MARILLION MUSIC COLLECTION

This compilation represents Marillion's tracks during Fish era (1983 - 1988) which is taken from the EP "Market Square Heroes" (1982) until the band's last live record "The Thieving Magpie" (1988). All songs are great. This is an introduction for those of want to know the band's first singer era.

The opening track "Grendel" (17:16) is truly my favorite track and it tells a story inspired by John Gardner book "Grendel". The strong point about the song is the melody line and its simple structure. The music flows smoothly from the opening guitar fills by Steve Rothery and punctuated voice of Fish in low register notes line. Structurally, the song has some curved lines right from the beginning to later part. The last part of the song provides a kind of foxtrot style where some people have referred it as similar with Genesis' "Supper's Ready". It's an excellent yet simple track from Marillion.

"Lady Nina"( Edited single) 3:43 is the band's interpretation of pop / disco music mixed with rock. It's not typical Marillion tunes but this is not bad song at all. "Freaks" (single) 4:05 is a nice track that can be found from "Brief Encounter" LP. "Sugar Mice" 5:47 is a mellow track taken from "Clutching at Straw" (1987) album. Through this track you might observe great vocal quality of Fish with music in Hackettian style - especially the guitar solo. [Hmm.. I remember that sometime in 1988 we formed a band and played this song alive in front of 2,000 crowd, Batam Island, Indonesia. It was a memorable event, I took lead vocal job and lead guitar was my colleague Ardhi. We also played Pseudosilk Kimono - Kayleigh at that night. What a day!]

"She Chameleon" 6:53 has rarely been mentioned by many people but actually this is a great track from "Fugazi" (1984) album. Fish did an excellent job with great accentuation throughout this track. The soaring organ work by Mark Kelly is very captivating to my ears (and my mind!). And "Hotel hobbies"3:40? Oh man . this is an energetic song with pondering drum beats and tight bass lines which opens "Clutching At Straw" album.

Have you noticed that I have always used the phrase "Peace on earth and mercy mild .." at the end of my review at this site? Yeah, it's taken from the best song that Marillion has ever produced in its entire career: "Forgotten Sons" 8:24. The complete phrase is actually "Peace on earth and mercy mild. Mother Brown has lost her child. Just another forgotten son!" .. oh man .. . these phrases are really great when they are combined with the music. For me, this song is at par excellent as Genesis' "In The Cage" or "Can Utility and The Coastliners" or "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" or "Back In NYC". It's really great it's the BEST song by Marillion.

"La Gazza Ladra - Slàinte Mhath" (live) 7:33 is basically the opening track of the last live album of Marillion Fish era "The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)". "Chelsea Monday" 8:18 is sweet rock song from "Script for a Jester's Tear" album where you can enjoy the howling guitar work of Steve Rothery which is similar with Steve Hackett's. It's a very nice song that has become one of my favorite songs from Marillion. "Pseudo silk kimono" is the opening track of the band's legendary album "Misplaced Childhood".

Conclusion

Well, with all positive comments on track by track basis, you would then expect me to give this compilation with five star rating. I don't blame you at all and nothing wrong with it. But, I'm not going to recommend you to buy this CD! It's not the songs that are lousy - as you know it from the above reviews, but the selection and arrangement of songs in this compilation are really lousy. One good example is "Pseudo Silk Kimono" which used to serve as opening track is now used as the concluding track. On selection of song, it's unfair to give only one song from "Misplaced Childhood" album which had made the band so successful in their musical career. I do not recommend you to purchase this CD. Instead, please purchase this albums: Script for a Jester's Tear (1983), Fugazi (1984), Misplaced Childhood (1985), and Clutching At Straw (1987)! You will be totally satisfied!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

'Marillion Music Collection' is the third compilation of Marillion and was released in 1993. It's a compilation with songs which were only taken from Marillion in Fish's era. But, it has songs performed by their two drummers, their founder drummer Mick Pointer and their current drummer Ian Mosley.

So, the line up on this compilation is Fish (vocals), Steve Rothery (guitars), Mark Kelly (keyboards), Pete Trewavas (basses), Mick Pointer (drums and percussion) and Ian Mosley (drums).

