Following the multi-platinum success of Marillion’s concept album 'Misplaced Childhood', the British quintet returned in 1987 with their fourth studio album, 'Clutching At Straws'. The album peaked at #2 on the U.K. charts, where it scored Top 40 hits with “Incommunicado,” “Sugar Mice,” and “Warm Wet Circles.” Considered by many to be one of the neo-prog rocker’s finest, Clutching At Straws would also turn out to be Marillion’s final studio release with original singer Fish.
Originally released in 2018, the band are releasing an additional run of the boxset due to demand from fans.
Both collections open with a new version of 'Clutching At Straws' that was remixed earlier this year by Andy Bradfield and Avril Mackintosh. Both sets also include a concert recording of Marillon performing in Scotland at the Edinburgh Playhouse in December 1987 during the group’s final tour of Fish-era. It was mixed by Michael Hunter.
Some of the performances first appeared in 1988 on the live album, 'The Thieving Magpie'. In concert, the band plays songs that span its entire career up to that point with “Garden Party” from its 1983 debut Script for a Jester’s Tear; “Punch And Judy” from Fugazi (1984); “Kayleigh” from 'Misplaced Childhood' (1985); and “Warm Wet Circles” from 'Clutching at Straws'.
The third disc in the CD-version of 'CLUTCHING AT STRAWS: DELUXE EDITION' brings together nine demo recordings released in 1999 with four unreleased demos for “Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles,” “Just For The Record,” “Torch Song” and “Slàinte Mhath.”
The Blu-ray features the 1987 album’s original mix, plus various other mixes (48/24 PCM Stereo Remix; 48/24 LPCM Master Audio 5.1 Mix; 48/24 DTS Master Audio 5.1 Mix). Video content includes a new 60 minute documentary featuring Mick Wall interviewing the band and discussing the album, plus promo films for “Incommunicado,” “Sugar Mice” and “Warm Wet Circles.”
Tracklisting
Disc One: 2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix
- “Hotel Hobbies”
- “Warm Wet Circles”
- “That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)”
- “Going Under” (Alternate Version)
- “Just or the Record”
- “White Russian”
- “Incommunicado”
- “Torch Song”
- “Slàinte Mhath”
- “Sugar Mice”
- “The Last Straw”
- “Happy Ending”
Disc Two: Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987 (2018 Michael Hunter Mix)
- “La Gazza Ladra”
- “Slàinte Mhath”
- “Assassing”
- “White Russian”
- “Incubus”
- “Sugar Mice”
- “Fugazi”
- “Hotel Hobbies”
- “Warm Wet Circles”
- “That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)”
Disc Three: Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987 (2018 Michael Hunter Mix)
- “Pseudo Silk Kimono” (Intro)
- “Kayleigh”
- “Lavender”
- “Bitter Suite”
- “Heart of Lothian”
- “The Last Straw”
- “Incommunicado”
- “Garden Party”
- “Market Square Heroes” (incomplete, featuring “My Generation,” “Margaret,” and “Let’s Twist Again”)
Disc Four: 1999 Remaster Demos
- “Beaujolais Day” (Demo)
- “Story From A Thin Wall” (Demo)
- “Shadows On The Barley” (Demo)
- “Exile On Princes Street” (Demo)
- “Sunset Hill” (Demo)
- “Tic-Tac-Toe” (Demo)
- “Voice In The Crowd” (Demo)
- “White Russians” (Demo)
- “Sugar Mice In The Rain” (Demo)
- “Hotel Hobbies/ Warm Wet Circles” (The Mosaic Demos) *
- “Just for the Record” (Demo) *
- “Torch Song” (Demo) *
- “Slàinte Mhath” (Demo) *
Blu-ray Content
Clutching At Straws (2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix)
- 48/24 PCM Stereo Remix48/24 LPCM Master Audio 5.1 Mix
- 48/24 DTS Master Audio 5.1 Mix
“The Last Straw” Clutching At Straws: Interviews with Fish and band
Promo Films (SD Content)
“Incommunicado”
“Sugar Mice”
“Warm Wet Circles”
Audio Extras
Clutching At Straws (Original 1987 Album Mix)
Bonus Tracks (Audio Only)
“Incommunicado” (Alternative Version)
“Tux On”
“Going Under” (Extended Version)
Hi-Res Digital
Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987 (2018 Michael Hunter Mix)
* Previously unreleased
