Customer Reviews

Running in the Family

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The peak of Level 42's pop music. Production on this album is flawless and the sounds from Lindup's keybaords are wonderful. "Lessons In Love," "Running In The Family," "Fashion Fever" and "To Be With You Again" groove in classic Level 42 style. "Children Say" and the bonus track, "Freedom Someday" are delightfuly poppy. The best track is "It's Over," a song about the heartbreak of a man who has fallen out of love and has tried everything to avoid breaking the heart of the woman who loves him. The emotion in this song is so genuine that it moves you. But that's what is so great about Level 42, you can relate to every song and the music is pure craftsmanship.

4 milion unit sales later, Running in the Family was Level 42's most successful album. Spawning 5 hit singles, this recording was the last that featured all the original band members. Very fitting, that the last film clip they did for this album was titled, "It's Over." Running in the Family was the most refined, polished and commercial album that Level 42 had done up unitl that point in their history. Watch out for the groove lines of "Fashion Fever" and the very catchy "Freedom Someday." The latter Level 42 fan would probably rate this as their all time best. For mine, it's certainly up there.

Running In The Family is a great CD, from the seriousness of It's Over to the fun of Fashion Fever. This is a CD I never get tired of. I Like this album so much, that I always have the tape in my car and the CD in the CD player. Also I would like to suggest another Level 42 album, Guaranteed on RCA also a CD you never get tired of. Level 42 was the best band I have ever seen live.

They don't make albums like this anymore:( I picked this up back when it came out and quickly had to replace the tape from over play!! Now in the age of CD it still finds heavy rotation time in my CD unit! That is the true test for any CD if it can still hold that kind of power play after all these years. The title track will always be a favorite, as well as "Lessons In Love!" Buy it!!

....how can one go wrong? The second mostly "pop" album by the British quartet is almost as good as their first (World Machine). The only down side (besides the wretched "Fashion Fever") is that lead man Mark King's heavy funky bass lines aren't as evident in most of the tracks. "Lessons in Love" is an exception, and elsewhere the melodic overtones of most of the other tracks make up for the lack of King. "Children Say," "Running in the Family," and "Two Solitudes" continue drummer/songwriter Philip Gould's tryst w/childhood glee, while "It's Over" is a wonderfully tender, even tearful, ballad.

Level 42 never did make it as big as some of the other 80s groups like the Pet Shop Boys or Erasure. They're not a synthpop band, but what stands out in Level 42 is the vocal harmony that Mark King and Mike Lindup perfect in so many of their songs. Their lyrics are almost ridiculously "quirky", but there is always truth hidden behind the veneer of their words. No 80s collector should miss this album.

This was the first Level 42 product that I tested in the way back and found it to be their best. Recorded well and with little bit of a Jazz pop sound to it. Not your average style of music.

I went through most of my teenage years listening to that great album and the songs still move me when I hear them. It's amazing to see they've managed to create songs that give you the impression they have been written for you and they are telling you truths about your own life. It's really a shame the band did split !

I agree with all the other positive comments made to date. I had this recording on casette and, needless to say, I'm buying the CD! The music is timeless! I have always been a fan of Level 42!

The sound of Level 42 is a great mix of jazz-pop fusion with a wicked funk. I have been a fan since day one and I think this is their most mainstream album.