Level 42 (album) explained

Level 42
Type:Studio album
Artist:Level 42
Cover:Levelalbumcover.jpg
Released:August 1981
Recorded:1981
Studio:Vineyard Studios, Chipping Norton Recording Studios and RAK Studios. Mixed at Red Bus Studios.
Genre:Jazz-funk, dance-rock, jazz fusion
Length:43:16
Label:Polydor
Producer:Mike Vernon
Next Title:Strategy
Next Year:1982

Level 42 is the debut album released in August 1981 by the British group Level 42.[1]

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,[2] 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,[3] 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

  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

(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
  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
  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

with:

2007 Re-issue:

Production

2007 Re-issue:

Charts

Album charts

YearChartPosition
1981UK Pop Albums20[4]
Dutch Pop Albums4[5]
Hitlistan (Sweden)43

Single charts

YearSongChartPosition
1981"Love Games"UK single charts
  1. 38
1981"Turn It On"UK single charts
  1. 47
1981"Starchild"UK single charts
  1. 57

References

  1. https://www.level42.com/discography/level-42/ Album description
  2. http://www.ultimatelevel42.com/media/cds_list.php?mastertable=groups&masterkey1=10 The Definitive Online Level 42 Collectors Resource: Media
  3. http://www.ultimatelevel42.com/media/cds_list.php?mastertable=groups&masterkey1=11 The Definitive Online Level 42 Collectors Resource: Media
  4. Web site: Level 42. Official Charts. officialcharts.com.
  5. Web site: Level 42: Level 42. Dutch Charts. dutchcharts.nl.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Level 42 (album)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.