True Colours (Level 42 album)
True Colours is the fifth studio album by the English jazz-funk band Level 42, released on 5 October 1984 by Polydor Records. Beyond the band's native United Kingdom, the album was released in 10-plus other countries, including Japan, Germany and the United States of America.[3] The album peaked at #14 in the UK Albums Chart.[4]
| True Colours | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 5 October 1984[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1984 | |||
| Studio | Genetic Sound (Berkshire) Park Gate Studios (East Sussex) Total Access (Redondo Beach, California) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 44:50 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Producer | Ken Scott | |||
| Level 42 chronology | ||||
| ||||
The first single released, "Hot Water", hit #18 on the UK Singles Chart,[4] #7 in Belgium and #3 in the Netherlands, and has become a staple in Level 42's live sets to the present day. The second single "The Chant Has Begun", released in many countries, peaked at #41 in the UK Singles Chart.
"Hot Water" was released in the US in 1986 (after being featured in a single version on the US version of band's follow-up studio album World Machine) and entered the Billboard Hot 100, at #87.
Track listing Edit
Side A
- "The Chant Has Begun" (King, P. Gould) – 5:23
- "Kansas City Milkman" (Badarou, King, Lindup, P. Gould) – 5.31
- "Seven Days" (P. Gould, King, Lindup, R. Gould) – 4:26
- "Hot Water" (King, P. Gould, Lindup, Badarou) – 5:41
Side B
- "A Floating Life" (King, P. Gould) – 5:14
- "True Believers" (King, P. Gould) – 5:03
- "My Hero" (King, P. Gould, R. Gould) – 4:15 [originally a bonus track on the CD and cassette]
- "Kouyate" (King, P. Gould, Badarou) – 4:52
- "Hours by the Window" (King, P. Gould) – 5:10
Personnel Edit
Level 42
- Mark King – vocals, bass, percussion
- Mike Lindup – vocals, keyboards
- Boon Gould – guitars
- Phil Gould – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- Wally Badarou – keyboards
- Gary Barnacle – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, electric saxophone
Production Edit
- Produced and engineered by Ken Scott for KoMos Productions.
- Assisted by James Tippett-IIes and Jim Russell
- Mixed at Park Gate Studios
- Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios (Los Angeles, CA).
- Sleeve design – Baker Dave and Malcolm Garrett for Assorted Images.
- Photography – Sheila Rock
Chart positions Edit
Album charts Edit
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | United Kingdom | #14 |
| 1984 | Germany | #23 |
| 1984 | Sweden | #29 |
Single charts Edit
| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Hot Water" | UK Singles Chart | #18 |
| 1986 | "Hot Water" | Billboard Hot 100 | #87 |
| 1984 | "The Chant Has Begun" | UK Singles Chart | #41 |
References Edit
- ^ "News" (PDF). Record Mirror. 29 September 1984. p. 4. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "True Colours - Level 42 | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ "The Definitive Online Level 42 Collectors Resource: Media". Ultimatelevel42.com. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 318/9. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links Edit
- True Colours at Discogs (list of releases)