Obviously, "Something About You" was my first exposure to L42, but my God, their well goes soooooo deep! And this album, Running In The Family, that "Lessons In Love" resides on, is STILL on my Playlist to this day! Every song is excellent and very polished. These guys are SO underappreciated.
What a song, what a band. Mike a lovely and talented man. I was 12 and growing up in south London in 1987 and my two favourite bands were level 42 and erasure. How many great hits and albums between those two groups. What a time that was
Big Prog,Metal,Jazz Fusion fan here.Have always been open minded regarding music.Seen these guys in Belfast circa 1987.Absolutely superb musicians. Long live Level 42.
They we're amongst the big ones. Level42 is a great band. Another Song I remember is Running in the Family. Style is what they have. Much love from Germany.
Last Summer (2021) I had this song on loop after rediscovering it after 30 years or so. In 1990 my parents bought a Lincoln Town Car and Ford provided a cassette tape with the car that included this song along with popular hits of the time as well as the Back to the Future theme, Indiana Jones Theme and others. What a time to grow up! Level 42 is amazing and this song is a total wall of sound coming at you like a tsunami that your ears can't get enough of. It wraps you in that time. Thank you, Adam, for another great episode!
This song grew on me through the years...I can remember hating it and the video when it first came out but now I consider it to be an eighties classic!
What a talented band Level 42 is! Yes, they are touring again. Mark King’s distinctive voice and amazing bass chops often get the most attention, but Mike and his bandmates are superb musicians in their own right, Great harmonies, too! Thanks for another great segment, Adam!
Level 42 is one of those bands that are "superb musicians" (quoting Robster) and songwriters that don't neatly fit into genres, yes they had some pop success but are also very funky, groovy and electronic at the same time. I just love them- these 2 hits songs are incredibly deep melodic masterpieces that I consider "Deep Cuts" of the 80's. There are so many great bands that never acquired commercial success, I am glad Level 42 has achieved what they have- and deservedly so! Amazing interview- thank you so much Professor
Saw then in San Francisco 12 years ago. They haven’t been back since. Not many were at that concert, which is ridiculous! The younger generations need to know about this incredible band. Bring them back to the States!
I had the great fortune of discovering Level 42 when they toured with Steve Winwood in 1986. That year I also had a teacher who was a big fan of their early material and encouraged me to check it out. I was hooked! I remember my sister’s boyfriend was going to be in Boston and I begged him to check out a well known Compact Disc store to see if he could find a copy of Running in the Family which had just been released.(This was still pretty early for CD distribution) I was so excited when he returned with a copy for me! I still play their self-titled album and The Pursuit of Accidents almost monthly. Timeless entertainment!
Level 42! Awesome band! Their music defines the 80's for me! Every time I hear them I get transported back to the greatest years of my life! Thanks for keeping the music alive Professor!
Something About You is one of those songs that gets brought up in "what's your favorite song?" conversations often for me. There just aren't too many other songs that make me feel the way that it does. It's an emotional experience when I hear it. Lessons In Love is a great song too, but it's hard to reach the level of emotional connection that I have with Something About You. Love these videos so much Professor.
Love Level 42 and Something about you is one of the songs I play on my saxophone when I’m busking as it’s always been one of my favourite songs too! The 80s was the best music… but I’m probably biased as I was in my teens then and so into music.
Just saw this tonight and enjoyed it as I do most all your many segments. Had to comment as both Level 42 and Lessons In Love a favorite. Just tweeted about them both on New Years Day. My Lessons In Love story is this: in ‘87 had one of my 1st part-time jobs while in school at aptly named The Record Store in the mall. We were music geeks and competitive with our tastes. The minute I 1st heard the song I bet my co-worker it would go Top Ten, that was the bet. I felt it would go higher but wanted to win so just said Top Ten. It was on. Don’t even remember if it was ten bucks or what but probably mostly bragging rights. Back then without internet I anxiously waited each week for the stores copy of Billboard to arrive in the mail and track its progress. I was sure it would do it. I was getting close and I’m sure I was doing a lot of smack-talking to the girl I made the bet with. However, it somehow stalled out at 12 before heading back down. Couldn’t believe it. How could my instincts miss what I thought was an even better single then the last huge hit? Think it may have been a bell-ringer of tastes starting to change in pop with synth. I paid up but still loved the group and the song so glad all these years later Professor of Rock to hear you say the same of your appreciation of this classic, perfect pop gem!! Thanks for the insight and memories!!
Thanks professor! Coincidence, I've been listening to Level 42 on repeat the last couple wks. Learning more about them. Watching their concerts. Bought a vintage record player for husb for Christmas and was feeling nostalgic. ♥️ love this band. Glad I became familiar with them in real time!
Class of '87 was perfect song placement. Insane. Freedom Someday is criminally underrated....by the band as well. It swings as well as anything they produced.....
