From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V98 #177 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 98 : Issue 177 586 subscribers Today's topics: ** SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ** Temples throbbing, pulse racing... Andrew Goodwin Online Bassist Article... Paul Hammond Bits & Bites Barua, Cliff [Ontario] SCUD MISSILE AIMED AT: Chris Staunton The Ape! Will Greer Love Games Daniel James grammar, stats, et. al. Benjamin Temko Surprise! Another Bio Scott Minor the fugative... Nick Brazier Trust me, I'm a Level 42 fan Mike Bartlett A rant in E minor...calling Cliff B and Adam H! David Kidd Tribute to Level 42 CD Morgan42 Tour/Trip to London Jennifer Reddin =============== SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT === SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT =============== Dear Friends and fellow Level 42, Incognito & Go West fans, As you know, in the past, support for the fans as far as Level 42 promotion and information is concerned has not been particularly effective, especially in the USA. The record companies have not pushed things as far as the fans have wanted them to. In an attempt to counter this situation, and with the imminent release of bassist Mark King's new solo CD, Bill Miller and myself have approached Eagle Rock Records with a view to offering some sort of information service to the fans. The guise this will take is yet to be decided (it may be a Fan Club, it may be more of an information service), but we have been promised the full backing of the Eagle Rock Records management team. Not only will we get first-hand news which is often hard to come by, but we will have a fan presence at the record company that can only help reinforce to them the opinions of the fans. As an initial data gathering exercise, we have agreed to put together a small database of fans that we can subsequently build on, who we can send information and promotional postcards to etc. This is where you fine people come in. If you are interested in (a) having the latest information made available to you straight from the horses mouth, and (b) receiving mailers detailing upcoming releases/events (which are always good to keep in the collection), then we need your data....! At the 2 hour meeting Bill and I had with the Managing Director and Publicity Manager at Eagle Rock records, a lot of possiblities were discussed. Nothing concrete was decided, but they were definitely very serious about this, and were obviously very keen to include the fans point of view in their considerations for promoting Mark King. In return, we need to provide them with something that makes their time investment in us worthwhile. Our product to them is you, the fans. The people who matter. If you want to see Mark King fans represented at the highest level, could you please help us (and yourselves) by sending the following information to me using the email the following address: ---> paul @ bassnet.demon.co.uk <--- Name: Address: (include country details) Email Address: Date of birth: Three favorites artists (just to give us an idea...): Thank you all for your time, and I hope this venture is something that you will all find extremely useful and fruitful in the future. Paul Hammond and Bill Miller. ============================= END OF ANNOUNCEMENT =========================== ------------------------------ Subject: Temples throbbing, pulse racing... From: Andrew Goodwin Date: Thu, 02 Jul 1998 11:54:55 +0100 Just one I forgot... SCUD MISSILE AIMED AT: People who call me Andy. AG ------------------------------ Subject: Online Bassist Article... From: Paul Hammond Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 12:19:40 -0000 Hey all, Right, I will still deal with all you guys who want copies of the Bassist article, and I will still do the proper online version soon. BUT, in the meantime I have scanned the 5 pages in and have put them up on the net as JPG files. If you point your browser at http://www.bassnet.demon.co.uk/Bassist/MK.html you will be able to follow the links to each page. The text is a little light, but it is perfectly readable I think. Have fun, PH. P.S. Who likes the name of my new company??? (see the sig). Paul Hammond * Crazy Turtle Limited * paul @ bassnet.demon.co.uk ------------------------------ Subject: Bits & Bites From: "Barua, Cliff [Ontario]" Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 09:58:38 -0400 I know everyone may reply to these, but what the heck: From yesterday's digest: "The cost, with shipping, is 6 lbs. per copy (not quite $10)." >This is a classic, right up there with New Castle United. "44 (0)171 690 8600" 44 - UK country code 171 - London area