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Level 42

At the beginning of their career, Level 42 was a jazz-funk fusion band, following in the footsteps of such pioneers as Stanley Clarke. By the end of the '80s, they were a pop-R&B band with a number of hit singles to their credit. Featuring Mark King (bass, vocals), Phil Gould (drums), Boon Gould (guitar), and Mike Lindup (keyboards), the band formed in 1980. Before they released their first single, "Love Meeting Love," the band was pushed to add vocals to their music in order to give it a more commercial sound; they complied, with King becoming the lead singer. Released in 1981, their self-titled debut album was a slick soul-R&B collection that charted in the U.K. Top 20, resulting in the release of The Early Tapes by their former record label, Polydor. Level 42 had several minor hit singles before 1984's "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)" hit the British Top Ten. Released in late 1985, World Machine broke the band worldwide; "Lessons in Love" hit number one in Britain and "Something About You" hit number seven in America. Their next two records, Running in the Family (1987) and Staring at the Sun (1988), were a big success in the U.K., yet only made some headway in the U.S. Both of the Gould brothers left the band in late 1987; they were replaced by guitarist Alan Murphy and drummer Gary Husband. Murphy died of AIDS-related diseases in 1989; he was replaced by the renowned fusion guitarist Alan Holdsworth for 1991's Guaranteed. The band followed Guaranteed in 1995 with Forever Now.

~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Popular Playlists Featuring Level 42

  • 80's Radio: Sampling Ghost's Digital Library 193 plays

    114 songs featuring Crowded House, The Cure, The Police, The Hooters...

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    • I Still Believe (Great Design)
      by The Call
    • Rock the Casbah
      by The Clash
    • Town Called Malice
      by The Jam
    • Talk About the Passion
      by R.E.M.
    • Voices Carry
      by 'Til Tuesday
    • Pride (In the Name of Love)
      by U2
    • Overkill
      by Men at Work
    • Let the Day Begin
      by The Call
    • Under the Milky Way
      by The Church
    • Weather With You
      by Crowded House
    • Miss Me Blind
      by Culture Club
    • In Between Days
      by The Cure
    • Flowers of Guatemala
      by R.E.M.
    • Should I Stay or Should I Go
      by The Clash
    • I Can Dream About You
      by Dan Hartman
    • Let's Dance
      by David Bowie
    • Stripped
      by Depeche Mode
    • Rio
      by Duran Duran
    • Red Skies
      by The Fixx
    • Everywhere I Go
      by The Call
    • I Ran (So Far Away)
      by A Flock Of Seagulls
    • Relax
      by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
    • Desire (Come And Get It) (E...
      by Gene Loves Jezebel
    • Train in Vain
      by The Clash
    • Better Be Home Soon
      by Crowded House
    • Time (Clock of the Heart)
      by Culture Club
    • Pictures of You
      by The Cure
    • Skin Trade
      by Duran Duran
    • Our Lips Are Sealed
      by The Go-Go's
    • And We Danced
      by The Hooters
    • Like To Get To Know You Well
      by Howard Jones
    • Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scr...
      by Icicle Works
    • The One Thing
      by INXS
    • Shattered Dreams
      by Johnny Hates Jazz
    • Destroyer
      by The Kinks
    • Modern Love
      by David Bowie
    • Strangelove
      by Depeche Mode
    • Space Age Love Song
      by A Flock of Seagulls
    • A View To A Kill
      by Duran Duran
    • Something About You
      by Level 42
    • Safety Dance
      by Various Artists
    • Down Under
      by Men at Work
    • Suedehead
      by Morrissey
    • Promises, Promises
      by Naked Eyes
    • Between Something And Nothing
      by Various Artists
    • Dead Man's Party
      by Oingo Boingo
    • If You Leave
      by Orchestral Manoeuvres in th...
    • Your Love
      by The Outfield
    • World Where You Live
      by Crowded House
    • Lovesong
      by The Cure
    • All You Zombies
      by The Hooters
    • What Is Love?
      by Howard Jones
    • This Time
      by INXS
    • Major Tom '94 (Radio Version)
      by Peter Schilling
    • Message in a Bottle
      by The Police
    • Pretty in Pink [Original Ve...
      by The Psychedelic Furs
    • (Don't Go Back To) Rockvill...
      by R.E.M.
    • Talking in Your Sleep
      by The Romantics
    • Kiss Them for Me
      by Siouxsie and the Banshees
    • The Boy with the Thorn in H...
      by The Smiths
    • Something So Strong
      by Crowded House
    • China Girl
      by David Bowie
    • Where Do the Children Go
      by The Hooters
    • Don't Change
      by INXS
    • Fascination Street
      by The Cure
    • Until She Comes
      by The Psychedelic Furs
    • Wrapped Around Your Finger
      by The Police
    • It's The End Of The World A...
      by R.E.M.
    • I Got You
      by Split Enz
    • Black Coffee in Bed
      by Squeeze
    • Fortress Around Your Heart
      by Sting
    • How Soon Is Now?
      by The Smiths
    • If I Can't Change Your Mind
      by Bob Mould
    • Doctor! Doctor!
      by Thompson Twins
    • I Will Follow
      by U2
    • Blister in the Sun
      by Violent Femmes
    • To Live and Die in L.A.
      by Wang Chung
    • Don't Dream It's Over
      by Crowded House
    • (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
      by Devo
    • Tempted
      by Squeeze
    • Just Like Heaven [Remix]
      by The Cure
    • King of Pain
      by The Police
    • And We Danced
      by The Hooters
    • Reptile
      by The Church
    • What I Like About You
      by The Romantics
    • Hold Me Now
      by Thompson Twins
    • Don't Change
      by INXS
    • No One Is to Blame
      by Howard Jones
    • Whip It
      by Devo
    • That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
      by The Smiths
    • The Bed's Too Big Without You
      by The Police
    • Pulling Mussels (From the S...
      by Squeeze
    • Gloria
      by U2
    • In Your Eyes
      by Peter Gabriel
    • Der Kommisar
      by Various Artists
    • The Dead Heart
      by Midnight Oil
    • Cry Little Sister (Thou Sha...
      by G Tom Mac
    • Don't You (Forget About Me)...
      by Simple Minds
    • Rain In The Summertime
      by The Alarm
    • In a Big Country
      by Big Country
    • She Sells Sanctuary [Long V...
      by The Cult
    • Lips Like Sugar (Way Out We...
      by Various Artists
    • Mirror in the Bathroom
      by The English Beat
    • Cars
      by Gary Numan
    • Fire Woman
      by The Cult
    • Save It For Later
      by Various Artists
    • Come Dancing
      by The Kinks
    • I Melt With You
      by Modern English
    • Tainted Love / Where Did Ou...
      by Soft Cell
    • It's My Life [Extended Vers...
      by Talk Talk
    • Shout
      by Tears for Fears
    • The Ghost in You
      by The Psychedelic Furs
    • Birthday
      by Sugarcubes
    • Pictures of Matchstick Men
      by Camper Van Beethoven

Top Level 42 Listeners

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