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| Marillion - The EMI Singles Collection |
 Released: 2002 Label: EMI Cat. No.: 07243 5 39508 9 7 Total Time: 89:47 | |
Reviewed by: John "BoBo" Bollenberg, December 2003 I’m convinced very few people have actually seen all the videos included on this nicely assembled DVD. For sure, the odd video was played on MTV and other TV-channels, but I was really amazed to see the band managed to record no fewer than 22 different videos for EMI alone. What’s even more amazing is the fact that EMI managed to divide those 22 clips over both Marillion eras: eleven clips with Fish and an equal amount for Marillion’s stint with Steve Hogarth. Whilst "Market Square Heroes" was filmed in front of a live audience, "He Knows You Know" sees Fish in his very first role as an actor. Interesting to see what Mark Kelly looks like with hair on his head! "Garden Party" is a truly amusing video with some of the band dressed as young rascals. They invade a posh garden party and impose a lot of childish pranks. Steve Rothery plays the role of a vicar, who towards the end of the video even falls into the lake. Comedy capers signed Marillion! Also note the presence of ex-Camel drummer Andy Ward here, who was at the time, and briefly at that, Marillion’s drummer. "Kayleigh" is and will always remain the band’s best known song ever. Even when they delivered some strong contenders for a follow up, the media still regard "Kayleigh" as being Marillion’s best ever composition. The video shows a single man and his son and a single mother and her daughter. Whilst the children get alone fine, the adults seem to have problems communicating. It’s all a bit cheap, but maybe that was the kind of video the companies were after in the mid eighties? If I’m not mistaken, the same lady turns up in the "Lady Nina" video as wel,l if the button nose is anything to go by. [If memory serves me, the lady in both videos is Fish's now ex-wife Tamara -ed.] For "Incommunicado," our five friends are dressed as scruffy homeless beggars, whilst the video also shows a clean shaven Fish and band filmed at The Marquee. One brief moment also shows Marillion dressed as teddy boys, serving as a hilarious passage. Mark Kelly probably has a thrill when he can pop into the body of a barman, as he does in "Incommunicado" and in "Sugar Mice." The final video featuring Fish is to promote "Warm Wet Circles." Shot during the band’s Clutching At Straws tour in 1987, I think the footage we see dates from their appearance at the German Lorelei festival. Marillion performed with a female backing singer whilst Rothery delivered a solo that could have come straight from Steve Hackett’s Spectral Mornings album. And yes, Mark Kelly still has hair! The time reads 1989, and the first video with Fish’s replacement Steve Hogarth is delivered for "Hooks In You." Filmed in front of an enthusiastic crowd, this uptempo track certainly illustrates that Marillion without Fish is still as eager to continue as ever before. Hogarth’s first bit of acting is reserved for the "Uninvited Guest" video in which he even sings seated in a couch hanging from the ceiling. The four other members of the band all sit around a suspended table as if it was a flying image of the last supper. Mainly in black and white "Easter," was filmed on location with the band setting out for the coast and a rough sea. Not only a splendid song, but a very arty and classy video to watch as well. 1991 sported no fewer than three videos all directed by Howard Greenhalgh. "Cover My Eyes" became an arty result, as did "No One Can," where the images were kind of "printed" onto parchment. Desolate eroded landscapes form the basis for "Dry Land." Superb photography, but pity Rothery’s acoustic steel guitar delivers electric sounds here! For a reprise of the Rare Bird classic "Sympathy," Marillion flew to South-America in order to return with a sepia coloured video. Also 1994 looked out to be a great year for the band, as again three videos were filmed. This time Richard Stanley was recruited as director. More with less seems to be the direction taken, as once again a lot of black and white is chosen to promote "Hollow Man," "Alone Again In The Lap Of Luxury" and "The Great Escape." Needless to say, these three videos have to been seen as a sort of inseperable trilogy, as they all come from the same concept album Brave [and film -ed.]. By now Mark Kelly’s hair has gone. To me "Beautiful" is as important and as "beautiful" as Procol Harum’s "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." Sadly, they already had a ballad in the top ten when this Marillion diamond was released, so other than Marillion diehards, hardly anyone knows about its existence. Even the sepia coloured video couldn’t change that. So in the end, you get no fewer than 22 authentic videos Marillion did during their first venture with EMI between 1982 and 1995. Rumoured to have the most loyal fans on the planet, I’m convinced this collection will be embraced the world over by fans and non-fans alike, perfectly illustrating what we have known for years: Marillion is a bloody marvelous band. Whether with Fish or with Hogarth or whether Kelly has hair or not, they simply remain unique! PS: Appropriately enough, there is an "easter egg" hidden in the lyrics of a song called "Easter." On the main menu select Discography. Go to the second page and select the song "Easter." You will then get a picture of the record sleeve, select the lyrics option underneath. On the first page of the "Easter" lyrics, highlight the back option, then press up which will highlight the word "easter" in the lyrics. Press play/select and you will get the first page of lyrics for the band's 2001 song "Deserve." Select the play option underneath to view the video for "Deserve." More about The EMI Singles Collection: Track Listing: Market Square Heroes / He Knows You Know / Garden Party / Assassing / Kayleigh / Lady Nina / Lavender / Heart Of Lothian / Incommunicado / Sugar Mice / Warm Wet Circles / Hooks In You / Uninvited Guest / Easter / Cover My Eyes (Pain And Heaven) / No One Can / Dry Land / Sympathy / The Great Escape / The Hollow Man / Alone Again In The Lap Of Luxury / Beautiful Musicians: Contact: Website: www.marillion.com Discography
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