Level 42's Running in the Family is a Classic '80s Album
Often Forgotten, You May Not Realize You Hear Level 42 Music All the Time!
Running In The Family was released in 1987, topping out at #23 on the US charts. It also made #1 in the Netherlands and #2 in Britain.
Running In The Family produced several hits in Britain, but in the US the biggest single was Lessons In Love. The quintessential example of Level 42's pop side, the single made it to #12 on Billboard's Hot 100. The album's title track only made it to #83 in the US, but was in the top 3 in Britain.
Band members Mark King, Mike Lindup, Phil Gould and Boon Gould turned out an album that combines Top 40 pop songs, love ballads, and societal commentary, such as the high-tempo, funk driven Fashion Fever. The striking thing is that almost every song is its own slightly different style and is complex musically. There are no Ramones' style three chord songs here.
Released on cassette and vinyl originally, Running In The Family migrated to CD shortly thereafter and in the last few years was reissued in a remastered version with bonus tracks. I highly recommend that version, as well as the original.
By this point you may be wondering...who is Level 42 anyway? Chances are you've heard them. Lessons In Love is a very popular song on in-store and restaurant pop music feeds, and often shows up on the radio as well. Some of the more eclectic in-store music sometimes includes Running In The Family and Children Say. And almost everyone has at one time heard Something About You from Running In The Family's immediate predecessor, World Machine.
If you've heard it, you know what I mean. If you haven't...go get it. You won't be disappointed.
Here are some good sources to find Running In The Family.
Combination with the Staring At The Sun album:
Resources:
Wikipedia, Running in the Family
Published by Nobody At All
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