Level 42

On This Day 21/09/1983 Level 42

On this day, 21 September 1983, jazz funk band Level 42 played Cardiff’s Top Rank. The band had just released their fourth studio album Standing in the Light.

The album peaked at No. 9, being the group's first top 10 showing in the UK Pop Albums Chart. Standing in the Light has also been certified Gold in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry.

Standing in the Light was produced by Larry Dunn and Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire. On the final track "The Machine Stops", the lyrics are inspired by E. M. Forster's 1909 science fiction story of the same name.

The first single, "Out of Sight, Out of Mind", peaked at No. 41 on the UK Singles charts. The second single, "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)", gave the group its first top-ten hit in the United Kingdom. The third single, "Micro-Kid", peaked at No. 37 on the UK Singles Chart.

After they were seen jamming together, Level 42 were invited to sign to Elite Records (a small independent label) in 1980. They were also encouraged to branch out into vocal music. Having considered recruiting a singer, the band eventually settled on giving King and Lindup the vocal role. The two men developed a complementary style, with Lindup's falsetto frequently used for harmonies and choruses while King's deep tenor led the verses (although Lindup would also sing entire songs on his own). Lyrics were generally written by the Gould brothers while King, Wally Badarou and Lindup concentrated on Level 42's music.

The Elite Records single "Love Meeting Love" brought the band to the attention of Polydor Records, with whom they signed their second recording contract. In 1981, they released their first Polydor single, "Love Games", which became a Top 40 hit. They then cut their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, which was an immediate success throughout Europe.




On this day 06/11/1985 Level 42

Images may be subject to copyright

On this day, 6 November 1985, jazz funk/pop band Level 42 played Cardiff University on their World Machine Tour.

The band had just released World Machine, their sixth studio album and the band's breakthrough album internationally and features one of their most successful singles, "Something About You".

This release marked a transition from their jazz-funk beginnings to the funky pop they are best known for - a transition which eventually resulted in the departure of drummer Phil Gould subsequent to the release of their follow up album Running in the Family.

Formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979. They had a number of UK and worldwide hits during the 1980s and 1990s.

Their highest-charting single in the UK was "Lessons in Love", which reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, and number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, upon its release in 1986.

An earlier single, "Something About You", was their most successful chart-wise in the United States, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Setlist

The Chinese Way

Love Games

World Machine

Turn It On

Kansas City Milkman

Heathrow

Leaving Me Now

The Chant Has Begun

Micro Kid

The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)

Something About You

Encore:

Hot Water

Are You Hearing (What I Hear)?