''The Best of Both Worlds '' is a two-disc

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

by British

neo-prog Neo-progressive rock (commonly abbreviated neo-prog) is a subgenre of progressive rock that developed in the UK in the early 1980s. The genre's most popular band, Marillion, achieved mainstream success in the decade. Several bands from the ge ...

band

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 ...

released in 1997 by

EMI Records EMI Records (formerly EMI Records Ltd.) is a British multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company EMI in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the succes ...

, who the band had been signed to from their debut in 1982 until being dropped in 1995. The title refers to Marillion's two distinct "eras" with lead singers

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 ...

(1980–1988) and

Steve Hogarth Steve Hogarth (born Ronald Stephen Hoggarth, 14 May 1956), also known as "h", is an English musician. Since 1989, he has been the lead singer of the rock band Marillion, for which he also performs additional keyboards and guitar. Hogarth was f ...

(since 1989). By the time this compilation was released, both line-ups had recorded four studio albums each.

Content

The second Marillion

best-of A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...

since the 14-track one-disc compilation ''

A Singles Collection ''A Singles Collection'' (released as ''Six of One, Half-Dozen of the Other'' in the U.S.) is a compilation album of Marillion singles from both the Fish era and the Steve Hogarth era, celebrating the band's ten-year jubilee (taking 1982, when t ...

'' (known as ''Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other ''in the US) from 1992, this one additionally contains material from ''

Brave Brave(s) or The Brave(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Brave, an adjective for one who possesses courage * Braves (Native Americans), a Euro-American stereotype for Native American warriors Film and television * ''Brave'' (1994 film), a concept ...

''(1994) and '' Afraid of Sunlight'' (1996). Two different covers were created for the compilation, one 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 worked for the band during the Fish years, and one by Bill Smith Studio, who took over after Fish's and Wilkinson's departure. The booklet was printed so that either of the covers could be displayed in the

jewel case Optical disc packaging is the packaging that accompanies CDs, DVDs, and other formats of optical discs. Most packaging is rigid or semi-rigid and designed to protect the media from scratches and other types of exposure damage. Jewel case A ...

according to personal preference. The track list, comprising 29 songs, was put together by Lucy Jordache, then the manager responsible for the band in EMI, in close collaboration with the band's fans'

mailing list A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients. Mailing lists are often rented or sold. If rented, the renter agrees to use the mailing list only at contra ...

, "Freaks" (named after the eponymous song). Jordache also motivated singers Fish and Hogarth to contribute

liner notes Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or cassette j-cards. Origin Liner notes are descended from the prog ...

—at a time when both camps were not yet on friendly terms again—by telling each of them the other had already agreed to do so.Big George Webley
"Marillion: Doing Business With Their Fans"
''Sound on Sound'', September 2003, retrieved 8 August 2013. Although the compilation did not contain any previously unreleased material, it was attractive to existing fans as it included various edited versions that were not easily accessible at the time, resulting in "better than expected" sales.

Track listing

Disc one

Disc two

Note * Although it is not mentioned in the album credits, the versions of "Easter" and "The Uninvited Guest" presented here are single edits. "Waiting to Happen" is a few seconds shorter than the album version. "Cannibal Surf Babe" is presented without the musical bridge that appears at the end of the song on the album version.

Personnel

Musicians *

Steve Rothery Steven Rothery (born 25 November 1959) is an English musician who is the original guitarist and the longest continuous member of the progressive rock band Marillion. Outside Marillion, Rothery has recorded two albums as part of the duo The Wis ...

– guitars *

Mark Kelly Mark Edward Kelly (born February 21, 1964) is an American politician, retired astronaut, and former United States Navy, naval officer serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States senator from Arizona, a seat he ha ...

– keyboards *

Pete Trewavas Peter Trewavas (born 15 January 1959) is an English musician, best known as the bassist of the progressive rock band Marillion. He joined in 1982, replacing Diz Minnitt, while acting as a backing vocalist and occasional guitarist. Biography ...

– bass *

Ian Mosley Ian F. Mosley (born 16 June 1953) is an English drummer. He is best known for his long-time membership of the neo-prog band Marillion, which he joined for their second album, ''Fugazi'', released in 1984. He had previously been an in-demand ses ...

– drums, percussion (except disc one: tracks 1–5) *

– vocals (disc one) *

– vocals and keyboards (disc two) *

Mick Pointer Michael Pointer (born 22 July 1956) is an English drummer. He is known for his work in the neo-prog bands Marillion and Arena. Career Pointer was the original drummer and a founding member of Marillion. He appeared on the band's debut EP '' Ma ...

– drums, percussion (disc one: tracks 1, 3–5) *John Marter – drums, percussion (disc one: track 2) Technical *Disc one: tracks 1–7 produced by

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 inv ...

; tracks 8–14 produced by

Chris Kimsey Christopher Kenneth Kimsey (born 3 December 1951) is an English musician, engineer, and record producer, best known for his work with the Rolling Stones. Career Born in Battersea, London, England, Kimsey began his career in 1967 at Olympic Stu ...

. Track 1 mixed by Simon Hanhart. *Disc two: tracks 1–4 produced and mixed by Nick Davis and Marillion; tracks 5–8 produced by

Christopher Neil Christopher Neil (born 1948) is a British record producer, songwriter, singer, and actor. Neil has produced records for A-ha, Amazulu, Bonnie Tyler, Celine Dion, Cher, Dollar, Edyta Górniak, Gerry Rafferty, Jennifer Rush, José Carreras, Le ...

, recorded and mixed by Rob Eaton; tracks 9–15 produced by

Dave Meegan Dave Meegan is an Irish record producer, born in Dublin in 1963. Meegan is best known for his work with Marillion. Meegan's association with Marillion began when he worked as an assistant engineer on their second album, ''Fugazi'' in 1984. He go ...

and Marillion. Tracks 10–11 engineered by Dave Meegan.

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Best Of Both Worlds, The 1997 greatest hits albums Marillion compilation albums EMI Records compilation albums Albums produced by Chris Kimsey Albums produced by Nick Davis (record producer) Albums produced by Christopher Neil Albums produced by Dave Meegan