REAL TO REEL

I think that, marketing wise, Marillion is one of the first band to have undersood the use the marketing power of live albums and their subsequent sales. Marillion was already huge in 86. Two studio albums, and two live efforts (one video, one album). This live album is not as brilliant as their concert filmed for their "Recital Of The Script" performance at the Hammersmith in April 1983.

In the meantime, they have released "Fugazzi" their second album. Far behind the brilliance of their first and unmatched "Script". This recording was part of the supporting tour for "Fugazzi" and accordingly features four numbers out of it. The best one (the title track) not being included here (which is an a mistake IMO).

There are of course no weak tracks on this album : Marillion did not produce weak numbers those days. Still, the songs from their first album are still my faves. As I have mentioned in y review for "Fugazzi", "Cinderalla Search" was, and still is one of my preferred song from the "Fugazzi" sessions (although not featured on the original album).

The original numbers from "Fugazzi" being rather hard, won't sound harder here. Hopefully. Quiet faithful to the original. The combination of both albums sounds pretty nice. The best live album from Marillion (Fish era, but there won't be better ones - with Steve Hogarth). This is a good Marillion live album (even the audience participation during "Market Square" is not too boring.

I usualy can't stand those "moments" (being in the audience or not). But I have to say that in this case, we are far from these useless "audience solo" like featured on some live albums. What we get here is just some pleasant "Market Square Heroes" in full symbiosis with the band. The audience will also take a real pleasure while singing "I'm f.cking" during "Garden Party". Isn't it strange ?

Highlights are "Forgotten Songs" and "Cinderella".

This album will be released much much later on a double CD format called "Real To Reel - Brief Encounter". I highly recommend you to buy this one (as I did) to get the second CD which is of great value. It really sells for cheap. I'll describe it in my review of this second CD in the according section.

Four stars for this very good live Marillion moments.