Afraid of Sunlight (album)
Encyclopedia
Afraid of Sunlight is Marillion
's eighth studio album, released in 1995. It was their last for EMI (who would, however, continue to release back-catalogue material on compilations and re-issues, as well as distribute some later recordings).
While not a concept album
as such, Afraid of Sunlight examines the destructive side of celebrity. In particular, "Afraid of Sunlight" relates to the likes of James Dean
, while "Out of This World" is about world land and water speed record holder Donald Campbell
, killed in 1967. "King" refers to Elvis Presley
, Kurt Cobain
, and Michael Jackson
. The song "Beyond You" is reminiscent of Phil Spector
's Wall of Sound
productions, and is recorded monaural
ly, rather than in stereo
.
The first half of the album has a more satirical tone. "Gazpacho" lampoons the Hollywood lifestyle; "Cannibal Surf Babe" is a Beach Boys pastiche; and "Beautiful"'s utopian lyrics may be written from the perspective of an unmoored celebrity.
Steve Hogarth
named the 1980 Martin Scorsese
film Raging Bull, about a boxer's inability to deal with fame, as a strong influence on the album. Hogarth also cited O.J. Simpson, on trial for murder at the time the album was recorded, as another influence on its theme.
The wreckage of Donald Campbell
's Bluebird K7
and Campbell's remains were not recovered until 28 May 2001 when diver Bill Smith was inspired to look for the wreck after hearing "Out of This World". Both Steve Hogarth
and Steve Rothery
were present at the raising.
Despite some critical acclaim, the album was the first Marillion studio album to fail to reach the top ten in the UK album charts (peaking at No. 16), stayed on the chart for just two weeks and only produced one hit single, Beautiful, which reached No. 29.
The 1999 remaster has the following additional tracks on the second CD:
Note: The last track on CD 2 can only be accessed via a computer and a passcode. The passcode can be found on the Marillion.com – Afraid of Sunlight page.
4/5 "...a 40-minute journey that touches on the legacy of Brian Wilson
, Todd Rundgren
and The Beatles
, while hinting at the experimental trivialities of Jellyfish (band)
or Split Enz
. There is a preposterous tone at times, but Steve Hogarth
's voice is lovable, tear-jerking and even beautiful..."
Included in Q (magazine)
's 50 Best Albums of 1995.
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
's eighth studio album, released in 1995. It was their last for EMI (who would, however, continue to release back-catalogue material on compilations and re-issues, as well as distribute some later recordings).
While not a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
as such, Afraid of Sunlight examines the destructive side of celebrity. In particular, "Afraid of Sunlight" relates to the likes of James Dean
James Dean
James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
, while "Out of This World" is about world land and water speed record holder Donald Campbell
Donald Campbell
Donald Malcolm Campbell, CBE was a British speed record breaker who broke eight world speed records in the 1950s and 1960s...
, killed in 1967. "King" refers to Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
, and Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
. The song "Beyond You" is reminiscent of Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
's Wall of Sound
Wall of Sound
The Wall of Sound is a music production technique for pop and rock music recordings developed by record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1960s...
productions, and is recorded monaural
Monaural
Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...
ly, rather than in stereo
Stereophonic sound
The term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
.
The first half of the album has a more satirical tone. "Gazpacho" lampoons the Hollywood lifestyle; "Cannibal Surf Babe" is a Beach Boys pastiche; and "Beautiful"'s utopian lyrics may be written from the perspective of an unmoored celebrity.
Steve Hogarth
Steve Hogarth
Steve Hogarth also known as "h", is the lead vocalist and occasional keyboardist/guitarist with the British rock band Marillion. Hogarth was formerly a keyboard player and co-lead vocalist with The Europeans and vocalist with How We Live...
named the 1980 Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
film Raging Bull, about a boxer's inability to deal with fame, as a strong influence on the album. Hogarth also cited O.J. Simpson, on trial for murder at the time the album was recorded, as another influence on its theme.
The wreckage of Donald Campbell
Donald Campbell
Donald Malcolm Campbell, CBE was a British speed record breaker who broke eight world speed records in the 1950s and 1960s...
's Bluebird K7
Bluebird K7
Bluebird K7 was a turbo jet-engined hydroplane with which the United Kingdom's Donald Campbell set seven world water speed records during the 1950s and 1960s. Campbell lost his life in K7 on January 4, 1967 whilst making a bid to raise the speed record to over on Coniston Water.-Design:Donald...
and Campbell's remains were not recovered until 28 May 2001 when diver Bill Smith was inspired to look for the wreck after hearing "Out of This World". Both Steve Hogarth
Steve Hogarth
Steve Hogarth also known as "h", is the lead vocalist and occasional keyboardist/guitarist with the British rock band Marillion. Hogarth was formerly a keyboard player and co-lead vocalist with The Europeans and vocalist with How We Live...
and Steve Rothery
Steve Rothery
Steve Rothery is the guitarist of the English rock band Marillion. He was born in Brampton, South Yorkshire, England. From the age of six he lived in Whitby, North Yorkshire.-Biography:...
were present at the raising.
