Level 42 - Hot Water (live) - 1984

[ikkejick]

Ah LOL, the bass guitar isn't tuned well in the beginning, mark corrects very quick!

[michelcourtis]

que grande Mark King !!!!!

[probrojeffro]

Love all of Level, but True Colors, World Machine, and Running in the Family they really hit their stride.

[SamBAss42]

The episode of the Best of the Tube with this clip on it was on TV today.

Set it to record.

Came home to find it didn't record it.

Felt like crying

[musefan69]

cool stuff,cool band...they had the low sequence going so he can do his riff bass thing on top-he does that very well,it is not as easy as he makes it look !

[danzreggae]

E string was flat.haha.wot a pro.



[F12011cm]

the front aint dancing. but the back are. lolz

Level 42 , luvin em \o/ always.

[kinshasaAPP]

Jools Holland for a millisecond at the beginning.

[sijmes]

Cool, he must have detuned for a previous song and forgot to tune up for this, what a save, 2 seconds top and then straight into thegroove, could have gone soooo wrong..

[BennyJ69]

@sijmes I think he was downtuning the tuning back up again so that it sounded like a slide but not if you get me lol.

[LoverOf60sAndFlutes]

hahaha The key board player looks like screech from Saved by the bell

[LoverOf60sAndFlutes]

OMG that solo that starts at 2:15 is the best funky groovy solo ever made!!

[LoverOf60sAndFlutes]

wait pardem me I dont think thats an alembic. The head stock isnt right

[kinshasaAPP]

@LoverOf60sAndFlutes The bass is a Jaydee Supernatural. woooo! :D

[LoverOf60sAndFlutes]

That alembic is godly

[76alembic]

@LoverOf60sAndFlutes JD all the way ,thats no Alembic !.Similar through

[Ba55taztic]

he kinda looks like ex president carter. but better at bass.

[sturoc0]

Talk about being jammed together on stage !

[Yerflua]

Nobody has a right to play that good. The man is playing a frigging bass like it was a guitar.

[pokedude449]

Even his out of tune string at the start is pulled off well

[diamondstudd]

@pokedude449 I was about to write the same thing.

[afterthefox7]

O.k. but, toooooo much plucking, similar to Marcus Miller, probably pluck on a slow song.

[dezziwood]

He is not only playing a great bass, but singing at the same time. Great musician. 

[Grichal1981]

Watch him go at 2:15!

[mrJimCharles]

When they sing together somehow the other guy makes it sound like 2 tracks of Mark

[rayheyheyhey]

Zombie audience ? I would have jumped my ass off till they played the last tune!

[DoctorDeo1]

Even back then people were more interested of how they looked instead of taking in waht´s around... Not much has changed... Exept the hit music of today is not half as good as back then.... :o/

[captaincomputa]

I used to live for this show,pure quality

[podell111]

Thats great!!! Quick re-tuning from the drop D!

[SmakitNicely]

I like all of Level 42's music and I think someone should give props to their unseen member Wally Badarou

[MrDiscordinated]

was'nt it a pysical presence in D . as well as the chant ???

[MrRedrocket42]

Another killing post Morgan, thanks so much! Any player who has ever down tuned between tunes at a gig can relate to this. Sometimes you just forget, shit happens. I don't think any of those mooks in the crowd even noticed, Boon sure as shit did though.........LOL!

[UniverseGas]

:) nice

[bintangtheater1]

Lesson 1: quicktuning with Mark King! lol:)

[gz4txb]

had to lol on this one xD

[beng1lh00ly]

why does the audience look like they're being paid to move around - they're like zombies!

[manhenk]

germans.. lol

[JonasGerman]

@manhenk eighties... rofl ^^

[Leetav]

it was chant has begun that cocked 'em up!

[JayDee11]

The Hot Water bass tuning issue (0:04) Is this song a bit of a jinx for the master?

[ianwr000]

No accident he is called King.Mesmerising bass player.

[weretigo2]

very good.

[rufusbass]

If i remember correctly-and I was a regular Tube watcher (!)...the song preceding this was indeed featuring detuned E string..

But it was "The Chant has Begun" as I recall..

Incidentally, another killing tune from this era..

Leisure Process A Way You'll never Be..feat.Mark K...

[MaxxRevenge]

this is such good fun to play on bass, apart from the intro and outro, cos its so fucking difficult!

[ianwr000]

His licks on Something about you are astounding too!

[ionia23]

Gotta chime in. Not a synclavier (synthesizer). Not a fairlight either. The notes for the samples are made from King's actual playing, the sequencer is probably an old Akai like the one that Rush used for "The Weapon".

It's just a loop running behind the band. If this were the early '70's they'd be using an analog tape loop to do the same thing. Big deal. Using a sequencer to play along with a band doesn't make it not 'live'. It just being used for rhythm accent.

