Marquee Moon - Television

“Marquee Moon” is both a song and the debut album by the American rock band Television, released on February 8, 1977, by Elektra Records. The song “Marquee Moon” was written by the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Verlaine and is the title track of the album.

The song “Marquee Moon” is notable for its length, clocking in at around 9 minutes and 58 seconds on the original album release and 10 minutes and 40 seconds on later CD reissues. It was released as a single in the UK, reaching number 30 on the UK Singles Chart. Due to its length, the song had to be split into two parts for the single release, with each part on a different side of a 7-inch record.

Musically, “Marquee Moon” is characterized by intricate guitar work and complex instrumental parts. The song features interweaving textures of Verlaine’s and Richard Lloyd’s guitars, blending elements of art rock and free jazz. The arrangement was meticulously worked out over many years, yet it still sounds free and improvisatory. The song builds from quiet introspection to blazing explosions, leading to Verlaine’s extended guitar solo.

Lyrically, the song’s meaning is somewhat abstract and open to interpretation. Verlaine, who took his stage name from 19th-century French poet Paul Verlaine, described the lyrics as “just atmosphere.” The lyrics evoke themes of adolescence and urban imagery, inspired by the band’s stay in Manhattan. The song’s title and lyrics have been interpreted as symbolizing rock ‘n’ roll excess and the allure of temptation.

Television’s debut album “Marquee Moon” was well-received critically and is considered a seminal work in the punk and post-punk genres. It features other notable tracks such as “Friction,” “Prove It,” and “Venus.”

Tom Verlaine: Lead vocals, electric guitar, keyboards, and production credits for the album, including the song Marquee Moon.

Richard Lloyd: Electric guitar and backing vocals credits for the album, including solo performances on several tracks.

Elektra Records: The label that released the Marquee Moon album in 1977, with a promise to allow Tom Verlaine to produce the band’s first album with the assistance of a well-known recording engineer.

Andy Johns: The sound engineer who co-produced the Marquee Moon album with Tom Verlaine, bringing his experience from working with notable bands like the Rolling Stones.

Marquee Moon song: The title track of the album, written by Tom Verlaine, featuring complex instrumental parts and a hook-driven melody, with a complete recorded length of 10:40 on the 2003 remastered CD.