code (inner ring) 690 8600 - phone number So, as you can see, not tremendously different from North America. And Andrew wrote: "Basketball (you score, then I'll score, then you score, then I'll score...)" I'm a big football (soccer) fan, but people in North America don't like it because (you don't score, then I won't score, then you don't score, then I won't score...). And though I grew up in England, I don't like the way the English pronounce Konnnn-Dommmm, con-trovvv-ersy, and buff-etttt (as in buffet lunch). Obligatory Level 42: I hope Mark King's intimate club shows still go on, and and that the excellent suggestion (I think it was Lolita's) that an "unofficial" digest live CD comes to fruition. Now that you're all mates with Mark, this should make this a definite possibility. Cliff Barua - Toronto ------------------------------ Subject: SCUD MISSILE AIMED AT: From: Chris Staunton Date: Thu, 02 Jul 1998 10:17:16 -0400 Andrew Goodwin's pet peeves (the expurgated version): [SCUD MISSILE AIMED AT: Friends. The spelling of the word favourite as favorite. People who pronounce the words harass as harASS, aluminium as aLUminum, nuclear as nucular Gardening shows on TV. Cookery shows on TV. Home improvement shows on TV. Country music. Bus drivers. American Football. Basketball (you score, then I'll score, then you score, then I'll score...) Cadbury's Creme Eggs. Deliberately mis-spelt signs such as Kwik Save. Coleslaw. Smokers. Gregarious people. The Blues Brothers. Beer. McDonalds. Cars. Oprah Winfrey. Ricki Lake. Dog lovers. Soap operas. Christmas. John Wayne.] Well, the USA's wiped out! ;^) ------------------------------- Chris Staunton chriss @ pcsupplies.com ...gotta get back to BASSics... ------------------------------- ------------------------------ Subject: The Ape! From: "Will Greer" Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 10:20:54 -0600 Steve said: > Sorry, forgot to mention that I was suprised to see in the bio's that so > many seem to pick The Ape as their least favorite track. What are you > thinking? This is a great track! I'm an Ape lover too. I listen to it for the music more than the words - it's close to being a "groovy instrumental", it has a smokin' bass line, and there's some blowing on it. It works for me. =================================== Will Greer Empower Solutions, LLC Denver, Colorado (303) 888-7154 mailto:Will_Greer @ EmpowerSolutions.com http://www.EmpowerSolutions.com =================================== ------------------------------ Subject: Love Games From: Daniel James Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 10:28:11 -0700 (PDT) I'm sitting here at work at the moment listening to Love Games (from the Level 42 CD) and hearing the piano break towards the end of the song I wonder to myself, how this could have been left out of all of the other versions that I've heard? Complete and udder blasphemy. >> London N16 on +44 (0)171 690 8600 and they thought it was in the >> 'other' jazz cafe. >> > Just curious, what do all the numbers mean in your phone numbering > system? Well the +44 is the country code (to get to England from the states you gotta call 01 to access intl, then 44 for the U.K.) and 0171 is the city code (like our area codes I suppose) for central London (0181 being the outskirts). So from here to there, it'd be 0144 0171 690 8600. Fortunately, Sprint made it much easier than that for me to use my calling card in London to call back home (at the oh so bargain rate of about $1.50/minute). Okay everyone, have a great 4th of July!!!! (Someone asked me once if they have a 4th of July in England, and of course they do... It comes right after the 3rd). ------------------------------ Subject: grammar, stats, et. al. From: Benjamin Temko Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 13:06:43 -0500 (EST) >From: "Green, Laurence F" >Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 13:12:00 +0100 > >Smith, where Jones had had "had", had had "had had"; >"had had" had had the examiner's approval. I very nearly burst a lung laughing at this. I don't know what started this particular mode of thought, but here's my contribution : Tired of being told not to end a sentence with a preposition, the late, great Winston Churchill constructed a sentence which ends with 5 of them: Why did you bring me that book, which I did not want to be read out of from up for? My bio: FULL NAME: Benjamin David Temko ALIAS: Gern Blandston, Flash AGE: 28 LOCATION: Bloomington, Indiana, USA, Earth, Milky Way, Universe 2, Reality 3.7, Apartment 3 HAIR: Brownish to Fudgish (that's a word now - Fudgish) EYES: Hazel MARITAL STATUS: Married, no kids, no dog, but plans for both in the next 5 