Running in the family

Level 42 - Running In The Family (1987) ***

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Running in the Family

Greg quite rightly signed off his Album of the Week choice with 'not expecting five stars but don’t care'. He loves this album (this was not news to me!) and that's great.

Sure enough, although 42 is the answer to "the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything", it's a three star album for me - pretty fine.

In the eighties I admired and liked the big hit singles well enough, principally Lessons in Love and Running in the Family. They have only grown in stature since then, becoming standouts on eighties compilations. Although, they are very much of their time (1987).

Three other songs were released as singles from this album (To Be with You Again, It's Over, and Children Say) but I don't remember them being too successful in NZ. Nor do I remember them being on the radio.

So, I didn't buy any of them then, nor did I buy any Level 42 albums. Why not?

Well, at the time, their mainstream commercial sound wasn't appealing to me beyond those two singles. Plus, I was knee deep in nappies (Adam's) and trying to keep our family of four afloat at the time, so my eye wasn't on the ball.

Listening to the album now reveals that I didn't miss an awful lot. There are other catchy songs here for sure, but nothing of the class of Lessons in Love and Running In The Family. Next best is Children Say, and those are the first three songs on the album! So, from there on in the album is a mixed bag for me.

Weak tracks: the gloopy ballad It's Over and the ADHDish Fashion Fever are the only two I skipped on repeat listens.

None of this will matter a jot to GK, and nor should it. Mark King remains one of his heroes, and the band is still in existence without me noticing, and even touring next year I see, so...who cares. 

Just my two cents worth.