Standing in the Light

Standing in the Light is the fourth studio album released by the British jazz-funk band Level 42. The album, released in 1983, generated the group's first top 10 in the UK album charts, peaking at #9. The album was well received by critics and fans.

I liked this album very much and will not reduce its validity with excessive praise or multiple adjectives. I would, however, strongly recommend that you at least give it the benefit of your considered opinion.

The album was released in many countries beyond the United Kingdom, in Greece, Germany (peaked in #27 on charts), Sweden (peaked in #25 on charts) Japan, Canada, United States and Middle East.

The first single, "Out of Sight, Out of Mind", originally produced by Wally Badarou, was released only in the United Kingdom and ranked #41 on the United Kingdom charts. For the album version the song was remixed and a new lead vocal recorded. The second single "The Sun Goes Down (Living it Up)" was released in the United Kingdom, Oceania and other parts of Europe and America and gave the group its first top 10 in the United Kingdom. The third single "Micro Kid" peaked at #37 on the United Kingdom single charts.

The album was released again in 2000 with bonus tracks in a 2-CD compilation with the album "The Pursuit of Accidents" in the United Kingdom by the label Polydor.

Track listing

 * 1) "Micro-kid"  (Wally Badarou, Mark King, Phil Gould, Brian Taylor, Allee Willis) – 4:44
 * 2) "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)"  (Badarou, King, Mike Lindup, P. Gould) – 4:15
 * 3) "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" (P. Gould, King, Lindup, Boon Gould) – 5:12
 * 4) "Dance On Heavy Weather" (King, P. Gould, Lindup, Taylor, Larry Dunn, Verdine White) – 4:27
 * 5) "A Pharaoh's Dream (Of Endless Time)" (King, P. Gould, Lindup) – 4:21
 * 6) "Standing in the Light" (King, P. Gould, Badarou) – 3:42
 * 7) "I Want Eyes"  (King, P. Gould) 4:59
 * 8) "People"  (Lindup) – 4:55
 * 9) "The Machine Stops" (King, P. Gould, Badarou) – 4:15

Personnel
with:
 * Level 42
 * Mark King – vocals, bass guitar, percussion
 * Mike Lindup – vocals, keyboards, percussion
 * Boon Gould – guitars
 * Phil Gould – drums, percussion, backing vocals
 * Wally Badarou – synthesizer (Prophet 5, E-mu Emulator)
 * Paulinho da Costa – percussion
 * Andrew Woolfolk (Also of Earth, Wind & Fire) – saxophone on "A Pharaoh's Dream (Of Endless Time)"
 * Technical
 * Neville Brody – sleeve design
 * Sheila Rock - photography