"State of Mind" is the debut solo single by Scottish singer

Fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

. It was released in October 1989, about a year after his departure from

Marillion Marillion are a British neo-prog band, formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1979. They emerged from the post-punk music scene in Britain and existed as a bridge between the styles of punk rock and classic progressive rock, becoming the mo ...

and preceding the release of his first solo album ''

Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors ''Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors'' is the debut solo album by Scottish neo-prog singer Fish, released in 1990. Fish had departed Marillion in 1988. Although the recordings for this album finished as early as June 1989, EMI Records decided to ...

''. It is also the first-ever record Fish did outside Marillion except for his 1986 collaboration with Tony Banks on the single " Shortcut to Somewhere" from Banks' album ''

Soundtracks A soundtrack is a recorded audio signal accompanying and synchronised to the images of a book, drama, motion picture, radio program, television program, or video game; colloquially, a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured ...

''.

Song information

"State of Mind" is a slow to mid-tempo

rock song Rock is a Music genre, genre of popular music that originated in the United States as "rock and roll" in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of styles from the mid-1960s, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdo ...

with strong bass and percussion elements and some Celtic folk elements. Lyrically, it is a

protest song A protest song is a song that is associated with a movement for protest and social change and hence part of the broader category of ''topical'' songs (or songs connected to current events). It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre. ...

that articulates the general political discontent in the late Thatcher years. In terms of music, lyrics and general mood, it is perhaps closest to the Marillion song "

Sugar Mice "Sugar Mice" is a song by British neo-prog band Marillion. It was released as the second single from their fourth studio album, ''Clutching at Straws'' (1987). Released on 13 July 1987, it peaked at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming ...

" (1987). The B-side "The Voyeur (I Like to Watch)" is a harder, although mainly keyboard-based rock song, somewhat similar to

Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist. He came to prominence as the original frontman of the rock band Genesis. He left the band in 1975 and launched a solo career wit ...

's "

Shock the Monkey "Shock the Monkey" is a song by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was released in September 1982 as the first single from his fourth self-titled studio album, issued in the US under the title ''Security''. The song peaked at number 29 ...

"; and "Intruder", the lyrics criticise "TV

voyeurism Voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of watching other people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other actions of a private nature. The term comes from the French ''voir'' which means "to see". ...

". "The Voyeur" was also included as a

bonus track An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century a ...

on the CD version of ''Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors''. Fish co-wrote both tracks with keyboardist

Mickey Simmonds Mickey Simmonds (born 31 January 1959) is an English session keyboardist, arranger and composer. He is best known for his work with progressive rock acts, Mike Oldfield, Renaissance, Camel and Fish. He has also worked with Joan Armatrading, ...

, the dominant musical composer on his debut solo album. Guitarist

Hal Lindes Hal Lindes (* 30. June 1953 in Monterey, California) is an American guitarist and film score composer best known for his time as a member of Dire Straits from 1980 until late 1984. Early life and career Lindes was born in Monterey, California a ...

has additional credits on "State of Mind". Drums were played by

John Keeble John Leslie Keeble (born 6 July 1959) is an English pop and rock drummer. He is best known for his membership of the 1980s new wave band Spandau Ballet. Early years Keeble was athletic as a child, playing both football and cricket. He bought ...

, best known for his membership of 1980s new wave band

Spandau Ballet Spandau Ballet ( ) were an English new wave band formed in Islington, London, in 1979. Inspired by the capital's post-punk underground dance scene, they emerged at the start of the 1980s as the house band for the Blitz Kids (New Romantics), ...

Cover art

The cover was designed by

Mark Wilkinson Mark Wilkinson (born 3 October 1952) is an English illustrator. He is best known for the detailed surrealistic cover art he created for a number of British bands. Wilkinson's breakthrough came through his association with the neo-prog band Mar ...

, who had created all of Marillion's artwork until Fish's departure, and has continued to work with Fish since then. The cover shows close-ups of the faces of the couple that also features on the cover of ''Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors'' with an hourglass between them. The back-cover features an illustration of an atomic explosion inside the hourglass. The single was also the first to feature the circular "Fish" logo designed by Wilkinson, which has been used on all solo releases since then (except for the 1997 album ''

Sunsets on Empire ''Sunsets on Empire'' is the fifth studio album by Fish (fourth of original material) since he left Marillion in 1988. It was released in 1997 and was mostly written together with Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, who co-composed six out of ten t ...

'' and the singles from it.)

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine ''

Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later m ...

'' called this track "captivating, ethereal tune" and draw an analogy between it and "

Kayleigh "Kayleigh" is a song by British neo-prog band Marillion. It was released as the first single from the concept album '' Misplaced Childhood''. It is the band's most successful single in the UK, where it peaked at number two and stayed on the U ...

Track listings

7" single, cassette single #"State of Mind" (Edited Version) ( Dick/

Simmonds Simmonds as a surname may refer to: * Ann Simmonds, English pentathlete * Anne Simmonds, New Zealand biochemist * Ellie Simmonds (born 1994), British Paralympic swimmer * Henry Simmonds, Canada sailor at the 1932 Olympics * Kaleb Simmonds, Canadi ...

/ Lindes) – 04:12 #"The Voyeur (I Like to Watch)" (Dick/Simmonds) – 04:42 12" single, 12" picture disc
Side 1: "State of Mind (Presidential Mix)" (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes) – 05:48
Side 2: 1. "State of Mind" (edited version) (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes) – 04:12
::2. "The Voyeur (I Like to Watch)" (Dick/Simmonds) – 04:42 5" CD single, 3" CD single #"State of Mind" (album version) (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes) – 04:45 #"The Voyeur (I Like to Watch)" (Dick/Simmonds) – 04:42 #"State of Mind (Presidential Mix)" (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes) – 05:48 Total running time: 15:19

Chart positions

"State of Mind" was the first of five UK top 40 singles by Fish. On 28 October 1989, it entered the UK singles charts at position 32, which would remain its highest position. The following week, it dropped to 36; in the third and final week, it was at 58. In terms of peak chart position, this was Fish's third most successful single.

Personnel

* Fish (Derek W. Dick) - Vocals *

Frank Usher Frank Usher (born 4 August 1949, in Gateshead, County Durham, England) is an English guitarist best known for his work in Fish's band. Usher lives and operates a guitar-manufacturing business in Innerleithen, Scotland. Throughout the 1970s and ...

- Guitars *

- Guitars ("State of Mind" only) *

John Giblin John Giblin (26 February 1952 – 14 May 2023) was a Scottish musician who worked as an acoustic and electric bass player spanning jazz, classical, rock, folk, and avant-garde music. He was a member of Simple Minds from 1985 to 1988, and w ...

- Bass Guitars *

- Keyboards *

- Drums *

Luís Jardim Luís Alberto Figueira Gonçalves Jardim (born 4 July 1950) is a Portuguese percussionist born on the island of Madeira. He is best known for his work with producer Trevor Horn. Family Jardim is a cousin of Alberto João Jardim (former presiden ...

- Percussion ("State of Mind" only) *

Carol Kenyon Carol Kenyon (sometimes spelt Karol; born 1959) is a British singer. She is best known for her vocals on the Heaven 17 hit song "Temptation", which reached number two in the UK Singles Chart in 1983. When the song was re-released as a remix by ...

- Backing Vocals ("State of Mind" only)

References

External links

Discography entry on Fish's official site
* {{Authority control 1989 debut singles 1989 songs EMI Records singles Protest songs Political songs Songs written by Fish (singer)