Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Marillion - Real to Reel CD (album) cover

REAL TO REEL

Marillion

 

Neo-Prog

3.88 | 358 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars "Real to Reel" is a live album release by UK progressive rock act Marillion. The album was released through EMI Records in November 1984 and bridges the gap between the bandīs second- and third full-length studio albums "Fugazi" (1984) and "Misplaced Childhood" (1985). The material on "Real to Reel" was recorded on the 5th of March 1984 at De Montfort Hall in Leicester, England and on the 19th?20th of June 1984 at the Spectrum in Montreal, Canada, during the tour supporting "Fugazi" (1984). The album features material from the bandīs first two studio albums and the two single tracks "Cinderella Search" (B-side track to the April 1984 "Assassing" single) and "Market Square heroes" (A-side to the October 1982 "Market Square heroes" single).

"Real to Reel" is a relatively short live album only featuring 7 tracks (the vinyl version excludes "Emerald Lies") and a total playing time of 52:05 minutes. Well...maybe not short in terms of playing time, but 7 tracks arenīt much. On the other hand Marillion didnīt really have enough material at this point to release a double live album, as such a release would include almost every song they had ever created.

The track selection on live albums is always a subject of discussion, but "Real to Reel" arguably includes some great tracks. In addition to the two single tracks mentioned above the album includes "Forgotten Sons" and "Garden Party" from "Script for a Jester's Tear" (1983) and "Assassing", "Incubus", and "Emerald Lies" from "Fugazi" (1984). Marillion are not an act who changes on or experiments with their tracks on stage, and most of the tracks on "Real to Reel" are true to the original studio versions albeit with a slightly more unpolished sound and lead vocalist Fish changing how he sings a few words here and there. "Garden Party" features a bit of audience participation as they sing the "fucking" part of the lyrics and the band close "Market Square heroes" with a couple of minutes of jamming. But thatīs about it in terms of differences from the studio versions of the tracks.

"Real to Reel" features a well sounding production job, which suits the material well, and although itīs a relatively polished live production, it still provides the material with a live sound, that the studio versions donīt have. Upon conclusion "Real to Reel" is a high quality live album by Marillion and a great representation of how great they were in a live environment even this early on in their career. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

UMUR | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this MARILLION review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.