I immediately became a big fan of Level 42 after first hearing them on the radio as a kid in the 80's. I used to listen to them on cassette tape on my Sony walkman and boom box. Great interview. Great memories. Thank you.
Great finally to have confirmed what i always questioned about Lessons in Love. That the drums are programed! This can especially be heard on the original extended version towards the end where there is an instrumental break. The version ads another dimension to the song and makes it so much better than the 7" inch cut but I guess too long for radio. I actually bumped in to Mike Lindup on a flight from Hamburg to Frankfurt in the summer of 86' coincidentally at the time the song was a major European hit. I had just listened to the song off my cassette mixtape, looked up, and there was Mike finding his seat on the plane. That blew my mind!!! I passed him getting off the plane and being the shy 17 year old i could only utter..."good music". I should have asked for an autograph! Anyways, Mike had a huge smile and said "thank you". I'll never forget that! He seemed like such a cool guy! And because of that experience the extended version of Lessons in Love will always and forever be one of my very favorite songs and remind me of my youth back in the summer of 1986! ❤️🎵☀️✈️
It’s never been hidden from me. When you did Something about You last year, I commented that Lessons in Love was a better song. I’m glad you finally did this one.
I played the extended mix of Something about you a lot in my club DJ days in the 80s well into the mid 90s. Still love the extended version. and will listen to it periodically.
Level 42 are extremely good. Their sound evolved so well from the soul funk of the early eighties to the chart topping radio friendly rock and pop soul hits of the mid eighties to early nineties. So many wonderful songs; Something About You, Lessons In Love, Leaving Me Now, It's Over, Take A Look, Running In The family, Heaven In My Hands (the extended and remixed versions are extra special) and Guaranteed plus so many more. The key players in the band through the years are all interesting characters (Boon RIP) and Mark King must be one of the nicest people in music. I have seen interviews with non professional journalists and he is the same with them as he is with anyone else, always thoughtful in answering questions and never patronising. I remember once reading many years ago that he made pizza for a visiting journalist at his home in the Isle of Wight. Not many famous people would do so-he seems very much the real deal. His hands used to be insured for two million pounds such was the value of the band at their peak in the eighties. That bass sound is so distinctive and plays such a role in their music. Gary Husband and Alan Murphy (RIP) have also been integral to the band alongside Mike LIndup, of course. Level 42s longevity is remarkable and they deserve the esteem they are held in worldwide.
Guaranteed and Forever Now are extremely overlooked albums in my opinion. It contains songs that I love like Guaranteed, A Kinder Eye, If You Were Mine, and The Sunbed Song.
@@CentralPALocos A particular favourite of mine from 'Guaranteed' is Mike Lindup's 'Lasso The Moon'. It's easily one of his best songs, yet it wasn't even included on the original 1991 vinyl version of the album, just on the CD and Cassette editions (along with the Mark King and Gary Husband co-write 'With A Little Love') as a bonus track instead.
I first heard "Leaving Me Now", while living in southern Maine, in 1985. That song is what hooked me into being a Level 42 fan, moreso than "Something About You" did, though I love that song as well.
The album ’Running in the family’ was a big success for Level 42 here in the Netherlands. Besides the title hit and ‘Lessons in love’, they also had hits with ‘Children say’ and ‘It’s over”. A really great album. But my favorite Level 42 album is still their first album, which was more focused towards Funk and instrumental playing, with outstanding slapbass playing of Mark King on it. I also love the heavy use of the Prophet 5 and Minimoog synths on it. Great stuff!
Everything I've read and seen has indicated to me the Netherlands have always loved Level 42. It has been a Jazz stronghold for decades. Blue Note and later ECM recording artists have been embraced there, so with Level 42 it's a natural fit. Being an American, many of my CDs of Level 42 following "Guaranteed" ended up being imports from Europe. Loved them in the 80's and still to this day. The final addition of real horns currently has been something I've always wanted.
How did i miss this? Mike's back again? What a bloke! Im so glad hes willing to talk about this time with all the great music they were putting out at the time. Thanks, Mike!
The Level 42 guys are some of my favorite interviews. A lot of the one and two hit wonders love talking about their hits. Some don't, but the ones that do are great to listen to.
I have been listening to Level 42 since I found ( and stole,lol) my brothers cassette of World Machine in 1987! Then I explored more and started collecting every album like Running in the Family and music in general. I couldn’t stop listening to music, whether it be rock, pop, dance or classical. When I hear these songs, it brings me back to the age of 12. Before I became an adult, 911, the Gulf war and so many other horrible life events. Everything felt carefree and achievable. I had an expansive amount of support to use my artistic ability and music capabilities to help shape my future! Maybe it’s because I was too young and naive to understand that the world isn’t as wonderful and safe as I thought. Thanks for bringing us this installment of Revelations! It has brought me a sense of peace in this time of crisis.
