PUNCH AND JUDY

I don't know the exact reason why Marillion released this as the first single of next second album of Marillion, Fugazi. It was released at the end of January 1984, approximately two months prior to Fugazi. Musically the music demonstrated major change in style from previous debut album Script for a Jester's Tear. This highly energetic song that tells a story about unhappy marrage is really different from any style in debut album. Of course, it showed major change in style but the root of Marillion music was still there.

The B-side is basically comprising re-rcorded version of two tracks from previous singles 'Market Square Heroes' and 'Three Boats Down on a Candy'. These two tracks featured John Martyr as drummer before finally Marillion succeeds in recruiting Ian Mosley.

It's an excellent single release, indeed. Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

1. Punch and Judy (3:18) :

Punch And Judy was the first song I ever witnessed live from Marillion, on the annual Dutch Pinkpop festival, in 1984 (60.000 visitors). With a few hundred Marillion freaks we had gathered in front of the stage and when Marillion arrived , they were welcomed as 'neo-prog heroes'. Soon after the band had started the concert with Punch And Judy, I was in the middle of a jumping, yelling, roaring, swinging, singing and clapping crowd. And everybody joined Fish his animated gestures ('Punch, Punch, Punch'), wow, welcome to the realm of Neo-Prog. This song-oriented and melodic new genre appealed to many young people, and for the first time in my life I noticed a lot of women between the audience! On one hand they wanted to swing, sing and clap with Neo Prog, on the other hand they wanted to be mesmerized by an Old School Progrock frontman, with a painted face.

A strong point in Punch And Judy are the lyrics: a cynical lookback at a marriage that started romantic ('Whatever happened to lover's lane. Whatever happened to passion games. Sunday walks in the pouring rain.') but gradually the husband got bored ('Now I vegetate with a colour TV') and finally wanted to get rid of his wife (World war three, suburbanshee. Just slip her these pills and I'll be free. No more Judy, Judy, Judy no more. Goodbye Judy.'). Briljant cynical lines, in my opinion inspired by his own difficulties with relationships (part of his borderline personality-like behaviour).

Musically this is a strong, typically neo-prog composition, the subtle slowdown and accellaration moments are fuelled by a dynamic rhythm-section (inluding the outstanding new drummer Ian Mosley) and the colouring by guitar and keyboards is tasteful, but also functional to the vocals and lyrics.

The cover art is also great, showing the marriage in its final state, hilarious but with a dark Roald Dahl-like undertone.

2. Market Square Heroes (4:48) : A splendid rock song with powerful vocals and pleasant work on guitar and keyboards, a perfect crowd pleaser!

3. Three Boats Down From The Candy (4:02) : Another very good rock song featuring Fish his distinctive vocals.

My rating: 3,5 star

"Punch and Judy" is a single release by UK progressive rock act Marillion. The single was released through EMI Records in Jaunary 1984. It was released two months prior to the release of the band´s second full-length studio album "Fugazi" (March 1984), where the A-side appears as track number 2. The B-side features re-recorded versions of "Market Square Heroes" and "Three Boats Down From the Candy", which both appear in their original studio versions on Marillion´s debut single "Market Square Heroes" (October 1982). The re-recorded versions feature drummer John Marter, who would very shortly be involved in Marillion (along with drummers like Andy Ward and Jonathan Mover, who did not record with the band) between the firing of original drummer Mick Pointer and the hiring of Ian Mosley (who plays on the A-side).

Both a 7" version and a 12" version was released, but they contained the same material, although the 12" version of "Market Square Heroes" is 49 seconds longer than the version featured on the 7" version of the single.

"Punch and Judy" is quite the interesting progressive rock song, featuring lyrics about a relationship/marriage gone sour. The lyrics are quite brilliant, with several examples of everyday relationship issues ("Who left the cap of the toothpaste tube", "Who forgot to flush the loo") and the routine boredom that a lot of relationships enter at some point. There is also a strong longing described in the lyrics of falling in love and enjoying each other in the beginning of a relationship. Lead vocalist/lyricist Fish have outdone himself on this one.

The re-recordings of "Market Square Heroes" and "Three Boats Down From the Candy" aren´t that neccessary as the originals were both high quality recordings, but the sound production has been given a lift in quality and both are great songs. Although all 3 tracks on the single/maxi-single are available elsewhere (the title track on "Fugazi" (1984) and the two B-side tracks on the 1988 "B'Sides Themselves" compilation album), a 4 star (80%) rating is still deserved when this release is judged by its own merits.