Staring_at_the_Sun_(Level_42_album)

<i>Staring at the Sun</i> (Level 42 album)

Staring at the Sun (Level 42 album)

1988 studio album by Level 42

Staring at the Sun is the eighth studio album by British jazz/funk band Level 42, released in 1988. The album includes the singles "Heaven in My Hands" (UK No. 12), "Take a Look" (UK No. 32) and "Tracie" (UK no. 25).

Quick Facts Staring at the Sun, Studio album by Level 42 ...
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Background

Staring at the Sun is the first Level 42 album not to feature brothers Phil Gould and Boon Gould, although Boon did write the lyrics to six of the songs. They were replaced by British guitarist Alan Murphy, who had collaborated with Go West and singer Kate Bush, and drummer Gary Husband, who had been a member of the band Morrissey–Mullen. This would be the only Level 42 album on which Murphy would appear, as he died only a year after its release from complications related to HIV/AIDS.

Commercial performance

The album was not as successful as its predecessors, again reaching the Top 5 in the UK Albums Chart but missing the top half of the Billboard 200 in the US. Internationally, it reached the Top 10 in several countries, but ultimately had a lesser impact on the charts than the band's two previous albums.

Track listing

  1. "Heaven in My Hands" (King, R. Gould) – 4:39
  2. "I Don't Know Why" (King, R. Gould) – 4.22
  3. "Take a Look" (King, R. Gould, Lindup, Badarou) – 4:41
  4. "Over There" (King, Lindup) – 3:59
  5. "Silence" (Lindup) – 4:56
  6. "Tracie" (King, Husband) – 4:53
  7. "Staring at the Sun" (King, R. Gould, Badarou) – 4:39
  8. "Two Hearts Collide" (King, R. Gould) – 4:10
  9. "Man" (King, R. Gould, Badarou) – 7:23
  10. "Gresham Blues" A (King) – 5:43

A Available on the CD and cassette only

Personnel

Level 42

with:

Production

  • Level 42 – producers
  • Wally Badarou – producer
  • Julian Mendelsohn – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Jean Lamoot – assistant engineer
  • Kevin Metcalfe – mastering
  • The Artful Dodgers – sleeve design
  • Mark Hughes – illustration
  • John Stoddart – photography
  • Paul Crockford – management

Chart positions

Album

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Singles

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Sales and certifications

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References

  1. [1]
    Smith, Robin (17 September 1988). "News: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 6. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. [2]
    Smash Hits, October 1988 link
  3. [3]
    "Canadian album certifications – Level 42 – Staring at the Sun". Music Canada. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  4. [4]
    "Dutch album certifications – Level 42 – Staring at the Sun" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 16 July 2022. Enter Staring at the Sun in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1988 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  5. [5]
    "British album certifications – Level 42 – Staring at the Sun". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
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