Clutching at Straws [Deluxe Edition]

by Marillion

Overview

Written and conceived during a period of inner-band turmoil, Clutching at Straws would prove to be Fish's swan song, and perhaps Marillion's most unheralded masterpiece. Teaming up once again with producer Chris Kimsey, Clutching at Straws showcases some of the band's most satisfying compositions, including the magnificent "Warm Wet Circles" and "That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)." Bookended by Fish's disgust with not only himself, "Torch Song," but also with the burgeoning neo-Nazi uprising in Europe, "White Russian," the great Scot delivers an inspired condemnation. The commercial pomp and circumstance of "Incommunicado" also gives way to a self-parodying confessional inspired by Fish's inability to see himself as a bona fide rock star and celebrity ("I want to do adverts for American Express cards, talk shows on prime time T.V."). Tour opener "Slainte Mhath" is simple and elegant, building to its dramatic crescendo only to be upstaged by "Sugar Mice" -- quite simply, one of Marillion's best commercial singles ever. The album's stunning closer, "The Last Straw," is Fish's self-realization that yes, the band is not only over, but that in his mind, it's null and void ("and if you ever come across us, don't give us your sympathy"). Steve Rothery's blinding guitar solo brings the whole thing down to a crashing finish (prophetically, announcing his arrival as the band's true musical instigator on subsequent Fish-less records). ~ John Franck

Product Details

Release Date:	11/23/2018
Label:	Parlophone / Rhino
UPC:	0190295605049

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Hotel Hobbies [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
2. Warm Wet Circles [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
3. That Time of Night (The Short Straw) [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
4. Going Under [Alternate Version] [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
5. Just for the Record [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
6. White Russian [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
7. Incommunicodo [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
8. Torch Song [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
9. Sl¿¿inte Mhath [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
10. Sugar Mice [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
11. The Last Straw [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]
12. Happy Ending [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix]

Disc 2

13. La Gazza Ladra [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]
14. Sl¿¿inte Mhath [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]
15. Assassing [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]
16. White Russian [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]
17. Incubus [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]
18. Sugar Mice [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]
19. Fugazi [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]
20. Hotel Hobbies [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]
21. Warm Wet Circles [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]
22. That Time of Night [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, Michael Hunter Mix]

Disc 3

23. Pseudo Silk Komono [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, 2018 Michael Hunter Mix]
24. Kayleigh [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, 2018 Michael Hunter Mix]
25. Lavender [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, 2018 Michael Hunter Mix]
26. Bitter Suite [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, 2018 Michael Hunter Mix]
27. Heart of Lothian [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, 2018 Michael Hunter Mix]
28. The Last Straw [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, 2018 Michael Hunter Mix]
29. Incommunicado [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, 2018 Michael Hunter Mix]
30. Garden Party [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, 2018 Michael Hunter Mix]
31. Market Square Heroes [Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987, 2018 Michael Hunter Mix]

Disc 4

32. Beaujolais Day [1999 Remaster Demos]
33. Story form a Thin Wall [1999 Remaster Demos]
34. Shadows of the Barley [1999 Remaster Demos]
35. Exile on Princes Street [1999 Remaster Demos]
36. Sunset Hill [1999 Remaster Demos]
37. Tic-Tac-Toe [1999 Remaster Demos]
38. Voice in the Crowd [1999 Remaster Demos]
39. White Russians [1999 Remaster Demos]
40. Sugar Mice in the Rain [1999 Remaster Demos]
41. Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles [1999 Remaster Demos]
42. Just for the Record [1999 Remaster Demos]
43. Torch Song [1999 Remaster Demos]
44. Sl¿¿inte Mhath [1999 Remaster Demos]

Disc 5

45. Clutching At Straws [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix] [48/24 PCM Stereo Remix]
46. Clutching At Straws [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix] [48/24 LPCM Master Audio 5.1 Mix]
47. Clutching At Straws [2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh Re-mix] [48/25 DTS Master Audio 5.1 Mix]
48. The "Last Straw" Clutching at Straws: Interviews with Fish and Band
49. Incommunicado [Promo Film]
50. Sugar Mice [Promo Film]
51. Warm Wet Circles [Promo Film]
52. Clutching at Straws [Original 1987 Album Mix] [Audio Extras]
53. Incommunicado [Alternative Version] [Audio Extras]
54. Tux On [Audio Extras]
55. Going Under [Extended Version] [Audio Extras]
56. Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse 1987 [2018 Michael Hunter Mix]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Marillion   Primary Artist,Vocals
Pete Trewavas   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Tessa Niles   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Steve Rothery   Guitar
Steve Hogarth   Vocals
Chris Kimsey   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Ian Mosley   Drums,Percussion
Mark Kelly   Keyboards
Fish   Vocals

Technical Credits

David Jacob   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Nick Davis   Engineer,Recording,Audio Engineer
Nigel Reeve   Project Coordinator
Kal Mann   Composer
Nick Davies   Mixing
Marillion   Composer,Producer
Pete Townshend   Composer,Lyricist
Dave Appell   Composer
Richard Sullivan   Mixing,Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Derek William Dick   Composer
Pete Trewavas   Arranger,Composer
Diz Minnett   Composer
Michael Pointer   Arranger,Composer
Lucy Jordache   Project Coordinator
Privet Hedge   Producer
Brian Jelliman   Composer
Avril Mackintosh   Mixing,Remixing,Liner Notes,Mixing Engineer
Traditional   Composer
Steve Rothery   Arranger,Composer
Andy Bradfield   Remixing
Bill Smith   Reissue Art
Mark Wilkinson   Design,Illustrations
Chris Kimsey   Producer
Ian Mosley   Composer,Liner Notes
Mark Kelly   Arranger,Composer,Liner Notes
Derek Dick   Arranger,Composer
Peter Mew   Engineer,Mixing Engineer