The Thieving Magpie (album)

The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)
Live album by
Marillion
Released28 November 1988[1]
Recorded1984, 1986, 1987
GenreNeo-prog
Length112:18
LabelEMI (UK)
Capitol Records (US)
ProducerMarillion and Privet Hedge
Marillion chronology
B'Sides Themselves
(1988) 		The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)
(1988) 		Seasons End
(1989)
Singles from The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)
  1. "Freaks (live)"
    Released: 14 November 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra) is a double live album by the British neo-prog band Marillion. It was named after the introductory piece of classical music the band used before coming on stage during the Clutching at Straws tour 1987–1988, the overture to Rossini's opera La gazza ladra, which translates as "The Thieving Magpie". The album was released shortly after singer Fish's departure from the band (and before Steve Hogarth's arrival) and was intended to document the "Fish years". It complements the band's first live album Real to Reel insofar as there are no overlaps. The Thieving Magpie is not a continuous live recording, but a compilation of tracks recorded at different times and places, with audible gaps between them and different moods on the individual tracks. However, the double vinyl version does include the first side of the UK number one concept album Misplaced Childhood (1985). The CD and cassette version includes the full album, as well as the track "Freaks" – originally the b-side to "Lavender", it was used as the lead single for The Thieving Magpie peaking at no. 18 in the UK.

The album was produced by Christopher "Privet" Hedge, who had been Marillion's sound engineer from early on in their career.

Cover art

The cover was designed by regular Marillion contributor Mark Wilkinson, who went on to work for Fish. The front part contains photorealistic airbrushed renderings of the band members. The back cover features characters found on the covers of the previous albums, i.e. "The Jester" (Script for a Jester's Tear), "The Boy" (Misplaced Childhood), and "Torch" (Clutching at Straws). The inside of the vinyl gatefold sleeve consists of a rather blurred photograph of the band on stage, circa 1986.

Release history

Originally, the album was released on double vinyl and the above-mentioned extended double CD/cassette set. In 2005, EMI Japan released a "vinyl replica" edition, i.e. a CD in a miniaturised version of the original vinyl packaging. The track listing, however, is the same as on the original 2CD version. On 22 June 2009, EMI released a digitally remastered version (along with Recital of the Script and Live From Loreley).

Track listing

Double LP version

Side 1
No.TitleRecording venue and dateLength
1."Intro: La Gazza Ladra" 2:45
2."Slàinte Mhath"Edinburgh Playhouse, 17/18/19 December 19874:49
3."He Knows You Know"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19845:12
4."Chelsea Monday"De Montfort Hall, 5 March 19848:00
Side 2 (Misplaced Childhood Part 1 - Hammersmith Odeon, 9/10 January 1986)
No.TitleLength
1."Pseudo Silk Kimono"2:19
2."Kayleigh"3:52
3."Lavender"2:27
4."Bitter Suite"7:38
5."Heart of Lothian"5:12
Side 3
No.TitleRecording venue and dateLength
1."Jigsaw"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19846:24
2."Punch & Judy"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19843:23
3."Sugar Mice"Edinburgh Playhouse, 17/18/19 December 19876:03
4."Fugazi"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19848:39
Side 4
No.TitleRecording venue and dateLength
1."Script for a Jester's Tear"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19848:45
2."Incommunicado"Edinburgh Playhouse, 17/18/19 December 19875:23
3."White Russian"Edinburgh Playhouse, 17/18/19 December 19876:14

Double CD version

Disc 1
No.TitleRecording venue and dateLength
1."Intro: La Gazza Ladra" 2:45
2."Slàinte Mhath"Edinburgh Playhouse, 17/18/19 December 19874:49
3."He Knows You Know"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19845:12
4."Chelsea Monday"De Montfort Hall, 5 March 19848:00
5."Freaks"Maimarktgelände, 21 June 19864:06
6."Jigsaw"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19846:24
7."Punch & Judy"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19843:23
8."Sugar Mice"Edinburgh Playhouse, 17/18/19 December 19876:03
9."Fugazi"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19848:39
10."Script for a Jester's Tear"Sheffield City Hall, 6 March 19848:45
11."Incommunicado"Edinburgh Playhouse, 17/18/19 December 19875:23
12."White Russian"Edinburgh Playhouse, 17/18/19 December 19876:14
Disc 2 (Misplaced Childhood, Hammersmith Odeon 9/10 January 1986)
No.TitleLength
1."Pseudo Silk Kimono"2:19
2."Kayleigh"3:52
3."Lavender"2:27
4."Bitter Suite"7:38
5."Heart of Lothian"5:12
6."Waterhole (Expresso Bongo)"2:16
7."Lords of the Backstage"6:07
8."Blind Curve"5:34
9."Childhoods End?"2:48
10."White Feather"4:22

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[9] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Smith, Robin (12 November 1988). "News: Listen Like Thieves". Record Mirror. p. 4. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. Marillion: "The Thieving Magpie" > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Marillion – The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Marillion – The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Marillion – The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Marillion – The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Marillion | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  9. ^ "British album certifications – Marillion – The Thieving Magpie". British Phonographic Industry.
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