Yeah - anyone else have memories of falling in love with the World Machine album and then running to Tower Records (remember them?) and searching through the shelves to get the previous albums? Shout out to Standing in the Light (when they were produced by Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire) and True Believers (which gave us several gems, including Hours By the Window), as well as the double live album A Physical Presence (and that unreleased gem Follow Me).
As far as I'm concerned, when you write "Something about you", you don't have to anything else because you've done one of the greatest songs in history. I love that song! Sorry Prof, I'll be back shortly, gotta go listen to "Something about you". Been awhile since I listened to it.
Yes, it's just as well that you bought 'Level Best' on CD and Cassette, as (due to the limited playing time of vinyl albums) the LP version has only got fourteen tracks on it instead of eighteen. Those four omitted tracks are: 'Micro Kid', Take A Look', 'To Be With You Again' and 'The Chant Has Begun'.
Something About You just never grabbed me the way it seemed to resonate with everyone else. However, Lessons In Love relentlessly took me by the heart and never let go!
So many beautiful gems of the 80s, both hidden and known. There are so many underrated songs and gems that we may have missed just waiting to be rediscovered. Cheers!
Lessons in Love always reminds me of the movie Hot Pursuit (1987) John Cusack, Wendy Gazelle, Robert Loggia, Ben & Jerry Stiller, Monte Markham. Fun and funny movie despite it's going a tad overboard* here and there. I liked it so much I bought the DVD during Covid. Lessons in Love, Something About you have been on my playlist since 1987, cassette, CD, MP3, on my cellphone without interruption. LEVEL 42 FTW
After I heard World Machine I was hooked. Something About You is also one of my favorite songs ever. But after World Machine I sought out every Level 42 album I could find...The Early Tapes, Staring At The Sun, Physical Presence 1&2...and I was not disappointed by any of them.
Level 42 opened for Madonna on her Who’s That Girl tour stop at Soldier Field in Chicago in the summer of 1987. I loved Madonna but I was so impressed with Level 42. What a great memory from my teenage years!
I always was drawn to L42 for some reason... could it be because THEY ARE AWESOME?!? Of course! Thanks Adam, for a great deeper dive-rest of the story, keep doing what you do, as we all wait for 11am(or whatever YOUR time is where you live), every day, for the Professors vid to drop!
Bought this album immediately. I remember putting it on tape and starting my Freshman year of college walking all over campus with that tape playing over and over. Yay, autoreverse!
4 decades later, dissecting Lessons in Love (this brilliant pop music generational poster child), throughs some light as to why the 80s have become such a cultural beacon. Thank you!
Something about you and Lessons in love always have been in my top 20 in life!... And I probably spent thousands of hours listening to my CDs and music on the radio in my life!
I remember hearing Lessons in Love in early 1987 when it was charting in the US. I instantly loved it, especially the intro. I like it just a little bit more than Something about you. I remember that song along with I just died in your arms and Don't dream it's over coming out at the same time on the radio. Good times.
My all-time fav band. I was in Germany visiting my buddy in the Summer of 1986, (and was still listening to World Machine on my Walkman non-stop) when he took me to a nightclub - and that night, I heard Lessons In Love for the first time. I was just blown away - but was later so frustrated that I couldn’t get a copy of it until the next year when Running In The Family came out in the States! This band defined my college years at Michigan State in the 80s. Thanks Adam, for another great snippet of this Mike interview.
I would strongly urge you to also check out some of their other albums on TH-cam, as they have loads of great songs just waiting for you to discover them. Enjoy.
Always a treat when Sirius XM 80s on 8 plays "Lessons In Love" as a treasure chest hit. This was a song that had Top 10 written all over it. I remember being shocked when it stopped at #12 while Kenny G's "Songbird" snoozefest climbed into the Top 10. Charts. Confusing stuff sometimes.
Great interview, as always, Professor! Thanks for keeping the music alive for us. There are so many tidbits and gems of knowledge that are wonderful to keep preserved! You’re a true rock encyclopedia! 60‘s, 70‘s, and 80‘s musically were fantastic! Things started to go downhill in the 90‘s, and have been steeply sliding that way ever since. Luckily there are many oldies stations, so I can still enjoy some oldies from those decades I have either not heard yet, or those which are rarely being played. I‘ve even been listening to some 1950‘s music, which I couldn’t stand growing up in the 1960‘s. But gosh, every time I go to iTunes and sample the top 10 I can only shake my head. They all sound alike to me. I can count on one hand the contemporary songs I liked this year. Well, time moves on. Thanks again for doing what you do! ❤
Absolutely love when these artists have their instruments with them and break down by playing the original concept and where they went from there. Mike Lindup is fantastic at describing the process of making their music, a true musician with a one of a kind sound. Rest in Peace to Boon Gould also. Apparently Holland knows great music. Great episode professor
Fantastic breakdown! Prof, you keep getting top tier interviews. Level 42 were a bit derided among some music snobs as “blue eyed soul” at the time (nothing wrong with that for me) but they had funk too.