years, give or take. OCCUPATION: Systems Analyst / Programmer / Husband / Jack of all Trades L42 DIGEST MEMBER SINCE: If we are loose with the definition, since 1994 or so. If not, for about 4 months. HOW I GOT INTO L42: Like most Americans, I heard Something About You, went out and bought it, and then proceeded in reverse chronological order 'til I ran against the wall of Import Selection Reduction Syndrome FAVOURITE L42 album(s): Staring at the Sun, Guaranteed, Forever Now (I know, I know, shaddap already!) FAVOURITE L42 song(s): Sleepwalkers, It's Over, If You Were Mine, Dune Tune, A Kinder Eye, Don't Bother Me, The Ape, et. al. FAVOURITE L42 live gig: To my eternal chagrin, I've never heard them live. LEAST FAVOURITE L42 album(s): Ungh, I love them all. LEAST FAVOURITE L42 song(s): The Sun Goes Down (Livin' It Up) (I hit the forward track button as soon as I hear that tinny, synth intro)(I know it's a classic, I just can't help it!) BEST L42 EXPERIENCE: Long story - this girl I was extremely in love with for more than 4 years, who had led me on and used me and hurt me quite a lot, the last time I saw her was when she was about to get into her car, as she had come to visit me in college, and I told her I was through with her, and as she got into her car, "It's Over" came on, like magic. "I hate this song.", she said. I walked away. WORST L42 EXPERIENCE: Same thing. FAVOURITE L42 BAND MEMBER FANTASY: I once dreamed that I had killed Level 42 - does that count? I accidentally shocked them all by throwing water on them when they were playing- since they were all plugged in... CURRENT/MOST RECENT L42 ALBUM IN MY HIFI: Forever Now CD's I GRAB BEFORE EMBARKING ON A LONG ROAD TRIP : All my L42, actually. Plus my MK CD. Don't leave home without 'em. THE CONFESSION BOOTH: I was once arrested, but not charged, for vandalism of school property when I was a freshman in high school. It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. FAVOURITE FOOD: Dim Sum FAVOURITE DRINK (alcoholic): A Killian's Irish Honey is hard to beat, unless Sangria comes into play... FAVOURITE DRINK (non-alcoholic): Sunny Delight is yummy, but I drink more milk than anything. FAVOURITE ACTRESS: Ellen Degeneres FAVOURITE MOVIES: LadyHawke, The Truman Show (see it!), The Usual Suspects WEAPONS OF CHOICE: An extremely sharp tongue, a well honed wit VEHICLES OF CHOICE: Either my bike or my Jetta, depending on the terrain TURN ONs: I swear this is true, nothing turns me on more than my wife!! TURN OFFs: Tantrums, Mean People, Idiots who think they're smart (i live in constant fear I am one of these). GOOD HABITS: I drink lots of milk, exercise regularly. BAD HABITS: I sleep late, am constantly late to work. SPORTS: Tennis, golf, nearly anything involving a racquet, actully, or the chance to whack the hell out of something. SCUD MISSILE AIMED AT: Newt Gingrich - the man is evil. FAVOURITE SNAPPY CATCH PHRASE/QUOTE: Mishk's Law: If a string has one end, then it has another end. My personal inventions - Temko's Theorem of Rubble Reduction: You can always reduce the number of boxes you have packed your belongings into by one. This means that you may, by continued application of this theorem, pack everything you own into a single box. The Counter-Example: Temko's Law of Debris Displacement: If you ever open a box and go through the contents of it, you are always left over with something that won't fit back in no matter what you do to it, and you can't figure out how it ever got in there in the first place. Through continued application of this theroem, if you repeatidly re-pack the same box, eventually nothing will fit into it at all. As you can see, packing for a move involves a continuous interplay between these two forces. Balance is the key, and most of us fumble through it adequately. FINAL DEATH WISH: That I don't come back as a toilet bowl seat. More : I was wandering through an Eat More Records whilst back in my beloved Atlanta last week, and do you know what I found? Level 42 Vinyl! 