Staring at the Sun (Level 42 album)
Encyclopedia
Staring at the Sun is the eighth studio album released by the British pop band Level 42
, in 1988. Produced by Level 42, Wally Badarou and Julian Mendelsohn. Recorded at Miraval, France. Engineered and mixed by Julian Mendelsohn. Engineer's assistant - Jean Lamoot. Mastered at The Townhouse
by Kevin Metcalfe. The album includes the hits "Heaven in My Hands" (UK No. 12 in 1988), "Take a Look" (UK No. 32) and "Tracie" (UK no. 25).
This is the first album that doesn't feature brothers Phil Gould
and Boon Gould playing, although Boon did write the lyrics to six of the songs. To substitute them they took on British guitarist Alan Murphy
, who had collaborated with Go West
and singer Kate Bush
, and drummer Gary Husband
, who had been a member of the band Morrissey-Mullen. Murphy died in 1989 of an HIV
virus.
A Available on the CD and cassette only
Plus:
Level 42
Level 42 are an English pop rock and jazz-funk band who had a number of worldwide and UK hits during the 1980s and 1990s.The band gained fame for their high-calibre musicianship—in particular that of Mark King, whose percussive slap-bass guitar technique provided the driving groove of many of the...
, in 1988. Produced by Level 42, Wally Badarou and Julian Mendelsohn. Recorded at Miraval, France. Engineered and mixed by Julian Mendelsohn. Engineer's assistant - Jean Lamoot. Mastered at The Townhouse
Townhouse Studios
Townhouse Studios was a recording studio in west London. Built by Richard Branson in 1978, and managed by Barbara Jeffries as part of the Virgin Studios Group. The Virgin Studios Group was acquired by EMI when Richard sold Virgin Records to EMI in 1992. The Sanctuary Group bought the studio from...
by Kevin Metcalfe. The album includes the hits "Heaven in My Hands" (UK No. 12 in 1988), "Take a Look" (UK No. 32) and "Tracie" (UK no. 25).
This is the first album that doesn't feature brothers Phil Gould
Phil Gould (musician)
Philip Gabriel Gould, also known as Phil Gould is a British professional drummer, song writer, and singer from the Isle of Wight in southern England...
and Boon Gould playing, although Boon did write the lyrics to six of the songs. To substitute them they took on British guitarist Alan Murphy
Alan Murphy
Alan Murphy was an English rock session guitarist, best remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush and Go West. In 1988 he joined the group Level 42 as a full time band member, and played with them until his death in 1989...
, who had collaborated with Go West
Go West (band)
Go West is an English pop duo, formed in 1982 by lead vocalist and drummer Peter Cox ; and guitarist and vocalist Richard Drummie...
and singer Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
, and drummer Gary Husband
Gary Husband
Gary Husband is a British jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer.- Short biography:Gary Husband is an English jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer...
, who had been a member of the band Morrissey-Mullen. Murphy died in 1989 of an HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
virus.
Track listing
- "Heaven in My HandsHeaven in My Hands"Heaven in My Hands" is a song by the British group Level 42. It was released as a single in 1988, from the album Staring at the Sun.It reached number 12 in the UK charts upon release in 1988, and was the first single not to feature the Gould brothers, Boon and Phil, following their departure the...
" (KingMark King (musician)Mark King is an English musician. He is most famous for being the lead singer and bassist of the band, Level 42. In the early 1980s King popularized the 1970s-era slap and pop style for playing the bass guitar by incorporating it into pop music.-Early life:King was brought up on the Isle of Wight,...
/ R. Gould) – 4:39 - "I Don't Know Why" (King / R. Gould) – 4.22
- "Take a LookTake a Look (song)Take a Look, is a single released in 1988 by British band Level 42 from the album Staring at the Sun. It reached #32 on the UK Singles Chart.-Personnel:Mark King - Bass/VocalsMike Lindup - Keyboards/VocalsGary Husband - DrumsAlan Murphy - Guitars...
" (King / R. Gould / LindupMike LindupMike Lindup is best known as the keyboard player and falsetto voiced singer, who joined with Mark King and brothers Phil and Boon Gould to form the 1980s - 1990s British funk/rock/pop band, Level 42....
/ BadarouWally BadarouWally Badarou is a musician from Benin.-Biography:A synthesiser specialist, Badarou was the longtime associate of the British band Level 42, known for its blend of funk, pop, soul and rock...
) – 4:41 - "Over There" (King / Lindup) – 3:59
- "Silence" (Lindup) – 4:56
- "TracieTracie (song)"Tracie" is a song by British band Level 42, written by then-current bandmembers Gary Husband and Mark King. It appeared on the band's 1988 studio album Staring at the Sun. The song features great work from frontman Mark King on bass, and it also features keyboardist Mike Lindup playing harmonica...
" (King / HusbandGary HusbandGary Husband is a British jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer.- Short biography:Gary Husband is an English jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer...
) – 4:53 - "Staring at the Sun" (King / R. Gould / Badarou) – 4:39
- "Two Hearts CollideTwo Hearts Collide"Two Hearts Collide" is a pop/romantic song released in 1988, in the studio album Staring at the Sun, by the British musical group Level 42. It's written by Mark King and Boon Gould, that had already abandoned the band...
" (King / R. Gould) – 4:10 - "Man" (King / R. Gould / Badarou) – 7:23
- "Gresham Blues" A (King) – 5:43
A Available on the CD and cassette only
Personnel
- Mark KingMark King (musician)Mark King is an English musician. He is most famous for being the lead singer and bassist of the band, Level 42. In the early 1980s King popularized the 1970s-era slap and pop style for playing the bass guitar by incorporating it into pop music.-Early life:King was brought up on the Isle of Wight,...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Mike LindupMike LindupMike Lindup is best known as the keyboard player and falsetto voiced singer, who joined with Mark King and brothers Phil and Boon Gould to form the 1980s - 1990s British funk/rock/pop band, Level 42....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Gary HusbandGary HusbandGary Husband is a British jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer.- Short biography:Gary Husband is an English jazz and rock drummer, pianist and composer...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Alan MurphyAlan MurphyAlan Murphy was an English rock session guitarist, best remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush and Go West. In 1988 he joined the group Level 42 as a full time band member, and played with them until his death in 1989...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s
Plus:
- Wally BadarouWally BadarouWally Badarou is a musician from Benin.-Biography:A synthesiser specialist, Badarou was the longtime associate of the British band Level 42, known for its blend of funk, pop, soul and rock...
– keyboards - Dominic MillerDominic MillerDominic Miller is an Argentine-English guitarist who toured and recorded with World Party and King Swamp, worked on Phil Collins' solo album ...But Seriously and played guitar on every Sting album and tour since 1990...
– guitars - Krys Mach - saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s - Steve SidwellSteve Sidwell (musician)Steve Sidwell is a conductor, composer, and instrumentalist specialising in swing music. Renowned as an arranger and composer, Steve, has featured on numerous albums, television shows, advertising campaigns and films with his distinctive and innovative orchestrations and compositions.He is also a...
– trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
Album charts
| Year | Album | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Staring at the Sun" | UK album charts | #2 |
| 1988 | "Staring at the Sun" | US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
#128 |
Single charts
| Year | Song | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Heaven in My Hands" | UK single charts | #12 |
| 1988 | "Take a Look" | UK single charts | #32 |
| 1988 | "Tracie" | UK single charts | #25 |