Level 42 / Forty Two

Forty Two is a new 2LP vinyl set documenting Level 42’s brit funk instrumental work from 1980-1982.

Level 42 formed as an instrumental group in 1979 when Mark King and brothers Phil and Rowland ‘Boon’ Gould joined Mike Lindup at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama for weekly jam sessions. United by a shared love of Miles Davis, Billy Cobham, John McLaughlin and Jan Hammer, they channelled their influences into the creation of the inventive jazz-funk fusion instrumentals showcased here.

The deluxe gatefold 2LP vinyl draw from the group’s first three albums and four 12-inch B-sides and is the first time this material has been presented together on vinyl. Presented as a limited edition of 1,000 copies, it has been mastered and engineered at Abbey Road by Geoff Pesche using hi-res 24-bit transfers from the original analogue tapes. As well as mastering the band’s Standing In The Light and World Machine albums, Pesche cut the lacquers for the band’s first ever vinyl release in 1980; this compilation’s curtain raiser, ‘Sandstorm’.

The packaging includes an OBI-strip, matt lamination and printed inner sleeves with the records pressed on black and yellow vinyl. Gilles Peterson, one of Level 42’s earliest fans, provides sleeve notes and there’s new band commentary by Mark King, Wally Badarou, Phil Gould and Mike Lindup.

This new release comes courtesy of Coalface Records a new label formed by Level 42 superfan and archivist Paul Waller and is released with the full cooperation and enthusiasm of the band.

Forty Two is actually released this Friday, on 25 September 2026. It can be ordered via the Coalface Records website.

Tracklisting

Forty Two Level 42 /

• • LP 1

    Side A

    1. Sandstorm (4:40)
    2. Heathrow (4:42)
    3. Mr. Pink (5:07)
    4. Shapeshifter (5:05)

    Side B

    1. 88 (5:10)
    2. Dune Tune (4:49)
    3. Theme To Margaret (3:59)
    4. Beezer One (7:09)
  • LP 2

    Side C

    1. The Pursuit Of Accidents (7:38)
    2. The Return Of The Handsome Rugged Man (5:55)
    3. Woman (4:35)

    Side D

    1. Forty Two (6:38)
    2. 43 (7:01)
    3. Foundation And Empire (Parts 1 & 2) (8:28)