Script for a Jester's Tear

Dave Dickson in his review for Kerrang! said that "as a debut album this [Script for a Jester's Tear] is extremely impressive, fully living up to the band's previous promise".[8] John Franck has given the album a retrospective rating of four-and-a-half stars out of five on AllMusic. He has called it "a vital piece for any Marillion head and an essential work for any self-respecting first- or second-generation prog rock fan".[1]

Script for a Jester's Tear was a commercial success, reaching number 7 in the United Kingdom and spending 31 weeks on the charts, the second-longest album chart residency for Marillion.[9] It was awarded a platinum certification by British Phonographic Industry on 5 December 1997 for over 300,000 copies sold.[2] In the United States, however, it failed to make any impact, peaking at number 175 on the Billboard 200 chart.[10]

The album generated two hit singles in the United Kingdom. The first single, "He Knows You Know", preceded the release of Script for a Jester's Tear and launched the group into the Top 40, reaching number 35. The second single, "Garden Party", was released on 6 June 1983 and became even more popular, peaking at number 16.[6] "He Knows You Know" gained some airplay in the United States and reached number 21 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[11]

Script for a Jester's Tear was first released on CD in 1985. As part of a series of Marillion eight studio albums made on a contract with EMI, the album was 24-bit digitally remastered between April and July 1997 and expanded with a second disc containing bonus tracks, including all tracks from the debut single. This edition was issued on 29 September 1997 and has been in print to date. The remastered version was also issued without the second disc in 2000 and contained a pared-down booklet. A new 180g heavy weight vinyl edition featuring a gatefold sleeve and the original artwork was released in 2012.[12]

In 2020, EMI released a deluxe version of the album with four CDs and a Blu-ray disc that contains the original album, the full "Market Square Heroes" 12" single, and a previously unreleased live set from 1982 at London's Marquee Club. In addition to that, the Blu-ray also includes the previously released Recital of the Script video and, as extras, promo films of some tracks from the album. It is the latest release in a recent deluxe reissue campaign that also includes Misplaced Childhood, Clutching at Straws, Brave, and Afraid of Sunlight. Fugazi is rumoured to be the next album put out in this format.

• Fish – vocals
• Steve Rothery – guitars; photography (1997 remastered edition)
• Pete Trewavas – bass
• Mark Kelly – keyboards; digital remastering (at Abbey Road Studios, London, April – July 1997)
• Mick Pointer – drums, percussion

• Marquee Club's Parents Association Children's Choir – choir (on "Forgotten Sons")
• Peter Cockburn – newscaster's voice (on "Forgotten Sons")

• Nick Tauber – producer
• Simon Hanhart – engineer, mixing engineer
• Pete James – sound effects
• Jo Mirowski – art direction, design (at Torchlight, London)
• Mark Wilkinson – illustration
• Dave Hitchcock – producer (on "Market Square Heroes" (Battle Priest version), "Three Boats Down from the Candy")
• Craig Thompson – engineer (on "Market Square Heroes" (Battle Priest version), "Three Boats Down from the Candy")
• Danny Dawson – engineer (on "Chelsea Monday" (Manchester Square demo), "He Knows You Know" (Manchester Square demo))
• Pete Mew – digital remastering (at Abbey Road Studios, London, April – July 1997)
• Bill Smith Studio – repackaging design (1997 remastered edition)