Level 42 Mr. Pink Reaction! Musician First Time Listening

[@jimleveilleur2510]

you're listening to the best bass performer of all times man ! enjoy

[@scottuva6185]

One of my favorite bands. Mark King is a phenom! His ability to sing and play is astounding. Gary Husband is a beast on drums! Their entire catalog is great!

[@AmirFazadh]

Mark King is the reason I play bass today- my drummer in my classic rock band in the 80s put in a Level 42 tape on the drive back from Tahoe to SoCal where we'd played. I heard Mark King's bass and said "WHAAAAAT??? I wanna do THAT!!!" "He's also the lead singer..." Mind. Blown. Went to see them on their World Machine tour, and got to hang out with him on the bus. He showed me his machine-gun triplets, which by the time I got home, I had forgotten how to do...got to play one of his JayDee basses, one of the wine-colored ones, for that little "lesson". Two or three weeks later, I was noodling around on my bass, and it just fell out. The triplets!!! Got to see them a couple more times, once opening for Steve Winwood, and another time at The Palace the day after the Whittier Narrows earthquake. It was my girlfriend's birthday, I had written Mark a note to that effect, made an excuse that I was going to get a drink, and slipped up to the front row and put it next to the stage. He read it, put it down, then did another song, then announced her birthday on the mic. I was back in my seat next to her, and she was completely and totally shocked! Even more so when we went backstage and got to meet the band. Mike, the keyboard player, bought us a bottle of champagne to celebrate! Totally rad birthday for her! And Mark remembered me from the first show we had met at. He's really a great guy, and one of my bass heroes...

[@georgejeffries3566]

Similar story here. My band mate played Love Games through our rehearsal PA system, and my mind was blown by the power and groove of the bass. Mark became my inspiration . I had the fortune to meet Mark before a gig and we chatted about 5 minutes. Super guy.

[@PeterHotton]

He's the reason why I live

[@MarkyBoy62]

Mark was my neighbour here in London

[@jonjoreynoldsgranner7307]

the wonders of jazzfunk. i love level 42. been a fan since the 80s

[@michaelb.42112]

I've been a Level 42 fan since 1987 and still listen to them weekly. It's an addiction that needs to be fed. Any and every musician associated with Level 42 are respected professionals. Level 42 is right up there with RUSH.

[@petertoal371]

Having left England to live in Australia 59yrs ago, I missed these guys. I'd never heard of them or Mark King, the most amazing bass player, until about a week ago. (07/11/2024) Wow, bloody amazing and to make it worse, Reading (sounded Redding) was just up the road aways from where I lived before leaving. Oh, and the audience sitting so stiffly in their seats, It's a British thing! Not so much now as that clip goes back a bit. I wouldn't have been able to keep my seat if I was there. 🥳🥳

[@teresatedder2501]

Love your facial expressions! Thanks for giving my favorite band a listen. I need to tell you the BEST live version of this song (in my opinion) is on their live album A Physical Presence.

[@OGBrawlerina]

This video begins with a bass solo by Mark, then it launches into the "official" Mr. Pink when the whole band sort of joins in. There are almost a dozen Level 42 Mr. Pink video versions on YT, going back to about 1983 when the original four did it. All fantastic!

[@jasonbelldata]

Oh John I loved your reaction to one of my favourite instrumentals. It's definitely worth going back to the original studio version on the "The Early Tapes" album from 1980. You'll see the core of the tune hasn't changed in 40 years (yup, I just said that didn't I). There are great live versions from 1984, 1985 and 1991 on YT and they are all amazingly good. Suzanne Vega was the reason I took music seriously but Level 42 was the reason I became a musician, not surprisingly the bass guitar. That was back in 1986 and I'm still playing now. So glad you've discovered it now.

[@TheShayster7]

I saw this played live last month. They are so mega mega tight!!

[@sallya7517]

I saw them live in November too and this is one of my favourites - so happy they played it :) They are brilliant.

[@mikewoodrow5878]

Mark King was a bass beast at time when there weren’t many new badass bass players. A lot of their music is pop, but the bass lines are always prominent.

[@milesdust3465]

And here you have legendary composer, pianoplayer and drummer Gary Husband, who has composed and played with one of the greatest ever: Allan Holdsworth.

[@PDDSimracing]

There are songs on their catalogue where he plays a bass line like that and sings lead vocals. Almost there is a good example. Great reaction

[@croydonmassive]

Mark King. He's amazing isn't he? Glad you've been introduced to some nutty English instrumental funk. Seen them loads of times. They're mind blowing 🤯

[@Inzo42]

Listen to the live version from 1985 off the album A Physical Presence with all four original members.

[@megasoid]

Awesome version.

[@jonathantanner4493]

That's definitely the best version, wore out my vinyl LP!

[@georgejeffries3566]

Mark King plays just furiously in this video. This tempo is ridiculously fast.

[@deangibbins5127]

I saw Level 42 play this at the Town & Country club Brixton in 1981, have been a level head ever since.

[@ganazby]

The amazing Gary Husband on drums. He’s also a virtuoso jazz pianist, and has been playing with John McLaughlin for many years. Mark King is the thumb monster.

[@niged]

Wow! Level 42 one of my favourite bands. See em live many times. Mark King, bass and vocals, was a drummer originally and moved on to bass, and developed a style of hitting the strings like drums! Many great tracks to review from the last 40 years.

[@marcelomessias3816]

I'm from Brazil, never got a chance to see them live, I'm a huge fun since I was a childhood, I hope I can still see them one day..

[@ACTUALLYRICH]

Grew up with these guys, at 36 years old I’m just delving back into them and holy shit their musicianship is insane

[@JBass42]

Welcome to the world of Level 42.

