True Colours [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Digitally remastered reissue of 1980 album for the New Zealand based new wave act that spawned the careers of Neil & Tim Finn. 11 tracks. Festival. 2004.

Tracks:

I Got You
Shark Attack
What's The Matter With You
Double Happy
I Wouldn't Dream Of It
I Hope I Never
Nobody Takes Me Seriously
Missing Person
Poor Boy
How Can I Resist Her
The Choral Sea

Customer Reviews:

I grew up on this album.......2007-07-13

This odd blend of Nu Wave and quirkiness made this album, fun, memorable and fun to sing and jerk to. It was one of my favorite 80's albums and to this day, is a great one for me!

The Ultimate Collection.......2007-01-15

I love this album and believe this to be the highpoint of their career- so many good songs on here and each stands alone. The only disappointment is that they didn't recreate the beautiful laser-etched hologram design from the vinyl LP. But oh well, at least this is on cd. Check out the Crowded House catalog for more Finntastic music.

Pre MTV.......2005-11-17

The first time I heard - and saw -- "I Got You" was when I was in the 9th grade before MTV. Every Friday night, PBS would show 30 minutes of music videos on a program that I cant recall the name of. However, Split Enz "I Got You" was shown perhaps 6 Fridays in-a-row and it was awesome. At a time when I was just getting turned on to the likes of Devo, Kraftwerk, Misex, et.al., this song and group was transforming and just plain cool to a 14 year old kid. A lot of fun and so many great memories.

Best Pop Album of the 80's.......2005-09-09

For pure Pop pleasure this album just can't be beat. Everybody knows 'I Got You' but what about the manic fun of 'Shark Attack', the Schoolboy indignity of 'What's the matter with you' the slushy sentimentality of 'I Hope I Never', the hilariously self-pitying 'Nobody Takes me Seriously' the beautifully smooth and melancholy heartbreak of 'Missing Person' & the utterly fantastic instrumental ending of 'The Choral Sea'. Even though I have the best of Split Enz 'Spellbound' on CD I still need to grab this CD soon just for the 5 tracks missing off the greatest hits compilation, that's how good it is. For now I'm relying on my laser etched vinyl copy (ooh! Laser etched!). This album works on its own merits. It's a beautifully cohesive album. Beautifully observed Pop lyrics with wonderful sweeping synths and lovely piano work from Eddie Rayner. I saw them live in London back in 81 & it was one of the top 5 live concerts I ever saw in my life. These guys could deliver and this album is their opus. Time & Tide coming in 2nd I'd say. To end with, if you want to feel good this disc/cd makes a great pick-me-up!

Great Album!.......2003-02-10

Split Enz is certainly a major group that influenced many later artist. True Colours the album was also innovative. The original LP featured a laser etched design which looked cool on the turntable! The music is quite good. Tunes such as Shark Attack, I Got You, Double Happy, are clear progressive new wave, and a look at music, to at least where many thought is was headed in the 1980's. True Colours is a true gem!

Average customer rating:

One of Split Enz most impressive outings 4 1/2 stars

True Colours
Split Enz
Manufacturer: Mushroom Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Corroboree
Time and Tide
Frenzy
Mental Notes
Conflicting Emotions

ASIN: B000M7FOI4
Release Date: 2007-02-12

Tracks:

Shark Attack
I Got You
What's the Matter With You
Double Happy
I Wouldn't Dream of It
I Hope I Never
Nobody Takes Me Seriously
Missing Person
Poor Boy
How Can I Resist Her
Choral Sea
Things [*]
Two of a Kind [*]

Customer Reviews:

One of Split Enz most impressive outings 4 1/2 stars.......2007-04-29

Although the "True Colours" doesn't sound quite as good Corroboree that probably has more to do with the fact that "Corroboree" was remxed and remastered. "True Colours" features Split Enz coming into its own. Remastered by band stalwart Eddie Rayner, "True Colours" extremely good here although I didn't do a head-to-head comparison to the previous U.S. release. The real reason to pick this up are the bonus tracks.

One of the Finn/Finn era's biggest albums in the United States album is among their eccentric and most eclectic releases featuring all the production touches common to the late 70's/early 80's but the song craft is far and away better than what most other bands were doing. Once Tim Finn invited his guitarist/vocalist brother Neil to join the band they produced a series of the band's most melodic and memorable albums. Buoyed by the success of "I Got You" (it actually broke into Billboard's singles charts at #53 only to be outdone with the next album's single also by Neil Finn "History Never Repeats" which charted at #33),"True Colours" came in at #40 on the album charts quite an achievement for a band that had previously been ignored in the United States.

