Fish released live album The Last Straw

The Last Straw Fish

Released: February 4, 2022 Recorded: December 13, 2018 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: neo-progressive rock

Tracks, Disc 1: Song Title (writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Slainte Mhath (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [6:25] Man with a Stick (Dick, Vantsis, Boult) [6:43] Hotel Hobbies (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [4:45] Warm Wet Circles (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [4:34] (10/26/87, 22 UK) That Time of the Night (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [6:39] Little Man What Now? (Dick, Vantsis, Boult) [10:10] Torch Song (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [4:06] White Russian (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [6:54] Tracks, Disc 2: Just for the Record (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [5:12] C Song (Dick, Paterson, Boult) [10:57] Going Under (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [3:50] (5/11/87, B-side of “Incommunicado”) Sugar Mice (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [7:02] (7/13/87, 22 UK) Waverly Steps (Dick, Vantsis, Boult) [13:55] The Last Straw (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [8:05] Tux On (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [5:24] (7/13/87, B-side of “Sugar Mice”) Incommunicado (Dick, Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, Mosley) [6:26] (5/11/87, 24 AR, 6 UK) Total Running Time: 111: 56 The Players: Fish (vocals) Robin Boult (guitar) John Beck (keyboards) Steve Vantsis (bass) Gavin Griffiths (drums) Doris Brendel (backing vocals, whistles)

About the Album: This double live album was recorded at the final show of Fish’s Clutching at Straws/ Weltschmerz tour at the O2 in Glasgow, Scotland, on December 13, 2018. It features an entire performance of 1987’s Clutching at Straws, Fish’s fourth and final album with the band Marillion. Clutching at the Straws was the follow-up to Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood album, which hit #1 in the UK thanks to top 5 hits “Kayleigh” and “Lavender.” Straws delved into Fish’s struggles with fame on songs like the top-10 UK hit “Incommunicado” and his difficulties with alcoholism on songs like “Sugar Mice.” The show also features four songs from Weltschmerz, which Fish has said will be his last album. Interestingly, though, these recordings are from 2018 while the Weltschmerz album wasn’t released until 2020. However, three of the songs (“Man with a Stick,” “Waverly Steps,” “Little Man What Now”) had been previously released on Fish’s EP Parley with Angels. The album was produced by Steve Vantsis and mastered by Calum Malcolm. Notes: The release includes a bonus DVD featuring the entire August 10, 2018 performance at the Cropredy Festival. The 36-page color booklet includes sleeve notes by Fish as well as concert and backstage photographs from the tour. FM

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Fish FM Prog Archives Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 2/23/2022.