Script for a Jester's Tear [Import]

1. Script for a Jester's Tear

2. He Knows You Know

3. Web

4. Garden Party

5. Chelsea Monday

6. Forgotten Sons

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Reissue of the Original Album. Special Price.

Tracks:

Script For A Jester's Tear
He Knows You Know
The Web
Garden Party
Chelsea Monday
Forgotten Sons

Album Description

At a time when synth-pop was all the rage, and unassuming ditties ruled the charts, Marillion's debut album, Script For A Jester's Tear nodded proudly to such ambitious forebears as Pink Floyd and Peter Gabriel-era Genesis. Lead vocalist Fish, in fact, bore an uncanny sonic similarity to Gabriel, a fact that his penchant for onstage theatrics did little to discourage. In turn, the rest of the band offered a '70s-flavored blend of Floyd/Camel-like melodic guitar lines, Rick Wakeman-with-an-attitude multi-keyboard cascades, and odd-metered rhythms. EMI. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

Fair price, product in excellent conditons.......2007-05-13

Fair price, product in excellent conditons. I chose UPS ground because is cheaper and still I got the CD within a week. Thx!

Brilliant 80's prog (but seek the 2-disc edition).......2007-02-04

This album is one of the best albums of the 80's (and, in my opionion, Marillion's best). Marillion was one of a handful of British groups that took up the progressive rock style when all the classic bands (Genesis, Yes, Tull, etc.) were going for more of a mainstream rock sound. What this means is you get an album of epic songs (7 minute average rather than 3), poetic lyrics, musical ambition, and fantastic keyboard playing.
Although accused of "sounding too much like early Genesis", Marillion actually sounds less like them than most of the other neo-prog bands. First of all, Marillion has a strong, punchy, 80's sound that is a nice variant on the prog theme - at times they're even almost heavy metal (for the 80's, Marillion and Iron Maiden seemed to be your best bet for nice, melodic, energetic instrumental passages), although the keyboard-rich sound gives them a different sound than metal. Lead singer Fish reminds one of early 70's Peter Gabriel, but Fish is a much stronger singer - savage and over-the-top, with florid rolled "r"s (he kind of reminds me of Van Der Graaf Generator's singer Peter Hammill, too). Unfortunately, Fish toned down his singing soon after this album, but it was fantastic here and (to a lesser degree) on "Fugazi". Guitarist Steve Rothery is more reminiscent of Pink Floyd's David Gilmore than Genesis's Steve Hackett, he has that lovely feel that really sets him above many others. The lyrics are also distinctive - Fish's topics are more heavy metal than prog (drugs, sex/romance, etc.), but his lyric writing is much more florid and poetic than any metal singer (excepting maybe Fates Warning's John Arch).
My only caveat is, either buy the 2-disc version or pick up "B-sides themselves", because there's almost a whole album of great songs you'll miss out on from this era of the band if you don't ("Three Boats Down From the Candy", "Market Square Heroes", and the 20-minute epic "Grendel" are all as top-notch as the songs on this disc).
Marillion's next CD ("Fugazi") is nearly as good, but after that they never really achieved this sound again - they lost a lot of the energy and edge of this CD, tending towards a mellower, more rambling sound reminiscent of later Pink Floyd, U2, and alternative rock (although with some brilliant stuff on every album, especially "Anoraknophobia").

"When You Kissed Your Prince and Found Your Frog".......2006-11-13

"Script for a Jester's Tear" is Marillion's first proper album, originally released in 1983. It's an interesting listen, inspired by the sounds and evocative lyrics of classic progressive rock and covering a variety of topics close to the heart of the band.