Still love "Something About You", but "Lessons In Love" has become more of a favorite for me me . Would love to see them live . The Midwest is sometimes overlooked. The Fixx came to Springfield, MO. A couple of times as well as a handful of others and I will be forever thankful for those memories.
World Machine was my very first Compact Disc. It was also my first repeat purchase because I physically wore out the first one. Level 42 is my all time favorite band. Something About You was the reason to look at the CD but the opening to World Machine was an incredible showcase of what music on CD could be, sealing the deal for my hard earned money. Thanks for giving me new appreciation for their most popular song. Like BTTF, I never get tired of the complexities and depth of the production. However, my overall favorite release from them is Forever Now. PS the first time I heard a CD player was when I shopped in a stereo equipment store and Chicago 17 played the opening keyboards to We Can Stop The Hurting. Some things you never forget.
I'll never, Never, NEVER forget this perfect song! I STILL listen to it on a loop!!! L-o-v-e, LOVE this song! Since the 1st time I heard it! Immediately bought the album 💜💜💜💜💜💜
They're highly underrated for sure. I believe they've also charted well in the Philippines, especially Lessons In Love. Mark King's slap bass took on a whole new level with that song. That was the first time I heard someone do slap bass when I was a kid and was immediately HOOKED on the band. Sadly, I had to replace my old L42 cassettes when they were part of the casualties of one of our yearly typhoons and floodings back then. When I moved to the US, I pretty much also moved to buy most of my old favorites on CDs - and that included anything I could find from Level 42. A real must-have for any music collection. The 1980s and early 1990s really had some very unique and dynamic music that still resonates to this day. There's one other band that I believe never made it big in the US, but had a smattering of success across Europe and Asia as one of the early new wave group: Fra Lippo Lippi.
POLL: Who is the most underrated band or artist of the 80s?
Big Country
(Still waiting for a Big Country video, professor)
The Outfield.
Midnight Star and The Gap Band
1. The Smithereens
2. Ultravox
3. Big Country
Thompson Twins
Howard Jones
Two of my absolute favorite songs of all time are "Something About You" and "Lessons in Love"! Thank you for featuring Level 42 in this episode!
YAS ME TOO.
Obviously, "Something About You" was my first exposure to L42, but my God, their well goes soooooo deep! And this album, Running In The Family, that "Lessons In Love" resides on, is STILL on my Playlist to this day! Every song is excellent and very polished. These guys are SO underappreciated.
LEVEL 42! What a BAND. Thanks for including them on your show
“Lessons in love” never LEFT my playlist! Always loved Level 42, always will.
You had me at Level 42! Something About You and Lessons In Love are on high rotation in my house.
Still got Level 42 songs on rotation on my playlists that I listen to daily. Wouldn't be the same without them. Amazing live.
That sound from the 80s is so timeless yet encapsulated in a special time and place. I love this era of music the most.
What a song, what a band. Mike a lovely and talented man. I was 12 and growing up in south London in 1987 and my two favourite bands were level 42 and erasure. How many great hits and albums between those two groups. What a time that was
Big Prog,Metal,Jazz Fusion fan here.Have always been open minded regarding music.Seen these guys in Belfast circa 1987.Absolutely superb musicians. Long live Level 42.
that bass line....wow...one of my favorite bands of all time...
Favorite band of all time. Seen them live 6 times although I live in the US. Thanks for highlighting them again!
They we're amongst the big ones. Level42 is a great band. Another Song I remember is Running in the Family. Style is what they have. Much love from Germany.
I completely forgot this song even existed. What a marvelous story!
Last Summer (2021) I had this song on loop after rediscovering it after 30 years or so. In 1990 my parents bought a Lincoln Town Car and Ford provided a cassette tape with the car that included this song along with popular hits of the time as well as the Back to the Future theme, Indiana Jones Theme and others. What a time to grow up! Level 42 is amazing and this song is a total wall of sound coming at you like a tsunami that your ears can't get enough of. It wraps you in that time. Thank you, Adam, for another great episode!
'Something About You' & 'Lessons in Love' are absolute gems. I'm so lucky to have had the opportunity to experience 80s music in real time ❤
I wish I was there, but I’m still a child!
This song grew on me through the years...I can remember hating it and the video when it first came out but now I consider it to be an eighties classic!
What a talented band Level 42 is! Yes, they are touring again. Mark King’s distinctive voice and amazing bass chops often get the most attention, but Mike and his bandmates are superb musicians in their own right, Great harmonies, too! Thanks for another great segment, Adam!
Thanks Robster. Happy new year!
Level 42 is my favorite 80's group. I have all of their records. Unfortunately, I don't think they tour the US.
They have a very unique sound, unlike any of their fellow 80s peers.
