This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.
Misplaced Childhood is the third studio album by the British neo-prog band Marillion, released in 1985. It is a concept album loosely based on the childhood of Marillion's lead singer, Fish, who was inspired by a brief incident that occurred while he was under the influence of LSD. The album was recorded during the spring of 1985 at Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin and produced by Chris Kimsey, who had previously worked with the Rolling Stones. Misplaced Childhood is the group's most commercially successful album to date, peaking immediately at number one in the UK charts and spending a total of 41 weeks on the chart. It ultimately gained the Platinum status. It features Marillion's two most successful singles, the guitar-led rock ballad "Kayleigh", which reached number two in the UK, and piano-led "Lavender", which peaked at number five. Misplaced Childhood was listed as the sixth best album of 1985 by Kerrang! and chosen as the fourth greatest concept album of all time by Classic Rock in 2003. Like Script for a Jester's Tear and Fugazi, the original vinyl edition of Misplaced Childhood was released in a gatefold sleeve. The artwork was created by Mark Wilkinson who was commissioned to the role on all Marillion albums and 12" singles of the Fish-era. The front cover features a soldier drummer portrayed by Robert Mead, a then-ten-year-old boy who lived next door to Wilkinson.[8] Mead also appeared on the artwork of the album's three hit singles, "Kayleigh", "Lavender", and "Heart of Lothian", and can be seen in the music video for "Kayleigh". The Jester from the two previous studio albums is imagined escaping through the window on the back cover.
It sounds like a 70s Genesis album with an 80s production style. The lead singer might even do a better Peter Gabriel impression than Phil Collins.
Misplaced Childhood certainly has a timelessness about it. The transitions are expert, with only the slightest elevation change between tracks and suites. It's nice to hear a fully pop-oriented album in this vein, committed to staying on a single LP; Without rough edges, there's little to stick in the mind, a rush of colors, a pleasant word.
Marillion never got a ton of airplay in the states, but I do remember "Kayleigh," probably from MTV. That said, this was a pleasant surprise. Expertly played and highly listenable. Definitely has the vibe of Gabriel-era Genesis. This fits in better with what was going on in 1985 than I would have expected, although the spoken word bit from "Bitter Suite" would have been better left in the 70s. I appreciate how well the songs seamlessly flow into each other and how for the most part none of them overstays its welcome. Thanks for recommending this. Fave Songs: Lavender, Kayleigh, Blind Curve, Pseudo Silk Kimono, Lords of the Backstage
As an 11 year old I had no idea Phil Collins or Peter Gabriel were anything but clever popstars. Genesis meant nothing to me and so I adored Marillion and Fish on face value. Even now I don't mind that they were unashamed copycats. They made the Genesis/Gabriel sound much more commercial, personal and relatable. I love the synth sound. The guitar, bass and drums are full-on '80s rock. The lyrics are introspective, poetic and pompous in an innocent and warm way. The melodies are infectious and the hit singles are glorious singalongs. Yes, this was my own submission and I believe it deserves inclusion in the original 1001.
Heavy Pink Floyd vibes (a little too much if I'm finding faults) and that operatic, declamatory vocal style wears thin for me - but it pulled out from that as it went along, and the music overall was strong and inventive enough to bring me around.
When it started, I kind of hated it. And then Lavender kicked in and hit me in the nostalgia bone, reminding me of some of my best times and best people, and by the end I kind of loved it.
To me it sounds like any other prog-rock album
Marillion is for NERDS. 3/5.
Do hardcore Marillion fans get indignant when their favorite band is compared to Genesis/Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd? I generally like that kind of stuff I like this too, I've always meant to check this band out anyway. Maybe if I delve deeper into their discography I'll have stronger feelings their music.
I definitely get the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway/Peter Gabriel/Genesis vibe from this, but it feels overly dramatic and self-serious. Like the bombast of Meatloaf without the humor. Nothing was really offputting, but it also didn't really click for me.
I am a great enthusiast for progmusic and love what the band did with Steve H., especially with Brave and Marbles. The Fish era just did not do it for me, although it brought their biggest hits.
a light, repetitive pop rock without hype
A masterpiece that showed me that ProgRock was still being made after the 70s classic period.
A really fun throwback! This feels like it came too late for the first wave of great prog albums but a bit too early to initiate a new wave or a nostalgia. But completely out of context and all on its own in 2024, it's a fun time! Reminds me a lot of Genesis.
Wasn't expecting that!
Wow, it’s like discovering a Genesis album you didn’t know existed. That’s a good thing. 4 stars.
I bought this on vinyl at a Woolworth’s going-out-of-business sale sometime around 1988 or so. I didn’t know the group or any of the songs. I enjoyed the album but somewhere in the following years lost track of it. It was great to revisit this, and I think I enjoyed it now more than then. I’m always up for a prog-rock concept album loosely based on an LSD trip!
Yndisleg plata. Frábær frá upphafi til enda!
I enjoyed it, but did feel it outwore its welcome at a point, maybe a little tighter would have elevated it for me.
Kayleigh will for me alway have that nostalgic break-up song vibe. It struck a nerve when I first heard it, and still does. Rest of the album I'd never heard before, and what do you know? It turns out to be a pretty decent Genesis-like album. (Which for me is a good thing!) Totally different from what I'd expected based on Kayleigh.
It was eccentric at parts. I was generally surprised by it. I was prepared for it be awful. Still not sure I would revisit it.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Kayleigh
little too much prog and not enough rock, fun though
Better than I expected
This was like if you had Pink Floyd and genesis combine for an album. It was perfectly in the mix of prog rock and 80s pop rock. It wasn’t bad or anything but I think being in the middle with their sound made it less appealing than going one way or another. Overall it was okay. Nothing great but the sound was familiar. 6.7/10
Neo-prog. Ni fu ni fa.
I can see why you would like this
Just Ok
some long songs here. Some songs that are short but sound long. It's decent musically. But with most concept albums or epics, it's just difficult for me.
It was ok. I was intrigued early on but my interest started to waver as it went on. Funny story (to me) back in the early 2000s I was a frequent shopper at a local used music store. As I'd thumb through the CDs I'd always see this band's album "Fugazi" in there. As a young man with an interest in punk and hardcore I'd always get briefly excited...only to remember that Fugazi never put out an album called Marillion. That tripped me up more times that I care to admit. It was kind of nice to finally hear the band that I once angrily shook my fist at for "deceiving me"
when I got this I thought “marillion sounds vaguely familiar I wonder if I’ve gotten an album from them” and when I looked my review of the other album said it was the most forgettable music ever so I guess I was right. This was also pretty whatever but slightly better I guess.
Big soaring prog rock that’s trying so hard to be Genesis but ends up feeling goofy and boring in the process.
Two people submitted albums by this band? Bizarre.
I’m a bit stumped by this album. It sounds like Peter Gabriel’s Genesis to a startling degree. I will say, the execution is great aside from a few errant rhymes, however, I’m not convinced this album is a necessary addition to the list.
What is it with these ugly ass covers of children !? Just had Blue is the colour by the beautiful south 1