Level Headed [Import]

Track Listings

1. California Nights

2. Silver Bird

3. Dream On

4. Fountain

5. Love Is Like Oxygen

6. Anthem, No. 1 (Lady of the Lake)

7. Strong Love

8. Lettres d'Amour

9. Anthem, No. 2

10. Air on a Tape Loop

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Reissue of the British glam rocker's 1978 album with four bonus tracks added, 'Cover Girl', 'Show Me The Way' and 7in versions of the two hits from it, 'California Nights' & the top 10 smash 'Love Is Like Oxygen'. 14 tracks total, also featuring the full length versions of both hits. 1991 release, originally released on Polydor.

Tracks:

Dream On
Love Is Like Oxygen
California Nights
Strong Love
Fountain
Anthem No. 1 (Lady of the Lake)
Silverbird
Letters d'Amour
Anthem No. 2
Air on 'A' Tape Loop [Instrumental]
Love Is Like Oxygen [Single Version][*]

Customer Reviews:

Level Headed is on the Level........2007-03-10

If you like tunes that are of good quality and good harmony, with guitar rifts and classical intonations, then you'll appreciate this little gem. Good tunes that brought back some old memories for me. One of the better albums by Sweet.

Average customer rating:

Level Headed
Sweet
Manufacturer: Repertoire
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000E2GP
Release Date: 1992-11-03

Tracks:

California Nights
Silver Bird
Dream On
Fountain
Love Is Like Oxygen
Anthem, No. 1 (Lady of the Lake)
Strong Love
Lettres d'Amour
Anthem, No. 2
Air on 'A' Tape Loop

Average customer rating:

Buy the Repertoire Release if you can !!
3 and one-half stars
You get too much, you get too high
OK, but where's their Edge?
Remastered sound a bit dissapointing. Album still great.

Level Headed
Sweet
Manufacturer: One Way Records Inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Off the Record
Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be
Give Us a Wink
Live at the Rainbow 1973: The Complete Concert
Very Best of Sweet

ASIN: B00005B181
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Tracks:

California Nights
Silver Bird
Dream On
Fountain
Love Is Like Oxygen
Anthem, No. 1 (Lady of the Lake)
Strong Love
Lettres d'Amour
Anthem, No. 2
Air on 'A' Tape Loop

Album Description

Originally released in 1978, this British rock band featuredBrian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott and Mick Tucker. The album yielded a top 10 hit with 'Love Is Like Oxygen'. This CD is re-mastered using 32-bit technology. 10 tracks. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.

Customer Reviews:

Buy the Repertoire Release if you can !!.......2007-05-04

This has always been one of my favorite LPs
I grew up just loving It I like this CD
And A Cut Above there much better then the early
POP/Glam rock of sweet
This is really an Awesome CD
I would look for the Repertoire Release of this out of Germany
I just got it from Amazon used and it has 4 bonus tracks

3 and one-half stars.......2004-11-25

Moving well into their 30's in age the Sweet takes a turn to the adult-oriented rock genre. Having been known either for being Mike Chapman/Nicky Chinn's band, or hard rockers writing occasionally killer songs, Sweet turns the volume down to a low scream for "Level Headed" in 1978. Unbeknownst to fans this was to be Brian Connolly's swan song as the rest of the band was about to give the alcoholic singer the boot in a most uncool, devious manner. The album really shines as Steve Priest and Andy Scott step up and deliver a collection of fine songs, all four members giving superb performances. "California Nights" sets the mood by the band doing their best Eagles/Fleetwood Mac impersonation, but "Silverbird" is pure Sweet with killer rythm by Priest and Tucker. "Fountain" surprises by showing range in the band's songwriting talents. "Love is Like Oxygen" we all know it, it's so good...nuff said. Side two offers up a string ensemble for a song from out of nowhere "Anthem No. 1" sung beautifully by Brian. "Strong Love" is a mid-tempo rocker that fit nicely in the pocket with a killer groove. The album ends on the strange "Air on 'A' Tape Loop", but somehow seems like the perfect end for the band. "Level Headed" is what's known as progressing as a band, and many times spells death. The Sweet were lucky in this regard, the audience accepted them in their new format, and the band didn't need to retrace their steps....for another two albums. Level Headed could be perceived as a high water mark for the band critically as well as commercially. To others, its just limp rock and roll. I think it stands on its on merits.

