Guaranteed | ||||
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Studio album by Level 42 | ||||
Released | 1991 | |||
Recorded | Recorded at The Summerhouse, 1990-1991. Mixed by Tom Lord Alge at The Hit Factory, New York City. | |||
Genre | Rock, jazz-funk | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Producer | Level 42 and Wally Badarou | |||
Level 42 chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
Select Magazine |
Guaranteed is the ninth studio album by the British musical group Level 42, released in 1991, their first album of the 1990s. The album was released by RCA records and it was the first Level 42 studio album released by a label other than Polydor.
Guaranteed was the first Level 42 album without a songwriting contribution from former member Boon Gould (who had contributed lyrics to some songs for the 1988 album Staring at the Sun following his departure from the band). Several songs were co-written with lyricists Drew Barfield and George M. Green. Guaranteed was also the first Level 42 album to be released following the death of guitarist Alan Murphy (who had taken over from Gould for Staring at the Sun and related tours).
The lineup credits for the album listed all of the musicians involved rather than clearly defining the separation between band and guest players. This reflected the ongoing personnel shifts within the band. All cover art and inlay photos implied that the band consisted of Mark King, Mike Lindup and Gary Husband plus a guitarist, but was less clear on the latter's identity—inlay photos featured Allan Holdsworth while cover artwork featured Jakko Jakszyk. In practise, Holdsworth (who had played with the band during its recent London residency at the Hammersmith Apollo) only contributed electric guitar solos to five of the album's songs in the studio—"Seven Years", "A Kinder Eye", "She Can't Help Herself", "If You Were Mine" and "With A Little Love". Band associate Dominic Miller contributed all rhythm guitar work (as he had done for Staring at the Sun). Jakszyk (formerly with 64 Spoons and a top session guitarist) played no part in recording the album, but was hired for touring and promotional work and hence featured in the album artwork and the promotional video clips for "Guaranteed", "Overtime" and "My Father's Shoes".