The Early Tapes

{{for|the album by Tony Sheridan and The Beatles|The Early Tapes of the Beatles}}

{{Infobox album

| name = The Early Tapes (July/Aug 1980)

| type = studio

| artist = Level 42

| cover = Strategylvl42.jpg

| alt =

| released = March 1982

| recorded = July–August 1980

| venue =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 41:44

| label = Polydor

| producer =

Andy Sojka
Jerry Pike

| prev_title = Level 42

| prev_year = 1981

| next_title = The Pursuit of Accidents

| next_year = 1982

| misc = {{Singles

| name = The Early Tapes (July/Aug 1980)

| type = studio

| single1 = Love Meeting Love

| single1date = April 1980/August 1980 (re-release)

| single2 = (Flying on The) Wings of Love

| single2date = November 1980

}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web | url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r43066|pure_url=yes}} | title=AllMusic review | work=AllMusic | publisher=All Media Guide | first=William | last=Cooper | access-date=2011-06-24}}

| rev2 = Q

| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}Ian Harrison Q, May 2007, Issue 250.

}}

The Early Tapes (July/Aug 1980), also known as Strategy, is the second album released, but first to be recorded, by English jazz-funk group Level 42. Originally recorded for Elite Records, the band subsequently signed to Polydor, who bought the masters from Elite and issued it in March 1982. It features Level 42's first two singles—"Love Meeting Love" (UK #61) and "(Flying on The) Wings of Love" (UK #76).

Track listing

"Sandstorm" (Badarou, King) – 4:41
"Love Meeting Love" (Gould, King) – 6:24
"Theme to Margaret" (King) – 3:59
"Autumn (Paradise Is Free)" (King) – 4:45
"(Flying on The) Wings of Love" (Badarou, Gould, Gould, King, Lindup) – 6:58
"Woman" (Lindup) – 4:38
"Mr. Pink" (Badarou, King) – 5:08
"88" (King) – 5:11

Personnel

;Level 42

Mark King – bass guitar, percussion, vocals on "Love Meeting Love" & "Autumn (Paradise is Free)", chant vocals on "88"
Mike Lindup – keyboards, percussion, vocals on "Wings of Love", chant vocals on "88"
Boon Gould – guitars, alto saxophone
Phil Gould – drums, percussion

with:

Wally Badarou – Prophet 5 and inspiration
Leroy Williams – percussion (Courtesy EMI)
Dave Chambers – tenor and soprano saxophones

Charts

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"\| Chart (1982) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{album chart\|UK\|70\|artist=Level 42\|rowheader=true\|access-date=30 March 2024}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (1982)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|UK|70|artist=Level 42|rowheader=true|access-date=30 March 2024}}