From: Level42-request @ worldmachine.com (Level42 Digest) Subject: Level42 Digest V2000 #7 _ ____ _ ____ _ _ ___ // //__ // / //__ // /__// __// //__ //__ \\_/ //__ //__ // /__ D I G E S T Level42 Digest Volume 2000 : Issue 7 1165 subscribers Today's topics: Mark's Live CD and voice Seichter1 DO NOT SEND ME THIS EMAIL AGAIN ! maros.uhliar Brian McKnight in Take 6?? Jackson, Lolita Fender Basses and Mark's Strings Sean Green Re: vocal limitations? Greatanger NYC mini-fest? Winston Walker Regarding owning one of Mark's basses... Mike Brooks Re: Level42 Digest V2000 #5 JJBAZ1 Singing in the key of 42 Mike Payne RE: Level42 Digest V2000 #6 Ronald Kuipers in answer to mark w the_saint 'Good Man in a Storm' et al Dave Mock Monty Python's Life of Brian Andrew Goodwin You Must be Sure of Your Appeal... Bilal42 Running in Leicester Bilal42 Remasters Desmond Lynch Deely Stan EMIKATIE ------------------------------ Subject: Mark's Live CD and voice From: Seichter1 @ aol.com Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 06:42:30 EST Hi all! "Just" would like to contribute something to the "Jazz Cafe-CD and Mark's and Mike's voices" discussion - with one of the (rather rare) female opinions here on the digest! The Live CD: I LOVE it (sorry Hans - by the way: wie geht's Dir??). As a few times said here before, the live feeling is a bit missing because of the gaps between the songs. But in my opinion there is still this fantastic live feeling in every single song....they are so different from the album versions!! I think one of the best things about seeing a band playing live, is to experience how all the songs you've heard a thousand times on your CD player are played LIVE....with all these little details.....with all these parts played a little bit differently from the album versions.....with all these little extra parts.....new parts.....and every time I am leaving a venue after a gig, all I can think is: "Oh I would like to here this or that part again! And - wow- this version of "Hot Water" was soooo brilliant. And - how did they play "Leaving me now" again?? - I have never heard it this way before!!".....and so on. So, for me it is sooo great to have a Live CD which just puts me back into that venue......in the middle of the crowd......and I can listen to these brilliant live versions over and over again.....(and even originally signed by Mark and a little personal message on it!!!......with this "x")......hmm....LOVE IT!........well, my opinion!! Mark's and Mike's voice: This will be my "outing" here: Can't say which I like more: MarkyBaby's bass playing or his voice!!!! That thing which struck me most when I bought my first Level42 album (True Colours) was Mark's voice! (Please, all the bass freaks here - don't be too cruel to me!!) Yes, it's true. It's the sound of his voice which hits me right in the middle of my heart......(puuh - what an outing!!).....and Mark singing together with Mike is so fantastic, as their voices are so different! And having MarkyBaby's voice on his latest two solo albums as lead vocals AND backing vocals during the whole album - too good....... What did I say....I can't choose between his bass playing and his voice???.....I rather should say: Can't choose between his bass playing, his voice, his song writing.....and since "Trash" even lyrics, guitars, drums...... - am I really speaking of "only" ONE single person?? Wow..... Sorry, for the long posting (Hans - you new already that my first posting would be a long one, didn't you) and sorry MARK, for calling you "MarkyBaby".....but I love that word..... Bye, Sabine ------------------------------ Subject: DO NOT SEND ME THIS EMAIL AGAIN ! From: maros.uhliar @ st.sk Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 12:56:51 +0100 ------------------------------ Subject: Brian McKnight in Take 6?? From: "Jackson, Lolita" Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 08:45:20 -0500 Subject: Brian McNight From: "Allwyn & Laura Kelly" Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 19:50:31 -0700 I personally enjoyed Brian McNights vocals when he was with the group Take 6, nice and buried in the mix. Are you sure about this? His older brother, Claude, is the bass singer of the group [he does those fantastic walking basslines, and is also drop dead gorgeous!] but I don't think that Brian McKnight was ever in the group. I met Take 6 in 1990 and he certainly wasn't there then. Lolita **** Important Notice to Recipients **** It is important that you do not use e-mail to request, authorize or effect the purchase or sale of any security or commodity, to send fund transfer instructions, or to effect any other transactions. Any such request, orders, or instructions that you send will not be accepted and will not be processed by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. **************************************** ------------------------------ Subject: Fender Basses and Mark's Strings From: Sean Green Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 