THE THIEVING MAGPIE - LA GAZZA LADRA

"The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra" is a live double album release by UK progressive rock act Marillion. The album was released through EMI Records in November 1988. The CD and cassette versions include the additional track "Freaks" (not included on the original vinyl release) and the full performance of "Misplaced Childhood (1985)". The vinyl version only includes 5 out of the 10 tracks from that album.

As far as song selection goes "The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra" is simply all you could wish for as a fan of Fish-era Marillion. The full "Misplaced Childhood" (1985) album takes up the full space of disc 2 while disc 1, which opens with the overture to Rossini's opera "La gazza ladra" as an intro, features a good mix of songs from "Script For A Jester's Tear" (1983), "Fugazi" (1984), and "Clutching at Straws" (1987). "The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra" does not only serve as an excellent live presentation of Fish-era Marillion but also as an excellent best-of compilation from that period. In addition to tracks from the studio albums we are also treated to a great live version of the single track "Freaks". There are no tracklist overlabs with the previous live album release "Real to Reel" (1984) which makes "The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra" even more attractive.

The "Misplaced Childhood" material on disc 2 are recorded at the same show while the tracks on disc 1 are recorded at various shows and with breaks between the songs. It´s not something that disrupts the flow too much but some might find it a minor issue. The track selection can always be discussed but personally I´m not complaining. To hear songs like "Slàinte Mhath", "He knows you know", "Punch and Judy", "Sugar Mice", "White Russian", and "Fugazi" played live is simply a treat.

The performances are impeccable and while the instrumental side of the music more or less sounds like the studio versions (no improvised parts as far as I can hear) Fish vocal performance does make the songs different from the studio versions. If you don´t enjoy polished and "close to the original studio versions" live albums, "The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra" probably isn´t for you. The sound production on "The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra" is of high quality but I´m sure this is one of those live albums with massive overdubs. If not this is quite a perfect performance by Marillion and an even better one by their producer Christopher "Privet" Hedge. Check out "Early Stages: The Official Bootlegs 1982-1987" (2008) instead if you want a more raw version of how Fish-era Marillion sounded in a live environment. Upon conclusion "The Thieving Magpie - La Gazza Ladra" is the perfect conclusion to Fish-era Marillion and a strong document of how well playing the band were. A 5 star (100%) rating is deserved.