45's of Leaving Me Now, and a few more - I couldn't believe it. I bought 'em all - $2 apiece. I don't even have a turntable! The only other Level 42 vinyl I've been able to find state-side is a 45 LP of Overtime, which I found just before I found the Guaranteed CD (and which, IMHO, is a much better version of the song than the one that appears on the Guaranteed CD - anyone else know what I'm talking about here?) Regards to you all! Benjamin ------------------------------ Subject: Surprise! Another Bio From: Scott Minor Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 12:38:02 -0700 **** The Level 42 Digest Members Bio '98 *************************** NAME: Scott Minor AGE: 32 LOCATION: Seattle, Washington MARITAL STATUS: married OCCUPATION: Mfg. Materials Planner L42 DIGEST MEMBER SINCE: 1996 HOW I GOT INTO L42: girlfriend (now wife) heard "Leaving Me Now" on the radio MOST FAVOURITE L42 albums: World Machine, Forever Now MOST FAVOURITE L42 songs: Good Man In a Storm, SAY LEAST FAVOURITE L42 albums: Guaranteed, SATS LEAST FAVOURITE L42 song: The Chinese Way LEAST FAVOURITE L42 live gig: Is this possible? BEST L42 EXPERIENCE: buying first L42 record, discovering the Digest, release of FN WORST L42 EXPERIENCE: the break-up, empty L42 record store bins FAVOURITE L42 BAND MEMBER FANTASY: dressing up like Ru Paul and having Mike L's lovechild ;D (actually, a reunion would be fine) HISTORIC FIRST L42 ALBUM IN MY HIFI: World Machine CURRENT/MOST RECENT L42 ALBUM IN MY HIFI: Live at Wembley ALL-TIME MOST PLAYED CD's: RITF (L42), Physical Graffiti (Led Zep), Nothing Like The Sun (Sting), First album (Seal), Listen Without Prejudice (G. Michael) THE CONFESSION BOOTH : * Walks straight to the "L" section in a new record store - And here I was thinking it was just me * Arranged your L42 CD's in your CD rack in some order - Randomly, that way it's a surprise everytime I look for something * Dreamt about AND married another avid Levelhead - At least I did something right! * Danced, with a shopping cart, and sang to L42 songs playing on the grocery store PA system * Try to sing Mike Lindup high notes when no one's around * Have actually never met another L42 fan in person other than my wife * Actually got sick of L42 about four years ago, but was revived and permanently cured upon discovering the Digest * Only own 11 L42 albums, very embarrassing indeed! FAVOURITE ACTORS: Harrison Ford, Cary Grant (chicks dig 'em and guys wanna be just like 'em) FAVOURITE MOVIES: anything by Steven Speilberg or Alfred Hitchcock FAVOURITE TV SHOWS: X-Files, Simpsons, Twin Peaks (not those kind ya dummy) TURN ONs: Smart women, micro brew TURN OFFs: Bad manners, William Shatner's version of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," (check it out for yourself, http://www.slonet.org/~rloomis/shatner.wav), Leonard Nemoy's version of "Proud Mary" SCUD MISSILE AIMED AT: Andrew "Diceman" Clay, Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh FAVOURITE QUOTES: "You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." -- Sid Vicious, "Ooh, the Internet is on computers now." -- Homer Simpson ******************************************************************* ------------------------------ Subject: the fugative... From: Nick Brazier Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 19:07:49 -0400 Hiya Everyone, Just another L42 sort of thing..... You all remember the film "The Fugative"? Remember the big bus scene in it, the bus was number 42 !! Unlucky for them it seemed! In the Bassist mag it mentioned that Mark had sort of worked with a few people during these last 4 years off, did anything come of these, ie Nik Kershaw, Brian May etc.... Is there any chance of hearing Tin Man? I've never even seen it, so I was wondering what it was like and if possible how to get hold of. Oh yeah, on the BBC last night they were showing a Princess Diana special programme, did I see Mark pop up somewhere in the background from one of The Princes Trust gigs?? "Voices raised in anger, they don't have the answer" Jonathan ------------------------------ Subject: Trust me, I'm a Level 42 fan From: "Mike Bartlett" Date: Thu, 02 Jul 1998 16:18:48 PDT (in my best Dr Nick Riviera voice): "Hi everybody...." I agree with those of you who have expressed concern over how much Digest space bios take up. I briefly introduced myself in V98 #170 but I feel, as a newcomer, I should share more of myself with my fellow Levelites. I promise this will be a one-off ....honest....trust me, I'm a Level 42 fan.... I'm 35 (born 19.10.62, the day before the King's 4th birthday). I'm from Brighton, England, and have lived in Sydney, Australia since September 1987. I love all L42 albums, but admittedly I play some more than others, i.e. World Machine, True Colours and Standing In The Light. Fave songs include Dune Tune, Kansas City Milkman, Can't Walk You Home, Talking In Your Sleep, The Sun Goes Down and Love Games. I also have a lot of time for Influences, especially The Essential. Least fave L42 song (if I must) - Micro Kid. Seen the boys doing their thang live six times - all in the UK. I remember once at a gig, there were a whole bunch of us right up the front, so close we were drumming on the stage (no security-type nobheads back then). Mike Lindup, leaping around the stage in his audience participation bit, jumped on my hand and nearly broke my bloody