07:41:40 -0600 > 1 mark uses 0.30 0.50 0.70 0.90 strings: they are easily to > bend Yes, this is true, but Mark was also a big user (and promoter) of SuperWound 606 & 303 bass guitar strings. They are/were incredible strings to say the least because of one simple element: PIANO WOUND!!! "What the hell does this mean?!?!" You may ask yourselves. Well, for those of you that don't know, it means that at the end of the string that normally fits over the bridge at the bottom of the guitar, the only part of the string is just the CORE. Typically, strings have an outer winding that extends to either end of the string all the way through. The piano wound ones don't. Superwounds were developed specifically for certain basses, and would use codes on their packages to help buyers identify what kind of bass they could use a particular set on. What extends from this is a couple of things: First, the bridge will usually have to be adjusted up for most basses using these strings, because the winding is now closer to the fret board and is causing a buzz. Secondly, it makes bending MUCH easier!! Notice the way Mark bends his notes in solos and on his harmonics with such little effort. This is why. I cannot find Superwounds locally any more. They are/were a division of "SuperRound Bass Strings," but not to be confused. ALEMBIC has their own "Mark King Version" of bass strings, but they are not nearly as good or long lasting as the Superwounds were. As for the Fender Basses....I don't like them much. Even the newer ones. It is no surprise that Mark is using a VERY customized version of the Fender Bass. Little is left of the original stuff aside from the neck and body. Electronics, can and do make a difference. I would take a Pedulla or Alembic ANY day over a Fender. Sorry, but that's just me. I would still put my Washburn up against a standard Fender any day too,..and it was half the price! Oh well. Just my 2p worth. Have a great one. p/s - for those of you who care: Only 2 more weeks of radiation to go!! Yippee! Level Best regards to you all. ~Sean -- *********** "The MIDI Extreme" *********** * http://www.flash.net/~questps/midi.htm * *** For the best MIDI files on the net!*** ****************************************** ------------------------------ Subject: Re: vocal limitations? From: Greatanger @ aol.com Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 09:23:47 EST Per Terri H: << And has anyone paid attention to how Mike and Mark sing the scale on Good Man in a Storm? Mike starts singing but then the tone goes below his range and Mark picks it up seamlessly for a really smooth transition. Yum! That really shows they understand how their voices work togethter. >> I'll have to go back and listen to that again (it's been a while... I've been listening elswhere: see below) but now I think I gotta say something. I've been listening to Mike's Changes lately (again - I keep rediscovering the delightful thing). Unless it's digitally manipulated somehow, the opening bit of the title track has Mike singing harmonies in which he's singing all the parts himself, including the low part. It was him, wasn't it? In an earlier digest somebody said Mark and Mike did a good job overcoming their individual vocal limitations... I'm no vocal expert, but it sure as hell sounds to me like Mike has a range with way wider limits than some I've heard. Bass (or baritone-I don't know which it is for sure) all the way up to falsetto? Am I wrong? I wasn't going to say anything, because we'll all end up agreeing in our praise anyway. I just wanted to point that little bit out, is all. Nor do I wish to impugn Mark's voice, which just, well, turns me on sometimes. You know... Ciao fer now Ann ------------------------------ Subject: NYC mini-fest? From: Winston Walker Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 10:01:51 -0500 Hey Brian Bowman, pls be sure to get in touch with me regarding your trip to MD, in the near future. As Dave said I'm sure we can arrange a mini-levelfest, and show you arounf NYC. Any other NYC area digesters, pls e-mail me if you are at all interested in hanging out for a day. Winston ------------------------------ Subject: Regarding owning one of Mark's basses... From: "Mike Brooks" Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 17:04:54 -0000 In response to Nick Smith's mail yesterday.............. I own one of Mark's basses not actually because it was his, although it is a nice extra point! I own it because at the time of purchase, I was actually looking around for either a Musicman or a Status and had the money to buy one of these. I had been looking for a couple of months but could never find one of either models that felt or played all that well. Then, as luck would have it, a message from Mr Nigel Collier on this very digest, alerted me to the fact that Mark had put some basses into The Bass Centre for sale. A quick call to Nick Owen and I was informed that there were a few basses, one of which was indeed a Musicman. Hurrah!!!!! Went to The