Marillion sounds a little like early 1970s Genesis, though the production is a little more 1980s, and so are a couple of the keyboard tones. Lead singer Fish sounds like an angrier, more melancholy Peter Gabriel as well, which is interesting. The feel of the music is very different from Genesis though, particularly on this album. The atmosphere of the record is more like an album by The Smiths, and the lyrics, though theatrical and melodramatic at times, are more socially conscious, like in "Forgotten Sons", a song about the tensions of Northern Ireland. Fish is a unique lyricist, he bends metaphors in a very interesting way, and it makes for some curious imagery against his descriptions of the life around him, whether it be in the unrequited love in "Script for a Jester's Tear" or in his descriptions of a snobby "Garden Party". Though it isn't a concept album, there are a few lyrical themes that run through the record, (the idea of life being like a play, sons and fathers, etc) which are interesting to think about.

The one problem I have with this album is the 8 minute track "The Web". The music's all right, but there is this very, very, very high pitched synthesizers weaving in and out for atmosphere, and it's kind of painful to listen to on headphones, even though its not that loud a sound. It's just something about the frequencies it runs through. Spoils the song for me a bit.

The CD booklet of this remaster, though a little thin, contains lyrics for each of the songs and an introduction by Mark Wilkinson (the artist behind the cover art), describing how he came up with the cover, and how the sheet music on the jester's table went on to be a hit for Kajagoogoo. I don't know whether he was being serious or not about that, though.

There's a two disc version of this CD floating around, which contains a few B-sides and stuff on the second disc, including "Market Square Heroes" and Marillion's 20 minute epic "Grendel" (based on the Beowulf sequel of the same name by John Gardner). I'm kind of wishing I'd gotten that release now, but it's all right. I got a very good deal on the one disc edition, and those B-sides are available elsewhere, (on the "B-Sides Themselves" compilation, for instance).

There's great music on this CD, but for a newcomer to Marillion, I'd go for their third album "Misplaced Childhood" instead. It's a concept album, it's a little more acessible and it has Marillion's biggest hit "Kayleigh".

1983... Gabriel back with Genesis? - not quite, it's a new band ..........2006-02-01

I can remember the guy at our local Record store telling me about this "new band" in England who were really good. Evidently all the Iron Maiden fans were into them, they were called Marillion. So I listened to this album and from the first notes thought, sounds more like Peter Gabriel back with Genesis to me, being a big Genesis fan I thought... I'll take it!

Listening to it at home that night, the first track made me think of what would have been the first new track after the "Lamb lies down on Broadway", it just sounded so Gabriel period Genesis. By the end of the album I played it again it was fantastic one of the best albums I had ever heard. The lead singer (Fish) was very emotional both lyrically and in his vocal style - and also sang with great passion. Guitarist Steve Rothery seemed very talented and at times reminded me of Steve Hackett (who was in Genesis from 1971 - 1977). Mark Kelly - Keyboards was also very accomplished, as was drummer Mick Pointer on drums and Pete Trewavas on Bass (who would also join up with Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Neal Morse (Spock's Beard) and Roine Stolt (Flower Kings) to form a superb "sideline" band called "Transatlantic" in 2001).

Certainly the intensity and emotion of the lyrics / vocals and music combined were captivating to me and it was an album that I played over and over and seemed to find something new in each listening. The songs build beautifully and contain a number of changes (of the 6 tracks 4 are over the 8 minute mark (Script for a Jesters Tear / Chelsea Monday / The Web / Forgotten Sons), Garden Party clocks in at 7 minutes. (The shortest track is "He Knows You Know" at just over 5 minutes). The title track was a highlight for me together with the song about drugs - "He knows You Know", "Garden Party" (which would go on to become an in concert favourite) and "Forgotten Sons" (which reminded me a lot of "The Knife" from Genesis (from Tresspass - 1970). "The Web" is a very well put together track with "Chelsea Monday" providing brilliant guitar work (both electric and acoustic) and again very well put together, very emotional.

In summary, a stunning debut album from a band that sounded so "Gabriel style Genesis" to me that had Genesis released it I would have been over the moon. It is really that good. Fish's lyrics and powerful vocal delivery together with Steve Rothery's exceptional electric and acoustic guitar work really carry this album to another level.

