Raingods with Zippos

Raingods with Zippos
Studio album by Fish
Released	1999
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	54:24
Label	Roadrunner
Producer	Elliot Ness
Fish chronology
Kettle of Fish (1997) Raingods with Zippos (1999) Fellini Days (2001)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
All About Jazz
AllMusic

Raingods with Zippos is a 1999 progressive rock album by ex-Marillion vocalist Fish. It was released on the Roadrunner record label, more well-known for its heavy metal releases. Raingods with Zippos is often hailed as one of Fish's greatest solo achievements, along with his 1990 debut Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors. It is the first of three Fish albums to be produced by Elliot Ness (not including the "best of" collection Kettle of Fish from 1998, with which Ness was involved). While he was not involved with the production of this album, Steven Wilson, most famous for his work with Porcupine Tree, played guitar on several of the tracks.

Critical reception

Glenn Astarita of All About Jazz called it "refreshing, wonderfully produced and an audiophile's treat" and "about class as all the material presented here holds its own after repeated listens. Fish sings with conviction while displaying a gutsy attitude that exudes sheer power and determination."

Track listing

1. "Tumbledown" (Derek W. Dick, Mickey Simmonds) – 5:52
2. "Mission Statement" (Dick, Rick Astley, Paul Thorn) – 4:00
3. "Incomplete" (Dick, Elisabeth Antwi, Doug Millet) – 3:44
4. "Tilted Cross" (Dick, Jackson, Chris Johnson) – 4:19
5. "Faith Healer" (Alex Harvey, Hugh McKenna) – 5:01
6. "Rites of Passage" (Dick, Simmonds) – 7:42
7. "Plague of Ghosts: (I) Old Haunts" (Dick, Tony Turrell, Mark Daghorn) – 3:13
8. "Plague of Ghosts: (II) Digging Deep" (Dick, Turrell, Daghorn) – 6:49
9. "Plague of Ghosts: (III) Chocolate Frogs" (Dick, Turrell, Daghorn) – 4:04
10. "Plague of Ghosts: (IV) Waving at Stars" (Dick, Turrell, Daghorn) – 3:12
11. "Plague of Ghosts: (V) Raingods Dancing" (Dick, Turrell, Daghorn) – 4:16
12. "Plague of Ghosts: (VI) Wake-Up Call (Make It Happen)" (Dick, Turrell, Daghorn) – 3:32

2015 The Remasters edition

Disc One Original studio album

Disc Two (Plague Of Ghosts Variations)

1. "Plague Of Ghosts (live studio instrumental pre-production)" – 23:04
2. "All These Christs (Tony Turrell instrumental demo containing sections that became 'Plague Of Ghosts')" – 14:21
3. "Plague Of Ghosts (From "Sashimi" Live In Poznan, Poland 1999)" – 28:43

Total time: 65:68

Disc Three (Live + Bonus Tracks & Demos)

1. "Incomplete (Acoustic Demo with Elisabeth Troy)" – 3:41
2. "Chasing Miss Pretty (Studio Version)" – 4:52
3. "Mr. Buttons (Studio Version)" – 4:36
4. "Tilted Cross (Live Acoustic Version 2006)" – 4:23
5. "Incomplete (Live Acoustic Version 2006)" – 4:06
6. "Rite Of Passage (Live Acoustic Version 2006)" – 5:58
7. "Tumbledown (Live USA 2000)" – 5:35
8. "Plague Of Ghosts (Live USA 2000)" – 34:22

Total time: 65:73

Personnel

• Fish (Derek W. Dick) – all vocals
• Steven Wilson – guitars (tracks 1, 5, 7, 8–12)
• Bruce Watson – guitars (1 and 2); mandolin (3)
• Robin Boult – guitars (2–5)
• Till Paulmann – guitars (2)
• Phil Grieve – guitars (5)
• Steve Vantsis – bass guitars (1, 2, 5–12); double bass (3 and 4)
• Tony Turrell – keyboards (1, 5, 7–11 and 12); piano (2); organ (2); harmonium (3 and 4); synths (4); programming (7–12); string arrangements (5); samples (7–12)
• Mickey Simmonds – keyboards (5 and 6); piano (1); programming (6)
• Dave Stewart – drums (1, 2, 4–12)
• Davey Crichton – violin (5); fiddle (4); string arrangements (3, 5–12)
• Dave Haswell – percussion (all tracks)
• Elisabeth Antwi – lead vocals (3); backing vocals (1)
• Nicola King – backing vocals (2, 4, 7–12)
• Tony King – backing vocals (2, 7–12)
• Mo Warden – spoken outro vocal (12)
• Mark Daghorn – programming (7–12)
• Elliot Ness – string arrangements (3, 5 and 6); samples (7–12)

Charts

Chart performance for Raingods with Zippos

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)	35
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	34
Scottish Albums (OCC)	41
UK Albums (OCC)	57