Level 42 - Running in the Family

A real Classic from Level 42.

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. March 10, 2007

Must Have

This was Level 42's most commercialy successful album, and is certainly a "must have" album. The production quality is good and the songs are all well crafted for what they are, Level 42's second attempt to become more of a "pop" band without losing sight of their funk roots. If you are shopping around for a more funky Level 42 album I suggest "The Pursuit of Accidents" over "Running In the Family", however if you are simply nostalgic for their chart hits, then "In The Family" is for you.

It opens with the beautiful and funky "Lessons In Love", which as a single really drove sales of this album back in 1986. It's followed by the less popular single "Children Say" and then the moderately popular title track "Running in the Family". If there is a weak point on this album, it's the title track which has a potentially funky bassline but falls short by having slightly lumbering tempo. That being said, the album is one of those albums that should be listened to from start to finish. Although some of these reviews list "Fashion Fever" as a weak point, I think the song is amazing!

"Running in the Family" represents an interesting period in the band's history. It's the last album featuring the original lineup of Mark, Mike, and the Gould brothers Phil and Boon. Phil and Boon were central to Level 42's core, as Boon wrote most of the lyrics and Phil produced that crisp rythm backing that is essential to funk. It was Phil who founded the band to start with. Boon left during the Running in the Family tour due to medical problems and Phil left over a fundamental disagreement over the direction the band was taking, namely that of Pop over their true jazz/funk spirit. Phil has since come back..at least in a writing and studio capacity to play on 1994's "Forever Now". Boon has written lyrics for Mark King's solo effort "One Man" and has contributed to the newest "Retroglide" as well.

During the tail end of the Running In the Family promotion period, fans noticed only Mark and Mike appearing, as in the video for "Children Say". That being said, both Phil and Boon were fully onboard during the writing and production of "Running In the Family" and some say this album was their true swan song, despite good quality stuff from subsequent incarnations of Level 42. It was certainly their most successful period, and included a world tour of stadium venues.
September 30, 2006

one song

I bought this for one song--Sleepwalkers. I used to listen to this in college during the mid-eighties. Very cool tune that emphasizes the bands heavy use of bass. October 20, 2003

With a guitarist named Boon....

....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. October 9, 2001

Crisp, clean, classy and typical Level 42

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. September 14, 2000

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