''Staring at the Sun'' is the eighth studio album by British jazz/funk band

Level 42 Level 42 are an English jazz-funk band formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979. They had a number of UK and worldwide hits during the 1980s and 1990s. Their highest-charting single in the UK was " Lessons in Love", which reached number three on th ...

, 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).

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 Alan Murphy (18 November 1953 – 19 October 1989) was an English rock session guitarist, best remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush and Go West. In 1988, he joined the jazz-funk band Level 42 as a full-time band member, and played w ...

, who had collaborated with Go West and singer

Kate Bush Catherine Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer. Bush began writing songs at age 11. She was signed to EMI Records after David Gilmour of Pink Floyd helped produce a demo tape. In 1978, at the ...

, and drummer

Gary Husband Gary Husband (born 14 June 1960) is an English jazz and rock drummer, pianist, keyboard player and bandleader. He is also a composer, arranger, producer and educator. Husband was a member for 16 years of John McLaughlin's group The 4th Dimen ...

, who had been a member of the band

Morrissey–Mullen Morrissey–Mullen were a British jazz-funk/fusion group of the 1970s and 1980s. Considered one of the most popular jazz groups in London, the band was led by Dick Morrissey on tenor and soprano saxes and flute, and Jim Mullen on guitar, who ...

. This would be the only full-length Level 42 album on which Murphy would appear, as he died only a year after its release from complications related to

HIV/AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

, mere weeks before the release of the band's '' Level Best'' compilation, which featured his last contributions to the band on the new single "

Take Care of Yourself "Take Care of Yourself" is a song by English jazz-funk band Level 42, released on the compilation album '' Level Best'' in 1989. It was the last song recorded with guitarist Alan Murphy, who died on 19 October 1989, three days after the single w ...

Commercial performance

The album was not as successful as its predecessors, again reaching the Top 5 in the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...

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

# " Heaven in My Hands" (

King King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

, R. Gould) – 4:39 # "I Don't Know Why" (King, R. Gould) – 4.22 # " Take a Look" (King, R. Gould, Lindup, Badarou) – 4:41 # "Over There" (King, Lindup) – 3:59 # "Silence" (Lindup) – 4:56 # " Tracie" (King,

Husband A husband is a man involved in a marital relationship, commonly referred to as a spouse. The specific rights, responsibilities, and societal status attributed to a husband can vary significantly across different cultures and historical perio ...

) – 4:53 # "Staring at the Sun" (King, R. Gould, Badarou) – 4:39 # "Two Hearts Collide" (King, R. Gould) – 4:10 # "Man" (King, R. Gould, Badarou) – 7:23 # "Gresham Blues" ^A (King) – 5:43 ^A Available on the CD and cassette only

Personnel

Level 42 * Mark King – bass guitar, vocals *

Mike Lindup Michael David Lindup (born 17 March 1959) is an English musician known as the keyboard player and falsetto-voiced singer who joined Mark King and brothers Phil and Boon Gould to form the British jazz-funk/pop rock band Level 42. Early life ...

– keyboards, vocals *

– guitars *

– drums with: *

Wally Badarou Waliou Jacques Daniel Isheola "Wally" Badarou (born 22 March 1955) is a French musician. Born in France with ancestry from Benin, West Africa, Badarou is known for his close association with the English group Level 42, and for his prolific wor ...

– keyboards *

Dominic Miller Dominic James Miller (born 21 March 1960) is a British guitarist. He has worked most of his career as a sideman and guitarist for, among others, Julia Fordham, Eddi Reader and notably Sting. He has also released several solo albums. Career Mi ...

– guitars * Krys Mach – saxophones *

Steve Sidwell Steven James Sidwell (born 14 December 1982) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Sidwell was a product of the Arsenal academy, and after winning two FA Youth Cups, he had constructive loan spells at Brentfo ...

– trumpet

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

Singles

Sales and certifications

References

{{Authority control 1988 albums Level 42 albums Albums produced by Wally Badarou Polydor Records albums Albums produced by Julian Mendelsohn Albums recorded at Miraval Studios