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Review Summary: A great concert for a great anniversary. But, it was Fish not Marillion that celebrated it. “Return To Childhood” is a live album of Fish and was released in 2004. The line up on the album is Fish, Frank Usher, Andy Trill, Tony Turrell, Steve Vantsis, John Tonks and Deborah French.
Fish is a vocalist, poet and musician very well known in the progressive rock world. He was born in 25 April of 1958, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Derek William Dick, aka Fish, joined to the neo-progressive rock band Marillion in 1981 and led the band through numerous successes. He was the dramatic lead vocalist of Marillion with a dynamic personal presence, both off and on the stage, in the same vein of Peter Gabriel of Genesis. He participated as a band’s member of Marillion on their four first studio albums and on many of their live shows, before he left them for a brilliant solo career, in 1988.
“Return To Childhood” is a live album of Fish and was released in 2006. It was also released on the DVD format that contains the same songs, precisely in the same order. It was also released in the same year. In 2005, Fish celebrated the 20th anniversary of Marillion’s best-selling album “Misplaced Childhood” with a series of concerts which featured an integral performance of the album. It was recorded from a live concert made at The Paradiso, in Amsterdam, Holland.
It took Fish sixteen years to work up the gumption to perform the enduring masterpiece, “Misplaced Childhood”, in its entirety. But that well received 2002 gig at a fan club convention in Holland sparked a yearning in Fish’s soul to tour the album, something not done since Marillion did it in 1986. So in 2005, he took to the stage with his current six-piece band, an outfit every bit as polished as his old band and performed not only the 1985 epic, but also some of the hardest rocking gems from his solo career and even a few Marillion favourites that contrasted well with “Misplaced Childhood”.
“Return To Childhood” has twenty two tracks. The album is divided into disc 1 and disc 2. Disc 1 has nine tracks, all belonging to the solo repertoire of Fish. So, those tracks are: “Big Wedge” from “Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors”, “Credo” from “Internal Exile”, “Brother 52”, “Goldfish And Clowns” from “Sunsets Of Empire”, “Raingods Dancing” and “Wake Up Call (Make It Happen)” from “Raingods With Zippos”, “Long Cold Day” from “Fellini Days” and “Moving Targets” and “Innocent Party” from “Field Of Crows”. The disc 2 has thirteen tracks, all belonging to Marillion’s catalogue. The first ten tracks of that disc belong all to the third studio album of Marillion, “Mispalced Childhood”. The remaining three tracks are: “Incommunicado” from their fourth studio album “Clutching At Straws”, “Market Square Heroes” from their debut EP “Market Square Heroes” and “Fugazi” from their second studio album “Fugazi”.
As I said before, the first half of the gig contains a selection of Fish’s solo works. It contains up tempo rocky songs from his repertoire, with only “Goldfish And Clowns” and the “Raingods Dancing” falling more in the category of ballads. So, here we have excellent versions of “Brother 52”, “Goldfish And Clowns” and a moving of “Raingods Dancing”, among others. “Credo” sounds especially energetic to my ears. All versions are great. “Big Wedge” and “Raingods Dancing” are probably my favourite tracks in this first part of the set. After that, the band exits the stage at a time before a short break in anticipation of the evening’s main event, the live performance of “Misplaced Childhood”.
The second disc contains, obviously, the integral performance of “Misplaced Childhood” as well as some more Marillion’s classic tracks, as encores. The rendition of “Misplaced Childhood” is fairly close to the original, despite the addition of a female backing vocalist, and that it was played in a more heavy and modern way. The backing vocals of Deborah French make a nice addition to Fish and work pretty well, although she does occasionally try to upstage him, I think. The crowd is absolutely bonkers, at this point, and needless to say that it’s really ready for more Marillion’s material after Fish and his band takes their bows. For the encores, the Paradiso is treated to “Incommunicado”, “Market Square Heroes” and a supposedly unrehearsed “Fugazi” all performed with great perfection. All this was a must have to all Marillion’s fans on Fish’s era. All in all, we have here two fast hours with about fifteen minutes of great music, really.
