Best live versions

[Rich1]

With the Early Stages box set and all the other Marillion live albums and various live Fish albums, just wondering what views people have on the best versions of Fish-era Marillion songs. Have driven to Norfolk & back today so have had a good loud mix going

So here are my starters for 10.

Grendel - Early Stages, Reading - just brilliant
Charting The Single - Curtain Call, Baunatal 1983 - great long version - perfectly discribed by Fish at the end - "f@cking brilliant"
Forgotten Sons - Real to Reel does it for me
Misplaced Childhood (whole lot) - OK so shoot me down but I listened to Return to Childhood twice today and I think it rocks - really emotive and the slightly lower key really works
She Chameleon - Early Stages Glasgow - what a hidden gem! One of my absolute least favourite early Marillion songs but this version is tremendous
Punch & Judy - Fish - Pigpens Party - love the middle "beat" section

That'll do for the moment - please add

[Friar Tuxon]

With the Early Stages box set and all the other Marillion live albums and various live Fish albums, just wondering what views people have on the best versions of Fish-era Marillion songs. Have driven to Norfolk & back today so have had a good loud mix going

So here are my starters for 10.

Grendel - Early Stages, Reading - just brilliant
Charting The Single - Curtain Call, Baunatal 1983 - great long version - perfectly discribed by Fish at the end - "f@cking brilliant"
Forgotten Sons - Real to Reel does it for me
Misplaced Childhood (whole lot) - OK so shoot me down but I listened to Return to Childhood twice today and I think it rocks - really emotive and the slightly lower key really works
She Chameleon - Early Stages Glasgow - what a hidden gem! One of my absolute least favourite early Marillion songs but this version is tremendous
Punch & Judy - Fish - Pigpens Party - love the middle "beat" section

That'll do for the moment - please add

I very much agree. Grendel from Reading is fantastic and think Fish said the other Friday that the version of Forgotten Sons from R to R was the best live version. I think Real to Reel and Magpie offer better versions of pretty much everything from the first two albums. I'll always listen to a live version of Misplaced before the album - the drums sound really odd and I've got used to the musical / lyric additions and developments. Not too sure about the Punch & Judy, it certainly has an 'edge' but I think Fish versions of Marillion material have got better as his solo career has progressed. CaS material much better than on first tour in 1989.

Just to add a couple of my own...

Sugar Mice - Live from Loreley - All time fav version, SR guitar solo = heavenly
Incommunicado - either Magpie or Return to Childhood - both improve on the album version
White Russian - CaS - haven't heard a live version to better it

Ed

[Rich1]

White Russian - CaS - haven't heard a live version to better it

As a rule I like nearly all music better live - has a certain rawness and tends to be a bit "heavier" and less "produced"...obviously. But that's a very good call - never really thought about that before but I think you're right - I can't think of a stand out live version of White Russian - studio version probably can't be bettered

[tosh]

Assassing from Reading is much better than the album version

[garyashton]

Another vote here for both Grendel at Reading and R to R's Forgotten Son's.........both just fantastic.

I also like The Last Straw from Wembley 87 and Misplaced Side 1 Demo featuring Kayleigh ( with slightly different lyrics) from Hammersmith 84

Gary

[squeak]

La Gazza Ladra intro into Slainte Mhath on The Thieving Magpie LP. Steve Rothery's opening bars make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end everytime. Brilliant opening for a show.

Squeak

[docbob]

For me it has to be, Raingods Dancing on Return to Childhood

I can listen to it for hours on end....

Franks interpretation of the guitar work and solo absolutely soars and give a whole new dimension to the song, that was for me missing in the original studio recording...

[garyashton]

For me it has to be, Raingods Dancing on Return to Childhood

I can listen to it for hours on end....

Franks interpretation of the guitar work and solo absolutely soars and give a whole new dimension to the song, that was for me missing in the original studio recording...

Good choice Bob, I also like Brother 52 from the same album

Gary

[tosh]

For me it has to be, Raingods Dancing on Return to Childhood

I can listen to it for hours on end....

Franks interpretation of the guitar work and solo absolutely soars and give a whole new dimension to the song, that was for me missing in the original studio recording...

The best live version of Plague has to be on Sashimi, the definitive version for my money. I love Frank but PoG just doesn't fit with his style to the same degree.

[Friar Tuxon]

For me it has to be, Raingods Dancing on Return to Childhood

I can listen to it for hours on end....

Franks interpretation of the guitar work and solo absolutely soars and give a whole new dimension to the song, that was for me missing in the original studio recording...

Good choice Bob, I also like Brother 52 from the same album

Gary

I think the Fish solo material on 'Return...' pretty much improves on all previous versions.

Ed