True Colours (Level 42 album)

True Colours is the fifth studio album by the English jazz-funk band Level 42, released on 5 October 1984 by Polydor Records. Beyond the band's native United Kingdom, the album was released in 10-plus other countries, including Japan, Germany and the United States of America.[3] The album peaked at #14 in the UK Albums Chart.[4]

True Colours
Studio album by
Released5 October 1984 (1984-10-05)[1]
Recorded1984
StudioGenetic Sound (Berkshire)
Park Gate Studios (East Sussex)
Total Access (Redondo Beach, California)
Genre
Length44:50
LabelPolydor
ProducerKen Scott
Level 42 chronology
Standing in the Light
(1983)
True Colours
(1984)
A Physical Presence
(1985)
Singles from True Colours
  1. "Hot Water"
    Released: 24 August 1984
  2. "The Chant Has Begun"
    Released: 26 October 1984
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

The first single released, "Hot Water", hit #18 on the UK Singles Chart,[4] #7 in Belgium and #3 in the Netherlands, and has become a staple in Level 42's live sets to the present day. The second single "The Chant Has Begun", released in many countries, peaked at #41 in the UK Singles Chart.

"Hot Water" was released in the US in 1986 (after being featured in a single version on the US version of band's follow-up studio album World Machine) and entered the Billboard Hot 100, at #87.

Track listing

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Side A

  1. "The Chant Has Begun" (King, P. Gould) – 5:23
  2. "Kansas City Milkman" (Badarou, King, Lindup, P. Gould) – 5.31
  3. "Seven Days" (P. Gould, King, Lindup, R. Gould) – 4:26
  4. "Hot Water" (King, P. Gould, Lindup, Badarou) – 5:41

Side B

  1. "A Floating Life" (King, P. Gould) – 5:14
  2. "True Believers" (King, P. Gould) – 5:03
  3. "My Hero" (King, P. Gould, R. Gould) – 4:15 [originally a bonus track on the CD and cassette]
  4. "Kouyate" (King, P. Gould, Badarou) – 4:52
  5. "Hours by the Window" (King, P. Gould) – 5:10

Personnel

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Level 42

Additional musicians

Production

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  • Produced and engineered by Ken Scott for KoMos Productions.
  • Assisted by James Tippett-IIes and Jim Russell
  • Mixed at Park Gate Studios
  • Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Sleeve design – Baker Dave and Malcolm Garrett for Assorted Images.
  • Photography – Sheila Rock

Chart positions

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Album charts

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Year Chart Position
1984 United Kingdom #14
1984 Germany #23
1984 Sweden #29

Single charts

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Year Song Chart Position
1984 "Hot Water" UK Singles Chart #18
1986 "Hot Water" Billboard Hot 100 #87
1984 "The Chant Has Begun" UK Singles Chart #41

References

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  1. ^ "News" (PDF). Record Mirror. 29 September 1984. p. 4. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. ^ "True Colours - Level 42 | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  3. ^ "The Definitive Online Level 42 Collectors Resource: Media". Ultimatelevel42.com. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 318/9. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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