Recital of the Script


Recital of the Script is a live album by Marillion, recorded at a concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, London on 18 April 1983. The recording was made on the final date of the tour promoting their 1983 debut album Script for a Jester's Tear. Featuring former members Fish on vocals and Mick Pointer on drums, it comprises songs from that album as well as all tracks of the 1982 debut EP "Market Square Heroes" and the b-side of "He Knows You Know".

Release history

A video recording of this concert, entitled Recital of the Script and containing only six tracks, had first been released on VHS tape in October 1983. In April 1984, this was supplemented by The Video E.P. which contained another two tracks, "The Web" and the 19-minute-plus "Grendel". In July 2003, EMI released a DVD under the title Recital of the Script combining the material of the 1983 and 1984 VHS tapes. Additionally, this DVD contained another two tracks, footage and an interview with Fish recorded at the Marquee Club in December 1982.
On 22 June 2009, EMI released the full sound recording of the 1983 Hammersmith Odeon gig on a double CD set. This version includes two tracks not found on the VHS or DVD: "Charting the Single", previously released as a b-side to the "Garden Party" 12", and "Three Boats Down from the Candy", which was not previously released.
On the same day, EMI released Live from Loreley, another first-time audio version of a 1980s live video. Although neither Marillion nor ex-singer Fish were involved in the decision to re-release this material, they officially approved it and Fish has written liner notes for both. Fish commented that "as contractually we have no control over the material decided it would be more advisable to help out rather than relinquish total responsibility. I understand there will be accusations of "scraping the barrel" directed at EMI, and perhaps there is some justification, but our choice was to walk away and let Amazon and the like benefit or get involved and at least try and get some return above the pennies we get as royalties as a band under our old contract."

Track listing (2009 double audio CD)

Disc one

  1. "Script for a Jester's Tear" – 8:46
  2. "Garden Party" – 7:15
  3. "Three Boats Down from the Candy" – 7:44
  4. "The Web" – 12:00
  5. "Charting the Single" – 6:18
  6. "Chelsea Monday" – 7:48

    Disc two

  7. "He Knows You Know" – 6:17
  8. "Forgotten Sons" – 14:17
  9. "Market Square Heroes" – 8:05
  10. "Grendel" – 18:54

    Track listing (earlier versions)

1983 VHS tape Recital of the Script, 1984 VHS tape The Video E.P., 2003 DVD
  1. "Script for a Jester's Tear"
  2. "Garden Party"
  3. "The Web"
  4. "Chelsea Monday"
  5. "He Knows You Know"
  6. "Forgotten Sons"
  7. "Market Square Heroes"
  8. "Grendel"

    Bonus tracks on the 2003 DVD

  10. "He Knows You Know"
  11. "Backstage"
  12. "Market Square Heroes "
  13. "Fish Interview"

    Personnel