Conclusion: The main reason that led me to buy this live album was the CD 2. But, if we want to be totally fair, this live album is much more than “Misplaced Childhood”. I’m not an expert on Fish’s solo material. I merely know some few Fish’s solo albums. So, I can’t say if these live versions are different or better from their original versions. But, I can say that they’re all great, especially “Big Wedge” and “Raingods Dancing”. About CD 2, it exceeded all my expectations. It sounds heavier and modern than the original version. It still sounds fresh and new as if it was the first time. So, this live version is as good as the original. “Return To Childhood” is a great live album and an excellent addition to any prog collection. It’s curious it was Fish and not Marillion that decided to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this masterpiece.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
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Album Rating: 4.0
After the debut work and my favourite work of Marillion, it makes sense to me to publish a review of a Fish's album, which always was the real soul of Marillion. Maybe I could have choose a solo studio album of him. Still, instead of that, I decided to choose this one, mainly because two reasons. First, I'm not a big expert of Fish's solo work, as I explain on the conclusion of my review. Second, because I think it's interesting to bring here a "new" Fish's version of "Misplaced Childwood" twenty years later. Besides, this is a live album, and reviews of live albums aren't much represented here on Sputnik. But, above all, this is a live album were both worlds are presented, the world of Marillion in Fish's era and the solo work of him.
One more thing. This live concert was realeased as a double live CD and as a DVD. I have both versions. So, if you are intersted in buying it, take my advise and choose the DVD version. As I mentioned on my review, besides it has the same tracks in the same order, the DVD has also an interesting interview with Fish in Amsterdam on a terrace of a cafe near of one of their many canals. I really think it can be a an excellent addition to all Marillion and Fish fans.
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While this is really well-written for what it is, well over half the review is spent giving background information with little or no personal touch, or any form of analysis. You go into it for a paragraph or so later on but this feels more like a Wikipedia entry than a review as it stands.
Misplaced Childhood is a masterpiece and Fish is a genius though.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks for your opinion. I respect it. But since I've already reviewed "Misplaced Childhood" before and this is only a live album with nothing really new apart from being performed live, I decided be more informative. Usually, I leave my opinion more to the conclusion of my reviews.
Anyway, thanks. I'm going to think about it on my next reviews.
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Nice to see a review of Fish.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks for your comment pal. It's nice to see some love to Fish.
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Nice to see a review of Fish. I will read your review later.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Ok. Tell me something later, if you want.
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I think this review is excellent for this website. Many folks have no idea who Derek Dick or Marillion are, so I appreciate the informative approach.
What an artist he is. And what a band Marillion is. Their top tier material is as good as anyone's.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Yeah, you're absolutely right. From what I know from his solo work, three or four albums, the man is really an amazing artist, especially on stage. If you can check this DVD, you'll see that you'll not regret.
I appreciate your point of view about my review. It's always nice to see and can talk with you, pal.
Cheers and thanks.
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I agree with Titan. This is an excellent review for this website. I love the way you write your reviews. More than to express our individual tastes, I think it is more important to talk about the band and album, and explain the context of it. Not all of us know about some many bands and albums. So, have a pos.
I need to check this soon as I can. And I need to spend more time with Fish albums. It is not lost time.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Thanks bro. I appreciate it.
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If Marillion didn't make a 20th anniversary of Misplaced Childhood, it's probably because the band expected Fish to take the lead and go for it, and they didn't want to have competition with him. That's my two cents.
For the video, I've only checked CD2. I've noticed CD1 contains more recent Fish material (I know a few songs of them), and it must be a great performance because of that matter. But my curiosity lead me to the cake, the CD2. Fish was still in good shape, but lost some power on the run, and it's normal. It was a delight to watch. I was ''backing'' Fish all the way through. Greetings to Fish.
Great review, and it's great that this album has one.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I really never saw it by that point of view. But, probably you're right. Still, I always saw "Misplaced Childhood" as a Marillion's album, despite the concept be of Fish. In reality, I always saw the three first albums of the band as three colective efforts. The only album that I always saw as more an album of Fish than a band's album is "Clutching At Straws". I always felt that it was the trampoline to Fish begin more highest flights as a solo artist.
About the performace, I can asure you, because I have the DVD, that it's a great performance. Anyway, I agree with you. The voice of Fish isn't as great as it was due to his age and some excesses of him all over his life. Still, his presence on stage is as good as it was. The man is a great performer, one of the best I've ever seen. He manages to have the audience at his hand.
About the review, thanks for your kind words, bro. And yes, this show deserved a review, indeed. Fish deserves more love here, really.
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Yeah but what I mean is that perhaps band Marillion went to do a 20th anniversary of Misplaced Childhood, but they gave up when they saw Fish doing so.
I agree that Clutching at Straws themes are more personal to Fish and his festive, alcoholic way of life. We can also say it's a concept album about it, as Misplaced Childhood is also a concept album.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I had already understood what you wanted to mean in your first paragraph. Anyway, thanks for clarify your idea. And yes, both are concept albums of Fish.
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