'Marillion Music Collection' has ten tracks. The first track 'Grendel' was originally released on their debut EP 'Market Square Heroes', in 1982, and it was the B side of that EP. It's an epic and complex track, one of the best tracks of the band and it's one of their most progressive too. This composition is usually compared (mostly unfavourably), with 'Supper's Ready' of Genesis. The version on this compilation is the 12' version. The second track 'Lady Nina' was released on their single 'Kayleigh', in 1985 and it was the B side of that Marillion's single, which was released from their third studio album 'Misplaced Childhood'. It was also released as a separated single in U.S.A., in 1986, and it was the A side of that single. This is possibly one of the poppiest tracks of the band, which means the hook is huge, and even when the lyrics get flowery they still work in the context. The version on this compilation is an edited single version. The third track 'Freaks' was released on their single 'Lavender', in 1985 and it was the B side of that Marillion's single. It was released on their third studio album 'Misplaced Childhood'. It was also released as a separated single in 1988. I like this track. The non-album 'Freaks' is much more than the ticket. This is really a funny Fish's romp. The version on this compilation is the single version. The fourth track 'Sugar Mice' was released on their fourth studio album 'Clutching At Straws', in 1987. It was also a song released on their second single 'Sugar Mice', released in 1987. It was the A side of that Marillion's single and the B side was 'Tux On'. It's a nice mellow track, very emotional but with very sad lyrics. I always loved it. The version on this compilation is the album's version. The fifth track 'She Chameleon' was released on their second studio album 'Fugazi', in 1984. The band released also a remastered demo studio version of this song. This is a very simple song with depressing lyrics and with a very simple organ work, a tasteful guitar melody and some bombastic drumming. It remains, for me, a very nice track. The version on this compilation is the album's version. The sixth track 'Hotel Hobbies' was released on their fourth studio album 'Clutching At Straws', in 1987. It's a very uplifting and dynamic track full of energy more in the style of their earlier days. The version on this compilation is the album's version. The seventh track 'Forgotten Sons' was released on their debut studio album 'Script For A Jester's Tear', in 1983. It's also a song with very powerful lyrics and with a clear political message. This is one of their best pieces of music. The version on this compilation is the album's version. The eighth track 'La Gazza Ladra ' Slainte Mhath' was a track of the second and last live album of Marillion in Fish's era, 'The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)', released in 1988. 'La Gazza Ladra' is the overture of that live concert and was taken from the overture of Rossini's opera 'La Gazza Ladra'. The eighth track 'Slainte Mhath' was released on their fourth studio album 'Clutching At Straws', in 1987, and was taken from a live show recorded at The Playhouse, in Edinburgh, in 1987. These are two very nice and beautiful live tracks, taken from that fantastic live album. The ninth track 'Chelsea Monday' was released on their debut studio album 'Script For A Jester's Tear', in 1983. This is a very mellow track with a very reach musical ambience and with very deep lyrics too. It almost makes us cry. The version on this compilation is the album's version. The tenth and last track 'Pseudo Silk Kimono' was released on their third studio album 'Misplaced Childhood', in 1985. The band released also a remastered demo studio version of this song. This track represents a great intro to that album. It has very beautiful melodies in its own right and it's a perfect way to introduce us to the powerful tracks that will come on that album. The version on this compilation is the album's version.

Conclusion: I've nothing against compilation albums. However, for me, a compilation must have some characteristics. It must be very well representative of band's career, the selection of the tracks must be the high quality level and finally it must have some musical criterion. But, for me, on this compilation not all of these things were entirely respected. About the two first criterions I've nothing to oppose because all tracks are representative and have quality enough to be selected. However, I must agree with Gatot when he says that they're wrongly compiled. By the other hand I've some difficulty to understand the choice of so different versions on the same compilation. What is the need to mix single versions, album versions, and live versions in the same bag? So, despite 'Marillion Music Collection' be not a bad compilation, it can never be considered a great addition, really. So, I don't recommend this compilation to anyone.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)