MARILLION: Lavender 7″ + Freaks (Unreleased B side). Check video!

Description

Medieval Death LP and free DVD + Mordicus “Rights ‘n Trials” LP. Official videos, audio, info.

Single by Marillion
from the album Misplaced Childhood
B-side: “Freaks”
Released: 1985 (UK)
Format: Vinyl record (7″ )
Recorded: Hansa Ton Studios, Berlin, March – May 1985
Genre: Neo-progressive rock, Soft rock, Pop
Length: 3:40 (7″)
Label: EMI
Producer: Chris Kimsey/Wonderknob

“Lavender” is neo-progressive rock band Marillions second single from their breakthrough album Misplaced Childhood. The follow-up to the big UK number 2 hit “Kayleigh”, the song was their second Top 5 UK hit, entering the chart on 7 September 1985, reaching number 5 and staying on the chart for 9 weeks. None of the groups other songs have reached the Top 5 and “Lavender” remains their second highest-charting song.
The song received considerable media exposure in the UK, with 37 out of 43 Independent Local Radio stations A-rating the song on their playlists and becoming the 8th most played single on BBC Radio 1, gaining 16 plays in a day.
The song features a number of verses that are reminiscent of the folk song “Lavender Blue”. The song forms part of the concept of the Misplaced Childhood album. Like “Kayleigh” it is a love song, but whereas “Kayleigh” was about the failure of an adult relationship, “Lavender” recalls the innocence of childhood:
“The childhood theme also brought up the idea of utilising an old childrens song and “Lavender” was an obvious contender as one of the original pop songs of its time.”
“Going through parks listening to Joni Mitchell, “Lavender” is the little boys dream about you can walk through the park and bump into the lady of your dreams that you’re going to fall instantaneously in love with.”
The opening lines “I was walking in the park dreaming of a spark, when I heard the sprinklers whisper, shimmer in the haze of summer lawns” deliberately recall the title track of Joni Mitchells The Hissing of Summer Lawns.