Bass Centre on the Saturday, tried a few of the basses out, liked the Status that Rob Steen eventually bought, tried the Musicman and that was that. The best one I had ever tried, at a very reasonable price. Obviously the fact that Mark had owned it was great but I can't say it was the biggest incentive in owning it. I don't know too much about who owns what of Mark's but the one's I tried in The Bass Centre that day were very hit and miss. The Wal wasn't particularly awe-inspiring, neither was the 5 string Empathy from the Guaranteed vid which played like a dog. I can only assume, looking back, that had the Musicman played badly I wouldn't have bought it. Thankfully, it didn't, I did and I now use it for virtually everything I do gig and session wise. Having listened to the CD's from Aylesbury, it recorded pretty well too. There's my two penneth worth.......... One last point..................I may be doing a few gigs over the next month with Nathan. He may be depping with my covers band during March and April. If we use him (quite likely), I will post the dates up as soon as he is confirmed as the dep. Cheers, Mike ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Level42 Digest V2000 #5 From: JJBAZ1 @ aol.com Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 12:24:44 EST To Dave Mock-- I am still trying to figure out how Santana won all of those awards, too, and I have been a fan for thirty years! I spent years trying to explain, or justify, to my friends why I was going to see them perform every year when they were considered "dinosaurs." What was so "COLD" a year ago is now EVERYBODY'S "HOT". It's kind of freaky to me, too. But HEY, if it can happen to Carlos maybe one day the world will catch up with Level 42!! A reunion would be assured. (But I warn you, such success has mixed blessings. For example, my ticket agent is going to SOAK me for front row seats this year. ACK!!!) This brings me to my next question, which somebody out there knows the answer to: was L42 (or any factions thereof) ever nominated or win in any category of the American Grammy Awards? (If not, I guess we know how seriously we should take all of this!) Yours from America-- Jan B. ------------------------------ Subject: Singing in the key of 42 From: "Mike Payne" Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 11:44:57 CST Hello everyone, Just to add to this..... L42 always amazed me how they constructed their harmonies and backing tracks, they were for the most part flawless and very intricate. I have to say the two songs that really showcased their vocal talents and arrangment styles were Lying Still and Seven Years, I also thought if you were to mix Mike's voice with Mark's you'd get Annie McCaig. I would like to hear some of these tracks with just a acapella version, to really hear those killer harmonies. I am curious to know who (in L42) was mainly responsible for developing the vocal arrangements, as for two musicians such as Mark and Mike to be so pro on their perspective instruments (never really being known for their vocal talents) for them to have such vocal arrangements that would make the Vienna Boys choir blush...... Mikey42 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Subject: RE: Level42 Digest V2000 #6 From: "Ronald Kuipers" Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 19:24:57 +0100 >1. "All you beautiful people... and you beautiful boys and girls... we're having a party tonight, all over the world..." Dunno seems familiar tough, hmmm >2. "I owe you nothing... nothing, nothing at all..." Hey that one is easy it's Bros - I.O.U. nothing got the over 18 mix right here Greetings. . . . .Ronald ------------------------------ Subject: in answer to mark w From: the_saint @ planet.nl Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 19:55 +0000 I didn't mean that one should be standing unanimated listening to the music... You can sing, in key, and not shout in your neighbours ears. You can dance, without your special bought whistle... I personaly don't like the yoho thing, because it's a pointless word and it doesn't fit in a bass solo. must fly......simon the magicien ------------------------------ Subject: 'Good Man in a Storm' et al From: Dave Mock Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 11:55:58 -0800 (PST) Hey, Micro-Kids: Looks like Digest 2000 is off to a rousing start. Some good talk about Mark and Mike's vocals, Mark's musical direction, related bands, and spicy but pertinent off-topics (I suspect we could really start a Steely Dan subgroup within the Digest). Re the 'Good Man in a Storm' comments by Terri H.: Hear hear!. It's one of the songs that sent shivers through my soul when I heard it -- first for the music, then for the lyrics. As someone whose relationships with women have been of the 'I need him more as a friend than as a squeeze' type, it rings many bells. Seems the singer or writer wonders how long he will continue to see his role in relationships a 'good man in a storm' before he pushes for