Script for a Jester's Tear

Script for a Jester's Tear
Studio album by Marillion
Released	March 1983 September 1997 (two-disc edition)
Recorded	Marquee Studios, London, December 1982 - February 1983
Genre	Progressive rock, neo-progressive rock
Length	46:58
Label	EMI Records Capitol Records
Producer	Nick Tauber
Marillion chronology
Script for a Jester's Tear (1983) Fugazi (1984)
Singles from Script for a Jester's Tear
"He Knows You Know" Released: 31 January 1983 "Garden Party" Released: 6 June 1983

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Music Street Journal	(very favourable)

Script for a Jester's Tear is the first album by the neo-progressive rock band Marillion, released in 1983. It reached number seven on the UK album chart and stayed on the chart for 31 weeks, the second longest chart residency of a Marillion album.

The single released before the album was "Market Square Heroes", with the double B-sides "Three Boats Down from the Candy" and the 17 minute epic "Grendel".

"He Knows You Know" and "Garden Party" were also released as singles, and became Top 40 hits in the UK.

This is the only Marillion album to feature Mick Pointer, the founding and current drummer for Arena.

Track listing (original release)

• All songs written by Derek Dick, Steve Rothery, Peter Trewavas, Michael Pointer, Mark Kelly, Diz Minnett & Brian Jellyman unless otherwise noted. (Copyright Marillion Music/Charisma Music/Chappell)

1. "Script for a Jester's Tear" (Derek Dick/Steve Rothery/Peter Trewavas/Michael Pointer/Mark Kelly) – 8:44
2. "He Knows You Know" – 5:23
3. "The Web" (Derek Dick/Steve Rothery/Peter Trewavas/Michael Pointer/Mark Kelly/Brian Jellyman) – 8:52
4. "Garden Party" – 7:19
5. "Chelsea Monday" (Derek Dick/Steve Rothery/Peter Trewavas/Michael Pointer/Mark Kelly) – 8:17
6. "Forgotten Sons" – 8:23

Remastered CD bonus tracks

In addition to the above, the 1997 remaster version has the following additional tracks on a second CD:

1. "Market Square Heroes" (Battle Priest Version) – 4:18
2. "Three Boats Down from the Candy" – 4:31
3. "Grendel" (Fair Deal Studios Version) – 19:10
4. "Chelsea Monday" (Manchester Square Demo) – 6:54
5. "He Knows You Know" (Manchester Square Demo) – 4:29
6. "Charting the Single" – 4:51
7. "Market Square Heroes" (Alternative Version) – 4:48

Formats and re-issues

The album was originally released on Cassette, vinyl LP and 12" Picture Disc. The album was released on CD sometime afterwards. In 1997, as part of a series of Marillion's first eight studio albums, EMI re-released Script for a Jester's Tear with remastered sound and a second disc containing bonus material, listed above. The remastered edition was later also made available without the bonus disc.

A new 180 gram vinyl pressing was released in February 2012 by EMI. It was identical to the original vinyl release from 1983.

Personnel

• Fish – vocals
• Steve Rothery - guitars
• Mark Kelly - keyboards
• Pete Trewavas - bass
• Mick Pointer - drums

• "Marquee Club's Parents Association Children's Choir" - backing vocals on "Forgotten Sons" (short fragment of "Ring a Ring o' Roses").
• Peter Cockburn – newcaster's voice on "Forgotten Sons".

Production

• Produced by Nick Tauber
• Recorded and Mixed by Simon Hanhart
• Digitally remastered by Peter Mew and Mark Kelly at Abbey Road Studios London April - July 1997

Notes

• Although their first single "Market Square Heroes" never appeared on the original album, it can be briefly heard during a short radio segment prior to 'Forgotten Sons'.
• According to Fish, Script for a Jesters Tear is the first of a trilogy of albums, and classified as 'bedsit thoughts'. Fugazi was deemed 'hotel thoughts' and Misplaced Childhood as 'home thoughts'. This was to enable the listener to understand the feelings and surroundings that shaped the songwriting.
• There was supposed to be a rubber plant featured on the album's cover, per Fish's request - part of Fish's stage theatrics at the time included tearing apart a rubber plant at the climax of The Web. However, Mark Wilkinson, who air-brushed this and several other albums for Marillion, forgot to include it.
• The version of "Grendel" on the remastered CD is not the same version as the original 1983 17 minute B-side single release.

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1983	UK Album Chart	7

External links

• Band page