The Best of Both Worlds is a two-disc compilation album by British neo-prog band Marillion released in 1997 by EMI Records, who the band had been signed to from their debut in 1982 until being dropped in 1995. The title refers to Marillion's two distinct "eras" with lead singers Fish (1980–1988) and Steve Hogarth (since 1989). By the time this compilation was released, both line-ups had recorded four studio albums each.
| The Best of Both Worlds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | 24 February 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1982–96 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Producer | Nick Tauber Chris Kimsey Christopher Neil Nick Davis Dave Meegan | |||
| Marillion chronology | ||||
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Content
editThe second Marillion best-of since the 14-track one-disc compilation A Singles Collection (known as Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other in the US) from 1992, this one additionally contains material from Brave (1994) and Afraid of Sunlight (1996). Two different covers were created for the compilation, one by Mark Wilkinson, who had worked for the band during the Fish years, and one by Bill Smith Studio, who took over after Fish's and Wilkinson's departure. The booklet was printed so that either of the covers could be displayed in the jewel case according to personal preference. The track list, comprising 29 songs, was put together by Lucy Jordache, then the manager responsible for the band in EMI, in close collaboration with the band's fans' mailing list, "Freaks" (named after the eponymous song). Jordache also motivated singers Fish and Hogarth to contribute liner notes—at a time when both camps were not yet on friendly terms again—by telling each of them the other had already agreed to do so.[1]
Although the compilation did not contain any previously unreleased material, it was attractive to existing fans as it included various edited versions that were not easily accessible at the time, resulting in "better than expected" sales.[1]
Track listing
editDisc one
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Origin | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Script for a Jester's Tear" | Script for a Jester's Tear | 8:44 | |
| 2. | "Market Square Heroes" (B'Sides version) |
| non-album single | 3:57 |
| 3. | "He Knows You Know" (album version) |
| Script for a Jester's Tear | 5:22 |
| 4. | "Forgotten Sons" |
| Script for a Jester's Tear | 8:19 |
| 5. | "Garden Party" |
| Script for a Jester's Tear | 7:15 |
| 6. | "Assassing" (single version) |
| Fugazi | 3:37 |
| 7. | "Punch and Judy" |
| Fugazi | 3:18 |
| 8. | "Kayleigh" (single version) |
| Misplaced Childhood | 3:33 |
| 9. | "Lavender" (single version) |
| Misplaced Childhood | 3:41 |
| 10. | "Heart of Lothian" (single version) |
| Misplaced Childhood | 3:37 |
| 11. | "Incommunicado" |
| Clutching at Straws | 5:16 |
| 12. | "Warm Wet Circles" (single version) |
| Clutching at Straws | 4:24 |
| 13. | "That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)" |
| Clutching at Straws | 5:57 |
| 14. | "Sugar Mice" |
| Clutching at Straws | 5:45 |
Disc two
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Origin | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Uninvited Guest" |
| Seasons End | 3:45 |
| 2. | "Easter" |
| Seasons End | 4:31 |
| 3. | "Hooks in You" (Meaty Mix) |
| Seasons End | 3:53 |
| 4. | "The Space" |
| Seasons End | 6:15 |
| 5. | "Cover My Eyes (Pain and Heaven)" |
| Holidays in Eden | 3:54 |
| 6. | "No One Can" |
| Holidays in Eden | 4:40 |
| 7. | "Dry Land" |
| Holidays in Eden | 4:42 |
| 8. | "Waiting To Happen" |
| Holidays in Eden | 4:55 |
| 9. | "The Great Escape" (album version) |
| Brave | 6:28 |
| 10. | "Alone Again in the Lap of Luxury" (radio edit) |
| Brave | 4:29 |
| 11. | "Made Again" |
| Brave | 5:03 |
| 12. | "King" |
| Afraid of Sunlight | 7:05 |
| 13. | "Afraid of Sunlight" |
| Afraid of Sunlight | 6:50 |
| 14. | "Beautiful" (radio edit) |
| Afraid of Sunlight | 4:23 |
| 15. | "Cannibal Surf Babe" |
| Afraid of Sunlight | 5:17 |
Note
- Although it is not mentioned in the album credits, the versions of "Easter" and "The Uninvited Guest" presented here are single edits. "Waiting To Happen" is a few seconds shorter than the album version. "Cannibal Surf Babe" is presented without the musical bridge that appears at the end of the song on the album version.
Personnel
editMusicians
- Steve Rothery – guitars
- Mark Kelly – keyboards
- Pete Trewavas – bass
- Ian Mosley – drums, percussion (except disc one tracks 1–5)
- Fish – vocals (disc one)
- Steve Hogarth – vocals and keyboards (disc two)
- Mick Pointer – drums, percussion (disc one tracks 1, 3–5)
- John Marter – drums, percussion (disc one track 2)
Technical
- Disc one tracks 1–7 produced by Nick Tauber; tracks 8–14 produced by Chris Kimsey. Track 1 mixed by Simon Hanhart.
- Disc two tracks 1–4 produced and mixed by Nick Davis and Marillion; tracks 5–8 produced by Christopher Neil, recorded and mixed by Rob Eaton; tracks 9–15 produced by Dave Meegan and Marillion. Tracks 10–11 engineered by Dave Meegan.
Charts
edit| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[2] | 58 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[3] | 88 |
References
edit- ^ a b Big George Webley, "Marillion: Doing Business With Their Fans", Sound on Sound, September 2003, retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Marillion – The Best of Both Worlds" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Marillion | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 11 November 2024.