Level 42 Digest for Friday, February 17, 2006

>Speaking of new things.... I was fortunate enough to get one of the new tracks, if this is any indication of the >style and composition of this new album, we are indeed in for some great music!

Without wishing to sound even slightly envious, how the devil did you manage to obtain this new track?

>All I will say, as I do not want to spoil it for anyone else or inject any sort of bias... The single I heard was >very melodic and mellow, Mark vocals were aged but wonderful...

You don't want to, but you will anyway.

Don't worry Mikey, i'm just pulling your plonker. It's reassuring to hear from you that material is leaking out because it means that the new album chat might actually be true after all!

>I’m taking a chance & getting one for my 8 year old son because my wife won’t want to go.

I know what you mean Mark. My missus will be a reluctant gig buddy for me if i attend any of the dates this year, although i won't be allowed to hear the end of it. I persuaded her to come with me to the last RAH gig a few years ago, but she agreed to come on the condition that I go with her to see Take That should they ever reform and tour again. A risk worth taking, i thought, "safe" in the knowledge that it'd never happen because Robbie wouldn't be up for any reunion. But bugger me if Barlow and the rest of the lads haven't gone and reformed without him.

So guess what i'm up to on May 17th...?

1. Hidden Agenda
From:	Andrew Goodwin <thenightfly83 @ yahoo.co.uk>
Date:	Thu, 16 Feb 2006 09:12:49 +0000 (GMT)	[top]
> 2. Cad and Bad? Egad! > From: Tom Foolery > > "What does "Temecula" mean? I was referring to Escondido, actually. But no matter, I'm sure the knowledge that Temecula is the only city in California to still retain its original Indian name will serve me well. You'd be amazed how often people are surprised to learn that names like Los Angeles and San Francisco actually mean something. They're so familiar that nobody bothers to think about their origin. Then again, I once knew someone who'd been studying Spanish for several years before it occurred to him why Ecuador was called that. No, of course it wasn't me, ha ha! (Swallows hard, loosens collar.) > If people are actually going to connect my musical > effort "Another Meaningless Crisis" to the vice > president shooting someone whilst hunting quail, Please insert Vice President Quayle joke of your choosing here, I'm too lazy to think of one. > Lord knows I am not the first to > rely upon a predictable rhyme - "Dance on Heavy > Weather" features "take a chance, you can dance" and > I'm sure "romance" is just around the corner > somewhere. Gaaa! :) "Some people judge a man as reasonable..." Now where did I put my sledgehammer? It wasn't predictable, that's just the point! There's a surfeit of words to rhyme with 'bad', you just chose a particularly Cowardesque one. > And the next CD will be that much better. It is > currently scheduled to come out in late 2009. > Hopefully with Friesen on Drums, Doug White as the > MicroKid, and AG as Lyricist Emeritus. Wahey! "I wish I never wrote your name in my jotter, Because you turned out to be such a rotter". > 3. Blackadder > From: alex.friesen @ sickkids.ca > > Say what?! Ben "Blackadder" Elton?! How dare you > disparage such brilliance?! "Blackadder" was indeed brilliant, but the passage of time is starting to make one wonder quite how he and Curtis did it, because neither of them has remotely matched it elsewhere. Elton's latest sitcom was so nauseatingly middle-class and self-indulgent that I actually had to walk out of the room to go and calm down. And that's not to mention the atrocities he's visited on the musical theatre. Or his pitiful role as apologist for Blair after a decade of Thatcher-bashing. > 4. Ox tail? > From: Doug White > > Could you enlighten me as to the difference? Size. With enthusiasm you could down a vol-au-vent in a single mouthful, whereas even Friesen couldn't swallow a Cornish pasty whole. > Interesting....I'd ask why....but I don't know if I > want to know. From the Latin, probably. Something else the Romans didn't do for us. > You're such a tough audience, AG. Ya gotta go with > the flow sometimes. Last time I looked my exhaustive appraisal of AMC was available for reading on Tom's website. I don't suggest you read it, but suffice to say I don't think I could be accused of not giving the album a fair hearing. > Ok Andrew, since