[amoxitine]

Mike Lindup is controlling a sequencer loop which is driving Yamaha DX7 FM synth module and not a sampler (the actual patch is called 'Bass 1' and is probably one of the most recognisable bass synth sounds of the 80's - used on tracks such as A Ha's Take On Me and Janet Jackson's When I Think Of You) When Level 42 play Hot Water live now they use some crappy synth bass that doesn't sound half as good as 'Bass 1'! :(

[eventertain]

a part of the baseline comes from the sequencer!

if you are a real level fan you should know that !!!

listen carefully..

[Mowac]

yeah......Fashion Fever, To Be With You, Hot Water.........all sequencer songs with matching basslines.

[Jez2008UK]

Much as I love Level 42, only ONE problem - it's not LIVE.

Watch from 2:00 when he isn't playing bass (hands down) the bass line is still going !!

And then at 2:17, Boon's not playing but his guitar is !!

[notulob]

hi jez,yes this is live,the bass line you hear from 2;00 is the sequencer(a keyboard bass line in this case a synclavier sound).Mark plays over the top to beef up and make the groove more percussive.listen before he stops and you will be able to distinguish the jaydee bass sound.Boon is also playing live but from 2;17 mark plays a solo line over the sequencer part its not boons playing

Hope this helps

[Jez2008UK]

Thanks notulob.

I'm a bit out of my depth with sequencers and stuff, but you're right. His fingers when he did play were in perfect sync with the music, so I couldn't quite work it all out !!

Cheers.

[eatfirst]

if you want any more proof of how live it is, check out 5 seconds in. Mark has mistakenly left his bass detuned from a previous song. Plays completely the wrong note at the end of the opening run and has to make a quick retune before the first verse kicks in. Quite a nice effect but certainly not what he intended!

[Mowac]

The last song they probably played was either 'Micro Kid' or 'Kansas City Milkman' those were the only two songs at that time that Mark has to drop his E string down to D......hence the 'dropped D' tuning. 5-string basses hadn't caught on yet at that time and Mark doesn't like a 5-string anyway because he says they don't slap as good as a 4-string.

[Theoboxtart]

Sorry You are wrong about that. At 02.00 the bass is not playing anymore and at 02.17 the bass is going again. You don't know the difference between bass an guitar. Sorry.

[Jez2008UK]

Don't apologize for your rudeness, I've already accepted that I was wrong.

[landauau]

The boy black and white clothes is very funny dance...80´s rules!!! good times

[nadia6040]

Level 42 Too much !!!!!!!!

[ianasdfg]

Level 42 were (are) fab! - but the guy in the black and white shirt with the pony tale dancing at the back of the audience is a serious fashion error.

[osummuso]

LOL.

My thoughts exactly.

[BeeRich33]

These guys opened up for Rush in Toronto soon after, and I should have known them much better. I've been a huge fan ever since.  Huge talent here.

[Flyelskeren]

ok it´s the 80´s, but they RUUUULE!!!

[MentalMania]

This damn bass line is all my dad played for weeks and now it's all I can hear when I think of a bass.

[zorro1955]

i`m like your dad, cause i plays bass myself, and i love mark king`s style! HE POPS!

[OpulenceOfKnowledge]

@MentalMania Thats all you need to hear when you think of bass.

[Mowac]

Apparently, the last song they played was a dropped 'D' tuning like 'The Chant' or 'Kansas City Milkman' and then when they started to play 'Hot Water', Mark forgot to tune his Jaydee back up to 'E' on the top string.

[slikkboi]

Where can I find this documentary..who knows? Level 42 is one of the best and funkiest bands ever. They need to reunite for their 30th anniversary next year. The tuning..that was classic!!

[funkmachine123]

They have reunited, they play retrofest this summer in Glasgow. I've just got my tickets.

[witterth]

Documentary was a "best of" The Tube 1980's live music show. not sure if its on dvd I think it may be, contains lots of interesting 80's stuff. you'd enjoy "level 42 play at home" which I've seen here on you tube

ATB

[Nielzzz93]

LOL, i like the tuning:P

[ahz123]

Smokin'

[drummo777]

How quickly does he re-tune... Does any1 know if he has perfect pitch ? im sure in level 42 biography it mentioned his pitch was perfect !!! , cant find the damned book anymore to read and check for myself lol....

[MrMel0dy]

he is amazingly fast at the tuning but it would hardly be noticeable if it was the slightest bit out.

[Generalbas1972]

Okay guys tell me one thing. That intro riff i guess you all know the notes of it, but if his E string is tuned down to a D, which it is, how the hell does he play the E note in the first part of the riff?? goes from 12th fret on the A string to 7th fret on the A string?? any takers?

[amoxitine]

Simply from what I can hear he doesn't actually manage hit the E (or what would be a D in this case) on the 12th fret of the E string in the first part of the riff whilst the rest of the band do.

I find it's a melody you can sometimes nail straight off and then another day totally cock it up, especially on heavier gauge strings!

[Generalbas1972]

yeah totally. But that means that Mark King cheats hehe, and doesnt play all the notes in the riff....shame on mr. King...hehe

[MrMel0dy]

notice how he leaves it in D at the start and quickly tunes it to E. absolute professional!!

