Misplaced Childhood
The band's first full concept album, recorded beside the Berlin Wall, and their only British number one.
Marillion, 1985
- Released
- 17 June 1985
- Recorded
- March to May 1985
- Studio
- Hansa Tonstudio, Berlin
- Label
- EMI
- Producer
- Chris Kimsey
- Length
- 41:17
Fish conceived it during a long acid trip, and it runs as two continuous pieces, one for each side of the vinyl, moving through lost love, sudden success and lost childhood to an upbeat ending. EMI sent the band to Hansa partly because it was cheap after Fugazi. In the band's memories the desk kept failing, and the control room looked out over the Berlin Wall. Rothery said they all aged about three years there.
It entered the British chart at number one and stayed 41 weeks, and reached 47 in the United States, their best American placing. Kayleigh, Lavender and Heart of Lothian were all singles. AllMusic called it the band's most accomplished release so far, and Ultimate Classic Rock called it the cornerstone of neo-prog. A 2017 deluxe edition added Steven Wilson remixes and a 1985 Utrecht concert.
Track listing
- Pseudo Silk Kimono2:15
- Kayleigh4:04
- Lavender2:28
- Bitter Suite7:53
- Heart of Lothian4:08
- Waterhole (Expresso Bongo)2:13
- Lords of the Backstage1:53
- Blind Curve9:30
- Childhoods End?4:33
- White Feather2:24
Personnel
- Fish vocals, lyrics
- Steve Rothery guitars
- Mark Kelly keyboards
- Pete Trewavas bass
- Ian Mosley drums
- Chris Kimsey producer
- Mark Freegard mixing
- Thomas Stiehler engineer
More from Marillion
Script for a Jester's Tear (1983), Seasons End (1989), Marbles (2004)
Sources
- Misplaced Childhood, Wikipedia
- Misplaced Childhood, marillion.com
- The story behind the song: Kayleigh by Marillion, Louder