Level 42 (album)

Level 42
Studio album by
Level 42
ReleasedAugust 1981
Recorded1981
StudioVineyard Studios, Chipping Norton Recording Studios and RAK Studios. Mixed at Red Bus Studios.
GenreJazz-funk, dance-rock, jazz fusion
Length43:16
LabelPolydor
ProducerMike Vernon
Level 42 chronology
Level 42
(1981) 		Strategy
(1982)
Singles from Level 42
  1. "Love Games"
    Released: March 1981
  2. "Turn it On"
    Released: July 1981
  3. "Starchild"
    Released: October 1981
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Q[2]
BBC(favourable)[3]

Level 42 is the debut album released in August 1981 by the British group Level 42.[4]

It is best known for the track "Love Games", which became a successful jazz–funk and dancefloor hit for the band (reaching number 38 on the UK singles chart). It has figured in both L42's and bassist Mark King's solo live appearances to this day. Also gaining substantial dance airplay on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean was the track "Starchild", with Lindup on vocals.

The second single, "Turn it On", released in the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Canada,[5] peaked at #47 in the UK single charts.

The third single, "Starchild", has been released in six countries beyond the United Kingdom (peak position: #57), including the United States of America,[6] where it entered the Club Play Singles at #60. In 2001, it was re-released by the label Peppermint Jam Records in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Track listing

  • Original Vinyl LP (Polydor 2383 612)
  1. "Turn It On" (Badarou, Gould, Gould, King) – 4:42
  2. "43" (King) – 7:04
  3. "Why Are You Leaving?" (Gould, Lindup) – 4:36
  4. "Almost There" (Gould, Gould, King) – 5:45
  5. "Heathrow" (Badarou) – 4:43
  6. "Love Games" (Gould, King) – 5:20
  7. "Dune Tune" (King) – 4:52
  8. "Starchild" (Badarou, Gould, King) – 5:58
  • First CD Pressing (Polydor 821 935-2)

(On the first CD pressing, the album versions of "Turn It On", "Love Games" and "Starchild" were replaced with the extended versions. Later pressings and reissues contain the original album versions.)

  1. "Turn It On" (Badarou, Gould, Gould, King) – 5:36
  2. "43" (King) – 7:02
  3. "Why Are You Leaving?" (Gould, Lindup) – 4:34
  4. "Almost There" (Gould, Gould, King) – 5:42
  5. "Heathrow" (Badarou) – 4:43
  6. "Love Games" (Gould, King) – 7:25
  7. "Dune Tune" (King) – 4:50
  8. "Starchild" (Badarou, Gould, King) – 6:41
  • 2000 reissue bonus tracks
  1. Forty-Two (Gould, Gould, King, Lindup) – 6:39
  2. Beezer One (Badarou, King, Gould, Lindup, Gould) – 7:09
  3. Foundation & Empire (King) – 8:27
  4. Dune Tune (live) (King) – 5:03
  5. Goodbye Ray Schmidt-Volk – 2:07
  • 2007 reissue bonus tracks
  1. Heathrow (Live, Regal Theatre, Hitchin 1983)
  2. Turn It On (Live, Regal Theatre, Hitchin 1983)
  3. Starchild (Long Version)
  4. Love Games (Live, Ryde Theatre, Isle Of Wight 2000)
  5. Why Are You Leaving? (Live Ryde Theatre, Isle Of Wight 2000)

Personnel

Level 42

  • Mark King – bass, percussion, vocals (lead vocals on 'Turn It On', "Why Are You Leaving", "Almost There" & "Love Games")
  • Mike Lindup – Minimoog, acoustic piano, electric piano, percussion, vocals (lead vocals on "Starchild", chorus lead vocals on "Turn it On" & "Almost There", bridge lead vocals on "Love Games")
  • Boon Gould – guitars
  • Phil Gould – drums, percussion, glockenspiel, timbales, backing vocals

with:

2007 Re-issue:

  • Lyndon Connah – keyboards & vocals (Tracks 4 & 5)
  • Nathan King – guitars & vocals (Tracks 4 & 5)
  • Gary Husband – drums (Tracks 4 & 5)
  • Sean Freeman – saxophone & vocals (Tracks 4 & 5)

Production

  • Mike Vernon – producer
  • Dick Plant – engineer
  • Gregg Jackman – assistant engineer
  • Richard Lengyel – assistant engineer
  • John Rule – assistant engineer
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • Joe Bartling – illustration

2007 Re-issue:

  • Gary Moore – remastering
  • Charles Brockbank – design
  • Paul Fernandez – illustration
  • Paul Sexton – liner notes

Charts

Album charts

Year Chart Position
1981 UK Pop Albums 20[7]
Dutch Pop Albums 4[8]
Hitlistan (Sweden) 43

Single charts

Year Song Chart Position
1981 "Love Games" UK single charts #38
1981 "Turn It On" UK single charts #47
1981 "Starchild" UK single charts #57

Sales and certifications

Certifications for Level 42
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[9] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Carpenter, Bil. "Allmusic review". Allmusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  2. ^ Ian Harrison Q, May 2007, Issue 250.
  3. ^ Easlea, Daryl (2012). "Level 42 Level 42 Review". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
  4. ^ Album description, Level24.com (official website).
  5. ^ The Definitive Online Level 42 Collectors Resource: Media
  6. ^ The Definitive Online Level 42 Collectors Resource: Media
  7. ^ "Level 42". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  8. ^ "Level 42: Level 42". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  9. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Level 42 – Level 42" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 16 July 2022. Enter Level 42 in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1982 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".