My favorite band of all time. This band Level 42 and their material holds a special place in my heart ❣️ Love all their albums but my favorite three are The Pursuit of Accidents, World Machine and The Debut L 42🌹

@danielpalmersofficial

7 ай бұрын

They’re my favourite band too, my top favourite albums are the debut, “The Pursuit of Accidents”, “Standing in the Light” and “True Colours”. However, I really love “World Machine” and what came after that album as well it’s just these albums have some of my favourite songs of all time. 😉👍

I think World Machine is the high artistic peak pipping RITF a bit. I love True Colours too. But overall every album is special and pretty high quality. It’s complex music expertly played and recorded. The Polydor years are the best but I’ve everything maybe a couple of times on vinyl, cassette and CD!

This band was so fantastic and I'm so glad you're giving this band some much deserved love they were so part of my growing up and when these guys were hot they were such a force to be reckoned with top 5 world machine, staring at the sun, running in the family, self titled and the pursuit of accidents

Great ranking, great work 👏 And what a band! 🤩

My 42nd year following L42....Still listen on a daily basis L42 music was my 1st love, and it will be my last 👍🏻🎵👏🏻💙

@bicyclelegsmusic

9 ай бұрын

They’re great, I just wish they were better known here in Australia.

@Level42Man

9 ай бұрын

You're doing a great job flying the L42 flag 👏🏻

@bicyclelegsmusic

9 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Favorite band of all time

1. Standing in the light 2. Level 42 (love games album 1981). 3. True colors 4. Pursuit of accidents Something happened after 1984 that the band became less funk and more pop. It was never the same … 😢

@bicyclelegsmusic

5 ай бұрын

I tend to like the earlier stuff the best too but I still like the later stuff too. I came in to the catalogue at Running In The Family.

Seven Years is my favorite as well. Marks voice with the fret less bass is just lovely.

@bicyclelegsmusic

8 ай бұрын

It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?

Great ranking Daniel. Thanks for the shout out.

@bicyclelegsmusic

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Tony!

1. World Machine 2. Debut 3. True Colours 4. Running in the Family 5. Staring at the Sun

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 күн бұрын

Thanks!

Great to see you recognising a fantastic band and I would say in my top 3 live bands ever. I have all their albums and love meeting love came out and I was hooked and was lucky to get on white promo my treasured item. First album is amazing but I do have a soft spot for the soulful/Funky Forever now album. I absolutely love Romance from this album. What a track! CAnt wait to see them again at the Apollo London next week. Great video well done!

@bicyclelegsmusic

8 ай бұрын

Thank you very much!

Surprising ranking. Most people, myself included would have World Machine at the top (in my case as a joint no.1 with the live album A Physical Presence). I would have included The Early Tapes in the list as well as A Physical Presence (live album). I’d have Staring At The Sun above Guaranteed, Retroglide and Forever Now which I think are the weakest three despite having a few tracks on them that shine. The track ‘Man’ just elevates it up the ranking….it’s special. Anyway, thanks for sharing 👍

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@danielpalmersofficial

5 ай бұрын

I agree with what you said about “Staring at the Sun”, it’s the best album released after the Gould brothers left and it’s all thanks to the great late Alan Murphy for playing some amazing guitar parts and solos on that album. 😁👍

Another of those "I've always thought I should check these guys out" bands for me. The two US hits are all I know. Thanks for the guidance ... here we go!

@bicyclelegsmusic

11 ай бұрын

Enjoy!

Nice ranking. The Early Tapes was originally to released as a LP by Elite Records called Strategy. There was artwork made too, but Polydor bought the master tapes and called it Early Tapes. It was never “finished” thou, as the Elite contract expired. There’s a great interview on YT with Jerry Pike on it. That said, where would you rank it? Number 1 for me most days, then the debut and TPOA. All the best.

@bicyclelegsmusic

8 ай бұрын

Thank you! It does have a bit of an unfinished sound to it. I still really like it though, some great instrumentals and one greater song in Love Meeting Love. The other two vocal tunes aren’t as good imho. They would definitely get better at writing songs with lyrics.

@khaz606

8 ай бұрын

Mark's vocal on Paradise Is Free is a bit ropey. I've always considered most of their instrumentals more Jazz Fusion/Rock rather than Jazz Funk. In fact, I think it was them the got me into Weather Report etc. So long ago now, I'm not sure :). @@bicyclelegsmusic

how level 42 never caught on in oz is crazy, they actually had a decent run in the NZ across the ditch. I love to a deep dive on a Level 42 album of choice with you

@bicyclelegsmusic

9 ай бұрын

Sounds good!

