Originally released in March 1983, Script for a Jester’s Tear was certified platinum in the band’s native U.K. where it reached number seven on the Albums Chart and spawned two Top 40 singles: “He Knows You Know” (#35) and “Garden Party” (#16)…
Blu-ray containing a 96khz 24 bit WAV Hi-Res stereo mix, DTS Master Audio surround mix of the album and HD video content including (but not limited to) a documentary on the making of the album and a performance of Murder Machines from Real World Studios…
In 2002 EMI released a box with twelve CD singles by the British progressive rock formation Marillion from 1989 to 1995. It was the second single box of this type. While the first box covered the era of the charismatic singer Fish, the second now includes the story of the no less fascinating successor Steve Hogarth. The 57 pieces in the box, which is now out of print (the twelve CD singles were contained in cardboard boxes with original covers) will be released on April 19, 2013 as a 4-CD box.
4CD/Blu-ray Deluxe Edition of the band’s acclaimed eight studio album includes new mixes, unheard studio outtakes, unreleased live tracks, plus a new documentary and interviews with the band about the album. The collection opens with a new version of the album that was remixed by Michael Hunter. It also includes the original mix by the album's producer Dave Meegan, a live recording of Marillion performing at the Rotterdam Ahoy arena on September 29, 1995 during the group's tour supporting Afraid of Sunlight.
After the album-tour-album cycle of Script for a Jester's Tear, Fugazi, and the subsequent Euro-only release of Real to Reel, Marillion retreated to Berlin's Hansa Ton Studios with Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey to work on their next opus. Armed with a handful of lyrics born out of a self-confessed acid trip, Fish came up with the elaborate concept for 1985's Misplaced Childhood. Touching upon his early childhood experiences and his inability to deal with a slew of bad breakups exacerbated by a never-ending series of rock star-type "indulgences," Misplaced Childhood would prove to be not only the band's most accomplished release to date, but also its most streamlined. Initial record company skepticism over the band's decision to forge ahead with a '70s-style prog rock opus split into two halves (sides one and two) quickly evaporated as Marillion delivered its two most commercial singles ever: "Kayleigh" and "Lavender." With its lush production and punchy mix, the album went on to become the band's greatest commercial triumph, especially in Europe where they would rise from theater attraction to bona fide stadium royalty.
It was filmed in the lead up to their 2015 Marillion Weekend at Port Zelande, the Netherlands, in March where they played three sets and performed 2001 album Anoraknophobia and 2004’s Marbles in their entirety…
This lavish box set assembles all of the Fish-era singles released by Marillion, the undisputed leaders of the neo-prog movement. Clearly the stuff of manic collectors' dreams, this will far exceed both the interest and budget of casual listeners; but for those keen to possess a truly special heirloom to commemorate their heroes, this will fit that description quite nicely.
Five years, six discs, and though it is certainly a flawed document, it is still unlikely whether there will ever be a more complete accounting than this. Between 1982 and 1987, Marillion first established – and then confirmed – their place at the vanguard of the U.K. prog scene. Of course they maintained it thereafter, but the loss of frontman Fish saw them lose a certain madness as well; things became safer and calmer once he was gone, and if you need proof of that, then this is for you…