absurd writing...Brian, I too *hate* "The Sunbed Song". And for the record all I like of Level 42 is the old stuff, I believe the heavilt tapered off after the release/semi-success of _World Machine_. Understanding??? Back to Sinatra: > he/she writes. WRITES!!! That's part of what makes them my heroes. Great, we all have our "heroes" and we have our reasons for those, but the subject wasn't the opinions on 'the making of a hero'. Not all of us are as gifted as yourself to be able to write and then produce what is written in an other form. Frank was a great singer, he didn't write the tunes. Whoopie shit. Da Vinci was a great painter, but he didn't write the mythology behind The Last Supper. Does the painting hold less value? > But it takes more than a great voice to categorise one as my music hero. The Sinatra family, after recovering from their present mourning will be sure to send you an "I'm sorry" card. I'm not even going to start in on the Boon is "girly" post... ..j a y jtracy @ bics.bwh.harvard.edu Copied from letter by: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com ------------------------------ Subject: GODZILLA VS Mark King ????/ From: The Saint Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 21:52:18 -0400 Ok, I just saw the debut of the new American "GODZILLA" movie tonight and it makes Jurassic Park look like The Muppet Movie.... Non stop action and effects (this ain't your father's Godzilla.... no fat rubber suit)........ The movie starts off instantly and the action never stops (although at least 3 times you think it does, but it starts again.... false endings...) YOU ALL MUST SEE THIS if you like ANY good action / sci-fi / horror movie, and a must see for all the old GODZILLA fans... He's a new monster, but it's still him... More believable too........ So, go see it........ Now, I have to tie this in to a Level 42 related topic, so here it is............ GODZILLA -VS- MARK KING Mark is the KING of the bass, Godzilla is KING of all monsters Mark slaps a mean bass, Godzilla is mean and slaps apart buildings Level 42 has played at Wembley Arena, Godzilla brings down Madison Square Garden (literally) Level 42 has played in NYC, Godzilla PLAYS with NYC Mark uses steel strings, Godzilla gets caught in steel cables (see the movie) Mark has been part of at least 20 albums, Godzilla has been in over 22 movies Mark is from The Isle of Wight, Godzilla is from Monster Island (originally) Mark is known as "Thunderthumbs", Godzilla is known as a "Thunder Lizard" Mark is the product of his parents, Godzilla is the product of nuclear testing Level 42's first big US break was in 1985, Godzilla's last official US film was "Godzilla 1985" Level 42 gave us "The Pursuit Of Accidents", The pursuit of Godzilla causes accidents Level 42 wrote "At This Great Distance", Godzilla can be seen from a great distance Mark King breathes cigarette smoke, Godzilla breathes fire Mark lifts weights, Godzilla lifts cars, boats, bridges, buildings........ Level 42 gave us "The Chinese Way", China's neighbor, Japan, gave us Godzilla Level 42 were an international smash, Godzilla just likes to smash... and stomp... and smash again Mark King will return, Godzilla will return (in 2 more movies anyway) So, there is your Level 42 tie in for Godzilla........................ Paul F PS. May 20th also saw the video return of that other famous monster, GAMERA and you can check out the video at the ADV Films website: "www.advfilms.com" all their releases are available in both video formats........ The film is pretty good.... ------------------------------ Subject: Boon's limited guitar parts From: "Greg Jamate" Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 00:50:51 -0400 Hi levelheads, Jon wrote; > Am I the only one who thought Boon was a real waste of > time as a guitar player? I hope so, because you are dead wrong about Boon wasting time. His parts were limited, yes, but these were exactly what were called for in the jazz-funk mode that Level 42 played in the early years. So often professional musicians write that much of the art is knowing when not to play, to hold back. Give Boon credit for allowing Mark's, Phil's, and Mike's talents to go on display. His guitar playing is 'girly' to you? Please explain what girly guitar playing means. I was so blown out by eighties guitar based bands that I am thrilled not to have to withstand screeching, blaring, head-banging guitar solos in every song. Other examples of guitarists laying back are Bluey's parts with Incognito, and Hiram Bullock's parts with Mr Miller. Give me a chank-chank funky player over an egocentric stage-monger anyday. Greg Jamate