Re: Level 42 / Eric Serra

Mark Allerton (Mark@warmspot.compulink.co.uk)
Mon, 12 May 1997 23:22:08 +0100


At 19:59 12/05/97 PDT, you wrote:
>
>Yeah. Every single track they've done gets props (apart from the dodgy
>mid-eighties stuff). I pretty much learnt to play bass by listening to
>Mark King. He is very influenced by Stanley Clarke (which is far from a

Hmmm... apparently Me'shell was influenced by him as well. I'm in two minds
about Level 42...

Firstly if it wasn't for them, along with Light Of The World, I may never
have really gotten into the music I have. When I was 15, I used to dig Rush
(the bass playing again, huh?) When I was 16, I was starting to check out
some of the jazzier tracks on my Dad's Santana records, and my Mum's copy
of "Songs In The Key Of Life". Then (via the soul-boy crew at my school) I
heard two records - "London Town" by LOTW, and Level 42's first LP - and I
knew I could never go back. My jazz-funk epiphany, if you like.

But Level 42 disappointed so quickly. 1st album - wonderful. Early Tapes -
likewise. Oh, and live... amazing. But then... 2nd album - some great
tracks, but... uh-oh... "The Chinese Way"? "Weave Your Spell"?
Getouttahere! The 3rd LP killed the remaining Level 42 fan in me, but by
then I was listening to so much other stuff that I didn't care that much.
Bought some later stuff, out of curiousity, and they've had their moments -
but not many.

There's a lot of stuff I first got into around that time for which my
appreciation has steadily grown over the years - but not Level 42. I still
listen to their early stuff, and I still like it, but... well.. it's not
"Headhunters" exactly, is it?

..Mark..
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Allerton Mark@warmspot.compulink.co.uk
http://www.compulink.co.uk/~warmspot/