"A Physical Presence" is a live album by the English jazz-funk band Level 42, released in June 1985. Recorded in March of the same year at venues including the Coronet Woolwich, the Hexagon in Reading, and Goldiggers in Chippenham, Wiltshire, the album captures the band's energetic live performances.
This album is notable for being Level 42's first live release. It includes a previously unreleased song titled "Follow Me," which later received a remix and was issued as part of an EP. Additionally, "A Physical Presence" features a live recording of "Foundation & Empire," originally a B-side of their single "Starchild," and available on the 2000 CD reissue of Level 42.
Key tracks include an extended bass intro leading into "Love Games," which incorporates parts of "Dune Tune." The album opens with "Almost There," starting with a taped intro that quotes "Hot Water."
Initially released in the UK as a double album and on long-play cassette, the CD version originally condensed the album into a single disc, omitting tracks like "Turn It On," "Mr Pink," and "88." These tracks were restored in the remastered two-CD set released in 2000, offering a comprehensive representation of Level 42's live prowess during this period.
