The Best of Both Worlds (Marillion album)


Best of Both Worlds is a two-disc compilation album by British neo-progressive rock band Marillion released in 1997 by EMI Records, 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 and Steve Hogarth. By the time this compilation was released, both line-ups had recorded four studio albums each. The second best-of since the 14-track one-disc compilation A Singles Collection from 1992, this one additionally contains material from Brave and Afraid of Sunlight. Two different covers were created for the compilation, one by Mark Wilkinson, 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 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, "Freaks". Jordache also motivated singers Fish and Hogarth to contribute liner notes—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.
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

  1. "Script for a Jester's Tear" from Script for a Jester's Tear
  2. "Market Square Heroes" Non-album single
  3. "He Knows You Know" from Script for a Jester's Tear
  4. "Forgotten Sons" from Script for a Jester's Tear
  5. "Garden Party" from Script for a Jester's Tear
  6. "Assassing" from Fugazi
  7. "Punch and Judy" from Fugazi
  8. "Kayleigh" from Misplaced Childhood
  9. "Lavender" from Misplaced Childhood
  10. "Heart of Lothian" from Misplaced Childhood
  11. "Incommunicado" from Clutching at Straws
  12. "Warm Wet Circles" from Clutching at Straws
  13. "That Time of the Night " from Clutching at Straws
  14. "Sugar Mice" from Clutching at Straws

    Disc two

  15. "The Uninvited Guest" from Seasons End
  16. "Easter" from Seasons End
  17. "Hooks in You" from Seasons End
  18. "The Space" from Seasons End
  19. "Cover My Eyes" from Holidays in Eden
  20. "No One Can" from Holidays in Eden
  21. "Dry Land" from Holidays in Eden
  22. "Waiting To Happen" from Holidays in Eden
  23. "The Great Escape" from Brave
  24. "Alone Again in the Lap of Luxury" from Brave
  25. "Made Again" from Brave
  26. "King" from Afraid of Sunlight
  27. "Afraid of Sunlight" from Afraid of Sunlight
  28. "Beautiful" from Afraid of Sunlight
  29. "Cannibal Surf Babe" from Afraid of Sunlight
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