You get too much, you get too high.......2004-10-30

For the second time in their already stellar career, Sweet wanted to make a break with their past. The first time, they wanted to break the leash of their teen-pop controllers Chinn and Chapman, and the band did just that with the massive success of "Desolation Boulevard." Three albums later, Sweet decided they wanted something else...musical respect. To a certain extent, "Level Headed" delivered on those efforts.

The change is obvious with the opening softness of "California Nights." It chimes with acoustic guitars and harmonies straight out of Poco. "Dream On" is a ballad, saturated with strings. Harpsicords cascade through "Lady Of The Lake." The closing instrumental, "Air On A Tape Loop" sounds like something off an Alan Parsons Project CD. The harmonies throughout are highly reminiscent of Queen. The overall feel of "Level Headed" is relaxed and effortless, proving that Sweet obviously had more chops than "Ballroom Blitz" might have led one to believe.

Problem is, their urge to create "serious music" completely robbed Sweet of their edge. If you're looking for a piece of the "Action" here, you'll be completely confounded. Also, despite the obvious desire to come off as progressive, Sweet just ain't Yes. All of this can be forgiven by the high point of "Level Headed," Sweet's final American hit, "Love Is Like Oxygen." Balancing perfectly between its instrumental workout and ham-hook chorus, it was a deserved worldwide smash. Sadly, it was also Brain Connely's last hurrah with the band, and future albums suffered from his loss (the sole good song from "Sweet VI," "Sixties Man," can be found on the Capitol Records best of collection). Having the full length "Love Is Like Oxygen" alone makes this album worth owning, but otherwise, it's for diehard Sweet lovers only.

OK, but where's their Edge?.......2003-09-05

Sweet made a radical change in their sound on this album. The production got better, but the writing got softer. The best tracks tend to be the ones written by or with Brian Connolly, the others are either sappy or pretensious. Yes perhaps you could compare this with Alan Parsons, not really though...There are two standout cuts: Love is Like Oxygen is a classic and influential tune, and Air On A Tape Loop is very cool, experimental with synths and interesting harmonies. This was the last one with singer Connolly who was likely "left behind" due to his alcoholism.

Remastered sound a bit dissapointing. Album still great........2002-09-24

To be honest, the remastered job on this CD failed to impress me. Nevertheless, I still rate this CD with 5 stars because it's simply outstanding, full of emotion and musical maturity. Released in 1978, Level Headed is definitively one of Sweet's best, yet most intriguing productions. The Sweet had just established itself as one of the hardest rocking bands during the 1974-1977 rock vintage period. Not necessarily winning over their always overtly harsh "critics", but Brian Connolly (v), Mick Tucker (d), Steve Priest (b) and Andy Scott (g) had finally demonstrated their enormous musical talents. The band peaked during this period and their influence on `80s rock metal bands is simply undeniable. For starters, Motley Crue copied every riff, antics, mayhem from The Mighty Sweet, always falling way short in their attempt. Always imitated but never equaled. No teeny bop #1 hits were necessary anymore, as The Sweet was a band on a mission, a mission to do and say whatever they wanted. They were totally outrageous and out of control. And then came "Level Headed", an album displaying their softer side. This album is night and day compared to their recent musical past, but still delivered some of the bands richest repertoire. Sadly, this is the last album to feature Brian Connolly on vocals, and well... The Sweet was regretfully never the same. The import CD version is much better than this, it sounds great and it also has two superb extra songs: "Show Me the Way" (a rocking continuation of their excellent "Laura Lee" ballad from their prior release, and "Cover Girl".

