EARLY STAGES : THE HIGHLIGHTS

As we know, when Fish was in Marillion as a band's member, the group only released two live albums, "Real To Reel" in 1984 and "The Thieving Magpie ? La Gaza Ladra" in 1988. However, much live material that was recorded during the permanence of Fish in Marillion was recorded and was later released in several live albums and live compilations after Fish left Marillion. So, this is the case of "Early Stages: The Highlights", which is the subject of this my review of today.

"Early Stages: The Highlights" is a compilation of Marillion which was released in 2013. "Early Stages: The Highlights" is nothing more than a compilation of the "Early Stages: The Official Bootlegs 1982-1987", a box set containing six separated live albums of Marillion that was released in 2008. "Early Stages: The Official Bootlegs 1982-1987" contains live recordings that were previously only circulated as bootlegs or even material that was previously not available in this form. "Early Stages: The Highlights" is a smaller version and is ideal for those who don't have that six CD box set.

CD 1: Live at the Mayfair, Glasgow, 13th September 1982. Tracks: "Garden Party", "She Chameleon" and "Three Boats Down From The Candy". Live at the Marquee Club, London, 30th December 1982. Tracks: "Script For A Jester's Tear", "Chelsea Monday" and "Forgotten Sons". Live at the Reading Festival, 27th August 1983. Tracks: "Grendel", "Charting The Single" and "He Knows You Know".

CD 2: Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, 14th December 1984. Tracks: "Assassing", "Punch And Judy", "The Pseudo-Silk Kimono", "Kayleigh", "Bitter Suite", "Heart Of Lothian" and "Fugazi". Live at Wembley Arena, London, 5th November 1987. Tracks: "Slainte Mhath", "Sugar Mice", "Hotel Hobbies", "Warm Wet Circles", "That Time Of The Night" and "The Last Straw". Live at Fife Aid, St. Andrews, 23th July 1988. Track: "Market Square Heroes". The original studio tracks were originally released in different forms: "Grendel", "Three Boats Down From The Candy" and "Market Square Heroes" were originally recorded on their debut EP "Market Square Heroes", of 1982. "Charting The Single" was originally recorded as the B side of their single "He Knows You Know", of 1983. "Garden Party", "He Knows You Know", "Forgotten Sons", "Chelsea Monday" and "Script For A Jester's Tear" were originally recorded on their debut studio album "Script For A Jester's Tear", of 1983. "She Chameleon", "Assassing", "Punch And Judy", and "Fugazi" were originally recorded on their second studio album "Fugazi", of 1984. "Pseudo-Silk Kimono", "Kayleigh", "Bitter Suite" and "Heart Of Lothian" were originally recorded on their third studio album "Misplaced Childhood", of 1985. "Slainte Mhath", "Sugar Mice", "Hotel Hobbies", "Warm Wet Circles", "That Time Of The Night" and "The Last Straw" were originally recorded on their fourth studio album "Clutching At Straws", of 1987.

So, from "Market Square Heroes" we have the three tracks. It's an excellent debut work from the band. "Market Square Heroes" soon became an important landmark to the prog rock music. Especially "Grendel" that is one of their best tracks and their great epic. From "Script For A Jester's Tear" we have five tracks. It's an amazing work and represented a landmark and a breath of fresh air that progressive rock music needed so much at the time. We can say that since "Script For A Jester's Tear" the world of progressive rock has raised again and no longer was the same. From "Fugazi" we have four tracks. It's another great work and remains an album highly recommended to all prog rock fans. It isn't as good as the debut but has some amazing moments too. But, it simply mustn't be compared with the previous one. From "Misplaced Childhood" we have four tracks. It's their crown of glory. With that album Marillion reached the status of be one of the best prog rock bands. From "Clutching At Straws" we have six tracks. It's another excellent work. Probably it's a more mature work than the three previous works. Perhaps the lyrics and compositions are more emotional and dramatic as ever on Fish's era. Finally, we have also a track that was only released as a single, "Charting The Single".

Conclusion: While Fish was in the band, Marillion recorded four extraordinary albums and each of them is presented in some fashion across this compilation. Through these never before heard tracks, through "Early Stages: The Highlights", we find early interpretations of the works we would come to find on "Script For A Jester's Tear", "Fugazi", "Misplaced Childhood" and "Clutching At Straws", not forgetting their great debut work, the EP "Market Square Heroes". Facts like these make of this compilation a great journey into the bands beginnings and time with Fish in the live sense because when it came down to the official releases we would only get "The Thieving Magpie". But that album was more focused on "Misplaced Childhood" and "Clutching At Straws" the most and left far too much off for the heavy duty fans. And that's where these shows now come into play as an incredible find. But is even better if fans, instead of "Early Stages: The Highlights", spend a bit more money and they buy "Early Stages: The Official Bootlegs 1982-1987".

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)