Level 42 Digest for Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Since it's been a bit slow on the Digest, I thought I'd post a daily question about some of the bands releases that have puzzled me over the years and see what other Digesters could tell me.

Like many of you after the U.S. success of WM and RITF, I went crazy and bought up the back catalog when Polydor made them available in the States. At the time I didn't have a CD player, so I bought LEVEL 42, TPOA, SITL, and TC on cassette, and the two live albums on LP since I couldn't find them on cassette. At any rate, I listened to them all over and over and became extremely familiar with the material, so when I bought them on CD for the first time I was more than a bit surprised to find extended version of Turn It On (5:36), Love Games (7:25), and Star Child (6:52) on my copy of the first album (catalog # 821-935-2). I also noticed that unlike all the other albums, the booklet in this release did not included the lyrics like all the others did- just pictures of Mark, Mike, Phil, Boon, and Wally. Upon subsequent visits to the record store, I could have sworn I saw a different CD version of the first album WITH the lyrics included, but with the shorter versions of the three aforementioned songs (4:39. 5:12, and 5:57 respectively). As I recall, there was a different catalog number as well. Of further note is the fact that the Polydor reissue from 2000 contains the shorter versions with the annotation "Original Album Version- Available on CD for the first time".

So the questions are:

1) Does anyone have a single CD version of the debut album with the shorter versions?

2) Does anyone have any of the vinyl versions of the debut album (original European or U.S. mid-eighties version), and if so, which versions of the songs are included? Ditto for the European CD version.

3) If all original versions of the LP and cassette contained the shorter versions, does anyone know who made the decision to include the longer versions of these three songs on the CD?

4) What about the origins of these longer mixes? I have a 12" single from Polydor that contains remixes of 4 different songs, each from a different artist (i.e. one song per artist), and I'm fairly sure that the version of the track from Level 42 (Starchild) is the same version that's included on the version of the debut album I have.

5) Is the CD version I have of the debut album rare/sought after by anyone? I see copies around in used bins occasionally and could pick one up if someone is looking for one.

OK everyone- set the record straight for me.

Later,

Chris L.

1. Demise of mark-king.com?
From:	Steve Robson <steve.robson @ cadence.com>
Date:	Mon, 13 Oct 2003 10:55:38 +0100	[top]
Greetings all, Sorry if this has been discussed already... I see that http://www.mark-king.com is no longer alive. What's going on there then? I was looking to see if there was ever a Trash II release? (Level) Best Regards, Steve IT Support - UNIX/Linux Cadence Design Systems Tel: +44 (0)1344 866523 Bagshot Road Mobile: +44 (0)7901 855046 Bracknell BERKSHIRE Fax: +44 (0)1344 869647 RG12 0PH UK

2. Mike Lindup at The Goose.
From:	Stephen.Whyte @ lpc.tv <Stephen.Whyte @ lpc.tv>
Date:	Mon, 13 Oct 2003 10:50:07 +0100	[top]
Over the weekend I sent a post about the Mike Lindup gig last week, but it hasn't appeared, so apologies to all. I've also posted on the web digest, so check it out if you want to read my review of the evening. To be perfectly honest, i don't have the time or the patience at the moment to write it out again, but if i get time later then i'll hammer out another post. The general gist was that I went along to The Goose last Thursday to see Mike perform 5 songs from Conversations With Silence, and was very glad i did. The pub is only 20 mins from my flat in South London, so i really had no excuse not to go along. Well worth it, even if it was strange seeing Mike perform in front of so few people (most of whom didn't know who he was) and in such an intimate venue. I just stood in the corner and nursed a pint while i listened. The material was nothing like Changes - all the songs were instrumentals - but demonstrates Mike's talent and musical influences beautifully. I'll be buying the album for sure. But no, I didn't chat to him, so i've no news/inside gossip for you. Sorry, but i felt that it really wasn't the time or the place to ask him about such matters. He was there to do his thing in front of family and friends so asking him about the summer sessions would've been inappropriate. The important thing is though, Mike seemed to enjoy himself. It was a short set (only 25mins) but he smiled and thanked the crowd after each song. Anyway, read my post on the web digest until i get my arse in gear and write it out again on here. Cheers, Steve ************************************************************************* This email is confidential and may well also be legally privileged. If you have received this email in error, you are in notice of its status. Please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this message from your system. Please do not copy or use it for any purposes, or disclose its contents to any other person: to do so could be a breach of confidence. Thank you for your co-operation. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of The RTL Group or its associated companies. Please contact our IT Helpdesk on +44 (0)20 7691 6996 or e-mail it.support @ fremantlemedia.com if you require further assistance. *************************************************************************

3. Jackson & Family
From:	mikethepom <mikethepom @ yahoo.com>
Date:	Mon, 13 Oct 2003 03:49:08 -0700 (PDT)	[top]
... I witnessed Loli'a Jackson get up on stage with the legendary Rebecca 'RJ' Johnson's band here in Sydney a couple of years ago and do 'We Are Family'. 'Twas a joy to behold ... yea verily. Here endeth the lesson. Cheers ~ Mike (Sydney City Milkman) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com

