B'Sides Themselves
Encyclopedia
B'Sides Themselves is a compilation of single B-sides by the rock band Marillion
released on CD only in January 1988. This was the first time that those B-sides were made available in the then still relatively new Compact Disc
format (with the exception of "Tux On", which had featured on a limited edition CD single of "Sugar Mice
" that was only sold at concerts). However, vinyl LP
and cassette
versions were issued in June 1988.
The compilation includes "Market Square Heroes
", originally the A-side track for Marillion's 1982 debut single release, but here is included because it was re-recorded for the B-side of "Punch and Judy
" (1984). "Three Boats Down From The Candy" was originally the B-side of "Market Square Heroes", but the version on this album is the re-recorded B-side of "Punch and Judy".
Also included is the 17-minute epic "Grendel", originally a B-side on the 12" version of the 1982 A-side "Market Square Heroes" single.
B'Sides Themselves would turn out to be the last Marillion record to be released while singer Fish
, who left in October 1988, was still in the band.
. It is a collage
combining fragments of front and back-cover artwork from previous singles:
Tracks 1-4 and 9 produced by Nick Tauber
; Track 5 produced by Simon Hanhart
and Marillion; Tracks 6-8 produced by Chris Kimsey
.
The B-side of "Incommunicado
" (1987), "Going Under" is also not included, despite having a different mix (it contains an extra piece of lead guitar) than the one contained on the original Clutching at Straws
CD. The version of "Going Under" from the B-side of "Incommunicado" did eventually appear on the bonus disc of the 1999 remastered edition of Clutching at Straws.
"Cinderella Search" also differs between the CD and vinyl releases - the CD version contains the original version, while the vinyl version is edited (shortened).
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
released on CD only in January 1988. This was the first time that those B-sides were made available in the then still relatively new Compact Disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
format (with the exception of "Tux On", which had featured on a limited edition CD single of "Sugar Mice
Sugar Mice
Sugar Mice is the second single from Marillion's fourth studio album, Clutching at Straws. Released on 13 July 1987, it peaked at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's 8th top-thirty hit in a row. Outside the UK, it was released in France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, West...
" that was only sold at concerts). However, vinyl LP
LP record
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
and cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
versions were issued in June 1988.
The compilation includes "Market Square Heroes
Market Square Heroes
"Market Square Heroes" is the debut single of neo-progressive rock band Marillion, released in 1982 with "Three Boats Down From The Candy" as the B-side...
", originally the A-side track for Marillion's 1982 debut single release, but here is included because it was re-recorded for the B-side of "Punch and Judy
Punch and Judy (song)
"Punch and Judy" is the first single from Marillion's second studio album Fugazi. The lyrics of the song are about a marriage gone bad.The single reached no. 29 on the UK singles charts in February 1984...
" (1984). "Three Boats Down From The Candy" was originally the B-side of "Market Square Heroes", but the version on this album is the re-recorded B-side of "Punch and Judy".
Also included is the 17-minute epic "Grendel", originally a B-side on the 12" version of the 1982 A-side "Market Square Heroes" single.
B'Sides Themselves would turn out to be the last Marillion record to be released while singer Fish
Fish (singer)
Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
, who left in October 1988, was still in the band.
Cover art
The cover artwork was created by permanent contributor Mark WilkinsonMark Wilkinson
Mark Wilkinson is best known for his detailed cover art that he created for a number of British bands, most prominently the progressive rock band, Marillion...
. It is a collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
combining fragments of front and back-cover artwork from previous singles:
- The spades-shaped head of the central is taken from the back cover of "Assassing", a reference to that single's b-side "Cinderella Search",
- The blue-lipped mouth is from the front cover of the single "He Knows You KnowHe Knows You Know"He Knows You Know" is Marillion's second single, with "Charting the Single" as the B-side. It was released from their first album, Script for a Jester's Tear, and peaked at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart. The song's theme is drug abuse, and alludes particularly to intravenous drug use...
