One of the most iconic and successful British bands of the 1980s, Level 42 are also arguably the ultimate ‘fusion’ unit, streamlining their energetic early jazz/funk/rock sound into slick, effortlessly-soulful pop music. Encompassing eleven studio albums, including twenty UK top 40 hits and two US top twenty singles, in many ways their catalogue defines the 1980s but also reflects their musical virtuosity and vibrant eclecticism, peppering tracks with influences from Herbie Hancock, Return To Forever and The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Emerging from the so-called ‘Britfunk’ scene, Level 42 developed from being one of the most electrifying live acts of the era to become a true songwriters’ collective, delivering the effervescent, ubiquitous hits ‘The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)’, ‘Something About You’ and ‘Lessons In Love’.
Level 42 - on track is the first in-depth study of the band’s illustrious catalogue, track by track, album by album, with recording information, musical analysis, studio gossip, full musician credits and contributions from Mark King and Gary Husband. The book also covers the solo projects of the band’s many members. Level 42 – on track is a must for fans and those interested in the wider musical landscape of the 1980s and 1990s.
Matt Phillips has been a Level 42 fan since seeing the band perform ‘The Chinese Way’ on Top Of The Pops in January 1983. He is the founder of movingtheriver.com and soundsofsurprise.com, has contributed to various magazines including Classic Pop and Jazzwise and won the inaugural Write Stuff award for jazz writing. Matt has been Universal Music’s jazz catalogue manager and Jazz FM’s web editor, and has written the liner notes for Miles Davis, Tony Williams and Billy Cobham DVDs and CDs. As a multi-instrumentalist, he has performed extensively in London and Europe, and co-written songs for Silver Sun. He lives in London.
