Mark King is a great bass player. The band is simply terrific! Classic 80s sound, in part created by, the band themselves ! A great catalog overall. Try Kansas City Milkman !
How awesome is that Carl? Love them even more since discovering several more songs on the channel. I know you'll have a wonderful time. Thanks for watching!
The little splashes of electric piano(or synth vibes?, not sure of exactly what instrument) were superb, kept the song moving. Definitely a reggae feel. Putting somewhat dark lyrics behind a happy melody? Shades of Steely Dan, wonder if they were fans...
Happy Tuesday! Always cool to have the contrast between music and lyrics. Now I gotta find more songs with dark music and happy lyrics haha. Nice Steely reference. Thanks as always for the quick stop by and for being first again! 🥇
Really nice to hear Level 42 back in the fold. I too, love the reggae vibes in this song….I also catch the Stevie Wonder reference. Another fun song of theirs that I’ve mentioned before is “You Can’t Blame Louis”….great bass from Mark.
How about that groove drumming? Phil Gould maybe didn't have the all out chops that current drummer Pete Ray Biggin has, but he could groove his ass off and always knew when to stretch out and when to hold back. Love both drummers BTW. I wore this song and record out back in the day.
Well, I only know about Lessons In Love, which video rotated obsessively on MTV that year. This one is certainly easy on the ear, and it ended just when I thought it better should. So thank you once more Brandon!
Hi Brandon, John from OZ (again). Lovin' this channel! I completely agree with your "shades of Stevie Wonder" comment. Back in 1998 King's second solo album (One Man) featured a single with Stevie-esque vox and jazz progressions: Bitter Moon. I still love it many years on.... Give it a whirl, see what you think? Cheers
I've only heard a few Level 42 songs but I'm always impressed with how well crafted they are and always with top notch mixing and production! (the title makes me think of "The Sleepwalkers" by Van der Graaf Generator, a great prog rock song from 1975 and VERY different from Level 42! 😅)
I spent some time listening to all their discography in 1999 after most of their work were done, and I must say everysong and music is wonderful, captivating and perfectly crafted. In 1987's "Running in the family" it was their pop area and they had many hits, or songs that could be. This is one of them, but my favorite was "Children's Say" that you already reacted to I believe. This one was much slower and hypnotic, with a subtle groove containing many layers. Mark King was much more into vocal lines at that period, his intense funk slap bass line period were more between 1980 to 1985, then it became much more mainstream songs. This album is excellent in his whole, but I suggest you "two solitudes" a beautiful acoustic ballad sung by Mike Lindup, also "Freedom someday " which have too sides in the writing and each singers alternate Mark king then Mike Lindup, you will find it interesting. Also "It's over" is the type of perfect slow but I think you already made it too. 🙏
Yes, top notch all around. Yes I've reacted to Children Say and It's Over. I've added your votes for TS and FS. They sound great! I also reacted to "All I Need" on Patreon (from 2006) and highly recommend it, if you have not heard it by chance. Thanks!
@@retroreactions.... "Running in the family" and particularly "Lessons in love" are the two hits of this album, I believe you already heard the second one, somewhere! Consider also the album "World Machine" from 1985 who featured there first planetary hit "Something about you"
According to you, this song is "the closing track on the original record". Yes, partially true. CDs had just been invented and were starting to appear in stores. Because Polydor wanted CDs to sell (they were much cheaper to make than vinyl discs or tapes), they made the last track of this album, "Freedom Someday", a CD-exclusive. So, on the "record", Sleepwalkers is the last track. But the focus had shifted to the new format already.
Another shade to this excellent band..uplifting summer island vibes to mask the dark undertones of the lyrics... Thanks for watching! 🥰
Mark King, not often said wonderful voice. Dynamic, distinctive and conveys emotion very well. Sounds good no matter what type of music he sings
Mark King is a great bass player. The band is simply terrific! Classic 80s sound, in part created by, the band themselves ! A great catalog overall. Try Kansas City Milkman !
Fantastic band still seeing them in November 🇬🇧 London 😊
How awesome is that Carl? Love them even more since discovering several more songs on the channel. I know you'll have a wonderful time. Thanks for watching!
It's the best song on that album
The little splashes of electric piano(or synth vibes?, not sure of exactly what instrument) were superb, kept the song moving. Definitely a reggae feel. Putting somewhat dark lyrics behind a happy melody? Shades of Steely Dan, wonder if they were fans...
Happy Tuesday! Always cool to have the contrast between music and lyrics. Now I gotta find more songs with dark music and happy lyrics haha. Nice Steely reference. Thanks as always for the quick stop by and for being first again! 🥇
Just one song? How Un-Brandon of you. 🤣 His voice is as smooth as butter. 🧈 I love this song.💙🎵🎶🎶
Lol... what was I thinking! Bring on the butter! 🐄
YES! Bring on the butter. 🤠🐮🧈Happy Tuesday!
