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Product Description
CD Description
To celebrate Level 42’s 30th anniversary, Living It Up is a four-disc box set that includes all 34 of the band’s A-side single releases, including "World Machine (Remix)", a US only release, a collection of long lost studio recordings, previously unreleased demos and live tracks and other rarities that have only previously been available on vinyl. In addition, the box set’s fourth disc is the much rumoured Level 42 acoustic album. Newly recorded by Mark King and Mike Lindup in 2010 it features acoustic versions of ten classic Level 42 tracks. The box set is completed by extensive sleeve notes by Mark King, music journalist and author Paolo Hewitt, an early champion of Level 42, and Earth, Wind & Fire bassist Verdine White, who recounts his fond memories of working with the band during his time as their producer.
Product Description
4CD set w/all tracks they released as singles, plus a disc of rare demos, live cuts etc, and an UNRELEASED disc of 2010 acoustic sessions feat Mark King & Mike Lindup
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Admittedly I am a nit-picker when it comes to sound quality, but something has gone badly wrong with the mastering of this box-set. The sound is very flat, with rolled-off treble and bass. Stereo images are flat and two dimensional compared to any of the original issues.
I think Universal have not treated this material as carefully as most fans of the band would hope, especially given that this is hardly a budget-priced release. The fact that some of the songs on disc one are in 'dual mono' shows that there is a significant quality control issue in the process, and the label hasn't even bothered to listen to the test masters!.
Very disappointing.
I think Universal have not treated this material as carefully as most fans of the band would hope, especially given that this is hardly a budget-priced release. The fact that some of the songs on disc one are in 'dual mono' shows that there is a significant quality control issue in the process, and the label hasn't even bothered to listen to the test masters!.
Very disappointing.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Discs one and two of this set feature all of the group's A-sides(many represented by the 7" versions, with an occasional 12" mix and one live track). Disc three presents an assortment of rarities, including previously unreleased demos of "Take Care of Yourself", "She Can't Help Herself"(with Mark King on Drums!) & "Untitled 1980"(actually a completed song with vocals), the "version" of "Coup D'etat" and two extremely lengthy live concert instrumental medleys designed to show off the group's instrumental chops."Spirit Groove" is a reggae-flavored instrumental demo of what later became the song "Past Lives". Disc Four is the biggest surprise(much better than I expected): a new 45 minute album of acoustic re-arrangements of familiar Level 42 tracks, featuring vocals, acoustic guitars, subtle bass guitar(without Mark's normal slap bass techniques), plus occasional bits of bongos, acoustic piano & saxophone. Beautifully performed and recorded by Mark King & Mike Lindup. The duo keep the familiar vocal lines, but take interesting liberties with the chord changes, but nonetheless show that the songs hold up quite well outside their normal funk context.
It is a fact(shown in the group's Polydor "two-fer" CD series), that the group doesn't have many unreleased songs, and many of those had Mark King singing nonsense "scat" syllables(because the lyrics were never written). The unreleased material on Disc 3 is better than expected(barring an annoying, repetitive extended mix of "Dive into The Sun"). Mastering on the set is reasonably good, not the ear-bleeding sound of "Retroglide".
Some may not like the packaging, which uses a newer type of book package(the type that was used by the "Salvo" label for its' box sets by The Move & Peter Green). You have to push a button to free each disc from the package, and I suggest that you check to make sure that the disc is securely back in the package before you close it. The design on the four CD labels is attractive, but nowhere on each disc is there any marking to indicate which disc is "Disc One", "Disc Two", "Disc Three" etc., and so you have to find out by playing them.
The group took an interesting approach to the set. If they didn't have a lot of vaults tracks, then they'd record 45 minutes of fine acoustic re-arrangements to create some new "rarities". The fans will like this set.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: In a sad repeat of what happened with the initial pressings of "Level 42-The Ultimate Collection II", five of the songs in "Level 42-Living It Up"(Disc One, tracks 1,2,7,8 & 9) have accidentally been rendered in a mono sound derived from one channel only of a stereo mix. Undoubtedly, there will be corrected discs, and Amazon.co.uk should keep us up to date on how we can obtain corrected discs. Perhaps Amazon.co.uk should suspend the sale of this box set.