you seem to enjoy 'bashing' these > guys for being a minor 80's band No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Let me say again, no no no. Stating what they were does not constitute bashing them. By any rational criteria they were relatively minor. Their global success was ephemeral, their influence on pop minimal. But they hold a very dear place in my heart, as the first band I truly loved. As time has passed it's become apparent that they weren't as good as I thought they were when I was a teenager, but that doesn't mean I don't still hold them in great affection > I know you enjoy your role as a contrarian, > which I find enjoyable, but why did you decide to > rejoin? I am intrigued. I unsubscribed for a while because I wasn't enjoying the Digest or the person that I was becoming on it. I rejoined because I'd calmed down and wanted to be a member for its dying breaths. Contrarily you and I between us have now prolonged that process. > That said, people are probably wondering what the > hell I'm doing reading digests from the past and > posting about what I am reading. I have to admit to > being faintly surprised that I've not received any > hate mail, but maybe I oughta try harder. In my experience it's when you're trying the least that you really upset people. My favourite was the 'Breathe' bloke - a salute to you sir if you're still out there. But even recently a most estimable member was very offended by the spoof profile, the Betsy one. (Proper offended, not just finding it unfunny like the rest of you.) There's nothing you can write which won't upset somebody. > 7. Tour Dates > From: Stephen Whyte > > October 31 Oxford New Theatre Take that Friesen! You may get to see Donald Fagen and the cream of America's session men performing some of the most sublime songs recorded in the last quarter of the century, but I get to see Mark King and some substandard mates perform The Chinese Way! On the final night no less, when any enthusiasm they might have had setting out a month earlier has been thoroughly quashed! And what's more, Ben Elton's coming to the New Theatre soon on his stand-up tour! Not only a late equaliser but an injury time winner. > What's the New Theatre like, Mr Goodwin? Ah, the New Theatre... [Leans back in chair, closes eyes, screen goes misty...] Site of my first ever gig, Kraftwerk, where an audience of largely unsuspecting fans of 'The Model' sat open-mouthed as we were blitzed by a techno assault about a decade ahead of its time. They only spoke to the audience once in the whole show, after about half an hour. "We though this was a dance hall" said Ralf. Nobody moved. We were all too scared. The New Theatre, where Mezzoforte invited us backstage... where Kajagoogoo ignored us as they got on their tour bus (er, moving on)... where Paddy McAloon opened the show saying he was glad so many people from Morse's city had made it without being felled by a hefty tome of Catullus as they crossed the courtyard... Where Everything But The Girl took requests from the audience... [Wipes away a tear.] Scene of many a great Level 42 gig way back when. It's just a theatre. More geared up to the Shane Ritchie/English National Ballet/Roy 'Chubby' Brown circuit these days, but I'm sure it will be fine. Let's face it, it's got to be better than being amongst a bunch of Cockneys, hasn't it? AG ___________________________________________________________ NEW Yahoo! Cars - sell your car and browse thousands of new and used cars online! http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/

2. Change of e-mail, Tour and Incognito ..
From:	fredsimpson @ lineone.net <fredsimpson @ lineone.net>
Date:	Thu, 16 Feb 2006 13:02:36 +0000	[top]
I'm trying to change the e-mail address to which the digest is sent. I can't because I get a 'invalid authentication' message when i follow the Subscribe hyperlink. Is this a problem at your end Mr Webmaster ? I thought I would have a pair of tickets for the Autumn tour too .. but you can't even buy them over the 'phone at Brighton anymore. Premium rate telephone / website only it would appear. A choice would be nice and it might make me feel less like I am being held by the 'short and curlies'. Anyone else going to the Incognito gig April 14th Jazz Café ? Beers before perhaps ? Fred ___________________________________________________________ Tiscali Broadband from 14.99 with free setup! http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband/