Level 42 is one of those bands that are "superb musicians" (quoting Robster) and songwriters that don't neatly fit into genres, yes they had some pop success but are also very funky, groovy and electronic at the same time. I just love them- these 2 hits songs are incredibly deep melodic masterpieces that I consider "Deep Cuts" of the 80's. There are so many great bands that never acquired commercial success, I am glad Level 42 has achieved what they have- and deservedly so! Amazing interview- thank you so much Professor
Saw then in San Francisco 12 years ago. They haven’t been back since. Not many were at that concert, which is ridiculous! The younger generations need to know about this incredible band. Bring them back to the States!
Level 42... such a great sound and energy about them.
I could hear Lessons In Love everyday and never get tired of it.
Wonderful memories of playing this CD and discovering all the other great songs from Level 42.
Absolutely LOVED Level 42 in the 80s and still do!! Wonderfully fun dance music, many very happy memories dancing to their tunes back then and since.
I had the great fortune of discovering Level 42 when they toured with Steve Winwood in 1986. That year I also had a teacher who was a big fan of their early material and encouraged me to check it out. I was hooked! I remember my sister’s boyfriend was going to be in Boston and I begged him to check out a well known Compact Disc store to see if he could find a copy of Running in the Family which had just been released.(This was still pretty early for CD distribution) I was so excited when he returned with a copy for me!
I still play their self-titled album and The Pursuit of Accidents almost monthly.
Timeless entertainment!
Level 42! Awesome band! Their music defines the 80's for me! Every time I hear them I get transported back to the greatest years of my life! Thanks for keeping the music alive Professor!
I saw them in concert in August 2019 in Lemmer, Netherlands. It was a hell of a show and for two hours.
Something About You is one of those songs that gets brought up in "what's your favorite song?" conversations often for me. There just aren't too many other songs that make me feel the way that it does. It's an emotional experience when I hear it. Lessons In Love is a great song too, but it's hard to reach the level of emotional connection that I have with Something About You. Love these videos so much Professor.
Love Level 42 and Something about you is one of the songs I play on my saxophone when I’m busking as it’s always been one of my favourite songs too! The 80s was the best music… but I’m probably biased as I was in my teens then and so into music.
Just saw this tonight and enjoyed it as I do most all your many segments. Had to comment as both Level 42 and Lessons In Love a favorite. Just tweeted about them both on New Years Day. My Lessons In Love story is this: in ‘87 had one of my 1st part-time jobs while in school at aptly named The Record Store in the mall. We were music geeks and competitive with our tastes. The minute I 1st heard the song I bet my co-worker it would go Top Ten, that was the bet. I felt it would go higher but wanted to win so just said Top Ten. It was on. Don’t even remember if it was ten bucks or what but probably mostly bragging rights. Back then without internet I anxiously waited each week for the stores copy of Billboard to arrive in the mail and track its progress. I was sure it would do it. I was getting close and I’m sure I was doing a lot of smack-talking to the girl I made the bet with. However, it somehow stalled out at 12 before heading back down. Couldn’t believe it. How could my instincts miss what I thought was an even better single then the last huge hit? Think it may have been a bell-ringer of tastes starting to change in pop with synth. I paid up but still loved the group and the song so glad all these years later Professor of Rock to hear you say the same of your appreciation of this classic, perfect pop gem!! Thanks for the insight and memories!!
Thanks professor! Coincidence, I've been listening to Level 42 on repeat the last couple wks. Learning more about them. Watching their concerts. Bought a vintage record player for husb for Christmas and was feeling nostalgic. ♥️ love this band. Glad I became familiar with them in real time!
Class of '87 was perfect song placement. Insane. Freedom Someday is criminally underrated....by the band as well. It swings as well as anything they produced.....
The 80’s had THE best hits of any era. So many great artists. Today’s artist don’t even compare. Great interview.👍
I immediately became a big fan of Level 42 after first hearing them on the radio as a kid in the 80's. I used to listen to them on cassette tape on my Sony walkman and boom box. Great interview. Great memories. Thank you.
Great band, great solo artists too.
Mike lindup and phil Gould s album are gems.
Great finally to have confirmed what i always questioned about Lessons in Love. That the drums are programed! This can especially be heard on the original extended version towards the end where there is an instrumental break. The version ads another dimension to the song and makes it so much better than the 7" inch cut but I guess too long for radio. I actually bumped in to Mike Lindup on a flight from Hamburg to Frankfurt in the summer of 86' coincidentally at the time the song was a major European hit. I had just listened to the song off my cassette mixtape, looked up, and there was Mike finding his seat on the plane. That blew my mind!!! I passed him getting off the plane and being the shy 17 year old i could only utter..."good music". I should have asked for an autograph! Anyways, Mike had a huge smile and said "thank you". I'll never forget that! He seemed like such a cool guy! And because of that experience the extended version of Lessons in Love will always and forever be one of my very favorite songs and remind me of my youth back in the summer of 1986! ❤️🎵☀️✈️
I can't believe there are not a million subs on this channel! Keep up the great work! thanks Prof
It’s never been hidden from me. When you did Something about You last year, I commented that Lessons in Love was a better song. I’m glad you finally did this one.
