Released January 1978 (1978-01) Length 39:53 | Recorded 1977 Label PolydorCapitol | |
Genre Neo-progressive rockArt rockPop rock |
Level Headed is the sixth album by Sweet. It features "Love Is Like Oxygen", the band's last original single to hit the top 40 on both sides of the Atlantic, peaking at #8 in the US and #9 in the UK. The single version of "Love Is Like Oxygen" is substantially shorter than the album version, and the US version has only the first verse, shorter intermezzo and the funk outro. A second single, "California Nights", was released from the album but only reached #76 in the US.
Contents
- Reception
- Track listing
- European release
- Bonus tracks on 19911997 reissues
- Bonus track on 2005 reissue
- US release
- Personnel
- References
This was the last album to feature the classic lineup, as Brian Connolly departed around a year after the album's release, in order to embark on a solo career. The remaining trio of Steve Priest, Andy Scott, and Mick Tucker continued as Sweet and delivered three more albums before breaking up in 1981.
Reception
Allmusic lauded the album in their retrospective review, praising the wild sampling of styles and the band's shift from their earlier bubblegum singles to album-driven rock. They concluded "Certainly, this is not classic-era Sweet, but that's precisely what's good about Level Headed - they're off-kilter and adventurous, occasionally stumbling but always making interesting music on an album that's anything but what the title promises."
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott, and Mick Tucker except where noted.
European release
- "Dream On" (Scott) – 2:53
- "Love Is Like Oxygen" (Scott, Trevor Griffin) – 6:53
- "California Nights" – 3:45
- "Strong Love" – 3:28
- "Fountain" – 4:44
- "Anthem No. I (Lady of the Lake)" – 4:11
- "Silverbird" – 3:26
- "Lettres D'Amour" – 3:30
- "Anthem No. II" – 1:02
- "Air on 'A' Tape Loop" (Priest, Scott, Tucker) – 5:59
Bonus tracks on 1991/1997 reissues
- "Love Is Like Oxygen" (single version) - 3:48
- "Cover Girl" – 3:34
- "California Nights " (single version) – 3:22
- "Show Me The Way" – 3:22
Bonus track on 2005 reissue
- "Love Is Like Oxygen" (single version) - 3:49
US release
An alternate version with a different running order and album cover was released in the US on Capitol Records.
- "California Nights" - 3:39
- "Silverbird" - 3:24
- "Dream On" - 2:50
- "Fountain" (last part with harpsichord is shorter and no hi-hat cymbals) - 4:12
- "Love Is Like Oxygen" - 6:49
- "Anthem No. I (Lady of the Lake)" - 4:08
- "Strong Love" - 3:28
- "Lettres D'Amour" - 3:27
- "Anthem No. II" - 0:58
- "Air on 'A' Tape Loop" - 5:59