LEVEL HEADED
Behold an exclusive extract from Level 42—On Track by author and bassist Matt Phillips. Here, Matt recalls the making of ‘Lessons In Love’, the song that took Mark King and his band into the stratosphere, all the way back in 1986...
One of the most successful British bands of the Eighties, Level 42 are also arguably the ultimate fusion unit, streamlining their energetic early jazz-funk sound into slick, effortlessly soulful pop music. Encompassing 11 studio albums, including 20 UK top 40 hits and two US top 20 singles, their catalogue in many ways defines the decade, but also reflects their musical virtuosity and vibrant eclecticism, peppering tracks with influences from Herbie Hancock, Return To Forever, Jimi Hendrix and the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
1985’s World Machine ‘plan’ had worked superbly. The album had been a solid success and the follow-up was set to push Level 42 into the major leagues—but writing hits was a lot easier said than done. Mark King opened up to David Hepworth in Q magazine about some of the pressures involved: “There was a time when I’ve had to sink a lot of drink to be able to drop off to sleep on a Monday night. And then on Tuesday morning you get a call at 10 o’clock to say that the single’s stayed where it was. And that’s it. The world hates us...”