Great Vid!!!

[chronto]

better tune that base really fast!

:D

[moochin]

It doesn't matter what bass he uses - its still Mark King. He'll blast on ANY bass.

[willy2guns]

I do own a MK jaydee and to be honest Lev42sounded better when he was using the alembics. And the status king basses he uses now sound shite, it dosent sound like lev 42.

[ollyaaa]

Anyone think mks jaydee sound was his best?

[gingerhomey]

they were the best and for those of you who still follow, you know thy get better every year in concert

[cehamh]

By Far, probably the most underated band in the world today. They deserve so much more, I get goose bumps when I see this video. Thank you so much for showing us these classics. Mark King is truly amazing, back then and even more so now. L42 Is AWESOME!!!

[anton666pieter]

Thanks to you all, lovers from Level 42.

I was one of the dancers when I was young.

Good to read all the love for L.42.

[pokerpirat]

think that we danced to this beats in the 80s...lol...this is funky jazz beat not disco, he he, relax and sit down and listen to the beat

[pippoformaggio]

yes mark king is n1 in the world........... gianfranco spagnulo(come on you tube)

[ghellogm]

Mark King, the best

[level43]

bring back level 42

[sinizzl]

this is just fucking awesome..... i wish i was born 20 years earlier... lol

[Sproutsaint]

I remember buying the 7" of this from WHSmiths back in 84....never get tired of it

[ellaskins]

B A D  !!!

[fassaalbrecht]

I love slap bass....and Mark King is one of the best! Go Mark!

[TurdSandwich]

it never ceases 2 amazes me how level 42 can put such great bass riffs in such crap tracks....marks a great bassist but i reali think his talents are wasted

[RYAN2642]

You shock me matey how anyone can say these are crap tracks when you listen to the Peppers is amazing.

[joearovo]

Style distinctive, Brilliant!!!

[johnm14]

level 42 is good but alot of their grooves are essentially the same. this is the same bassline used in sandstorm. and they also use this as an intro to Almost There in the live album, "A Physical Presence"

[RYAN2642]

it is an intro into almost there just to bring them on stage,but listen again johnm14 sounds the same but it isn't.ever tried playing it.

[wdwron08]

Hot Water is a true classic Level 42 song. I have all Level 42's CD's

[air23mvp]

Are you serious? I can't find them anywhere. Where'd you get them?

[Thundermaned]

lol look at those people dancing xD lol those clothes, lol the haircuts, music was awesome though

[rossp1991]

THE BEST BASS PLAYER IN THE WORD

[rossp1991]

u are right mate

[carlitofontanadublin]

is there any way i can download this? or if you could email it to me morgan, that'd be great!

[gdenyer]

Morgan, do you have the bass solo Mark played on The Tube (I think it was just after a double bass solo), maybe from the same show?

I play it often, but I'd love to see Mark play that again!

[timebomb98765]

Lol the 80's style cracks me up check out the drummers hauir

[padseenoodle]

Well, housequaker, get going and post that!!

[housequaker]

Actually, just noticed the UK Doc logo now. You caught this on a Digital repeat! I have it somewhere on an old VHS from the original live appearance. And wait for it, on the same tape, a year later their follow up appearance from the World Machine tour, performing Something About You and A Physical Presence!

[housequaker]

Ah Morgan I thought I was the only one to hoard old L42 video clips on VHS!!!!

I remember I had a job after school, and when I saw the Tube intro at work mentioning L42 would be on, I left work, ran home and sat in front of the TV with my finger hanging over the record button until they came on! Nearly lost me job! Brilliant!

[thewatchboys]

Love the look on Boons face when he heard that... You can see Mark was embarrassed, but handled it well... LOL... As padseenoodle mentioned; they obviously just played a song, where he was tuned to D.

Love these guys! Thanks for showing that.

[thechineseway]

And micro kid & fashion fever .

[padseenoodle]

Cool!  Thanks Morgan!

[padseenoodle]

Awesome....The mistake begs the question; what tune does he play Drop D in?

[morganroussel]

The Chant Has Begun.

[neilhubbardz]

Or Micro Kid

[Generalbas1972]

The Chant Has Begun, Kansas City Milkman, and for the newer stuff. Fasion Fever and World Machine, where he tunes down to C sharp.

[DoctorDeo1]

Since Hot Water goes in E, Drop D goes in D... Mark tones up one tone step...

[ndongousman]

@padseenoodle

yes ,drop D (and the second question what was the song before ? ;-)

[jonannlou]

@ndongousman song before was The Chant Has Begun....

[1969fenderjazz]

@padseenoodle Kansas City Milkman, Micro Kid, Fashion Fever, the Chant.

[far0n]

Quite funny the start, detuned to D :o)

[WouterJ]

heh, his bass was out of tune in the beginning, a clear sign that this was indeed live.

[apeskinheart]

Great recovery by MK though. He tunes it back up whilst remaining in the groove. Cool.