something better. (Maybe the singer, like I sometimes, am afraid of pushing too hard and then losing her totally. :)) It continues to blow me away how this band can get at deeper meanings in 'boy-girl' relationships and do it in a breezy, elegany way, without getting preachy. That's one reason why I'll always dig Level 42. The Duke == "...brotherhood is not so wild a dream as those who profit by postponing it pretend." (Norman Corwin) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Subject: Monty Python's Life of Brian From: "Andrew Goodwin" Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 21:18:44 -0000 > Subject: Grammy Awards / SD > From: "Cliff & Debjani Barua" Cliff, I may have inferred more than you implied, but you seem to think I was advocating the Brits over the Grammys. Not so, all I was saying was that in comparison it must be mercifully brief. > Grammys feature the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Toni Braxton in minimal > clothing Didn't Jennifer Lopez look AWFUL in that dress? By the way, that's a serious statement (best to be specific for all my irony-loving readers). From the sexiest woman ever seen on screen in Out Of Sight to a bizarre piece of lurid camouflage. Weird. > Subject: Brian McNight > From: "Allwyn & Laura Kelly" > > I personally enjoyed Brian McNights vocals when he was with the group Take > 6, nice and buried in the mix. Are you being sarcastic young Laura? Because they won't like it you know. They just won't stand for it. Of course, they probably won't even get it but if they do they sure as heck won't like it. I may not be the biggest Take 6 fan in the world (although possibly in England where about five people have heard of them), but I do believe Brian McKnight was never actually in Take 6, unlike his brother Claude. Another irony-free statement there folks. > Subject: Live chanting. > From: "Mark M Walsham" > > I don't see many fans at concerts just standing in an unanimated > manner appreciating 'the music'. You'll have to come and stand beside me on the next tour then Mark. The only motion is that of my temple throbbing as my rage towards the Woo Hoo-ers grows ever more intense. And I really mean that guys. AG ------------------------------ Subject: You Must be Sure of Your Appeal... From: Bilal42 @ aol.com Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 18:10:48 EST Mark and Mike singing... Yes, I too love them singing together - heavenly. I know not many like this particular song much, but I think their singing together is really cool on Fashion Fever, particularly the part when they sing 'You Must be Sure of Your Appeal' both live and on record. Also, just to pick up on something raised on the digest yesterday - there is no 'rift' between Mark and Mike! Also, on the subject of an L42 reunion, here is my personal opinion. From what we have seen and heard of Mark and Mike recently, they seem to have grown hugely as musicians and so any reunion is going to be mind blowing. The best possible reunion will be when they themselves decide the time is right. Bilal ------------------------------ Subject: Running in Leicester From: Bilal42 @ aol.com Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 18:10:51 EST By the way There is an advert on Leicester radio for a local company - the Level 42 'Running in the Family' theme tune plays through out the ad! Bilal ------------------------------ Subject: Remasters From: "Desmond Lynch" Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 00:32:38 GMT Hi Guys ! Does anybody know what is happening with the Remastered albums that those Maggots at Polydor were going to re release from Level 42, are they going to sit on this material untill domesday, or just wait for us to all die first before they release them. I understood that Mark had spent quite a long time working on this project, which makes it all the worse to know that the remasters are all done and ready to go, but are sitting in some vault, and not in the cd players of the people who really care for these songs and would love to hear them in crystall clear sound as they sounded when they were recorded, Maybe we can all get together and hassle these Planks at polydor via their website Whaddya think? DES ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Subject: Deely Stan From: EMIKATIE @ aol.com Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 22:55:20 EST Bruce wrote: > for our Steely Dan enjoying Level 42 digesters... > Steely Dan: In The Spotlight (live in NYCity) Yes, I can't wait to catch the airing in Buffalo too. I MD'd the SFX special on the "world premier of 2 vs. Nature" on Sunday night but managed to miss out on the beginning and ended up with the final 66 minutes. Anyone got the full show, or just the missing segment? The dialogue between tracks was enlightening as B&F played it fairly straight with minimal nonsense. Don't forget Letterman this Friday, March 3rd, and VH-1 Storytellers on April 24th. Thanks Jeff for your contribution. The machine stops John