For me this is an extremely enjoyable album from start to finish. I enjoy listening to it as much today as I first did almost 24 years ago. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, it's superb.

magic.......2006-01-29

What a first album! Such a harmony exists only if the members of the band share the same ideas,dreams,thoughts,musical feelings.Fish's voice is: gentle,angry,soft,harsh,melancholic,mercurial.His range of emotions is infinite!The bass guitar by itself is a symphony.A lot of off time drums and bass.Very progressive keyboards.That is what i call ART-ROCK! Fish has the ability to transform his feelings into a poetry with unique style.Marillion( with Fish)is not easy to be assimilated.It is not for everybody(and that is the beauty of it).Fish's Marillion is very misjudged and unproperly appreciated(mainly in the US,like many other bands and singers[for example: Van Der Graaf Generator,Atomic Rooster
Blood,Sweat&Tears,Styx,Kansas,The Alan Parsons Project,Glen Hughes,The Boomers YYZ,Terence Trent D'Arby,Demis Roussos and Aphrodite's Child,Chris Rea,Supermax, Sam Brown,Vaya Con Dios,Clannad,Incognito,Jamiroquai,Infectious Grooves etc.] On ,the radio you can listen to Led Zeppelin,The Who,Rod Steward
Black Sabbath and other bands that i used to like,but come on-every day,365 days a year,only the most popular songs[ by their opinion],i'm sick and tired of it!But let's get back to Marillion. I love the music,the lyrics. All 4 studio albums with Fish are a work of art.There is an album called "B'sides Themselves",import-i recomend it to everybody who is into Marillion.Expand your mental outlook "...but don't be fooled by the radio,the T.V.or the magazines,they'll show you photographs
of how your life should be,but they're just someone else's fantasy..."-STYX "The Grand Illusion"1977

Average customer rating:

Excellent debut album
Soulcraker
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME
Not just a Genesis clone.
It Changed my Life!

Script for a Jester's Tear
Marillion
Manufacturer: Never Records Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00003652Q
Release Date: 1999-12-07

Tracks:

Script For A Jester's Tear
He Knows You Know
The Web
Garden Party
Chelsea Monday
Forgotten Sons

Tracks:

Market Square Heroes (Battle Priest Version)
Three Boat's Down From The Candy
Grendel (Fair Deal Studios Version)
Chelsea Monday (Manchester Square Demo)
He Knows You Know (Manchester Square Demo)
Charting The Single
Market Square Heroes (Alternative Version)

Album Description

24 bit digitally remastered with a bonus disc never before released in the U.S. with over 40 minutes of music of alternate versions of album tracks, B sides, studio takes and demos. Deluxe 28 page booklet featuring full lyrics and detailed accounts from the band. Booklet also features never before seen photographs. First time domestically available since 1991. Bonus tracks 'Market Square Heroes' (Battle Priest Version), 'Three Boats Down From The Candy', 'Grendel' (Fair Deal Studios Version), 'Chelsea Monday' (Manchester Square Demo), 'He Knows You Know' (Manchester Square Demo), 'Charting The Single' and 'Market Square Heroes' (Alternative Version). 1997 release. Double slimline jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent debut album.......2007-03-29

Script is a very good debut album which contains really great songs as "Forgotten Sons", "Chelsea Monday" and of course, the title track.
"Garden Party" has its moment, it is an entertaining song.
As far as I can remember, I never liked "He knows you know".
"The Web" is a good one but is a bit less interesting musically, the quality of musical transitions is questionnable.
The remaster is better than the original recording, but as another reviewer said, the sound is a bit dated, some older albums sounds better but you must remember that it is a debut album, so money is probably the reason for the lower quality production. In my opinion, the drum player is good but not great. The band make a good move when they included Ian Mosley in the band for the following album. The guitar has too much "reverb" in my opinion. Overall, a very good debut.

The bonus cd include another version of "Grendel" As you might know, Fish doesn't like this one and I agree with him. The ending section is cleary a pale copy of the ending section of "Supper's Ready" (Genesis)
The voice of Fish is not very good in the last part of Grendel.
You'll find some good tracks on the bonus cd like "Market Square heroes" and "Charting the single" the rest is for die hard fans I would say.