Tracks:

California Nights
Silver Bird
Dream On
Fountain
Love Is Like Oxygen
Anthem, No. 1 (Lady of the Lake)
Strong Love
Lettres d'Amour
Anthem, No. 2
Air on 'A' Tape Loop

Album Description

Reissue of the British glam rocker's 1978 album with four bonus tracks added, 'Cover Girl', 'Show Me The Way' and 7in versions of the two hits from it, 'California Nights' & the top 10 smash 'Love Is Like Oxygen'. 14 tracks total, also featuring the full length versions of both hits. 1991 release, originally released on Polydor.

Album Details

4 Bonus Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Sensitive yet sophisticated. Pleasure on Plastic!.......2003-01-26

Firstly, I agree with other reviewers that the extra few bucks for the import is certainly worthwhile, as the songs added to it are great and would be a shame to miss. Both versions would however still be fine as all the songs originally released as the album "Level Headed" appear on both releases.
Historically, this album stood as a very significant change in direction for The Sweet. While the single version of "Love is like Oxygen" would not have alerted too many of the fans to this change, the variation on the album certainly would have done so.
On completing most of the song like the single, the album version of "LILO" virtually stops. It then builds slowly, using firstly a soft keyboard, then the plucking of an accoustic guitar, then on and on building with heavier keyboards, drumming and guitar to a great crescendo. It then returns to the chorus and then finishes with an almost funky fade-out. Super!!!
Many of the other songs on this album would also be better described as beautiful rather than rocking. The opener "Dream On" is a sensitive song written by Andy Scott about a guy watching his girl sleeping. Its played mainly on the piano but uses a heavy dose of strings and harmonies to finish off. It's really quite lovely. Anthems No1 (Lady of the Lake) and Anthem No2 have thick layers of strings and appear from the title and the words to be about Sir Lancelot and his love for Queen Guinevere (King Arthur's wife). Romance!?!!??!! from a band that sung "up to my b***s inside her" on "Give us a Wink" just two albums earlier? Instead we have here "My body is done, my soul will return to the lady of the lake, dying came too soon". But the truth is it works!!
The song "Fountain" is a another cracker of a song, being played firstly on accoustic guitar, then electric and finally on harpsichord no less. And what a fantastic song it is too.
Then there's Brian Connolly's duet with Stevie Lange on "Lettres D'Amour De France". Not bad at all either.
Another highlight not so immediately accessible is 'Air on A Tape Loop". Its sort of a sci-fi song, yet despite being made in 1978, it sounds absolutely fantastic under the headphones, especially some of Mick Tucker's drum work in the middle of the song. The remaining songs are also great. "California Nights" was the second single, "Stong Love" is loaded with harmonies and is played on the sax while "Silverbird is also a nice boppy little number.
Looking back, its a pity that as many people didn't listen to "Level Headed" the album as listened to "Love is Like Oxygen" the single. Because I'm sure that this album would have sold heaps more. And more sales may have meant a lot more albums like this one and its follow up "Cut Above The Rest" (also reviewed by me here on Amazon). As it was, both albums sold poorly and eventually lead to the group's disbandenment.
Fortunately many of the great albums that the Sweet did make are still available today (somebody was thinking!). And as far as Sweet albums go, this is one of the best!