The rest of the album is as impressive even if the album's production dates it a bit. "Shark Attack" is a catchy Tim Finn number and Tim checks in with one of his most effective ballads "I Hope I Never" which showcases his tenor voice. The album is supplemented by a pair of strong b-sides from the band's singles "Things" (by Tim) and "Two of a Kind" (by Neil) which were strong contenders for the album and add to the quality of this release.

The liner notes are nonexistant which is a pity--those who aren't as familair with the band will want to learn a bit about their history and this album's recording history. We do get complete lyrics (except for the bonus tracks). The original release had three different colored colors with the same design (the U.S. domestic version goes with the red and black design)but this CD release goes with the cover that adnorned subsequent releases.

"Corroborree" sounds better in its re-release than this album (primarily because Rayner went back and remixed the album cleaning it up quite a bit)with a less cluttered production, more detail than this album. While it is a comparable follow up with the highlights being better than the best songs here, it's a bit less consistent than "True Colours". If you pick up "Mental Notes", "True Colours", "Corroboree", "Time & Tide" and "Conflicting Emotions" (primarily for the gorgeous "Message to My Girl" and "Bon Voyage") you'll have the best music this underrated band produced. Recommended.

Mental Notesand Corroboree andFrenzyand Time and Tide

Average customer rating:

Ultimate 80's album.
Free Yourself With Level 42
Level show their colors and conquer the world
They were the best
The best of the best - if you even LIKE brit funk or level42

True Colours/World Machine
Level 42
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Running in the Family/Staring at the Sun
Level 42/The Early Tapes
Influences
Level 42
Retroglide

ASIN: B00004WGYM
Release Date: 2000-08-28

Tracks:

The Chant Has Begun
Kansas City Milkman
Seven Days
Hot Water
A Floating Life
True Believers
My Hero
Kouyate
Hours By The Window
The Chant Has Begun (Powermix)
A Floating Life (Demo)
Seven Days (Demo)
Hours By The Window (Demo)
Free Yourself (Unused Demo)
Hot Water (Mastermix)

Tracks:

World Machine
Physical Presence
Something About You
Leaving Me Now
I Sleep On My Heart
It's Not The Same For Us
Dream Crazy
Good Man In A Storm
Coup D'Etat
Lying Still
I Sleep On My Heart
World Machine
Something About You

Album Description

Two albums on one CD for the UK pop/r&b act, 'True Colours'(1983) and 'World Machine' (1985). Includes nine bonus tracks, 'The Chant Has Begun', demo for 'A Floating Life', '7 Days' (demo), 'Hours By The Window' (demo), 'Free Yourself' (unused demo), 'Hot Water' (Master Mix), 'I Sleep On My Heart'(12' Mix), 'World Machine' (US Remix II) and 'Something About You' (12' Salsa Mix). Digitally remastered. 2000 release.Double slimline jewel case.

Album Details

Two Newly Remastered Albums Now Available on One CD with a Bonus Track.

Customer Reviews:

Ultimate 80's album........2006-05-01

This CD is what you think of when you think of great, fun 80's music. Level 42 epitomized the sound of that era, with their catchy, pop hooks. "Something About You" is a personal fave & I'm sure a lot of people like this one too. It just makes you feel good to listen to it & think back to what was going on in your life at that time & what was happening musically. I'd recommend this CD to any lover of 80's pop sounds. To the ones that remember this group originally, it will be fun to reminisce & to new fans, you'll get a taste of what terrific music came out of that time period.

Free Yourself With Level 42.......2005-05-15

This twofer of Level 42's fifth and sixth albums presents the band deep in a transitionary period,not that they were shy about exposing their transitionary periods as the years went on.Both 1984's 'True Colours' and 1985's blockbuster album 'World Machine' represent significant musical changes for the band.By this time Level 42 had adbandoned their long held tradition of electric bass heavy jazz-funk instrumentals in favor of more cleverly crafted songs.Using newfound elements of Afro-Latin percussion and modalities embellish tunes such as "The Chant As Begun" and the dynamic "Kouyate",while the latter sports a very intruiging melody."Kansas City Milkman","A Floating Life" and "Seven Days" have a gentle R&B delicacy that finds them moving headlong toward a new sound.In the meantime the pulsing "Hot Water" and "True Believers" still have the old funkiness to them.
Now 'World Machine is altogether different.The title cut alone opens with the percussive title cut but like much of the rest of the album is far slicker then any of Level 42's previous music.The haphazard American version of this CD contains songs from both these albums but this original mix makes alot more sense.The tracks left off the US version such as the wonderfully rhythmic "I Sleep On My Heart","Dream Crazy" and "Coup D'Etat" are this albums main linkage of the bands classic sound with their funky rhythms and bass lines."Something About You",their big radio hit for which they will be remembered in the US most is the obvious culmination of the bands previous developement.And from here on Level 42 would aim not for the funk clubs but the pop charts.
As for the bonuses the skeletal funk of "Free Yourself" on Disk 1 is the most impressive there.On the next disk the extended sisa mix of "Something About You" is far funkier and more instrumental then the hit.One thing this set did is forever change my opinion of 'World Machine',the US version of which led me to believe the band had turned into total sell outs.The version heard here is mixed and arranged more in context with their vision and sounds far more like a genuine album.Heard in this manner both of these albums sound alot more coherant and purpuseful then they did apart and as an important point of departure for this foursome who were already going down this path before but never made it this far.And by the second CD presented here they did.

