World Machine
Studio album by
Level 42
ReleasedSeptember 1985 (1985-09)
Recorded1985
StudioMaison Rouge (Fulham, London)
Genre
Length47:04
LabelPolydor
ProducerWally Badarou, Level 42
Level 42 chronology
A Physical Presence
(1985)		 World Machine
(1985)		 Running in the Family
(1987)
Singles from World Machine
  1. "Something About You"
    Released: September 1985
  2. "Leaving Me Now"
    Released: 25 November 1985
  3. "World Machine"
    Released: 1986
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[3]

World Machine is the sixth studio album by British pop group Level 42, released in 1985. It was the band's breakthrough album internationally and features one of their most successful singles, "Something About You".

Composition

This release marked a transition from their jazz-funk beginnings to the funky pop they are best known for―a transition which eventually resulted in the departure of drummer Phil Gould subsequent to the release of their follow up album Running in the Family.

The album features the singles "Something About You" (the band's only American top 10 hit, peaking at number 7, and a success internationally) and "Leaving Me Now". Also featured is "Physical Presence", the song from which the name for their first live record was taken.

The album was re-released in 2000 as a 2-CD set also including the band's previous album, True Colours. In 2007, World Machine was re-released as a 2-CD remastered Deluxe Edition containing several remixes and live versions as bonus tracks.

The cover photo is of Hafnarfjall, a mountain in west Iceland.

Commercial performance

World Machine peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart, staying on the chart for 72 weeks. It was also the band's first album to enter the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 18 and staying on the chart for 36 weeks.[4] Album sales have reached over three million copies, being certified 2× Platinum by the BPI.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."World Machine"Badarou, P. Gould, King, Lindup5:14
2."Physical Presence"P. Gould, King5:27
3."Something About You"Lindup, P. Gould, King, Badarou, R. Gould4:24
4."Leaving Me Now"Badarou, King, P. Gould5:00
5."I Sleep On My Heart"Badarou, R. Gould, P. Gould, King4:04
6."It's Not The Same For Us"Badarou, King, P. Gould, Lindup4:36
7."Dream Crazy" (originally included as a bonus track on the CD and cassette)R. Gould, King, Lindup3:53
8."Good Man in a Storm"P. Gould, King4:36
9."Coup d'état"P. Gould, King3:47
10."Lying Still"Badarou, R. Gould, King5:39
  • Note: The American versions of the album feature a re-ordered track listing, as well as the substitution of the tracks "Hot Water" and "The Chant Has Begun" (both of which had originally appeared on the band's previous album True Colours) for "I Sleep On My Heart" and "Coup d'état." The vinyl U.S. version of the album featured the single versions of both "Hot Water" and "The Chant Has Begun," while the full-length album version of "The Chant Has Begun" did appear on the U.S. CD edition. ("Dream Crazy," which only appeared on certain European versions of the album did not appear on any of the North American versions).[5][6][7]

Bonus tracks, released 2000

No.TitleLength
11."I Sleep On My Heart" (remix)6:02
12."World Machine" (dub mix)7:25
13."Something About You" (Sisa remix)7:41

Bonus tracks (deluxe edition), released 2007

  1. "World Machine" (Live Hammersmith Odeon 1.2.86) *
  2. "Leaving Me Now" (Live Hammersmith Odeon 1.2.86) *
  3. "Something About You" (Live Hammersmith Odeon 1.2.86) *
  4. "Coup d'état" (Backwards Mix) – originally the B-side to the "Something About You" single
  5. "Something About You" (Shep Pettibone Mix)
  6. "I Sleep On My Heart" (Live at Ryde Theatre, Isle of Wight Nov 2000)
  7. "Dream Crazy" (Live at Ryde Theatre, Isle of Wight Nov 2000)
  8. "Lying Still" (Live at Ryde Theatre, Isle of Wight Nov 2000)
  9. "Physical Presence" (Live at Hammersmith Apollo, London, Nov 2003)
  10. "Leaving Me Now" (Live at Hammersmith Apollo, London, Nov 2003)
  11. "World Machine" (Phunk Investigation Club Mix) – Electrokingdom featuring Mark King

Personnel

Level 42

with:

2007 Re-issue:

  • Lyndon Connah – keyboards and vocals (Deluxe edition CD2, tracks 6–10)
  • Nathan King – guitars and vocals (Deluxe edition CD2, tracks 6–10)
  • Gary Husband – drums (Deluxe edition CD2, tracks 6–10)
  • Sean Freeman – saxophone and vocals (Deluxe edition CD2, tracks 9, 10)

Production

  • Level 42 – producers
  • Wally Badarou – producer
  • Julian Mendelsohn – production assistant, recording, mixing
  • Carlos Olms – digital engineer
  • Alwyn Clayden – art direction
  • Red Ranch – sleeve design
  • Mike Trevillion – front cover photography
  • Iain McKell – back cover photography
  • Paul Crockford – management
  • Paul King – management
  • Outlaw Management – management company

Charts

Chart Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[8] 3
US Billboard 200[9] 18
Canada RPM 100[10] 15

References

  1. ↑ Hermann, Andy (25 January 2017). "10 Underrated '80s Bands You Need to Hear Now". L.A. Weekly.
  2. ↑ AllMusic review
  3. ↑ "Rolling Stone review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  4. ↑ "Level 42 - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015.
  5. ↑ Level 42- World Machine (U.S. vinyl LP edition) @Discogs.com Originally retrieved 4-19-2009.
  6. ↑ Level 42- World Machine (Canadian vinyl LP edition) @Discogs.com Originally retrieved 4-19-2009.
  7. ↑ Level 42- World Machine (U.S. CD edition) @Discogs.com Originally retrieved 4-19-2009.
  8. ↑ "LEVEL 42 - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Level 42 - Chart history - Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  10. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
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