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Format Details:
Release Date: 25 October 2024
Label: Edsel
Packaging Type: Custom Packaging
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 740155741839
Genres: Pop
Release Date: 25 April 2025
Label: Proper Records
Packaging Type: Slip Sleeve (CD or Vinyl)
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 805520240970
Genres: Pop
Description
This 2CD set celebrates Level 42's 1985 Top 3 album "World Machine", produced with Wally Badarou. The Album reached #3 in early 1986.
"World Machine" features the singles 'Something About You' which became the Band's second Top 10 single, peaking at #6 and 'Leaving Me Now', being remixed for single release reaching #15. A Shep Pettibone remix of 'Something About You' reached #7 in the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the Band's highest charting single in the USA.
CD1 contains the original album, while CD2 features a selection of 7" edits, 12" extended versions, remixes and B-sides, including a shorter dub version of 'World Machine' which appears on CD for the first time.
A Foreword has been written by Simon Carson and Paul Waller, with the latter being the author of the book "LEVEL 42: a Worldwide Visual Discography".
The booklet contains album lyrics, as well as photos of the singles released from the album.
Level 42 remain one of the greatest draws on the live circuit and continue to perform worldwide, 45 years after forming.
Founded in late-1979, Level 42 rose from the burgeoning UK Jazz-Funk scene, to international stardom.
Signed by the small independent label, Elite Records in 1980, whilst still a mainly instrumental group, Level 42 were encouraged to widen their appeal with their songwriting and quickly established themselves as a powerful live band on the budding British and European jazz-funk scene.
Their single 'Love Meeting Love' attracted the attention of Polydor Records, with whom they signed their second recording contract, which launched their chart success with twenty UK Top 40 Singles and twelve Top 40 Albums.
Description
This re-issue of World Machine, Level 42's 1985 breakthrough album, is presented with scrupulous attention to the detail of the original UK first pressings and available in audiophile 180g pink vinyl in celebration of the album's 40th anniversary.
By 1985, Level 42 – bassist and vocalist Mark King, keyboard player/vocalist Mike Lindup, guitarist Boon Gould, drummer/lyricist Phil Gould and studio-only keyboard player Wally Badarou – were on the verge of breaking big - After a string of well-received albums, such as their pioneering jazz-funk 1981 debut or the Ken-Scott produced True Colours, the group decided, rather than work up material through jamming, to sit and write some songs for their forthcoming album.
Producing themselves, with assistance from engineer Julian Mendelsohn, this new approach meant that World Machine was the quantum commercial leap they craved. And most of that was due to the album's towering lead single, the pop-funk of "Something About You". With its expensive video seeing the group styled for the 80s, it set radio alight, becoming a Top 10 hit and charting around the world, importantly in the US. Following up with the tender ballad "Leaving Me Now" and then the bouncy funk of the album's title track as singles, the album's success was guaranteed; it reached No 3 in the UK charts and spent an amazing 72 weeks on the listings.
Tracklisting
Level 42
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
Various Artists
Level 42
Level 42
Level 42
Level 42
Level 42
Level 42
Various Artists
