THE THIEVING MAGPIE - LA GAZZA LADRA

'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra' is a double live album from Marillion. This album was released on 28 November 1988, shortly after Fish's (Derek Dick's) departure from the band. This album was named after the overture to Rossini's opera La gazza ladra, which translates as "the thieving magpie." The title may also be a reference to the magpie on the cover of 'Misplaced Childhood,' which would be understandable as the second disc of 'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra' contains the complete performance of 'Misplaced Childhood.' The magpie is also used on the cover of 'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra.'

The four live tracks from 'Clutching at Straws' include "Slàinte Mhath," "Sugar Mice," "Incommunicado," and "White Russian," and were recorded live at Edinburgh "The Playhouse" on December 17, 18, and 19 1987. "He Knows You Know," "Jigsaw," "Punch & Judy," "Fugazi," and "Script for a Jester's Tear" were recorded live at Sheffield "City Hall" on 6 March 1984. All 10 tracks of the second CD were recorded live at London "Hammersmith Odeon," 9 and 10 January 1986.

'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra' is the perfect album to follow 'Real to Reel,' the previous Marillion live album. 'Real to Reel' is an excellent representation of the first two Marillion albums: 'Script for a Jester's Tear' and 'Fugazi.' 'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra' is an excellent representation of the last two Marillion albums with Fish: 'Misplaced Childhood' and 'Clutching at Straws.' These albums capture Marillion with Fish at their most refined and mature. Also, these albums catapulted Marillion into prog stardom that no other prog band at the time or since has experienced.

I have a slight annoyance towards live albums that contain copious edits (including fade-ins and fade-outs) and overdubs, which 'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra' has. All of the live performances on this album are faithful to their original, studio counterparts. Every live track is produced and polished to perfection, but that's not necessarily why I listen to live albums. With that in mind, I view this less as a true live album listening experience and more as a greatest hits compilation album of the Fish era of Marillion. The tracklist is phenomenal as there is good mix of old and new. However, I would've liked for 'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra' to include more tracks from 'Clutching at Straws.' Particularly, the three track suite that opens the album, "Hotel Hobbies," "Warm Wet Circles," and "That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)."

The highlight of 'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra,' for me, is the whole second disc. The second disc contains a complete performance of 'Misplaced Childhood,' which may be my favorite Marillion album with Fish, though the band has released a couple masterpieces with him. The second disc is also the most cohesive, concert-like listening experience of the whole album. The haunting live version of "Blind Curve" is just as great, if not better than the studio version, particularly everything from "Perimeter Walk" onward.

In conclusion, 'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra' is a great live album from Marillion. Though Marillion would release more live material from this period of the band's history long after the departure of Fish, 'The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra' marked the end of an era for Marillion. Steve Hogarth would soon join Marillion as their frontman, and the rest is history.