Funny...just getting into them now!! After dismissing them in the 80s and they are a fantastic band, great video subscribed cheers

@bicyclelegsmusic

9 ай бұрын

Thank you! And yes, there’s a lot more going on below the surface of Level 42 that makes them so interesting.

Great list. IMO though, Early Tapes should have a spot on the list. It is considered to be their second album and contains their first two releases, Love Meeting Love and Wings Of Love. It was meant to be released on Elite Records but ultimately came out after they were signed to Polydor. Even though this came out after their self titled debut, this was the first album they recorded together. I do love their earlier stuff, pre World Machine. Always were amazing live

@bicyclelegsmusic

9 ай бұрын

I would have loved to see them then! I have watched some of the early live videos, they’re great.

As much as I love the first album, I would have to go for world machine as the best. I think it had the best mix of good songs and musicianship overall

@bicyclelegsmusic

3 ай бұрын

It’s a great album.

Well-presented ranking! Mine is somewhat similar: 1. Standing In The Light 2. True Colours 3. Running In The Family 4. Forever Now 5. Level 42 6. World Machine 7. Guaranteed 8. The Pursuit of Accidents 9. Retroglide 10. Staring At The Sun

@bicyclelegsmusic

11 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@danielpalmersofficial

5 ай бұрын

“Standing in the Light” and “True Colours” are my favourites too!! 😁👍

I love Level 42 as well, they’re my favourite band and I love all their albums!! ✌️😁

All the albums are great in their own right. Out of the Polydor catalog, Standing In The Light is probably my least favorite. Production is a bit colder than all the rest even though two EW&F members produced it. World Machine is probably the best album as it’s pretty much flawless except It’s Not The Same For Us being the weakest cut. Post Polydor the songs are good but the production isn’t as good.

Hey. Well done to you. Great list. I have been a fan since 1982. The debut album is perfection and has just been released again on remastered vinyl. World Machine was the point of inflexion and introduced them to pop fans. The band lost a number of diehard fans who wanted Heathrow and Starchild Part 2 ie me! I have all the albums of course but you listed Guaranteed and Staring at the Sun in the 'right places' The former was rejected by Polydor and the band signed to RCA and even Mark has said that SATS is 'crap' Also the band really felt the absence of Phil Gould as a songwriter and lyricist and Forever now marked a return to form but still not a patch on the first few albums.

@bicyclelegsmusic

9 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Great video. Level 42 don't get enough love here on KZread so whenever someone does anything Level 42 related I can do nothing but like it. Now i would love to do a ranking of the Level 42 studio albums but i just can't. I tried and tried but the list changes everyday. Some days i have Level 42 #1 some days i have The Persuit Of Accidents #1 some days i have True Colors #1 so i just can't. However i will correct a "tiny" mistake you make in your video Mike Lindup doesn't sing Standing in Light - Mark King does🤗 Overall i pretty much agree with your list except i do feel that The Early Tapes should have been on the list because it was such an important album. Love Meeting Love was the first single that Andy Surka (is that spelled correct?) put out and the first time Mark King tried to sing. It was also on that album that Level 42 got their "sound" with Mark's tight 16th not bassplaying, Mikes tight groove keyboards, Boon amazing ability to let Mark have the spotlight put play some very complex and brilliant guitar parts and Phil's Simple drum grooves which is harder than anything to play on the drums and make it work. Anyway that's my two cents. Cheers for the video mate sorry for the long comment.

EXCELENTE BANDA Y DIFICIL HACER UN RANKING....NO HAY ALBUM MALO EN ESTA BANDA!! BUEN VIDEO SALUDOS DESDE ARGENTINA

@bicyclelegsmusic

9 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

I would say my ranking is very close to yours; my main difference would be that Staring at the Sun goes to 7 rather than 10.

@bicyclelegsmusic

8 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@danielpalmersofficial

4 ай бұрын

I agree with you, here’s how I would rank the albums personally: 10. “Retroglide” 9. “Guaranteed” 8. “Forever Now” 7. “Staring at the Sun” 6. “Running in the Family” 5. “World Machine” 4. “The Pursuit of Accidents” 3. “Level 42” 2. “True Colours” 1. “Standing in the Light” Let me know how you’d rank the albums!! 😀👍

@mrmrgaming

4 ай бұрын

@@danielpalmersofficial 1. World Machine 2. Standing In The Light 3. True Colours 4. Running In The Family 5. Level 42 6. Staring At The Sun 7. The Pursuit Of Accidents 8. The Early Tapes World Machine might have jumped a spot or two, but that's because that was the album I got first and wore the tape out lol. The later albums, for me, are hard to say. I tend not to dip into them, and I have to go back and listen to them.