Level show their colors and conquer the world.......2004-01-22

By C.S.

The double disc combo of "True Colours" and "World Machine" mark a period of independence and re-assessment for the four piece Brit group.
Seeking to create their own masterpiece without the aid of high profile producers Larry Dunn and Verdine White of Earth, Wind, And Fire fame on "Standing In The Light", the material on 'True Colours is a hybrid of dark tones and hard synth funk . The idea of using tactics similar to that on "Standing" while still simultaneously playing in a loose and improvisational fashion proves to be a difficult juggling act

The two hit singles off the album "Hot Water" and "The Chant Has Begun" which were later released on the North American version of "World Machine" some two years later,blunt some of the excitement in the early listening stages.

However,when the band strike they strike brilliantly with tracks such as "Kansas City Milkman" with it's wicked bass and synth effect,"My Hero" where King carries the tune with his virtuoso slap bass .Even at their best the band's opprtunities to play more freely are minimal with Boon Gould's screaming guitar solo at the intro of "True Believers" being a being a prime example along with the a collective jam session at the bridge of "A Floating Life".
Interstingly enough,on the demo version of the song which is one of six bonus tracks included on the re- mastered version of this album, King's bass line is extemely heavy and as are Gould's drums and suggests in a strong manner that the studio polish took a little off a bit of the rough and raw edges displayed here
> The slower material on "True" give the album some much needed validity.
"Hours By The Window" features King masterfully using the combination of warm bass and high- pitched tones that sound guitar- like over a dark and somber backing track, while Lindup marries the modern synth with standard piano work on "Seven Years" . High pitched tribal tones mixed with a loud sax solo fuel the mid- tempo paced "Kouyate", which assists in covering up some tatical mistakes made on "True Colours".
Though the loose and fronetic funk is somewhat absent here versus prior releases,the overall picture reveals "True Colours" to be a pretty solid if not perfect record, thus the three and a half stars.
When it came time to go back to the drawing board to record "World Machine" there was no question the group wanted to seize the commercial market- a move that rendered short term benefits, but helped to facilitate long-term creative conflicts and the departure of the Gould brothers after the "Running In The Family" campaign ended in 1988.
Nevertheless "World Machine" broke into more markets (particularly North America) than any of their previous albums chiefly off the success of the singles "Something About You" and Leaving Me Now".
In assessing the remaining material on the record,the band employ some Moog bass to add some bulk to King 's standard playing on the title track and open the sound-waves with an ambience on "A Physical Presence" featuring Boon Gould's flamingo like guitar tones and a clarity due to the open -air technique that allows Phil Gould's drums to breathe versus the tight technique used on "True Colors" that deadened the harmonics and depleted the heaviness.
This back to basics approach sprinkled with Level flair works masterfully on the funky "Good Man In A Storm" where Lindup swwops in with a soaring synth and King drops in with the four string kryptonite, and offers a lounge chair live quality on the slow to mid- tempo "Lying Still". The buildup allows Gould to shine with an array of cymbal crashes, drum rolls and snare drum pops that melt deliciously on Lindup's keys.
"I Sleep On My Heart" particularly the remixed version, stands quite tall amongst the trees as Boon turns the amps up a couple of channels with a ear shattering guitar solo against the arsenal of punchy effects, heavy bass lines and heavy hitting drums.
In the concious pursuit of financial freedom that was the making of "World Machine (though it wasnt literally that concious)there will be pain and suffering. Tracks like "Coup D' Etat",It's Not The Same For Us",and the Dream Crazy" are weakened versions of the aformentioned strong tracks and help draw the final conclusion in rating "World Machine" a four star record, but only by the narrowest of margins.
As a result the "True Colours / World Machine" collection has enough quality material to recieve four stars.

C.S.
1-27-04

They were the best.......2000-12-24

I discovered Level 42 in 1986 with the single Lessons In Love. I was stunned with the music from the early Jazzfunk to the catchy popsongs in the second half of the eighties. The album True Colours was White Funk of a different class. World Machine has been the turning point for them in commercial way. They deserved it. In 1991 I saw a Level 42 concert in Amsterdam, what a quality of live music. They were the best.

The best of the best - if you even LIKE brit funk or level42.......2000-12-15

Then this is a MUST HAVE

2 of their best albumns for a low price and remastered to boot!