Soulcraker.......2001-10-19

This is one of the top five records of all times! Greatness from the first tune to the last. My favourite is the last song "Forgotten sons". Lyrics for the brain, music for the soul, and with the spooky voice of Fish, it is fullfilled. No weak songs on the album. A strong music adventure through a melancolic landskape, that you'll hope never ends. Lots of keyboards and strong guitars. So full of energy and ideas. This could have last forever, but unfortunately, it did not. Marillion died after the next album, Fugazi!

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME.......2001-09-21

This is just a phenomenal album, by a phenomenal band.This is the best Marillion album. Fish is a really great vocalist, and his poetry is so deep, it's incredible! Mark Kelly is a great keyboardist. He can be very complex and very soothing, he's outstanding. The stand-out tracks are, well, all of them. Every single track is amazing!...

Not just a Genesis clone........2001-08-05

.... Script for a Jester's Tear was the most notable forerunner of the neo-prog development.

Often derisively referred to as "prog-lite," neo-prog was much more rich and melodic than your average rock music, but not quite the ostentatious extravaganzas that Yes and Genesis were producing in their heyday. The focus on emotionally deep or insightful lyrics and intricate, dynamic, and theatrical pieces of music were common qualities, I'd say. To me, "Script for a Jester’s Tear," this album's title track, is the definitive neo-prog song. Beginning with an ominous intro consisting of just piano and voice, it then proceeds to move through different tones and movements like a prog epic. A bouncy synth line falls into a moment of emotional desperation, conveyed oh so well by Steve Rothery's marvelous guitar. After a delicate and solemn passage, the emotional climax hits like a ton of bricks, with Fish's emotion-packed query "Can you still say you love me?" atop a layer of cool synths and harpsichords carrying the song to the end.

The song is absolutely outstanding...my meager words can't do it justice. It encapsulates everything that was great about Marillion w/Fish. Fish's ability as a wordsmith and poet would put just about any "real" poet to shame. Rothery's guitar sings with all the emotion of, well, a singer! His heartbreaking solos and even just his perfect sense of atmosphere make him one of the best guitarists alive. ....Mark Kelly, on keyboards, couldn't floor you with a solo like Rick Wakeman, but he new how to create an added level of emotion with simple subtleties. Marillion,be it with Fish or Hogarth (I'm a big fan of both), was never a band about showing off...it was about beauty in music, emotional contact, and memorable songs.

The other songs are all excellent, not quite as good as the title track, but "Chelsea Monday" and "Forgotten Sons" are pretty close. The end of "Forgotten Sons" is stunning, especially. The songwriting has held up remarkably after all these years, which is a sign of great music. The production is dated though, even with the remaster...some high notes are a bit harsh, and the drums are obnoxiously loud in the mix (snare drums shouldn't sound like that). Nonetheless, given the quality of the music and the time this was recorded, the production inadequacies can be forgiven.

This remastered edition is especially great because it features the Fish-Marillion's epic, "Grendel." It's a 20 minutes piece, and tends to remind one of a bit of "Supper's Ready." Originally found as a b-side of Market Square Heroes, this important song sits alongside other rarities, like "Charting the Single" and "Three Boats Down from the Candy." The bonus disc is great, all in all, and important for a more complete understanding of this great band.

It Changed my Life!.......2001-03-08

This album truly changed my life. I happend to see Marillion at the legendary Marquee in London by "accident", and was totally blown away. I immidiadetly bought their current release Script... WOW what an experience. I was a Marillion fanatic from that day. I think Script is their absolutely best album. Songs like Chelsea Monday and Forgotten Sons are as close to religious experiences as you can have in music. The extra disc on this re-release is just that, extra, don't pay too much attention to it. It is disc no. one that is important. I am still a die hard Marillion/Fish fan and engulf everything they produce, but Script is still my first and forever love. Dilly Dilly 4 ever

Average customer rating:

Script for a Jester's Tear
Marillion
Manufacturer: Alex
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000008I51
Release Date: 1994-05-13

Tracks:

Script for a Jester's Tear
He Knows You Know
Web
Garden Party
Chelsea Monday
Forgotten Sons

Average customer rating:

Script for a Jester's Tear
Marillion
Manufacturer: Disky Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000005RPZ
Release Date: 1996-10-28

Tracks:

Script for a Jester's Tear
He Knows You Know
Web
Garden Party
Chelsea Monday
Forgotten Sons

Album Details

Reissue of the Original Album. Special Price.