7th Aug.2010 update:Universal Music HAS decided to press a corrected "Disc One", though details concerning how to obtain it have yet to be announced.
It is a fact(shown in the group's Polydor "two-fer" CD series), that the group doesn't have many unreleased songs, and many of those had Mark King singing nonsense "scat" syllables(because the lyrics were never written). The unreleased material on Disc 3 is better than expected(barring an annoying, repetitive extended mix of "Dive into The Sun"). Mastering on the set is reasonably good, not the ear-bleeding sound of "Retroglide".
Some may not like the packaging, which uses a newer type of book package(the type that was used by the "Salvo" label for its' box sets by The Move & Peter Green). You have to push a button to free each disc from the package, and I suggest that you check to make sure that the disc is securely back in the package before you close it. The design on the four CD labels is attractive, but nowhere on each disc is there any marking to indicate which disc is "Disc One", "Disc Two", "Disc Three" etc., and so you have to find out by playing them.
The group took an interesting approach to the set. If they didn't have a lot of vaults tracks, then they'd record 45 minutes of fine acoustic re-arrangements to create some new "rarities". The fans will like this set.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: In a sad repeat of what happened with the initial pressings of "Level 42-The Ultimate Collection II", five of the songs in "Level 42-Living It Up"(Disc One, tracks 1,2,7,8 & 9) have accidentally been rendered in a mono sound derived from one channel only of a stereo mix. Undoubtedly, there will be corrected discs, and Amazon.co.uk should keep us up to date on how we can obtain corrected discs. Perhaps Amazon.co.uk should suspend the sale of this box set.
7th Aug.2010 update:Universal Music HAS decided to press a corrected "Disc One", though details concerning how to obtain it have yet to be announced.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is an excellent collection of songs over the past thirty years of Level 42. My highlights of the box set are the live versions of songs and the acoustic versions. The booklet is also very interesting and overall this is a must for fans of Level 42.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
30 years and still going strong!!!!
I have been a fan of the legendary Level 42 for longer than I care to remember and have seen them live many times, there are many albums available (I have most of them!! Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mrs. Elaine M. Davies
Important songs missing
This collection by Level 42 is great for both newbies and avid fans, disc 4 with the acoustic varieties is cool for fans of Level 42. Read more
Published 16 months ago by D. Maynard
Live with Allan Holdsworth!
Disc Three contains a live take at the Hammersmith Odeon,December 1990 with the legendary Allan Holdsworth on guitar! Read more
Published 17 months ago by junchan
Level 42
A fantastic boxed set of my favourite Brit-Funk band, Level 42!! The acoustic versions of some of their hits is brilliant!! A must for any Level 42 Fans. Read more
Published 20 months ago by K. Angell
Level 42 - Living It Up
This CD is a must for all you Level 42 fans out there, I haven't stopped playing it yet. It is truely a fantastic album. Go get it !!!!
Published 21 months ago by Royst
Value for money with the odd disappointment
I'm a huge fan of Level 42, and saw them live last week. This album is a fantastic best of compilation for those who don't already have one and a further thrill for the rarities... Read more
Published 21 months ago by clickonrick
New disc 4
I bought this just for disc four - new acoustic versions of 10 songs - superb.... (also for the unreleased disc too)
Excellent packaging and booklet - one for the... Read more
Excellent packaging and booklet - one for the... Read more
Published 22 months ago by jmv
Living it well
Having been hooked by this band in the early 80's this is truly a complete album. The acoustic disc is well worked and should have been released on its own without the rest,... Read more
Published 22 months ago by levellion
Living it up, the best
If your a life long fan, you probably think youve got all the single releases and all the albums, but you haven't, this compilation has some un-heard tracks, never before heard... Read more
Published 22 months ago by chris on the level
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