" (which had no back cover illustration), in reference to its b-side "Charting the Single", - The suit and tie of refer to "Tux On", the b-side of the single "Sugar MiceSugar MiceSugar Mice is the second single from Marillion's fourth studio album, Clutching at Straws. Released on 13 July 1987, it peaked at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's 8th top-thirty hit in a row. Outside the UK, it was released in France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, West...
", which had a similar back cover illustration, - The fragments on the left of the face are from the front cover of the singles "Market Square HeroesMarket Square Heroes"Market Square Heroes" is the debut single of neo-progressive rock band Marillion, released in 1982 with "Three Boats Down From The Candy" as the B-side...
" (both the a-side and the 7" b-side "Three Boats Down From the Candy" are included on this compilation), the back covers of "KayleighKayleigh"Kayleigh" was a number two UK hit for British neo-progressive rock band Marillion in 1985. It remains the group's most successful single in terms of chart position. The single was kept from the UK Number 1 spot by charity single "You'll Never Walk Alone" by supergroup The Crowd in the summer of...
" and "IncommunicadoIncommunicado (song)Incommunicado is the lead single of Marillion's fourth studio album, Clutching at Straws. Released 11 May 1987, it reached number six in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's third top-ten hit, the last until 2004. It became a minor hit on the Dutch Top 40 reaching number 31...
"; the fragments on the right side are from "Incommunicado", "Kayleigh" and The Video EP (featuring "Grendel" - the fragment shows the "Grendel" mask Fish wore on stage).
Track listing
- "Grendel" (Single Version) – 17:15 (B-Side of 12" version of "Market Square HeroesMarket Square Heroes"Market Square Heroes" is the debut single of neo-progressive rock band Marillion, released in 1982 with "Three Boats Down From The Candy" as the B-side...
", 1982) - "Charting The Single" – 4:48 (B-Side of "He Knows You KnowHe Knows You Know"He Knows You Know" is Marillion's second single, with "Charting the Single" as the B-side. It was released from their first album, Script for a Jester's Tear, and peaked at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart. The song's theme is drug abuse, and alludes particularly to intravenous drug use...
", 1983) - "Market Square Heroes" (Alternative Version - Edit) – 3:56 (originally released as an A-Side (1982), this version is from the B-Side of "Punch and JudyPunch and Judy (song)"Punch and Judy" is the first single from Marillion's second studio album Fugazi. The lyrics of the song are about a marriage gone bad.The single reached no. 29 on the UK singles charts in February 1984...
", 1984) - "Three Boats Down From The Candy" (Alternative Version) – 4:01 (originally released as the B-Side of "Market Square Heroes" (1982), this version is from the B-Side of "Punch and Judy", 1984)
- "Cinderella Search" (Single Edit) – 4:21 (B-Side of "Assassing", 1984)
- "Lady NinaLady NinaLady Nina is a song by British progressive rock band Marillion. First released in 1985 on the B-side to the #2 UK hit single "Kayleigh", it was the only single from the EP Brief Encounter released in the United States by Capitol Records in April 1986, along with a promo video...
" – 3:43 (B-Side of "KayleighKayleigh"Kayleigh" was a number two UK hit for British neo-progressive rock band Marillion in 1985. It remains the group's most successful single in terms of chart position. The single was kept from the UK Number 1 spot by charity single "You'll Never Walk Alone" by supergroup The Crowd in the summer of...
", 1985, released as a separate single in the USA, 1986) - "Freaks" – 4:04 (B-Side of "LavenderLavender (Marillion song)"Lavender" is neo-progressive rock band Marillion's second single from their breakthrough album Misplaced Childhood. The follow-up to the big UK number 2 hit "Kayleigh", the song was their second Top 5 UK hit, entering the chart on 7 September 1985, reaching number 5 and staying on the chart for 9...