Average customer rating:

Script for a Jester's Tear
Marillion
Manufacturer: Toshiba EMI Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Fugazi

ASIN: B000AU1O4G
Release Date: 2005-11-07

Tracks:

Script for a Jester's Tear
He Knows You Know
Web
Garden Party
Chelsea Monday
Forgotten Sons

Tracks:

Market Square Heroes [Battle Priest Version]
Three Boats Down from the Candy
Grendel [Fair Deal Studios Version]
Chelsea Monday [Manchester Square Demo]
He Knows You Know [Manchester Square Demo]
Charting the Single
Market Square Heroes [Alternative Version][Alternate Take]

Album Description

Japanese remastered pressing of the 1983 album comes in a miniature LP sleeve. EMI. 2005.

Average customer rating:

My favorite Marillion's album
Has any debut album sounded so good?
A Classic - I never get tired of listening to this one
One of the best Marillion albums ever!!!!!
The one Marillion CD to hold and cherish!

Script for a Jester's Tear
Marillion
Manufacturer: Pid
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000005K23
Release Date: 1997-10-07

Tracks:

Script For A Jester's Tear
He Knows You Know
The Web
Garden Party
Chelsea Monday
Forgotten Sons
Market Square Heroes (Battle Priest Version)
Three Boats Down From The Candy
Grendel (Fair Deal Studios Version)
Chelsea Monday (Manchester Square Demo)
He Knows You Know (Manchester Square Demo)
Charting The Single
Market Square Heroes (Alternative Version)

Album Description

EMI release, their 1983 debut album digitally remastered to24 bits resolution at Abbey Road from the original 1/2'masters, plus a seven track bonus disc with the rare tracks'Three Boats Down From The Candy' & 'Market Square Heroes'(Alternative Version) and five previously unreleased tracks:'Market Square Heroes' (Battle Priest Version), 'Grendel'(Fair Deal Studios Version), 'Charting The Single' andMarket Square demo versions of 'Chelsea Monday' & 'He KnowsYou Know'. 13 tracks total. Double slimline jewel case. 1997release.

Customer Reviews:

My favorite Marillion's album.......2004-04-27

Since 1983, I have a Marillion phase that last 3 months every year. I have started with this phase with the song "He knows you know" played over and over on cassette until the tape gets jam in the machine. In 1990, I came back from an exhibition in USA where I had bought a hi-fi demo cd player for the 1/10 of the price. Ran to the store and bought "Script for a jester's tear" and "Misplaced childhood" cd's. My boyfriend was really mad at me, first because he did not choose the cd player and second because he had nothing else than Marillion to listen. The day after, he was really happy about the machine but not the cd's.

As he says, "Script for a jester's tear" sounds depressing. Somebody else told me my music was morbid (I guess the church organ sound disturb most).

Couple of years later, my favorite song is no more "He knows you know" but "Script of a jester's tear" (Fish voice is nice on this song). Second favorite is "The web"(I find the guitar solo is so nicely done in it). "Forgotten sons" is another great song (very mood and instrument changing). The average song on this album is "Chelsea monday" and the most depressing one with fake like church organ sound.

No matter what they say, I just like it.

Has any debut album sounded so good?.......1999-07-29

Unless you are a fan of a Particular band, then the chances are that you will not know a thing about their debut album. Within prog. rock circles almost everyone knows something about "Script for a jester's tear." Five of the songs were created through a staggering stage set long before EMI had any interest. An amazing live act that was sure to succeed on vinyl. An album that is now 16 years old shows no sign of aging, especially when listening to the remastered release. Possibly not the definitive Marillion album (check out "Misplaced childhood" or "Brave") no debut album is a band's best. This is very close though. The songs are very well crafted, creating a mixture of emotion. The tragedy of losing a loved one in the title track, the power of "Forgotten sons" and the humour of "Garden party" (still my favourite all time Marillion song) go to make an awe inspiring debut album that todays boy and girl bands should envy.

