Afraid of Sunlight (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Professional reviews
Afraid Of Sunlight

Studio album by Marillion
Released	1995
Recorded	The Racket Club, Aylesbury, January - June 1995
Genre	Progressive Rock
Length	51:25 (single-disc edition) 1:40:12 (two-disc edition)
Label	EMI
Producer(s)	Dave Meegan
Rootnode.org link
Marillion chronology
Brave (1994)	Afraid Of Sunlight (1995)	This Strange Engine (1997)

Afraid of Sunlight is Marillion's eighth studio album, released in 1995. It would be their last for EMI.

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, the band has hinted, to Michael Jackson. The song "Beyond You" is reminiscent of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound productions, and is recorded monaurally, 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 May 28, 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.

[edit] Track listing

"Gazpacho" – 7:28
"Cannibal Surf Babe" – 5:25
"Beautiful" – 5:12
"Afraid Of Sunrise" – 5:01
"Out Of This World" – 7:54
"Afraid Of Sunlight" – 6:49
"Beyond You" – 6:10
"King" – 7:03

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.