World Machine is the sixth studio album by British pop group Level 42, released in 1985. It was the band's breakthrough album internationally and features one of their most successful singles, "Something About You".

Composition

This release marked a transition from their jazz-funk beginnings to the funky pop they are best known for―a transition which eventually resulted in the departure of drummer Phil Gould subsequent to the release of their follow up album Running in the Family. The album features the singles "Something About You" (the band's only American top 10 hit, peaking at number 7, and a success internationally) and "Leaving Me Now". Also featured is "Physical Presence", the song from which the name for their first live record was taken. The album was re-released in 2000 as a 2-CD set also including the band's previous album, True Colours. In 2007, World Machine was re-released as a 2-CD remastered Deluxe Edition containing several remixes and live versions as bonus tracks. The cover photo is of Hafnarfjall, a mountain in west Iceland.

Commercial performance

World Machine peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart, staying on the chart for 72 weeks. It was also the band's first album to enter the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 18 and staying on the chart for 36 weeks. Album sales have reached over three million copies, being certified 2× Platinum by the BPI.

Track listing

Bonus tracks, released 2000

Bonus tracks (deluxe edition), released 2007

Personnel

Level 42 with: 2007 Re-issue:

Production

Charts