A Classic - I never get tired of listening to this one.......1999-06-19

Script for A Jester's Tear is one of my all-time favorite albums. I first picked this up in spring of 1983 after hearing "He Knows You Know" on Cleveland radio station WMMS. From the title track to "Forgotten Sons" this release just blew me away. I hear something new everytime I listen to this album. The 2-cd remastered release is a nice package and worth the extra money.

One of the best Marillion albums ever!!!!!.......1999-03-16

I picked up this album in the early eighties and it blew me away. From the first verse in Script to the last in Forgotten Sons I Knew I was hooked. Every album with Fish writing the vocals is a masterpeice in it's self. I would recommend Clutching at Straws also. Well any Marillion is well worth buying. Seasons End is one of my favorites also.

The one Marillion CD to hold and cherish!.......1998-12-22

This is the one album from Marillion that really can envoke true emotions everytime you play it. The title track, Script for a Jester's Tear is the best song that Fish ever penned. I don't think Marillion ever sounded better than this!

Average customer rating:

Understood?????
Hey, like early Genesis? This is for you!
A new beginning
Great debut
Dark masterpiece

Script for a Jester's Tear
Marillion
Manufacturer: Proper Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

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Misplaced Childhood
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The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)

ASIN: B00005QK39
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Tracks:

Script for a Jester's Tear - Marillion
He Knows You Do - Marillion
The Web - Marillion
Garden Party - Marillion
Chelsea Monday - Marillion
Forgotten Songs - Marillion
Market Square Heroes
Three Boats down from the Candy
Crendel
Chelsea Monday
He Know You Do
Charting the Single
Market Square Heroes

Tracks:

Market Square Heroes - Marillion
Three Boats Down From The Candy - Marillion
Grendel - Marillion
Chelsea Monday - Marillion
He Knows You Know - Marillion
Charting The Single - Marillion
Market Square Heroes - Marillion

Customer Reviews:

Understood?????.......2006-01-08

Hey¡¡¡ If you are interested in Misplaced lyrics, you have to buy this album. Great songs and an opportunity to understand it all. Fish sound very strange but New vocalist still singing "Garden Party" in the new concerts. Be very careful this is not pop.
Music is sublime.
Take the advantage of the extra disc....

Hey, like early Genesis? This is for you!.......2005-03-21

Oh my god. Fish? More like Fishy Gabriel. Why didn't they just name themselves Genesis 2? Honestly this isn't bad music but it's not original in any way shape or form, and is significantly less interesting and hard sitting then Genesis's Gabriel material. Not to mention Fish's lyrics can't hold up to Peter Gabriel's, but that goes without saying. Plus, whoever the keyboard player is, he really needs to take lessons from Tony Banks on how to play synths, as insane as that might seem to be. His keyboard tones are TEN TIMES cheesier than Tony's often get: plus, tony you know, invented the style this stooge is playing, so at least that takes some mind power.

Some solo's almost seem to fly right off of Genesis albums into your face. The keyboard style is 100% tony banks, the accoustic guitar triplets, the simpler bass parts all michael rutherford trademarks, the highly emotional soaring lead guitar all steve hackett... honestly, what Genesis was doing at the time was much more interesting and original than this, no matter what prog purists think. Avoid unless you wish Peter Gabriel stayed in Genesis into the 80's and they made music like this.

A new beginning.......2004-11-01

I first saw Marillion live at the Theakston Festival at Nostel Priory in Yorkshire during the summer of 1982. They were just breaking on the UK scene and had not yet issued Script. They were supporting Jethro Tull amongst others. When they came on stage they moved the audience with swirling keyboards and Fish's biting and observed lyrics. Marillion are for me what Genesis should have been if Peter Gabriel had stayed with them. Dated now but if you still like Selling England and The Lamb Lies Down then you should like this CD. For me their best work is the later album, Misplaced Childhood, but Script is still fine work.