I played the extended mix of Something about you a lot in my club DJ days in the 80s well into the mid 90s. Still love the extended version. and will listen to it periodically.
Level 42 are extremely good. Their sound evolved so well from the soul funk of the early eighties to the chart topping radio friendly rock and pop soul hits of the mid eighties to early nineties. So many wonderful songs; Something About You, Lessons In Love, Leaving Me Now, It's Over, Take A Look, Running In The family, Heaven In My Hands (the extended and remixed versions are extra special) and Guaranteed plus so many more. The key players in the band through the years are all interesting characters (Boon RIP) and Mark King must be one of the nicest people in music. I have seen interviews with non professional journalists and he is the same with them as he is with anyone else, always thoughtful in answering questions and never patronising. I remember once reading many years ago that he made pizza for a visiting journalist at his home in the Isle of Wight. Not many famous people would do so-he seems very much the real deal. His hands used to be insured for two million pounds such was the value of the band at their peak in the eighties. That bass sound is so distinctive and plays such a role in their music. Gary Husband and Alan Murphy (RIP) have also been integral to the band alongside Mike LIndup, of course. Level 42s longevity is remarkable and they deserve the esteem they are held in worldwide.
Guaranteed and Forever Now are extremely overlooked albums in my opinion. It contains songs that I love like Guaranteed, A Kinder Eye, If You Were Mine, and The Sunbed Song.
Love their flawless combination of rock, soul, jazz, and new wave elements into one perfect slice of 80s pop.
@@CentralPALocos A particular favourite of mine from 'Guaranteed' is Mike Lindup's 'Lasso The Moon'. It's easily one of his best songs, yet it wasn't even included on the original 1991 vinyl version of the album, just on the CD and Cassette editions (along with the Mark King and Gary Husband co-write 'With A Little Love') as a bonus track instead.
I’ve never forgotten about Level 42. Fantastic band!
Something About You was one of my favourite songs of my childhood. But was a fan of Level 42 in general, so Lessons in Love was pretty good too.
Such an awesome band. Love those guys. Level 42 forever.
I first heard "Leaving Me Now", while living in southern Maine, in 1985. That song is what hooked me into being a Level 42 fan, moreso than "Something About You" did, though I love that song as well.
Its simply such a joy to perform their karaoke songs the rhythm simply scoops the lyrics out though i sound more like LEVEL 24
The album ’Running in the family’ was a big success for Level 42 here in the Netherlands. Besides the title hit and ‘Lessons in love’, they also had hits with ‘Children say’ and ‘It’s over”. A really great album. But my favorite Level 42 album is still their first album, which was more focused towards Funk and instrumental playing, with outstanding slapbass playing of Mark King on it. I also love the heavy use of the Prophet 5 and Minimoog synths on it. Great stuff!
Pretty cool stuff. They really knew how to groove.
Everything I've read and seen has indicated to me the Netherlands have always loved Level 42. It has been a Jazz stronghold for decades. Blue Note and later ECM recording artists have been embraced there, so with Level 42 it's a natural fit. Being an American, many of my CDs of Level 42 following "Guaranteed" ended up being imports from Europe. Loved them in the 80's and still to this day. The final addition of real horns currently has been something I've always wanted.
How did i miss this? Mike's back again? What a bloke! Im so glad hes willing to talk about this time with all the great music they were putting out at the time. Thanks, Mike!
I’ve seen Level 42 over 30 times love this band they put the funk in my trunk for a lifetime
I loved the song 'Something about you'. I didn't hear them really again. Glad they did so well in Holland. They are very talented.
The Level 42 guys are some of my favorite interviews. A lot of the one and two hit wonders love talking about their hits. Some don't, but the ones that do are great to listen to.
Exactly.
Just know that they created lightning in a bottle! A magical feat!
I have been listening to Level 42 since I found ( and stole,lol) my brothers cassette of World Machine in 1987! Then I explored more and started collecting every album like Running in the Family and music in general. I couldn’t stop listening to music, whether it be rock, pop, dance or classical. When I hear these songs, it brings me back to the age of 12. Before I became an adult, 911, the Gulf war and so many other horrible life events. Everything felt carefree and achievable. I had an expansive amount of support to use my artistic ability and music capabilities to help shape my future! Maybe it’s because I was too young and naive to understand that the world isn’t as wonderful and safe as I thought. Thanks for bringing us this installment of Revelations! It has brought me a sense of peace in this time of crisis.
Yeah - anyone else have memories of falling in love with the World Machine album and then running to Tower Records (remember them?) and searching through the shelves to get the previous albums? Shout out to Standing in the Light (when they were produced by Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire) and True Believers (which gave us several gems, including Hours By the Window), as well as the double live album A Physical Presence (and that unreleased gem Follow Me).
