Standing In The Light, the much loved third album by Level 42, is available again on LP as a strictly limited audiophile gold vinyl pressing. Level 42 – bassist and vocalist Mark King, keyboard player/vocalist Mike Lindup, guitarist Boon Gould, drummer/lyricist Phil Gould and studio-only whizz kid Wally Badarou – were, by 1983, well-respected survivors of the early 80s Britfunk explosion, but had yet to really break big. An unmissable live draw, they had yet to enjoy proper commercial success. Polydor could sense this and sent the group to LA to work with Larry Dunn and Verdine White from Earth, Wind & Fire, to add an extra dimension to their sound.
However, it was not to be an EWF horn and mysticism fest; Standing In The Light tweaked and commercialised the group's sound without losing their uniquely British take on jazz-funk. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind was the first single taken from the album and just missed the UK Top 40; however, the next release gave the group their first Top 10 hit and a taste of the success they would savour in the coming years. Living It Up (The Sun Goes Down) was their first Top 10 hit in the UK, and is a funk-based scorcher. As a result, Standing In The Light was Level 42's first Top 10 album. It also contains the intense, political I Want Eyes, drummer Phil Gould's favourite writing collaboration with Mark King, and five other examples of the group's unique groove.
Standing In The Light is presented with scrupulous attention to the detail of the original UK first pressings and available in audiophile 180gm gold vinyl. Whether replacing much-loved originals, or adding to a collection afresh, these are a superior way to enjoy such enduring and influential music.