Great debut.......2004-02-16

This could be the best album of the 80's. However, it happens that "The Final Cut" by Pink Floyd was released in the same year - 1983 - a magical year because of this two albums.

Anyway, this is one of the best debut albums I have ever heard, comparable to Tindersticks' first album, dEUS' "Worst Case Scenario" or Puressence's debut.

When this album was released, Marillion had a relative success in the UK, due to the single "Market Square Heroes" (which can be briefly spotted during the radio station tuning in the introduction of the last track - "Forgotten Sons").

The magic starts with the cover - a marvellous painting of a jester's trying to play "Yesterday" (The Beatles) in a violin. Like most progressive rock bands, the cover served as an introduction to the band's own world and took advantage of the vynil format (the back cover and the front cover form a single image).

The start is tremendous. For me, "Script For A Jester's Tear" is still Marillion's best song. The begginning of the song recalls "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" from the Genesis album "Selling England By The Pound" with the first phrase sung without music (the music starts immediately after the first phrase). The song is divided into four parts. The first is mysterious and mellodramatic and ends with "...the game is over". The second section is very rythmical and the lyrical content is just the repetition of phrases sung in the first part. The third part starts with "I act the role in a classic style" and returns a soft and mysterious mood. The beautiful and unforgettable fourth part is very grandiloquent and starts with "the fool escaped from paradise...". The end is "can you still say you love me?" sung several times, recalling, in a certain way, the ending of another Genesis song: "The Musical Box" (from the album "Nursery Cryme") when Gabriel sings/begs "why don't you touch me?" lots of times.

"He Knows, You Knows" is also a great song. It was the first single of this album and is a shorter and balanced track, more suitable for radio listeners (if all the songs on the radio sounded so good...).

"The Web" is the longest theme and it is also fascinant with lots of different parts and great keyboards by Mark Kelly.

"Garden Party" was the second single. This is Marillion, particulary Fish, showing their sense of humour. It's a joyful melody, very different from most Marillion songs.

"Chelsea Monday" is the album's second best song. The bass (played by Peter Trewavas) is remarkable. It's a slow and subtle song.

"Forgotten Sons" is my least favourite although highly considered by the fans. Nevertheless, it has the Marillion's unique sound.

If you like the "Peter Gabiel Genesis era" you will surely love this album. Yet, Marillion have their personality and are something more than a Genesis copy. Trust me: hear it several times and feel addicted.

Dark masterpiece.......2004-01-09

Ah, Marillion's first album! It's been over 20 years since this record came out, and it hasn't lost any of its musical greatness. The band, originally formed as an instrumental group but later adding singer/lyricist/stage personality Fish, rounded a fine group of pieces for their first outing (other than the Market Square Heroes stand alone single released a few months earlier).

Very much in the vein of Genesis' greatest symphonic years, A script for a jester's tear is a finely written, performed and produced set of music. Starting off with the title track, a lament of mental illness and depression, followed by the paranoia driven He knows you knows, this album has some of the greatest symphonic prog rock of the 80's (and then some). The record continues with The Web, followed by the lighthearted Garden party, a parody of the british high society reunions. Then comes the dark Chelsea monday about a female suicide. And perhaps leaving the best to last, the album closes with the almost epic (not quite 10 minutes long) Forgotten sons, the anti-war anthem of the band. This record is theatrically dark.

This remastered version, as well as sounding much better than the previous release, includes a second CD containing the bands singles from that era, including two versions of the afore mentioned Market Square Heroes, as well as the truly epic (not only in length!) Grendel. A perfect companion and a great complement for the original CD (although all this tracks can be found in slightly different versions in the B'sides themselves album, along with the live version of Margaret and a few other tracks).

As a side note, this is the only record of the band that doesn't feature Ian Mosley on drums, instead having Mick Pointer on skins.

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