[@PowderedToastMan420]

Going way back. Jazz+Funk=Level 42. ✌️

[@jackbrown2325]

Played Bass, danced, sang and chewed gum all at the same time did MK.....outstanding band .

[@troubleondemand7703]

Level 42 were awesome! Their early stuff was like prog-funk or something. For a similar vibe with some crazy musicianship, check out Foundation & Empire from their A Physical Presence live album.

[@Allencartercomix]

Definitely check out some of their other instrumentals from their early years such as "43."

[@PixieLaRue]

I fell in love with Mr King in November 1985... Saw them quite a few times here in the US...i love bass...Mark is a fricking bass god!!!

[@chriswelsh6170]

Listen to "The early tapes" it has the original medium pace version that I used to learn the song.

[@MattOBuck]

Level 42 is on another level at all times😏

[@chucku00]

Hi John, you really gotta check out Casiopea since you're into Level 42. Their live performances are astounding. And if you're into drumming, you should also check out their drummer, Akira Jimbo, solo videos. He's a pionner at using octopads and sampled sounds in his drumset, just like Will Calhoun, Living Colour's drummer, or Keith LeBlanc. Oh, I forgot : check out Level 42 "Love Games" in their "A physical presence" live album if you want to experience an insane build up in the beginning of the song in addition to the crazy triplets or quadruplets of the bassist Mark King.

[@BrooksysBassCorner]

Get yourself a copy of A Physical Presence, live album from 1985. Enjoy!

[@annettemoore7264]

When we stand up we jump and scream and MISS WATCHING them play 😂😂😂 at a pink Floyd concert back in the day you could hear a pin drop .we where too busy being hypnotized by the band, screaming and clapping where kept to a MINIMUM until THE END 😂

[@tamafaiga2938]

Your reaction was the most awesome ever. Level 42 was no joke, I loved this band when I was in College in the 80s. I thought I was so hip cos not many people were hip to level 42 and we had a band that actually played some of their songs...Not this one tho LOL.

[@toshibautoob]

Smokin!

[@colindillon5938]

I was at this gig. Security wouldn't let us stand up! Booooooo!

[@davidturtonaptc]

Welcome to Level 42 ❤

[@chrismsg]

Enjoyed this video. I'm seeing them live twice this week coming 👍🏻🎸

[@lewisbernstein4272]

Level 42 had a Top 10 hit in the mid-80's. Something About You was a very, very poppy song that still had Mark King's killer bass playing. The bass playing in Mr. Pink is nuts - but Level 42 is surely worth listening to, even though they were kinda marginal in the pop music world. I'd recommend Something About You, Lessons in Love and Physical Presence! Don't slow down the Rush for this though. :-) Mark King is/was also the primary vocalist for the band.

[@hoolyboy]

Mark King, yo! Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bringing it since the early '80s!

[@TRaddcliff]

Listen to the studio version 👍🏿 Adding: be sure to check tunes done by the original lineup. They were amazing.

[@TheCentralScrutinizerAgain]

Their studio music is excellent. Level 42 are funky af. A Physical Presence is one of my favourite lives albums of all time though, ironically, released in 95, no 85!

[@JBass42]

85 😉

[@milesdust3465]

World Machine is a masterpiece according to me.

[@TheCentralScrutinizerAgain]

@@JBass42 if only i didn`t have decrepit old fingers instead of Mark King`s control!

[@JBass42]

@@TheCentralScrutinizerAgain Marks 64 now, no excuses!

[@chucku00]

I must have a time machine because I bought the vinyl in 1985.

[@PeaceKitty]

(early) Level 42... my first serious love! (After Blondie!)

[@warrenbutler7747]

Hey so glad you have found Level 42 lol...listen to the studio album version of Mr Pink its on their 1st album called Level 42...so good!! 👍🙂🤗

[@davidupton3186]

It's actually on 'The Early Tapes', but 'Level 42' is probably their most definitive album.

[@80musiclover]

There are bass players then there's Mark King. God of funk bass.

[@SuperKevin57]

Master of slap bass.

[@soulfabuk]

The start of the video you are reviewing is a bass solo...something Mark King is famous for. The song starts when the rest of the band comes in. To hear to pure original version, listen to it on the album The Early Years.

[@jonathancant2031]

By the way the first few parts of it before it heads into the song is actually a bass solo just so you know

[@thesuncollective1475]

You should listen to The Early tape original...nice reaction!

[@jasonbelldata]

Oddly still my favourite version too. Loads of brilliant live versions but I always go back to the original. That and 88 is straight after! :)

[@RajeshJairaj]

Excellent bass live at reading hall

[@deangibbins5127]

Heathrow live is awesome

[@davidking7353]

was a drummer said i just drummed the bass

[@rexblokland7778]

This isn't music, this is religion. Has nothing to do with the former church they were playing in btw

[@TheRossRants]

I actually think they played it better back in the day when it was just the original 4 kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJjGhIqEpth4mdU

[@thilobraun3440]

The sound is really to trebbly. Listen to the recording on the Physical Presence Album.

[@PowderedToastMan420]

Check out DANNY CAREY'S JAZZ/ROCK fusion band VOLTO! 🤞

[@aronhidman1]

Where's the analysis? Shouldn't a reaction video be more than just bopping to the music? I feel like I know less about Level 42 after watching this... I mean you say you are a musician...

[@jurgengrove2488]

My friend! Information is everything in the world! But you don't know what you're judging here.... Pretty stupid, right???

[@nicholasmartin297]

Your sound is out of synchro and your levels are all wrong.

[@hannovor]

man, tune your guitar, before you talk about fantastic music and musicians🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@chriswelsh6170]

Listen to "The early tapes" it has the original medium pace version that I used to learn the song.