Despite some critical acclaim, the album was the first Marillion studio album to fail to reach the top ten in the UK album charts (peaking at No. 16), stayed on the chart for just two weeks and only produced one hit single, Beautiful, which reached No. 29.
Track listing
- "Gazpacho" – 7:28 (John Helmer, Steve Hogarth, Mark Kelly, Ian Mosley, Steve Rothery, Pete Trewavas)
- "Cannibal Surf Babe" – 5:25 (Helmer, Hogarth, Kelly, Mosley, Rothery, Trewavas)
- "Beautiful" – 5:12 (Hogarth, Kelly, Mosley, Rothery, Trewavas)
- "Afraid of Sunrise" – 5:01 (Helmer, Hogarth, Kelly, Mosley, Rothery, Trewavas)
- "Out of This World" – 7:54 (Helmer, Hogarth, Kelly, Mosley, Rothery, Trewavas)
- "Afraid of Sunlight" – 6:49 (Helmer, Hogarth, Kelly, Mosley, Rothery, Trewavas)
- "Beyond You" – 6:10 (Hogarth, Kelly, Mosley, Rothery, Trewavas)
- "King" – 7:03 (Hogarth, Kelly, Mosley, Rothery, Trewavas)
The 1999 remaster has the following additional tracks on the second CD:
- "Icon" – 6:04
- "Live Forever" – 4:34
- "Second Chance" (Dave Meegan Mix of Beautiful) – 5:14
- "Beyond You" (Demo) – 5:17
- "Cannibal Surf Babe" (Studio Outtake) – 5:59
- "Out of This World" (Studio Outtake) – 7:27
- "Bass Frenzy" – 1:17
- "Mirages" (Demo) – 6:02
- "Afraid of Sunlight" (Acoustic Demo) – 6:49
- "Sympathy (For The Road Crew)"
Note: The last track on CD 2 can only be accessed via a computer and a passcode. The passcode can be found on the Marillion.com – Afraid of Sunlight page.
Reception
Q (magazine)Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
4/5 "...a 40-minute journey that touches on the legacy of Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
and The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, while hinting at the experimental trivialities of Jellyfish (band)
Jellyfish (band)
Jellyfish were a power pop band from San Francisco. It formed after Beatnik Beatch broke up in 1989. The core members were drummer/singer/songwriter Andy Sturmer and keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Roger Joseph Manning, Jr...
or Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
. There is a preposterous tone at times, but Steve Hogarth
Steve Hogarth
Steve Hogarth also known as "h", is the lead vocalist and occasional keyboardist/guitarist with the British rock band Marillion. Hogarth was formerly a keyboard player and co-lead vocalist with The Europeans and vocalist with How We Live...
's voice is lovable, tear-jerking and even beautiful..."
Included in Q (magazine)
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
's 50 Best Albums of 1995.
Marillion
- Steve HogarthSteve HogarthSteve Hogarth also known as "h", is the lead vocalist and occasional keyboardist/guitarist with the British rock band Marillion. Hogarth was formerly a keyboard player and co-lead vocalist with The Europeans and vocalist with How We Live...
(aka "H") – vocals, keyboards, percussion - Steve RotherySteve RotherySteve Rothery is the guitarist of the English rock band Marillion. He was born in Brampton, South Yorkshire, England. From the age of six he lived in Whitby, North Yorkshire.-Biography:...
– guitars - Mark Kelly – keyboards
- Pete TrewavasPete TrewavasPete Trewavas is an English musician. He joined Marillion in 1982, taking over the role of bassist, from Diz Minnett, while acting occasionally as a backing vocalist and acoustic guitarist.Although he was born in Middlesbrough, Trewavas spent much of his childhood in the Buckinghamshire town of...
– bass - Ian MosleyIan MosleyIan F. Mosley is a drummer in the progressive rock band, Marillion.Mosley joined the band in 1984 after a long search for a replacement of Mick Pointer, who had been left the band in 1983. Mosley had previously, among others, played with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, both on two of his...
– drums
Production
- Arranged & Produced By Marillion & Dave Meegan
- Engineered By Dave Meegan
- Assistant Engineers: Stuart Every, Michael Hunter, Andrea Wright
- Mixing: Michael Bauer, Nick Davies, Dave Meegan
- Digital Editing & Mastering: Peter Mew
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | UK Album Chart | 16 |