Clutching at Straws

MARILLION // 1987

Clutching At Straws

Marillion // 1987

Clutching at Straws is the fourth studio album by Marillion, released in 1987. It was the last album with Fish, who left the band in 1988.

Although Clutching at Straws did not achieve the sales of its predecessor (the number one album Misplaced Childhood), spending 15 weeks on the UK album chart (the shortest chart residency of any of Marillion's first four studio albums), it was still an immediate commercial success, becoming the second highest charting Marillion album by entering the chart at number two. It produced three UK Top 40 singles: "Incommunicado", "Sugar Mice" and "Warm Wet Circles".

The album has received critical acclaim. It was listed in Q magazine's "50 Best Recordings of the Year", it has been described by AllMusic as a "masterpiece", and Rolling Stone placed it at number 37 in its countdown of the "50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time".

In 1999, a 2-CD 'Remastered Version' with additional B-sides and demos was released, including detailed liner notes from all of the original members including Fish.

TRACKLIST

1. Hotel Hobbies (3:35)
2. Warm Wet Circles (4:25)
3. That Time Of The Night (The Short Straw) (6:00)
4. Going Under (2:47)
5. Just For The Record (3:09)
6. White Russian (6:27)
7. Incommunicado (5:16)
8. Torch Song (4:04)
9. Slàinte Mhath (4:45)
10. Sugar Mice (5:46)
11. The Last Straw (5:58)

Fish – vocals Steve Rothery – guitars Mark Kelly – keyboards Pete Trewavas – bass Ian Mosley – drums Tessa Niles – backing vocals on "That Time of the Night" and "The Last Straw" Chris Kimsey (credited as "Christopher 'Robbin' Kimsey") – backing vocals on "Incommunicado", production John Cavanaugh – "Dr. Finlay" voice on "Torch Song"

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