Staring at the Sun (album)

Staring at the Sun
Studio album by Level 42
Released	September, 1988
Recorded	1987–1988
Genre	Pop, Rock
Length	43:42
Label	Polydor Records
Producer	Wally Badarou, Level 42
Professional reviews
All Music Guide: link Smash Hits: link
Level 42 chronology
Running in the Family (1987) Staring at the Sun (1988) Guaranteed (1991)

Staring at the Sun is the eight studio album released by the british pop band Level 42, in 1988. Produced by Level 42, Wally Badarou and Julian Mendelsohn. Recorded at Miraval, France. Engineered and mixed by Julian Mendelsohn. Engineer's assistant - Jean Lamoot. Mastered at The Townhouse by Kevin Metcalfe. The album includes the hits "Heaven in My Hands" (UK No. 18 in 1988), "Take Look" (UK No. 32) and "Tracie" (UK no. 25). This is the first album of the band that doesn't feature the participation of the brothers Phil Gould and Boon Gould. To substitute them, they took on British guitarist Alan Murphy, who had collaborated with Go West and singer Kate Bush, and drummer Gary Husband, who had been a member of the band Morrissey-Mullen. Murphy died in 1989 of an HIV virus. King, Lindup and Husband have been with the group to the present day.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Charts psositions 2.1 Album charts 2.2 Single charts 3 Personnel 4 See also

Track listing

1. "Heaven in My Hands" (King / R. Gould) – 4:39
2. "I Don't Know Why" (King / R. Gould) – 4.22
3. "Take a Look" (King / R. Gould / Lindup / Badarou) – 4:41
4. "Over There" (King / Lindup) – 3:59
5. "Silence" (Lindup) – 4:56
6. "Tracie" (King / Husband) – 4:53
7. "Staring at the Sun" (King / R. Gould / Badarou) – 4:39
8. "Two Hearts Collide" (King / R. Gould) – 4:10
9. "Man" (King / R. Gould / Badarou) – 7:23
10. "Gresham Blues" ^A (King) – 5:43

^A Only available on the CD release

Charts psositions

Album charts

Year	Album	Chart	Peak position
1988	"Staring at the Sun"	UK album charts	#2
1988	"Staring at the Sun"	US Billboard 200	#128

Single charts

Year	Song	Chart	Peak position
1988	"Heaven in My Hands"	UK single charts	#12
1988	"Take a Look"	UK single charts	#32
1988	"Tracie"	UK single charts	#25

Personnel

Level 42

• Mark King – Bass/Vocals
• Mike Lindup – Keyboards/Vocals
• Gary Husband – Drums
• Alan Murphy – Guitars

Additional Musicians

• Wally Badarou – Keyboards
• Dominic Miller – Guitars
• Steve Sidwell – Horns

Production

• Mixed By Julian Mendelsohn
• Mastered By Kevin Metcalfe

See also

•  • e Level 42
Members	Mark King • Mike Lindup • Gary Husband • Nathan King • Sean Freeman Phil Gould • Rowland 'Boon' Gould • Alan Murphy • Allan Holdsworth • Jakko Jakszyk • Lyndon Connah
Studio albums	Level 42 • The Early Tapes • The Pursuit of Accidents • Standing in the Light • True Colours • World Machine • Running in the Family • Staring at the Sun • Guaranteed • Forever Now • Retroglide
Live albums	A Physical Presence • The River Sessions • Live At Wembley • Retroglide Tour
Compilations	Level Best • The Very Best Of Level 42 • The Ultimate Collection • The Definitive Collection • The Love Collection • Past Lives - The Best Of The RCA Years
Videos	Family Of Five (Video Singles 1980-1987) • Live At Rockpalast (1983 & 1984) • Live At Wembley • Fait Accompli • The Ultimate Collection (Video Singles & Making Of, 1980 - 1989) • Live At Reading • Live At The Appollo • Retroglide Tour (Live at the New Oxford Theatre, 2006)
Singles	Sandstorm • Love Meeting Love • (Flying On The) Wings Of Love • Love Games • Turn It On • Starchild • Are You Hearing (What I Hear)? • Weave Your Spell • The Chinese Way • Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind • The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) • Macro-Kid • Hot Water • The Chant Has Begun • A Physical Presence • Something About You • Leaving Me Now • Lessons in Love • Running in the Family • To Be With You Again • It's Over • Children Say • Heaven in My Hands • Take a Look • Tracie • Take Care of Yourself • Guaranteed • Overtime • My Father's Shoes • Forever Now • All Over You • Love In A Peaceful World • The Way Back Home
Personnel	Wally Badarou • Mike Vernon • Larry Dunn • Verdine White • Ken Scott • Danny Bloom
Related articles	Discography • Band members • Tower 42 • Jazz-Funk • Changes • One Man • Polydor • RCA • M
Categories	Members • Albums • Songs