True Colours (Level 42 album)

For other uses, see True Colors (disambiguation).

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 Level 42
Released	5 October 1984 (1984-10-05)[1]
Recorded	1984
Studio	Genetic Sound (Berkshire) Park Gate Studios (East Sussex) Total Access (Redondo Beach, California)
Genre	Jazz-funk dance-rock pop
Length	44:50
Label	Polydor
Producer	Ken Scott
Level 42 chronology
Standing in the Light (1983) True Colours (1984) A Physical Presence (1985)
Singles from True Colours
"Hot Water" Released: 24 August 1984 "The Chant Has Begun" Released: 26 October 1984

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
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

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

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

Personnel

Level 42

• Mark King – vocals; bass; percussion
• Mike Lindup – vocals; keyboards
• Boon Gould – guitars
• Phil Gould – drums; percussion

Additional musicians

• Wally Badarou – keyboards
• Gary Barnacle – alto saxophone; tenor saxophone; electric saxophone

Production

• 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

Album charts

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

Single charts

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

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. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 318/9. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

External links

• True Colours at Discogs (list of releases)