@danielpalmersofficial

4 ай бұрын

@@mrmrgaming Fair enough, I would put “The Early Tapes” behind “The Pursuit of Accidents” as I really like that album a lot and it definitely has that classic Level 42 sound. 😁👍

Staring at the Sun....way to low. Love the video.. Level 42 needs more respect.

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 күн бұрын

I adore Level 42, I like Staring At The Sun but I like the other albums better.

Hi mate i really enjoyed the video.The band was my first gig in 88 age 15 on the Staring at the sun tour,I got into them around Running in the family period although i did buy Sun goes down on single age 10 in 83!.That has a great b side called Cant walk you home if you haven't heard it.At that young age i really liked their pop stuff but as i got older i thin k i appreciated their less poppy stuff a bit more.My fav L42 tracks are Kansas city milkman,Hotwater,Physical presence ,Man and their finest pop moments Something about you Leaving me now .There are loads to be fair!.Their best latter day tracks were imo Love in a peaceful world Gauranteed and i love tired of waiting from FN.I agree with Staring at the sun being their weakest effort.Probably under pressure to follow up such a big selling record like Running in the family and with Boon and Phil gone it must have been a hard record to make.I think my fav overall has to be World machinewhich for me is the right balance of pop stuff and more funky edgy stuff.True colours would probably be next up.If you havent heard it yet Mike has just released Changes 2 a solo album.It should be on streaming services and is a great record.all the best mate will check your other vids out.

@jasonjones8178

3 ай бұрын

My favourite level 42 albums are staring at the sun and true colours

Hi Daniel, very nice ranking! I pretty much concur, I just have True Colours one place higher, one of my best sounding albums on vinyl. Did Level 42 ever become more popular in Oz? You mentioned that they were relatively unknown/unpopular when you first got into them…Cheers

@bicyclelegsmusic

11 ай бұрын

They’re still not well known here sadly.

@mike_burke

11 ай бұрын

@@bicyclelegsmusicAh well, the best kept secrets and all that….

They have released a "remastered" version of Retroglide. Which nowadays means less compression. Most of the things u know and i dont have to scream at the screen but u definitely missed this!

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 ай бұрын

I hadn’t heard that, I’ll keep an eye out.

@tanelehala6422

6 ай бұрын

@@bicyclelegsmusic it was released as a CD-R but also exists on Spotify, maybe other streaming services. 💪

@tanelehala6422

6 ай бұрын

There's also an extra track called All I Need after Ship. Released on Special Edition even before remastering. I bought that edition, was 1.4x more expensive.

To put 'starring at the sun' lower than retroglide? Wow!

@bicyclelegsmusic

5 ай бұрын

It was a tough call but I like the songs on Retroglide just a bit better.

@moishe43

5 ай бұрын

Honestly just great to have someone who loves all the albums. Could you tell me which tracks you don't like on the album? (I kill you if you say 'take a look', my fave Level song ever!)@@bicyclelegsmusic

@bicyclelegsmusic

5 ай бұрын

Take A Look is a good song. The couple I’m not such a big fan of are I Don’t Know Why & Tracie.

@moishe43

5 ай бұрын

The lyrics to 'I don't know why' should never have been allowed! I like the single version of Tracie: much faster: the album version is plodding.@@bicyclelegsmusic

@bicyclelegsmusic

5 ай бұрын

Yes, the lyric to I Don’t Know Why is abysmal. And my problem with Tracie is it’s just too pop. I like good pop music but I prefer Level 42 when they’re doing the more adventurous stuff. Hence why my favourite song on this album is Man. They really stretch out on that one.

Forever Now has 2 versions, different order and lots of extra tracks on the 1995 Resurgence version, taken from single extra tracks I guess, altho no All Over You there. The artwork is crap tho :D

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 ай бұрын

Yeah, it is. I have both versions but for the ranking I was going with the original.

i would put persuit at no 1.

@bicyclelegsmusic

9 ай бұрын

It’s a great album.

Surprise he will have the first album as 1

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

World Machine is numero 1

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 ай бұрын

For you, and that’s fine.

World Machine is their best

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 ай бұрын

That’s a valid opinion. It’s not my opinion.

World Machine number 4😂

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 ай бұрын

In my opinion, yes.

Totally wrong his order

@bicyclelegsmusic

6 ай бұрын

There is no right or wrong, we all hear these albums differently.