Incommunicado (song)

Incommunicado is the lead single of Marillion's fourth studio album, Clutching at Straws. Released 11 May 1987, it reached number six in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's third top-ten hit, the last until 2004's "You're Gone". It became a minor hit on the Dutch Top 40 reaching number 31. The A-side is a fast, anthemic rock song with a repetitive chorus and a dominant keyboard sound, somewhat reminiscent of "Market Square Heroes". The extended version on the twelve inch and CD singles is slightly longer than the album version and features some additional sound effects. The b-side, the short, slow and introspective "Going Under", would also appear as a bonus track on the CD version of Clutching at Straws, in a slightly different version. Both tracks were written and arranged by Marillion and produced by Chris Kimsey.

The line "Currently residing in the where-are-they-now file" is a reference to a scene in the film This Is Spinal Tap.

A CD replica of the single was also part of a collectors box-set released in July 2000 which contained Marillion's first twelve singles and was re-issued as a 3 CD set in 2009 (see The Singles '82–'88).

Cover art

The cover was again designed by Mark Wilkinson; however, instead of the usual airbrush style, it was a collage based on a colourised photograph of fans waiting outside the Marquee Club, then still in Wardour Street (trivia: there are some posters advertising a Then Jericho gig on the door). Only the eccentrically dressed, pivotal "angel" character standing at the door apart from the crowd, was painted in Wilkinson's traditional style. The scene alludes to the song's main topic, success alienating artists from their fans and reality in general. On the back cover there is a quotation supposedly from Seneca the Younger's Moral Epistles ("This mime of mortal life, in which we are apportioned roles we misinterpret.")

Track listing

7" single

Side A

"Incommunicado" (single edit) – 4:00

Side B

"Going Under" – 2:44

12" single

Side A

"Incommunicado" (album version) – 5:17

Side B

"Incommunicado" (alternative mix) – 5:57
"Going Under" – 2:44

External links

Music video on YouTube
Live performance from 1987 on YouTube

v t e Marillion

Steve Rothery Mark Kelly Pete Trewavas Ian Mosley Steve 'h' Hogarth Mick Pointer Brian Jelliman Doug 'Rastus' Irvine Fish Diz Minnett Andy Ward John 'Martyr' Marter Jonathan Mover

Studio albums	Script for a Jester's Tear Fugazi Misplaced Childhood Clutching at Straws Seasons End Holidays in Eden Brave Afraid of Sunlight This Strange Engine Radiation marillion.com Anoraknophobia Marbles Somewhere Else Happiness Is the Road Less Is More Sounds That Can't Be Made

Compilations	Brief Encounter B'Sides Themselves A Singles Collection The Best of Both Worlds The Best of Marillion The Singles '82–88' The Singles '89-'95

Live albums	Real to Reel The Thieving Magpie Made Again Anorak in the UK Marbles Live Early Stages Live from Loreley Recital of the Script

Singles	"Market Square Heroes" "He Knows You Know" "Garden Party" "Punch and Judy" "Assassing" "Kayleigh" "Lavender" "Heart Of Lothian" "Lady Nina" "Welcome to the Garden Party" "Incommunicado" "Sugar Mice" "Warm Wet Circles" "Freaks (Live)" "Hooks in You" "The Uninvited Guest" "Easter" "Cover My Eyes (Pain and Heaven)" "No One Can" "Dry Land" "Sympathy" "No One Can" (1992) "The Great Escape" "The Hollow Man" "Alone Again in the Lap of Luxury" "Beautiful" "Man of a Thousand Faces" "80 Days" "These Chains" "Between You and Me"/"Map of the World" "You're Gone" "Don't Hurt Yourself" "The Damage" (Live) "See It Like a Baby" "Thankyou Whoever You Are"/"Most Toys" "Carol of the Bells"

Related articles	Marillion discography

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