LIVE FROM LORELEY

"Live From Loreley" is one of the many live albums from Marillion and that was released in 2009. It was recorded from a live concert performed at the Freilichtbuhne (Open-Air Stage), Loreley, St. Goarshausen, Germany, in 1987. The recordings of the album were taken during the supporting tour of their fourth studio album "Clutching At Straws", before an audience of about 18,000. Featuring Fish on vocals, and it was one his last live performances as a member of Marillion, it comprises songs of all four Marillion's studio albums from Fish's era, "Script For A Jester's Tear" released in 1983, "Fugazi" released in 1984, "Misplaced Childhood" released in 1985 and "Clutching At Straws" released in 1987. It comprises also the title track song of their debut EP and work, "Market Square Heroes" which was released in 1982.

The line up on "Live From Loreley" was the usual at the time for them: Fish (vocals), Steve Rothery (guitars), Mark Kelly (keyboards), Pete Trewavas (bass) and Ian Mosley (drums). It had also the participation of Cori Josias (backing vocals).

First of all I must say that my review is about the 2009 double audio CD version, which for the first time includes the entire live show. So, my version of "Live From Loreley" has eighteenth tracks. The album is divided into 2 Discs. Disc 1 has seven tracks: The first track "Slainte Mhath" was released on "Clutching At Straws". The second track "Assassing" was released on "Fugazi". The third track "Script For A Jester's Tear" was released on "Script For A Jester's Tear". The fourth track "White Russian" was released on "Clutching At Straws". The fifth track "Incubus" was released on "Fugazi". The sixth track "Sugar Mice" was released on "Clutching At Straws". The seventh track "Fugazi" was released on "Fugazi". Disc 2 has eleven tracks: The first track "Hotel Hobbies" was released on "Clutching At Straws". The second track "Warm Wet Circles" was also released on "Clutching At Straws". The third track "That Time Of The Night (The Short Straw)" was also released on "Clutching At Straws". The fourth track "Kayleigh" was released on "Misplaced Childhood". The fifth track "Lavender" was also released on "Misplaced Childhood". The sixth track "Bitter Suite (Medley)" was also released on "Misplaced Childhood". The seventh track "Heart Of Lothian" was also released on "Misplaced Childhood". The eighth track "The Last Straw" was released on "Clutching At Straws". The ninth track "Incommunicado" was also released on "Clutching At Straws". The tenth track "Garden Party" was released on "Script For A Jester's Tear". The eleventh track "Market Square Heroes" was released on their debut EP "Market Square Heroes" and it was the first song of its A side. It was also released as the A side of their debut single with the same name "Market Square Heroes". It was also released as the first song of the B side of their single "Punch And Judy".

"Live From Loreley" belongs to those days where prog bands like Marillion were among the highlights and played at Loreley. At the time, Marillion was then promoting their fourth studio album "Clutching At Straws" and still with Fish on vocals. At the time, they were at the commercial peak of their career. "Live From Loreley" has since been available on video and DVD, but the sound technically revised audio CD comes with more four additional tracks "White Russian", "Fugazi", "Garden Party" and "Market Square Heroes". But, even the revision cannot hide the fact that the concert on Loreley was primarily a very emotional live event, celebrated frenetically by 18,000 fans. Marillion always was a very successful live band because Marillion looked better lives, especially with Fish on vocals. The successful set list of the almost two hours of performance makes up for it, because whoever buys a live album shouldn't count on the intended perfection of the studio. And "Live From Loreley" really doesn't sound "reworked". Marillion brought what their fans wanted to the stage back then, a very successful mixture of classics and the current album at the time, which presented everything in a rocking way. Unfortunately, the booklet is a bit thin and only contains new liner notes by the master Derek William Dick. There could have been more, really. But, it will be always a great memory of the band in Fish's era.

Conclusion: "Live From Loreley" is a great live album. The live performance is fantastic and the choice of the tracks to be performed live is irreproachable, comprising all of their four studio albums, at the time. I prefer "Live From Loreley" to "Real To Reel" and "The Thieving Magpie ? La Gazza Ladra". It's true that "Real To Reel" is an excellent live album with a competent live performance but with little to distinguish the live tracks from the studio versions and where the vocal performance of Fish isn't as great as it should be. "The Thieving Magpie ? La Gazza Ladra" is also an excellent live album but has, for me, the inconvenient to be a live compilation recorded at different times and places, what takes away to its cohesion. So, "Live From Loreley" is with "Recital Of The Script" probably the best musical live testimonies from the band, comprising the Fish's era. Particularly, "Live From Loreley" is, without any doubt, an essential purchase because is an important live document that represents the end of an era and the born of another, into Marillion's career.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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