In reply to Denni:
The album cover for Misplaced Childhood was great too - another Mark Wilkinson gem. I recall reading that when they first told Mark that the new album was going to be a concept album he was horrified. Concept albums were out of fashion and Marillion were dogged at the time the 70s prog rock tag, so this was adding ammo to those who saw them as such.
But he said he was blown away when he first heard it and it became the album that brought them mainstream success. Kayleigh was a surprise hit. On the back of that they released Lavender - which was a bit wishy washy... brought home by the fact that I heard a young kid stood by the side of his mum and a pram singing 'Lavender blue dilly dilly' Not the greatest thing for a rock band's cred.... being popular in the playground!
First heard Bitter Suite prior to the album's release the next day, on Annie Nightingales sunday evening show. I still recall Fish's spoken poetic lyrics at the start captivating me . Needless to say the following morning I had the album. Oh the old days of having to catch the bus into town, buy the thing and bring it home to stick it on the record player.