Sensitive yet sophisticated. Pleasure on Plastic!.......2003-01-26

Firstly, I agree with other reviewers that the extra few bucks for the import is certainly worthwhile, as the songs added to it are great and would be a shame to miss. Both versions would however still be fine as all the songs originally released as the album "Level Headed" appear on both releases.
Historically, this album stood as a very significant change in direction for The Sweet. While the single version of "Love is like Oxygen" would not have alerted too many of the fans to this change, the variation on the album certainly would have done so.
On completing most of the song like the single, the album version of "LILO" virtually stops. It then builds slowly, using firstly a soft keyboard, then the plucking of an accoustic guitar, then on and on building with heavier keyboards, drumming and guitar to a great crescendo. It then returns to the chorus and then finishes with an almost funky fade-out. Super!!!
Many of the other songs on this album would also be better described as beautiful rather than rocking. The opener "Dream On" is a sensitive song written by Andy Scott about a guy watching his girl sleeping. Its played mainly on the piano but uses a heavy dose of strings and harmonies to finish off. It's really quite lovely. Anthems No1 (Lady of the Lake) and Anthem No2 have thick layers of strings and appear from the title and the words to be about Sir Lancelot and his love for Queen Guinevere (King Arthur's wife). Romance!?!!??!! from a band that sung "up to my b***s inside her" on "Give us a Wink" just two albums earlier? Instead here we have here "My body is done, my soul will return to the lady of the lake, dying came too soon". But the truth is it works!!
The song "Fountain" is a another cracker of a song, being played firstly on accoustic guitar, then electric and finally on harpsichord no less. And what a fantastic song it is too.
Then there's Brian Connolly's duet with Stevie Lange on "Lettres D'Amour De France". Not bad at all either.
Another highlight not so immediately accessible is 'Air on A Tape Loop". Its sort of a sci-fi song, yet despite being made in 1978, it sounds absolutely fantastic under the headphones, especially some of Mick Tucker's drum work in the middle of the song. The remaining songs are also great. "California Nights" was the second single, "Stong Love" is loaded with harmonies and is played on the sax while "Silverbird is also a nice boppy little number.

Looking back, its a pity that as many people didn't listen to "Level Headed" the album as listened to "Love is Like Oxygen" the single. Because I'm sure that this album would have sold heaps more. And more sales may have meant a lot more albums like this one and its follow up "Cut Above The Rest" (also reviewed by me here on Amazon). As it was, both albums sold poorly and eventually lead to the group's disbandenment.
Fortunately many of the great albums that the Sweet did make are still available today (somebody was thinking!). And as far as Sweet albums go, this is one of the best!

Great Album, Great Band.......2001-05-14

This is a well-crafted album. It captures the transformation of the band from the glam-rock of their beginnings to the harder and leaner music that they put out afterward. This is evident especially in the track 'Air On "A" Tape Loop'; you have to remind yourself that this was a song from 1978. The cover is different than the U.S. released version. That version has a closeup of what looks at first glance like a city or structure from an alien world perhaps. But when you opened the foldout center of the album, you saw a picture of a floating electric guitar with a cassette tape player in the place of the string pickups. Very original artwork. The picture of the band that is on the cover of this version of the album was located on the album sleeve if I recall correctly. It has nothing to do with the quality of the recording, but it is interesting just the same.

Excellent companion to the BEST OF import.......1998-09-18

Including bonus tracks, this version of LEVEL HEADED not only features the full-length version of "Love Is Like Oxygen", but the single version of it as well as "California Nights". Capitol dropped this title more than 5 years ago, only available as a cassette. This CD shows a more Alan Parsons-type approach, and the CD is mastered perfectly.

Average customer rating:

Fanny Adams / Level Headed
Sweet
Manufacturer: CD Maximum
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000K292RK

Product Description

2 albums on 1CD -19 trx total: "FANNY ADAMS" - 9 trx & "LEVEL HEADED" - 10 trx. "FANNY ADAMS": 1. Set Me Free. 2. Heartbreak Today. 3. No You Don't. 4. Rebel Rouser. 5. Peppermint Twist. 6. Sweet F.A. 7. Restless. 8. In to the Night. 9. AC/DC. "LEVEL HEADED": 1. California Nights. 2. Silverbird. 3. Dream On. 4. Fountain. 5. Love Is Like Oxygen. 6. Anthem No. 1 (Lady of the Lake). 7. Strong Love. 8. Letters d'Amour. 9. Anthem No. 2. 10. Air on 'A' Tape Loop.

Average customer rating:

Level Headed
Sweet
Manufacturer: Repertoire/Hepcat
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002B74UG
Release Date: 2002-11-08

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

1. California Nights
2. Silver Bird
3. Dream On
4. Fountain
5. Love Is Like Oxygen
6. Anthem, No. 1 (Lady of the Lake)
7. Strong Love
8. Lettres d'Amour
9. Anthem, No. 2
10. Air on a Tape Loop