True colors sports the bands best lyrical albumn and world machine thier most popular (barring RITF)

Tracks:

I Got You
Shark Attack
Whats The Matter With You
Double Happy
I Wouldnt Dream Of It
I Hope I Never
Nobody Takes Me Seriously
Missing Person
Poor Boy
How Can I Resist Her
The Choral Sea

Album Description

Budget price reissue of 1980 album for the New Zealand based new wave act that spawned the careers of Neil & Tim Finn. 11 tracks. Spectrum. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliantly colored Split Enz album.......2004-10-03

"True Colors" was where Split Enz hit both their commerical and creative stride. The follow up "Corroboree (aka "Waiata") was equally strong and but this is where the band began producing their string of masterpieces. Although some of the new wave arrangements don't quite gel now, the overall effect is still pretty powerful.

Opening with the one-two punch of "I Got You" and "Shark Attack" the album never lets up. Neil Finn truly discovers his songwriting voice here and Tim continues to provide some of the richest ballads of his career with "I Hope I Never". Imagine if The Beatles stuck together and embraced new wave and you'll get an idea of this albums sound. Neil combines the melodicism of Paul McCartney with the the lyrical adeptness of Lennon.

I do miss the colored vinyl that this first appeared. A pity they couldn't do something similar with the CD reissue. This album needs to be remastered to capture all the detail in the production.

The best that Split Enz put out.......2004-04-04

If you buy one Split Enz album, this should be it, especially if you are a new wave music fan. I first started listening to it on my Walkman when I was 14 and it was one of the few tapes in my collection that I could play beginning to end without fast forwarding past any of the tracks. I can't say this for the other Split Enz album I owned, Time and Tide, but Dirty Creature and Six Months in a Leaky Boat from that one are both brilliant. As the media changed and I no longer had a turntable or tape player, I bought CD versions of some of the music I had from my teen years, those albums that stood the test of time and on which every song was great. True Colours is one of those.

pop perfection.......2004-01-30

"true colours" is an example of a single album that is better than a band's whole greatest hits package. from start to finish "true colours" is amazing. two words: pop perfection...

A Solid Effort.......2003-11-12

Some really great tunes on this one. Slicker and more commercial than previous LP's. Wears thin on repeated listenings.

Great for what it is.......2003-07-21

This is a great album of catchy, early new wave pop songs. I had a handful of Split Enz's albums by the mid-1980s, and this was always my favorite. The songs are moody, but also bouncy and fun-loving.

Average customer rating:

The Unknown Elgar

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

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Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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A Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00002610Y
Release Date: 1995-02-07

Average customer rating:

True Colours

True Colours
Level 42
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Standing in the Light
Staring at the Sun
World Machine
The Pursuit of Accidents
Running in the Family

ASIN: B000008HP5
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Chant Has Begun
Kansas City Milkman
Seven Days
Hot Water
Floating Life
True Believers
My Hero
Kouyate (There Is a Secret Between Us)
Hours by the Window

Customer Reviews:

True Colours.......2000-06-24

Ah...I can still feel my acne and remember those cider-tasting french kisses....In the 1980s being a fan of Level 42 was cool...why do they laugh now? True Colours pre-dated Cyndi Lauper's album of the same name by some years (please don't get confused..) but it still managed to combine elements of L42's early Britfunk influences and their pop destiny. I personally liked 'My Hero' from the tape/CD, best....

1. Floating Life

Hmmmm...one of those social commentary songs that 42 used to get into every now and again. Nice and catchy, at the time the words were cool in a sort of 'hey lets be cool' sort of way, but like flick hair cuts, Airwolf, Turkey Drummers and those wedgies you got in the school changing rooms, it all seems a bit dated/painful and trite, now... Still...it's L42..so it's still worth listening to, right?

2. Hot Water A classic for all fans, perhaps one of the funkiest pop lines ever - and one that spawned some of the best live jazz-funk-pop in history. Lyrics are simple (no deep commentary here) instead it's just as thin veneer of pop over one of the chunkiest bass/keyboard lines ever. Simple and straight to the point - just as it should be.

3. Hours By The Window Gorgeous slowy in a time that pre-dates 'Leaving Me Now.' Pretty haunting stuff...'speshially for 1982. Again, nice bass-as-lead from Mr Mark King.

4. Kansas City Milkman I had chicken pox and had a tape of 'Physical Presence' a live version of this song is on it and is the finest live recording I have ever heard. That being the case, this suffers in comparison (personally) but it's still a great song, with top lyrics and some nice changes in pace.

5. True Believers The best ever bass line in a song ever - period. Listen to the way it meanders through this high-paced song and then delight in the bass solo. Absolutely superb. Lyrics rock, too...

6. Koyate Ahem. Nice beat and ethnic drums and all that...but a bit too twee...for me..