Same to you! 🤗
Thank you! 🤗
Only one song . . maybe because he is currently swamped trying to fulfill an upcoming excessively packed Patreon request?😊🤭😅
Great deep cut! The whole album is fantastic!
Sometimes deep cuts are some of the best, as you know...Thanks for watching!!
Really nice to hear Level 42 back in the fold. I too, love the reggae vibes in this song….I also catch the Stevie Wonder reference. Another fun song of theirs that I’ve mentioned before is “You Can’t Blame Louis”….great bass from Mark.
Always great, guaranteed! Another vote for Louis! You're probably still on cloud 9 from your great experience... ☁😊☁
How about that groove drumming? Phil Gould maybe didn't have the all out chops that current drummer Pete Ray Biggin has, but he could groove his ass off and always knew when to stretch out and when to hold back. Love both drummers BTW. I wore this song and record out back in the day.
Got a little early UB40 vibe from this.. Never heard this one before. Starchild will 4ever be my fav LEVEL42 SONG
One song that you should have a listen to is Lasso the moon from the 1991 Guaranteed album. It is just wonderful.
Well, I only know about Lessons In Love, which video rotated obsessively on MTV that year.
This one is certainly easy on the ear, and it ended just when I thought it better should.
So thank you once more Brandon!
Cool deal brother.....
Nice to hear this one on your channel. Thus far I've only listened to this album track on cassette. I hope one day you'll get to 'Freedom someday'.
Hi Brandon, John from OZ (again). Lovin' this channel! I completely agree with your "shades of Stevie Wonder" comment. Back in 1998 King's second solo album (One Man) featured a single with Stevie-esque vox and jazz progressions: Bitter Moon. I still love it many years on.... Give it a whirl, see what you think? Cheers
Hey John! Thanks for watching and for the comment/compliment/suggestion! Have a great day/night 😊
Howdie! 👋👍✌️. Love me a little “reggae” beat. Love the bass. So rich. Yeah, Brandon! Stevie Wonder vibes for sure. Good ear. Steely Dan too.
Greetings... Bass always a shining star with L42! Will have to listen again for the Steely vibes. Thanks for tuning in!
I've only heard a few Level 42 songs but I'm always impressed with how well crafted they are and always with top notch mixing and production! (the title makes me think of "The Sleepwalkers" by Van der Graaf Generator, a great prog rock song from 1975 and VERY different from Level 42! 😅)
Glad you liked. I added TS to my Van der Graaf list...why not!
@@retroreactions.... 🥳
I spent some time listening to all their discography in 1999 after most of their work were done, and I must say everysong and music is wonderful, captivating and perfectly crafted. In 1987's "Running in the family" it was their pop area and they had many hits, or songs that could be. This is one of them, but my favorite was "Children's Say" that you already reacted to I believe. This one was much slower and hypnotic, with a subtle groove containing many layers. Mark King was much more into vocal lines at that period, his intense funk slap bass line period were more between 1980 to 1985, then it became much more mainstream songs. This album is excellent in his whole, but I suggest you "two solitudes" a beautiful acoustic ballad sung by Mike Lindup, also "Freedom someday " which have too sides in the writing and each singers alternate Mark king then Mike Lindup, you will find it interesting. Also "It's over" is the type of perfect slow but I think you already made it too. 🙏
Yes, top notch all around. Yes I've reacted to Children Say and It's Over. I've added your votes for TS and FS. They sound great! I also reacted to "All I Need" on Patreon (from 2006) and highly recommend it, if you have not heard it by chance. Thanks!
@@retroreactions.... "Running in the family" and particularly "Lessons in love" are the two hits of this album, I believe you already heard the second one, somewhere! Consider also the album "World Machine" from 1985 who featured there first planetary hit "Something about you"
@@retroreactions.... I missed "all I need" from 2006, I thought you'd considered music until 2000? Probably more freedom on Patreon 😉
According to you, this song is "the closing track on the original record". Yes, partially true. CDs had just been invented and were starting to appear in stores. Because Polydor wanted CDs to sell (they were much cheaper to make than vinyl discs or tapes), they made the last track of this album, "Freedom Someday", a CD-exclusive. So, on the "record", Sleepwalkers is the last track. But the focus had shifted to the new format already.
Hello. Thanks so much for watching and for the info!
I wish more off these were used from their live versions. So much better imo. Great tune though
Early Tapes is by far their best.....
Not heard this one before. Could easily have been done by UB40! Not a criticism btw.
Hi Philip. I totally can hear that. UB40 would be a great addition to my channel. Thanks for watching!
my THINKINg EXACTLY