Level 42 (album)

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Level 42 (album)

Level 42 is the debut studio album by the British band Level 42, released in August 1981. It was recorded in 1981 at Vineyard Studios, Chipping Norton Recording Studios, and RAK Studios, and mixed at Red Bus Studios. The music blends jazz-funk, dance-rock, and jazz fusion. The album runs about 43 minutes and was released on Polydor. Mike Vernon produced the record.

Key songs and impact
- Love Games became a popular jazz-funk and dance track and reached number 38 on the UK singles chart.
- Turn It On and Starchild also received notable airplay and charted in the UK.

Track listing (Original vinyl)
1. Turn It On
2. 43
3. Why Are You Leaving?
4. Almost There
5. Heathrow
6. Love Games
7. Dune Tune
8. Starchild

CD releases and bonus tracks
- The first CD pressing replaced the album versions of Turn It On, Love Games, and Starchild with extended versions. Later CD pressings restored the original album versions.
- 2000 reissue bonus tracks: Forty-Two; Beezer One; Foundation & Empire; Dune Tune (live); Goodbye Ray Schmidt-Volk.
- 2007 reissue bonus tracks: Heathrow (Live, 1983); Turn It On (Live, 1983); Starchild (Long Version); Love Games (Live, 2000); Why Are You Leaving? (Live).

Personnel
- Level 42 members: Mark King (bass, percussion, lead vocals on Turn It On, Why Are You Leaving, Almost There, Love Games); Mike Lindup (Minimoog, piano, electric piano, percussion, vocals; lead on Starchild; chorus on Turn It On and Almost There; bridge on Love Games); Boon Gould (guitars); Phil Gould (drums, percussion, Glockenspiel, Timbales, backing vocals).
- Additional contributors: Wally Badarou (keyboard programming and vocals), Leroy Williams (congas, percussion), Gary Barnacle (electric saxophone on Heathrow), Dave Chambers (tenor sax on Why Are You Leaving).
- 2007 reissue extras: Lyndon Connah (keyboards, vocals on tracks 4 & 5); Nathan King (guitars, vocals on tracks 4 & 5); Gary Husband (drums on tracks 4 & 5); Sean Freeman (saxophone and vocals on tracks 4 & 5).

Production
- Producer: Mike Vernon
- Engineers: Dick Plant; Gregg Jackman; Richard Lengyel; John Rule
- Mastering: Tom Coyne
- Artwork: Joe Bartling
- 2007 reissue team: Gary Moore (remastering); Charles Brockbank (design); Paul Fernandez (illustration); Paul Sexton (liner notes)

Charts and certifications
- Album charts: UK Albums (20), Dutch Albums (4), Sweden Hitlistan (43)
- Singles: Love Games (UK #38), Turn It On (UK #47), Starchild (UK #57)
- Certifications: Netherlands Gold (50,000 units)

Overview
Level 42’s first album introduced the band’s catchy blend of funk, rock, and jazz. It is best remembered for Love Games, which helped establish the group’s early sound and set the stage for their subsequent success.