Editing Level 42 (section)

===1983–1985: Moving towards pop (''Standing in the Light'' and ''True Colours'')===

A fourth album, ''[[Standing in the Light]]'', was released in 1983. Produced by Larry Dunn and Verdine White (of [[Earth, Wind & Fire]]), this album began a new era for the band, being less experimental and less jazzy than previous releases. It provided them with their first UK Top Ten hit, "[[The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)]]". Notably, the album featured no instrumental tracks, with the band now focusing heavily on songs. (The band would not release another instrumental on an album until 1988's ''[[Staring at the Sun (Level 42 album)|Staring at the Sun]]'').

The 1984 album ''[[True Colours (Level 42 album)|True Colours]]'' continued the band's development away from primarily jazz-funk based music, switching between funk, power pop, mid-tempo rock and moody ballads. It yielded the singles "The Chant Has Begun" and "[[Hot Water (song)|Hot Water]]". The latter was a Top 20 hit in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and a Top 5 hit in the Netherlands where the band became popular (the song also reached No.&nbsp;7 in Belgium). During the same year, Mark King released his first solo album ''[[Influences]]'' on which he played the majority of the instruments (with a guest appearance by [[Aswad (band)|Aswad]]'s [[Drummie Zeb]], and with Lindup guesting on additional keyboards).

[[File:Level-42-mark1.jpg|thumb|upright|Mark King in 1986]]Level 42 became known for their power as a live band (as showcased on the 1985 double live album ''[[A Physical Presence]]'').{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} For live gigs the band added saxophonist Krys Mach, who toured with the group from 1984 to 1988 and contributed to some album recordings.