fingers. It was quite a thrill, once the excruciating pain had subsided! Road trip music? As well as a box full of L42, I'd grab Paul Weller's first album, both of Me'Shell Ndegeocello's, Lighthouse Family's 'Postcards From Heaven', Marc Cohn's first album, 'Tales' by Marcus Miller, 'Still Growing' by Robbie Gordon, some Des'ree and acid stuff like Rebirth Of Cool and Red Hot & Cool. I have a copy of Musician UK magazine from around 1984 which has an interview with Mark where he talks about the technical side of things, like his playing and equipment, plus another interview with him in Record Collector (UK) magazine from around 1994, which goes into great detail about all the Level 42 collectibles. It lists everything ever recorded and Mark's views are really interesting. It's a must if you are a serious collector. They're both great pieces and if you want a photocopy let me know. Can anyone in the UK tell me how to get hold of the 'Fait Accompli' video? Even the web address of a couple of good mail order companies. I've given up asking my dad to look for it! And what about the Gary Husband instructional drum video with Mark on the bass? Any leads? And the Prince's Trust Concert video, with L42 as house band? Does As Years Go By exist? I've heard this asked before, but can't recall the answer. I'd really appreciate it if someone out there could give me any info on these. By the way, Laurence F Green (V98 #175 Grammar Suggestions) - I loved your checklist - great stuff. I've only been on the Digest for about a week, but I've learned an unbelievable amount of stuff already. You guys are all, as we say in Australia, dead-set legends - you all have the greatest taste in music there is. Cheers....Mike. ------------------------------ Subject: A rant in E minor...calling Cliff B and Adam H! From: "David Kidd" Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 00:27:11 +0100 After catching up on my e-m's I thought I'd drop a line..... Mark's Gigs - It doesn't surprise me one iota that there's nothing confirmed as yet. Ever since I've followed the band since '83 the guys haven't had the best of luck in their respective careers collectively or individually. I've always felt that most (but not all !) of the people that have been part of the so-called 'team' around the band (promotion, management, labels etc) haven't pulled their weight and seemed to have relied on the fan base to sustain the profile of the band/individuals. IMHO they could have been even bigger than they were/are if they had better support over the years. I just hope that the confusion over 'is Mark gigging or what ?' is resolved soon and we can enjoy more of his stuff.... Cliff Barua - I noticed that your birth place on your biog was 'Forest Gate Hospital' - I presume that you mean the maternity hospital which was in Forest Lane (opposite the BR Southend - Liverpool Street mainline) coz that's my birthplace too matey !!! (13th October 1969). Sad but true, it's now just a converted housing estate......... Top bloke....nice to hear from a happy Hammer with a good taste in music......'COME ON YOU IRONS !' Adam Hankinson - Nice to hear you were 'drumming' up support with Hammers fans (we do travel well, shame the team didn't last season !).....so come on who do ya support then ? Don't be shy.. BTW, are there any other Hammers fans on the 'Level' out there ?? Laterz, D. ===================================================================== Dave Kidd - Ilford, Essex, England. 'We're a virus with shoes, OK...that's all we are.' Bill Hicks 1961-1994 ===================================================================== ------------------------------ Subject: Tribute to Level 42 CD From: Morgan42 Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 03:49:48 +0200 Hi! I would like to create a 'Tribute to Level 42 CD' this year. Contact me! Cheers, Morgan. http://www.level42.com ------------------------------ Subject: Tour/Trip to London From: "Jennifer Reddin" Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 20:52:28 -0500 Lolita wrote: So far my dates are October 1-5. Anybody up for a fest? Then, Don Z. wrote: If there is a tour, I will join you for sure! It all depends on what you find out from Ria. Now, I'm writing: Yes, I have to agree with Don. I will be there as soon as there is a tour date! Also, Dan, you're right. I did indeed express a sincere interest in traveling to London again. Ha, ha, I think your hotel was more of a winner than mine! ;-) However, I'll bet you paid more than I did! A minifest would be great - of course, I would certainly expect our friends to meet us again for a great time - Adam? Bilal? You'll be there, of course? -Jennifer jreddin @ onramp.net