As far as I'm concerned, when you write "Something about you", you don't have to anything else because you've done one of the greatest songs in history. I love that song! Sorry Prof, I'll be back shortly, gotta go listen to "Something about you". Been awhile since I listened to it.
Glad they are touring. I got the Level Best Cassette and played the heck out of it, then the CD years later. Even now, still great to play.
Yes, it's just as well that you bought 'Level Best' on CD and Cassette, as (due to the limited playing time of vinyl albums) the LP version has only got fourteen tracks on it instead of eighteen.
Those four omitted tracks are: 'Micro Kid', Take A Look', 'To Be With You Again' and 'The Chant Has Begun'.
You can't say I love the 80,s without mentioning level 42
Something About You just never grabbed me the way it seemed to resonate with everyone else. However, Lessons In Love relentlessly took me by the heart and never let go!
So many beautiful gems of the 80s, both hidden and known. There are so many underrated songs and gems that we may have missed just waiting to be rediscovered. Cheers!
As a high schooler, I have discovered around 500 of these hidden gems already. Adam does an excellent job bringing these gems to justice.
Under appreciated band. So many great tunes. Love Level 42!
So good!
I agree Steven!
You were right - I love "Something About You" but I completely forgot about this song. It really is fantastic. Thank you for doing a piece on it.
I never forgot this one. It's so good, I have it on a playlist.
I was too much a "Rocker" to appreciate Level 42 back in the day, but since then they have become part of my regular rotation...great band!
Lessons in Love always reminds me of the movie Hot Pursuit (1987) John Cusack, Wendy Gazelle, Robert Loggia, Ben & Jerry Stiller, Monte Markham. Fun and funny movie despite it's going a tad overboard* here and there. I liked it so much I bought the DVD during Covid. Lessons in Love, Something About you have been on my playlist since 1987, cassette, CD, MP3, on my cellphone without interruption. LEVEL 42 FTW
Haha same for me! Can't forget that Keith David was also in the movie.
After I heard World Machine I was hooked. Something About You is also one of my favorite songs ever. But after World Machine I sought out every Level 42 album I could find...The Early Tapes, Staring At The Sun, Physical Presence 1&2...and I was not disappointed by any of them.
Level 42 had so many hidden gems, Lessons in love was a great song, not their best but certainly on the list.
Another 80s band that made living during that time period so great! Glad to hear they are still touring!
Level 42 opened for Madonna on her Who’s That Girl tour stop at Soldier Field in Chicago in the summer of 1987. I loved Madonna but I was so impressed with Level 42. What a great memory from my teenage years!
I absolutely love this song; proud that we in South Africa had this at number one at the time :)
these two hits are favorite songs of mine. i wish more of their songs has this same vibe
I always was drawn to L42 for some reason... could it be because THEY ARE AWESOME?!? Of course! Thanks Adam, for a great deeper dive-rest of the story, keep doing what you do, as we all wait for 11am(or whatever YOUR time is where you live), every day, for the Professors vid to drop!
One of my all time favorite 80s tunes! Level 42 have many great songs.
So true.
I agree. Love this song and band.
Bought this album immediately. I remember putting it on tape and starting my Freshman year of college walking all over campus with that tape playing over and over. Yay, autoreverse!
4 decades later, dissecting Lessons in Love (this brilliant pop music generational poster child), throughs some light as to why the 80s have become such a cultural beacon. Thank you!
Something about you and Lessons in love always have been in my top 20 in life!... And I probably spent thousands of hours listening to my CDs and music on the radio in my life!
I love their music. This whole album is my favorite.
I remember hearing Lessons in Love in early 1987 when it was charting in the US. I instantly loved it, especially the intro. I like it just a little bit more than Something about you. I remember that song along with I just died in your arms and Don't dream it's over coming out at the same time on the radio. Good times.
Such great music from this band. One of my favorite songs of theirs is “It’s Over”.
My all-time fav band. I was in Germany visiting my buddy in the Summer of 1986, (and was still listening to World Machine on my Walkman non-stop) when he took me to a nightclub - and that night, I heard Lessons In Love for the first time. I was just blown away - but was later so frustrated that I couldn’t get a copy of it until the next year when Running In The Family came out in the States! This band defined my college years at Michigan State in the 80s.
Thanks Adam, for another great snippet of this Mike interview.
You're welcome my friend.
Really cool!
Both of Level 42's hit songs were excellent which defined the musical sounds of the 80's. I''m glad we're getting their story.
Thanks Stephen!
Me too. So cool.
I would strongly urge you to also check out some of their other albums on TH-cam, as they have loads of great songs just waiting for you to discover them. Enjoy.
Danced mu butt into Level 42 in 80s Germany.
The 80s: _Lived ‘em. Loved ‘em. Miss ‘em._
Oh my goodness, I heard Lessons in Love and it made me happily jump in my seat. It is impossible not to sing along with that song.