4. Re: My Two Bands
From:	Nick Lauro <thedrumdoctor @ nlauro.f9.co.uk>
Date:	Mon, 13 Oct 2003 22:48:36 +0100	[top]
Well Lolita, you are significantly further blessed than myself in having the opportunity of choice that comes from the US musical melting pot. Picture this if you will, the grass NOT being greener here in the UK, to be more specific, Liverpool...don't mention the Bea..... No, nothing wrong with our heritage mop-tops, but it seems there is an inability to move on from the guitar based rock 'n' roll, so prevalent in the 60's. Now take me, ex-pro drummer, loves funk, Old Skool R&B, Soul, Motown, bits of jazz etc etc - you get the drift. If you want to put a band together, say for instance, a 7 piece - drums, bass, keyboards, vocals & 3 x horns - playing quality tunes for probably no money, just for the love of it, and I'll tell you what chances you have in Liverpool. Just 2 chances: 1.) Slim 2.) No chance Now I bet that you lucky folks in the States could find loads of musicians at the drop of a hat. It seems as though the US is more "funk friendly" than the UK, though I could answer that question quite obviously by noting the fact that jazz\funk\Soul etc were born in the USA. It seems that here in the UK, we don't have that diversity or influence in such a greater concentration throughout the towns and cities. London's still the only place where major jazz\funk\soul artists from overseas bother to play when they visit our shores. Ok, I was lucky enough to witness James Brown in Liverpool in July this year, but that was 1000% rarity - believe me. When L42 came out in '81\82 and managed to break through without having any real marketability in terms of image\obvious commerciality, it was a testament to the quite diverse musical culture we had in England at the time. Here's a list of the sort of genres that were "current" in the UK music scene at the time: New Wave Mod Ska Heavy Metal New Romantic Electronic Brit Funk Reggae Punk (still just hanging on) Prog Rock (Rush, Genesis etc) I only wish we had some of that now, then I too might be able to boast (in the nicest possible way) about playing in 2 bands covering music I loved to play!! Rant over! thedrumdoctor

5. discography questions
From:	Chris Lawless <lawford42 @ juno.com>
Date:	Mon, 13 Oct 2003 19:40:05 -0400	[top]
Since it's been a bit slow on the Digest, I thought I'd post a daily question about some of the bands releases that have puzzled me over the years and see what other Digesters could tell me. Like many of you after the U.S. success of WM and RITF, I went crazy and bought up the back catalog when Polydor made them available in the States. At the time I didn't have a CD player, so I bought LEVEL 42, TPOA, SITL, and TC on cassette, and the two live albums on LP since I couldn't find them on cassette. At any rate, I listened to them all over and over and became extremely familiar with the material, so when I bought them on CD for the first time I was more than a bit surprised to find extended version of Turn It On (5:36), Love Games (7:25), and Star Child (6:52) on my copy of the first album (catalog # 821-935-2). I also noticed that unlike all the other albums, the booklet in this release did not included the lyrics like all the others did- just pictures of Mark, Mike, Phil, Boon, and Wally. Upon subsequent visits to the record store, I could have sworn I saw a different CD version of the first album WITH the lyrics included, but with the shorter versions of the three aforementioned songs (4:39. 5:12, and 5:57 respectively). As I recall, there was a different catalog number as well. Of further note is the fact that the Polydor reissue from 2000 contains the shorter versions with the annotation "Original Album Version- Available on CD for the first time". So the questions are: 1) Does anyone have a single CD version of the debut album with the shorter versions? 2) Does anyone have any of the vinyl versions of the debut album (original European or U.S. mid-eighties version), and if so, which versions of the songs are included? Ditto for the European CD version. 3) If all original versions of the LP and cassette contained the shorter versions, does anyone know who made the decision to include the longer versions of these three songs on the CD? 4) What about the origins of these longer mixes? I have a 12" single from Polydor that contains remixes of 4 different songs, each from a different artist (i.e. one song per artist), and I'm fairly sure that the version of the track from Level 42 (Starchild) is the same version that's included on the version of the debut album I have. 5) Is the CD version I have of the debut album rare/sought after by anyone? I see copies around in used bins occasionally and could pick one up if someone is looking for one. OK everyone- set the record straight for me. Later, Chris L.

6. + MARKETPLACE
From:	Level 42 Digest <level42-admin @ worldmachine.com>
Date:	Tue, 14 Oct 2003 03:00:05 -0400	[top]
-- Premium Internet access at 1/2 price - Juno Platinum is $9.95/mo. -- -- Printer ink for Epson, Canon & HP - FREE shipping. -- -- FREE Satellite TV - NO EQUIPMENT TO BUY. --

7. My first time
From:	Ingo Forsthofer <kikujiro @ web.de>
Date:	Tue, 14 Oct 2003 08:58:00 +0200	[top]
Hy everybody I'm reading the digest for some time now , but I never had something to write in it so here's a try. Recently I bought a Video on Ebay with a lot of early TV live performances (the tube , 2 BBC Live shows and L42 at home special )by L42. The quality is too bad , so I'm asking if there is a chance to see the stuff in good quality or "hope,hope" DVD releases. If not , who can I turn to and ask (or beg) for it. I also wonder where the Q+A Special on Level42.com is hidden . I can't find it . Also I'd like to warn you . I bought a greatest hits Live CD with the new band , and the quality is like somebody tried to make a studio record out of it . Guess what : Live shows without audiences and "too clean" quality don't work. They also cut down foundation and empire to fit the CD.The last track is lessons in love witch ends with a count in on drums.Great ending for a CD don't you think? There is also an DVD RELEASE of this record in DTS , can anybody tell me something about it?? Love and Rspect Kikujiro ______________________________________________________________________________ Die Besten ihrer Klasse! WEB.DE FreeMail (1,7) und WEB.DE Club (1,9) - bei der Stiftung Warentest - ein Doppelsieg! http://f.web.de/?mc=021184

End of Level 42 Digest for Sunday, May 25, 2003	Help support the Level 42 Digest:
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