Do You Remember? The bittersuite of the eighties?

Back in the early eighties, Marillion really were something else. Swathes of lush, synthesised keyboards squelching away and 18 minute long mythological epics, paranoid drug delusions and squalor. They were the next Genesis, a lot of people reckoned. Singer Fish would cover himself in paint and stage outfits like peter gabriel used to do. Drop in a smattering of occasional hit singles and experimental epics, and all went well.

And at least they didn't let the drummer sing, mind you.

To many, the eighties really were their commercial and creative peak, and thats what this bargain, superb value for money collection covers. Much like the recent Morrissey release from EMI, This 3CD box set covers pretty much every non album track released in what is commonly thought of as the glory years, the Fish years.

It compiles together the first twelve singles and all their associated B-Sides. So its all the hit singles - and there are many [ie "Kayleigh", "Lavender", "Incommunicado", "Freaks", "Punch And Judy", "Assassing"], - and all their subsequent B-Sides. And Marillion were never a band to do rubbish B-Sides, such as the showstopping 17 minute "Grendel" would have been the integral core of many a lesser bands album, and is a groundbreaking prog rock masterpiece which many hold up to be their finest ever moment - and thats high praise for a Bside.

Such is the quality here, many were equal of being A-Sides themselves - such as the magnificent and introspective "Tux On", and at least two BSides were later flipped over to be used as singles themselves - in America "Lady Nina" was used as a single, and then "Freaks" was released to promote the live album.Similarly, a smattering of live tracks shows the introspective, and exploratory dark side of the band away from the hit singles, best exemplified with the live version of "Chelsea Monday".

Sprawling 3 Discs and nearly 4 hours of classic prog-rock, this isn't for everyone. Designed less as a cohesive listening experience and more as a comprehensive audio history, it supercedes and replaces a previous 12CD box set which retails at £40 - by taking all the same material and crunching it down into 3 discs. And its a damn sight cheaper. 47 tracks, and 4 hours long, for £8, its an absolute bargain.

Whilst it does compile every track every released on the singles, there are a lot of tracks which aren't here. But there again, many of these fall out of the remit of such a narrow defined collection. The American live EP  isn't represented here - but there again, its on the double disc reissue of "Real to Reel" and never was a single anyway. Similarly, a lot of the demo recordings released on the 1997 reissues aren't included - but there again, they were never on singles. Ditto the tracks from the "Reading Rock" compilation and also the German only live 12" from Hammersmith '86. It seems nitpicky, but it does what it says on the tin. After all, If you've got the 2CD reissues, you don't need them anyway, 3 or 4 tracks excepted.

All in All, This box set represents a long suffering fans nirvana. No longer do I have to scour what few second hand record shops remain in search of battered, scratched to hell and overpriced vinyl 12" singles. No longer do I have to track down the limited Incommunicado CD single on Ebay and pay £25 for the privilege.Instead, now I can get hold of all the old singles in one simple, straightforward, bargain package.

Indispensible for any marillion fan, its the kind of collection i've been waiting almost two decades to have. Comprehensive, exhaustive and great value, its a great introduction to the band, fantastic value, contains all the hit singles in chronological order and about 30 tracks you won't find on albums. Essential stuff.

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