Visions Of Childhood

As I only got into Marillion around '87 and Misplaced Childhood was the first album I had heard from them, at the time I remember thinking that it encapsulated that definitive 'Marillion' sound. - Later, when I got around to picking up the first two albums, I was struck by how completely different they sounded to MC. Much more raw and heavy, thematically speaking. Dark and forboding, as opposed to Childhood's hope.

It got me thinking how I would have felt as a fan, to be there at the very beginning, as they toured those first two albums, and then to hear that sound metamorphose into Misplaced Childhood. - There's no doubt that the third album and the one widely and rightly regarded as the Marillion classic, sounds ever-so-slightly more commercial.

What were your thoughts on it at the time? - Were you delighted with it? Surprised? Moved by it? Even disappointed at the change of direction? - Thoughts please.

i remember when i first heard mc, it was an unfinished totally different version! if i remember rightly, it was the first half of the album which we know now without heart of lothian , which the band actually played on the real to reel tour (glasgow barrowlands 1984) the xmas before the studio mc version came out. so when i heard the studio version, it took me a little while to get used to it, as you say there were parts, which compared to the first two albums, were pretty commercial but i think the album is better played as it was meant to be, right through as a kind of concept album as i remember at the time fish described it as this. i think the rest is history as they say, although i do still prefer fugazi as my preference of their best album.

Originally there was going to be two tracks on MC according to Fish back in the day:

"Side 1" and "Side 2"

As for the commercialism, I think that's partly why in the classic-Marillion poll in this very forum, you'll find Clutching at Straws take the lead.

I remember a fan from one one of these forums / lists affectionately refer to one of the tracks as "Nursery-rhyme bollocks". I'll leave you to work out which track that's meant to me.

I won't hear a word said against MC! Even Lavender! - The 'ever-so-slightly commercial' comment was by no means a negative one. - Just wondered if any fans took exception to this back in the day? - Lavender more than has its place because it fits in with the concept. Much more meaningful as part of the whole, along with the childhood theme, rather than as a stand-alone single.

Oh, I'm not criticising. I'm just considering some of the comments I've heard from others over the years.

I wasn't a fan at the time - I was only 5. Ringo Starr narrating Thomas the Tank Engine was as close as I got to the music scene at the time.

Personally, it was MC that introduced me to Marillion, so I never felt that it was particularly commercial anyway. PSK sets up the album beautifully in tone, theme and general emotional feel.

Next I heard Script and both albums sat well together in my mind. Not quite sure which order I filled my Marillion collection after that. It all became a bit of a blur

Oh, I'm not criticising. I'm just considering some of the comments I've heard from others over the years.

I wasn't a fan at the time - I was only 5. Ringo Starr narrating Thomas the Tank Engine was as close as I got to the music scene at the time.

Personally, it was MC that introduced me to Marillion, so I never felt that it was particularly commercial anyway. PSK sets up the album beautifully in tone, theme and general emotional feel.

Next I heard Script and both albums sat well together in my mind. Not quite sure which order I filled my Marillion collection after that. It all became a bit of a blur

Not sure I've ever believed your age. I'm convinced you're in your forties.

strange... commercial.....

do bands bring out non commercial albums? ( sorry, yes they do, they are usually crap so they give them away for free as downloads....)

Seeing Mariillion in the very beginning was very special especially when Fish became the lead singer.
He had a very powerful presence due to his height, his face paint and wonderful story telling.

The songs and perfomances were mesmerising. I used to love Steve Rotheray's guitar playing and when Mark Kelly joined the band his keyboard textures added to Marillions developing unique sound.

We all felt that we had discovered the new Peter Gabriel and Genesis although we would always deny it !

After 2 or 3 years of seeing them in small venues the release of Market Squqre Heroes was a fantastic occasion as people started to catch on very quickly and by the time Script arrived with its fantatsic artwork they were ready to play to venues like Hammersmith Odeon.
I still feel the hairs on the back of my neck when I remember that first Hammersmith gig when the whole audience were siging all the songs.

It was a great time.

Thanks for that Andy, but the theme was also about how you felt when you first heard MC, after what had gone before? Did it sit well with previous albums, or did you see it as a change of direction?

Thanks for that Andy, but the theme was also about how you felt when you first heard MC, after what had gone before? Did it sit well with previous albums, or did you see it as a change of direction?

In other words - "answer the bloody question"!!