Never forgotten.😍❤ I've loved these boys since the beginning!!!
Another chunk of rock history discovered by Professor of Rock for his SIX HUNDRED Thousand fans !!! Fantastic.
Thanks Jane!
Always a treat when Sirius XM 80s on 8 plays "Lessons In Love" as a treasure chest hit. This was a song that had Top 10 written all over it. I remember being shocked when it stopped at #12 while Kenny G's "Songbird" snoozefest climbed into the Top 10. Charts. Confusing stuff sometimes.
Yes! Love this song. I have the 12" version. Gets a regular spin. Such a good feel.
One of my favorite 80's group. Too forgotten and mentioned. I have this puppy on a 12in promo. Thanx for this Prof !👍👍👍👍👍
Great interview, as always, Professor! Thanks for keeping the music alive for us. There are so many tidbits and gems of knowledge that are wonderful to keep preserved! You’re a true rock encyclopedia! 60‘s, 70‘s, and 80‘s musically were fantastic! Things started to go downhill in the 90‘s, and have been steeply sliding that way ever since. Luckily there are many oldies stations, so I can still enjoy some oldies from those decades I have either not heard yet, or those which are rarely being played. I‘ve even been listening to some 1950‘s music, which I couldn’t stand growing up in the 1960‘s. But gosh, every time I go to iTunes and sample the top 10 I can only shake my head. They all sound alike to me. I can count on one hand the contemporary songs I liked this year. Well, time moves on. Thanks again for doing what you do! ❤
This song recently popped up on my you tube music app, and I thought how much I really like it. Glad to get more of the story.
Always fun hearing stories about recording an album and finding out another group (or solo artist) is using another studio in the building.
One of my favorite bands..Mark King is in my top 5 of bass players....Brings me back always to my teens
Lessons in Love is one of my favorite 80's songs. I still play it a lot.
One of the bands I listen to literally every day on the way to work- underrated for sure. Wow I had forgotten about ELP another great band.
Absolutely love when these artists have their instruments with them and break down by playing the original concept and where they went from there. Mike Lindup is fantastic at describing the process of making their music, a true musician with a one of a kind sound. Rest in Peace to Boon Gould also. Apparently Holland knows great music. Great episode professor
Thanks My Name.
Shows what a true musical genius Mike is. He’s such an underrated talent.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I agree, fantastic music
I LOVE these songs. Both of them have had a place on every Faves list I've put together SINCE they were on the radio!
Right on!
Irresistibly catchy…
Idk what makes you think it's forgotten. It's one of the biggies of the 80s and on my 80s playlist.
Love this song! It's used in one of my favorite underrated movies from the 80's, Hot Pursuit.
Fantastic breakdown! Prof, you keep getting top tier interviews. Level 42 were a bit derided among some music snobs as “blue eyed soul” at the time (nothing wrong with that for me) but they had funk too.
lessons in love such a great tune, Mark will always be a hero of mine, that baseline is relentless. Great Video as always Adam.
Still love "Something About You", but "Lessons In Love" has become more of a favorite for me me . Would love to see them live . The Midwest is sometimes overlooked. The Fixx came to Springfield, MO. A couple of times as well as a handful of others and I will be forever thankful for those memories.
World Machine was my very first Compact Disc. It was also my first repeat purchase because I physically wore out the first one. Level 42 is my all time favorite band. Something About You was the reason to look at the CD but the opening to World Machine was an incredible showcase of what music on CD could be, sealing the deal for my hard earned money. Thanks for giving me new appreciation for their most popular song. Like BTTF, I never get tired of the complexities and depth of the production. However, my overall favorite release from them is Forever Now. PS the first time I heard a CD player was when I shopped in a stereo equipment store and Chicago 17 played the opening keyboards to We Can Stop The Hurting. Some things you never forget.
I was listening to them just yesterday and having a trip to nostalgia...i miss the 80s.
Love Level 42. My absolute favorite song is Leaving Me Now.
I'll never, Never, NEVER forget this perfect song! I STILL listen to it on a loop!!! L-o-v-e, LOVE this song! Since the 1st time I heard it! Immediately bought the album 💜💜💜💜💜💜
Very cool!
It’s so excellent.
They're highly underrated for sure. I believe they've also charted well in the Philippines, especially Lessons In Love. Mark King's slap bass took on a whole new level with that song. That was the first time I heard someone do slap bass when I was a kid and was immediately HOOKED on the band. Sadly, I had to replace my old L42 cassettes when they were part of the casualties of one of our yearly typhoons and floodings back then. When I moved to the US, I pretty much also moved to buy most of my old favorites on CDs - and that included anything I could find from Level 42. A real must-have for any music collection. The 1980s and early 1990s really had some very unique and dynamic music that still resonates to this day. There's one other band that I believe never made it big in the US, but had a smattering of success across Europe and Asia as one of the early new wave group: Fra Lippo Lippi.