Marillion was always a band that seemed to do things on their own terms.  For example, the band released this live album after just two studio releases, which was not the norm for bands at the time.  Either way, this concert disc captures the group in fine form on the Fugazi tour.  I’ll admit that I generally don’t like single vinyl live records but there are some that hit the mark just right, and this is one of them.  Like Judas Priest’s Unleashed In The East and Saxon’s The Eagle Has Landed, this record has all the highlights of a Marillion show.  One of the most endearing parts of this release is that it manages to capture the band taking their studio tracks and energizing them for the stage.  Some artists work well in the studio and fall short in a live setting, but Marillion was the opposite, making the tracks come alive in front of an audience.  Although the band would put out a proper double live record almost exactly four years later, Real To Reel is an essential purchase for any true Marillion fan wanting to hear the band on their way up.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2023  Volume 5 More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2023.

The disc starts off in fine fashion with a slightly heavier version of this opening track from Fugazi.  They play it very close to the original with the bass coming up in the mix.  Fish sounds a lot like Peter Gabriel on this tune where he goes from singing to, at times, spitting out the lyrics.  This track, as with all the material, was recorded on the Fugazi tour so it makes sense that both records start with the same tune.