Level 42 - Staring at the Sun

1988 10 TRACKS1.HEAVEN IN MY HANDS2. I DON'T KNOW WHY3.TAKE A LOOK4.OVER THERE5.SILENCE6.TRACIE 7.STARING AT THE SUN8.TWO HEARTS COLLIDE 9.MAN10.GRESHAM BLUES Album Description

Staring at Pop Royalty

I purchased this chiefly because Level 42 is probably my favorite pop band and I had "Staring At The Sun" on cassette, not CD. It is not my favorite Level 42 album but is worth the price because of "Tracy" and "Heaven In My Hands" (my unofficial theme song). The only real bummer here is "Gresham Blues". It's an instrumental that's really tepid, a shame because this band has done some burning instrumentals in the past. May 26, 2008

this is great, why do people knock it??

This was the first album I ever got on CD and it remains one of my favourites of Level 42. I cannot see why it is panned. Yes, the lyrics to a couple of songs are a bit trite (I don't know why), but the songs 'Take a look' and 'staring at the sun' have the most beautiful, soaring melodies ever. I love them. Mike gets to sing 'Silence' and this is also a beautiful ballad. 'Man' is like 70's prog rock and it suits their style beautifully. All the other tracks are fantastic.
Only criticsms, I love the single version of 'Tracie' better, it is faster and more catchy, it should also be on the album. Also, the last track 'Gresham blues' is blatant instrumental filler, and should have been a b-side, with the non-album track, also by Mike, 'Three words' included. September 13, 2007

fantastic

my dad is a big fan of this band, and he try to influenced me with this kind of music and its heaven to my ears.

my favorite tracks are
1. heaven in my hands
2. I dont know why
3. over there
4. stariing at the sun
5. man
6. gresham blues July 20, 2006

Still Level 42, Still Excellent Music

I, too, do not understand why some have panned this album. It is excellent by any standards, including Level 42's very high one. I agree that it is an "acquired taste" and takes time to grow on you. In my case, it took about 10 years for that to happen. I dug it up a few weeks ago and found myself thinking it was just a superb album. Up until that time, I saw it as a good, albeit unspectacular Level 42 album. Now I can say it is just plain good. The songs "Man," "Take a Look" and "Staring at the Sun" are among a few of the songs that need time to sink in. Highly recommended if you can find it. September 22, 2005

Excellent pop album!

This 1988 album was just as catchy and addictive as their efforts from 1986 and 1987. One song I played over and over had loads of straight up guitar strumming and keyboard playing. This was one of their best albums in their decade long career. There's a little bit of a jazzy thing in some cuts, but it showcases their influences in their rock sound. October 21, 2004

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