The Pursuit of Accidents is the third studio album released by the jazz/funk British musical group Level 42, in 1982. It was issued on CD in 1985. It was re-issued on CD in 2000 as part of a two disc set with the album "Standing In The Light", and again in 2007 as a stand-alone disc. The album reached #17 on the UK album charts.
The album features three singles. The first single "Are You Hearing (What I Hear)?" peaked at #49; the second, "Weave Your Spell", peaked at #43. The third single was "The Chinese Way", and became the band's first top thirty hit when it reached #24 in 1983. It was issued in six countries beyond the United Kingdom, including Ireland, Germany, Spain and United States of America.
Track listing "Weave Your Spell" (Lindup, King, P. Gould) – 5:30 "The Pursuit Of Accidents" (Badarou, King, Lindup, P. Gould) – 7:44 "Last Chance" (P.Gould, King, Lindup) – 4:30 "Are You Hearing (What I Hear)?" (King, P. Gould, R. Gould) – 4:58 "You Can't Blame Louis" (King, P. Gould, Badarou) – 5:05 "Eyes Waterfalling" (King, P. Gould, Lindup, R. Gould) – 5:58 "Shapeshifter" (King) – 5:09 "The Chinese Way" (King, P. Gould, Badarou) – 5:53 "The Chinese Way" (extended John Luongo remix) 7:23 – included on the 1985 CD issue "You Can't Blame Louis" (extended remix) 6:14 – included on the 1985 CD issue
Personnel
Level 42 Mark King – vocals, additional keyboards, bass guitar, percussion Mike Lindup – vocals, acoustic piano, electric piano, Prophet-5, Minimoog, percussion Boon Gould – guitars Phil Gould – drums, percussion, Roland TR-808, backing vocals with: Wally Badarou – Prophet-5, Solina String Ensemble Pete Wingfield – clavinet on "Are You Hearing (What I Hear)?" Pete Jacobsen – Roland Jupiter-4 on "Last Chance"
Production Mike Vernon – producer Jerry Boys – engineer, mixing Nick Launay – rhythm track recording (2) Dick Plant – recording (4) David Bascombe – additional engineer Gordon Milne – additional engineer Alwyn Clayden – sleeve design Bruce Gill – sleeve design Jay Myrdal – photography