", 1985, live version released as a separate single in 1988) - "Tux On" – 5:12 (B-Side of "Sugar MiceSugar MiceSugar Mice is the second single from Marillion's fourth studio album, Clutching at Straws. Released on 13 July 1987, it peaked at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's 8th top-thirty hit in a row. Outside the UK, it was released in France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, West...
", 1987) - "Margaret" (Live) – 12:17 (B-Side of "Garden Party", recorded at Edinburgh Playhouse, 7 April 1983)
Tracks 1-4 and 9 produced by Nick Tauber
Nick Tauber
Nick Tauber is a British record producer best known for his work with Thin Lizzy, Toyah and Marillion in the 1970s and 1980s.Nick Tauber continues to manage, produce, and consult with acts/artists/and producers. In the late 1990s, Tauber was involved with British pop/punk act Kowloon, guiding them...
; Track 5 produced by Simon Hanhart
Simon Hanhart
Simon Hanhart is a British record producer and engineer, who has worked with, among others, Bryan Adams, Arena, Asia, Babylon A.D., David Bowie , Docker's Guild, Fate, Lesley Garrett, Elton John, Tom Jones, Killer Dwarfs, Kino, Vanessa Mae, Marillion, Psycho Motel, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,...
and Marillion; Tracks 6-8 produced by Chris Kimsey
Chris Kimsey
Christopher Kenneth Kimsey is a record producer, mixer and musician most famous for having co-produced The Rolling Stones' Undercover and Steel Wheels albums...
.
Missing tracks and variations
Not all the B-sides of the singles that had been released at that point were included. Missing are "Chelsea Monday" from "Heart of Lothian" (1985), as well as "White Russian" and "Incommunicado" from "Warm Wet Circles" (1987), as these were live versions of album tracks.The B-side of "Incommunicado
Incommunicado (song)
Incommunicado is the lead single of Marillion's fourth studio album, Clutching at Straws. Released 11 May 1987, it reached number six in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's third top-ten hit, the last until 2004. It became a minor hit on the Dutch Top 40 reaching number 31...
" (1987), "Going Under" is also not included, despite having a different mix (it contains an extra piece of lead guitar) than the one contained on the original Clutching at Straws
Clutching at Straws
Clutching at Straws is the fourth studio album by neo-progressive rock band Marillion, and is a concept album. Released in 1987, it was the last album with lead singer Fish who left the band in 1988...
CD. The version of "Going Under" from the B-side of "Incommunicado" did eventually appear on the bonus disc of the 1999 remastered edition of Clutching at Straws.
"Cinderella Search" also differs between the CD and vinyl releases - the CD version contains the original version, while the vinyl version is edited (shortened).
Personnel
- FishFish (singer)Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
- vocals - Steve RotherySteve RotherySteve Rothery is the guitarist of the English rock band Marillion. He was born in Brampton, South Yorkshire, England. From the age of six he lived in Whitby, North Yorkshire.-Biography:...
- guitars - Mark Kelly - keyboards
- Pete TrewavasPete TrewavasPete Trewavas is an English musician. He joined Marillion in 1982, taking over the role of bassist, from Diz Minnett, while acting occasionally as a backing vocalist and acoustic guitarist.Although he was born in Middlesbrough, Trewavas spent much of his childhood in the Buckinghamshire town of...
- bass - Mick PointerMick PointerMick Pointer , originally from Brill in Buckinghamshire, England, was the original drummer and founding member of the progressive rock band, Marillion...
- drums on tracks 1, 2, 9 - John Marter (credited as "John Martyr") - drums on tracks 3, 4
- Ian MosleyIan MosleyIan F. Mosley is a drummer in the progressive rock band, Marillion.Mosley joined the band in 1984 after a long search for a replacement of Mick Pointer, who had been left the band in 1983. Mosley had previously, among others, played with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, both on two of his...
- drums on tracks 5, 6, 7, 8
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | UK Album Chart | 64 |
External links
- Lady Nina YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Tux On YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Market Square Heroes YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....