3. My bad!
From:	Lolitaj @ aol.com <Lolitaj @ aol.com>
Date:	Thu, 16 Feb 2006 08:36:24 EST	[top]
Somehow I remembered you coming later - I didn't realize that observation deck visit was 10 years ago! Then all of this was started by that. I humbly submit a retraction and apology... Its all good! LJ

4. P.S. From the Lowry web site concert advert
From:	David A. Ratcliffe <d.a.ratcliffe @ ntlworld.com>
Date:	Thu, 16 Feb 2006 13:27:24 -0000	[top]
Led by ever-present band- leader and bass maestro Mark King the group will feature Gary Husband, Lyndon Connah, Nathan King, Sean Freeman and original keyboardist Mike Lindup. Mark King’s unique style has influenced a generation; he may have been copied by thousands of bassists around the planet, but he has never yet been matched. This is a chance to catch the real thing. King's sensational playing as the frontman and driving force of Level 42, saw the group release 14 hit albums, enjoy 18 Top 40 hits - including Top 10 smashes "Running In The Family", "Hot Water" and "Lessons in Love" - and sell in excess of 30 million albums worldwide, while the band toured the globe endlessly for nearly 15 years supporting legends like Madonna and The Police along the way. When Level 42 folded in 1994, Mark King returned to the easy life in the Isle of Wight but eventually decided to get back to what he knew best of all: music. He launched his solo career in 1998 and to date has released four solo LPs. Reforming the group in 2002 to huge acclaim it was clear that the fierce energy with which he drove Level 42 onwards was alive and well and the group continued to entrance audiences with their pulsating presence and showmanship. Tickets Ł22.50+Ł1.00Booking/Postage fee Bye David __________________________________________________________________________ David A. Ratcliffe Gorton, Manchester, England d.a.ratcliffe @ ntlworld.com

5. Be there or be square
From:	David A. Ratcliffe <d.a.ratcliffe @ ntlworld.com>
Date:	Thu, 16 Feb 2006 13:21:17 -0000	[top]
I have just booked my ticket online for the Salford Lowry on Friday 6th October. Front row as well. I think I must have been the first. Thanks to registering with their 'Advance Notice' feature you get priority online booking. Sorry for sounding so smug, but I can't wait to here the new stuff and see the guy's play live again. Bye David __________________________________________________________________________ David A. Ratcliffe Gorton, Manchester, England

6. Calling her bluff
From:	Stephen Whyte <stephen.whyte @ ascentmedia.co.uk>
Date:	Thu, 16 Feb 2006 16:27:44 -0000	[top]
>Speaking of new things.... I was fortunate enough to get one of the new tracks, if this is any indication of the >style and composition of this new album, we are indeed in for some great music! Without wishing to sound even slightly envious, how the devil did you manage to obtain this new track? >All I will say, as I do not want to spoil it for anyone else or inject any sort of bias... The single I heard was >very melodic and mellow, Mark vocals were aged but wonderful... You don't want to, but you will anyway. Don't worry Mikey, i'm just pulling your plonker. It's reassuring to hear from you that material is leaking out because it means that the new album chat might actually be true after all! >I’m taking a chance & getting one for my 8 year old son because my wife won’t want to go. I know what you mean Mark. My missus will be a reluctant gig buddy for me if i attend any of the dates this year, although i won't be allowed to hear the end of it. I persuaded her to come with me to the last RAH gig a few years ago, but she agreed to come on the condition that I go with her to see Take That should they ever reform and tour again. A risk worth taking, i thought, "safe" in the knowledge that it'd never happen because Robbie wouldn't be up for any reunion. But bugger me if Barlow and the rest of the lads haven't gone and reformed without him. So guess what i'm up to on May 17th...? Ascent Media Group Ltd, 1 Stephen Street, London W1T 1AL web: http://www.ascentmedia.co.uk The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not use, copy, distribute or disclose the e-mail or any part of its contents or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail the sender by replying to this message. All reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure no viruses are present in this e-mail. Ascent Media Group Ltd cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage arising from the use of this e-mail or attachments and recommend that you subject these to your virus checking procedures prior to use.

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