Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Marillion
Label: EMI Records
Released: 1986
Length: 19:56
Rating: 4/5
In the mid-eighties Marillion were riding the peak of their commercial success, and the demand for new releases was through the roof to match. After the monumental album “Misplaced Childhood” (1985), singles practically rained from the sky. In 1986, when they had a short break after the summer tour to calmly get ready for recording a new studio album, they put out “Welcome to the Garden Party”, a special single released exclusively for the West German market, aimed mainly at their traditionally fanatically loyal German fans. The cover was, as usual, the work of the famed designer Mark Wilkinson, and it was originally created as a gig poster for the 1986 summer tour.
The 7-inch vinyl version of the single has the classics “Garden Party” and “Market Square Heroes”, which don’t differ one bit from the earlier studio releases. The 12-inch vinyl version is a little more interesting, with live versions of “Garden Party”, “Kayleigh” and “Script For a Jester’s Tear”. “Garden Party” comes from a show in the English city of Leicester and it can also be found on their first official live album “Real to Reel” (1984), while the other two classics were recorded at the legendary Hammersmith Odeon and appear on the live compilation “Brief Encounter” (1985).
“Welcome to the Garden Party” offers nothing you can’t find on other Marillion releases, but as one of their biggest rarities it’s seriously interesting to collectors these days, so it’s well worth digging around for it in a used-vinyl shop.
Line-up
Fish – vocals
Steve Rothery – guitar
Mark Kelly – keyboards
Pete Trewavas – bass guitar, backing vocals
Ian Mosley – drums
Production
Marillion and Mark Freegard
Track list
1. Garden Party (live)
2. Kayleigh (live version)
3. Script for A Jester’s Tear (live)
