Level 42 were formed in 1980 by Mark King (Bass and vocals) Mike Lindup (Keys and vocals) and brothers Boon Gould (Guitar) and Phil Gould (Drums) and were signed up by Elite Records, an independent jazz funk label in north London. It didn't take long before they began to fulfil early promise with their debut single Love Meeting Love (featuring Wally Badarou, who was to become a regular addition in the studio, on synths) quickly becoming a classic on the jazz funk club scene, and a reputation as a great live band was begun.

The band took the 80s by storm with their brand of bass driven jazz funk that came from the underground soul scene of wedge hair cuts, pegged trousers, sharp shoes and soul patrols. They led a band of UK 'funksters' and soul acts that  for a time changed the face of the street scene in Britain , dovetailing with the start of the commercial New Romantic movement , Two Tone and the dying embers of punk.

Level 42 clearly became the most influential of all the British acts but with the likes of Incognito, Light of the World, Lynx , and Beggar and Co to name just four , made their indelible mark and gave the scene an identity which allowed mainstream radio to embrace more easily the infectious bass lines that were the hallmark of Mark King and Level 42 for a decade and beyond.