![Camel [Original recording remastered] [Import]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005YUAC.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg)
| 1. Slow Yourself Down |
| 2. Mystic Queen |
| 3. Six Ate |
| 4. Seperation |
| 5. Never Let Go |
| 6. Curiosity |
| 7. Arubaluba |
| 8. Never Let Go [*] |
| 9. Homage to the God of Light [#][*] |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
UK reissue of 1973 album, remastered from the original tapes & includes 2 bonus tracks 'Never Let Go' (single version-previously unreleased on CD) & 'Homage To The God of Light' (recorded live at Marquee Club-29th October 1974). 2002.
In fact, everything Camel did in the 70's is incredible. They are a band that really means something to me on a personal level. I don't know what it is- something about the way the band members make sure every musical instrument they play is perfectly in tone, and the way everything comes across so beautifully every time really shows me just how talented they are. Whether it's the flutes, keyboards, organs, guitars, mellotrons, bass or drums, everything sounds as perfect as can possibly be. What a band.
The Snow Goose is just one of many great Camel albums. They really are a band that's impossible to hate. I seriously mean that. You CANNOT hate them. It doesn't matter if you hate progressive rock, or hate rock and roll as a whole- you will like this album. Try to pick up the version with the bonus tracks.
My only complaint is that they opted not to put on a live version of "Dunkirk" that is TOTALLY awesome. It makes me think about giant castle doors closing shut (you know, those bridge things that are connected to castles that pull up and slam shut- think Bugs Bunny!)
Anyway, pick up this album right away. It's worth it. You will agree with me and all the other reviewers. We're praising the album because it really is THAT good. I guarantee it.
As a disaffected teenager I would have said a "rock" album (and I use the term loosely with this album) without words was boring, but I learned better when I discovered progressive rock. Yes, there are no words on this album, but it is PERFECT without words. Not many bands can pull this off. This is the kind of music that when you hear it, a smile comes to your lips. I am so genuinely happy listening to some of the songs on this album (try "Rhayader" and "Rhayader Goes to Town" first). Even the "darker songs" without the flute melody make me smile, they are just that amazing. No amount of rearrangement could make them any better.
When I listen to this album, my mind goes back to being a 10-year-old playing the Legend of Zelda, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy, or Quest for Glory all summer long. You can imagine running through fields with your sword and shield, ready to fight off the monsters, on a quest to save the princess ("La Princesse Perdue"). If there was a soundtrack for an adventure, this would be it. Yes, there is a story behind the album, but you don't need to know it to genuinely enjoy these songs.
A note to the wise: Listen to the album all the way though. I honestly can't put my finger on which song I like best because they fit together so nicely - I feel like I'm ruining it trying to take it apart. A story is not as good when you only read one page (unless it was badly written to begin with).
What I wanted to get across in this review was, if you are a fan of talented musicians, progressive rock, folk, and adventure games, you WILL enjoy this album. Even friends who never even heard of prog-rock liked it, although they were less happy about the lack of lyrics. But who cares? Please, give this album a shot. It is *amazing* and you won't regret it.
To describe the sound of this album is difficult, but I might suggest something along the lines of a hybridization of Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull, with some occasional Doors-like keyboard work, only with much more energy and perhaps more impressive chops (musicianship). Camel is definitely a ROCK band first and foremost--some of the pieces are in fact fairly heavy, at least in parts--and it would be inaccurate to say that they are a fusion band, but there is certainly a lot of jazziness in here.
The mood of the album is neither overwhelmingly dark and harsh like King Crimson or Van Der Graf Generator, nor sickeningly cheerful like Yes. It is just COOL and CALM, a bit mystical around the edges.
The production values are excellent. This music sounds like it might have been recorded yesterday. Very full and rich. I would recommend this album wholeheartedly to anyone who loves good rock music with an experimental bent.
not just write that?)I first heard Mirage in 75("OUCH,AGE")and
had the u.s.a. album cover(not the smokes cover)I thought it was
so cool to see this buffed camel with wings holding cut pieces
of diamonds. I quickly put it on the turntable scratching the hell
out of it(sorry mom)but heard such wonderful music I could not
believe it.Nimrodel for me will always be my personal fav.I-I
don't know why till this day there is a lyric in this masterpiece
song,I guess the way it's sang still makes my eyes blurry and wet.
Anyway I never heard there debut album and will buy,but for me
this will always be my FAV. Camel album and easily in my top 10
of ALL time,it is to bad that more people don't know of them.For
they are a fantastic band.Adios you lovers of Camel and great music.
And shame,shame on you who graded this 4 stars or even less????????
You naughty naughty lil boys and girls you! "As if he never there
but somehow far away. Although he seem far,like a distant star
HIS FORM...BEGAN TO FADE......................................
And I'm glad I did too. MIRAGE was the first disc I sought out, and I know of very few albums that conjure a more distinct, cohesive atmosphere than the dream-like mist that pervades this one. A bracing "Freefall" opens the set, a song whose multiple time and dynamic changes place the album squarely in the prog camp right from the get-go. Next comes the soporific instrumental "Supertwister", a showcase for Andy Latimer's flute playing, which acts as a delicate counterpart to the "dirtier" stylings of, say, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson. Most of MIRAGE is instrumental really - the lyrics are few and far between, and delivered in a sleepy croon that only contributes to the hazy soundscape suggested by the cover artwork.
Side I of the original vinyl concludes with what may be my favourite entry in the Camel canon, the Tolkien-inspired "White Rider" suite. A musical impression of Gandalf the Grey's triumphant rebirth as Gandalf the White, the tune incorporates ambient keyboard passages, martial rhythms, galloping instrumentals, and ethereal woodwinds to evoke a true vision of Middle-earth. Seldom have I heard a better piece of progressive rock.
Side II features another instrumental, "Earthrise", that continues in the mold established by Side I and gives the musicians a chance to strut their stuff - Andy Bardens' immediately recognizable guitar licks (shades of Dave Gilmour) and Pete Bardens' elegant keyboards especially standout. And last but not least comes the other candidate for my single favourite Camel song, the twelve-minute "Lady Fantasy" suite. Opening with a suitably bombastic blast of keyboards and drum fills, "Lady Fantasy" calls to mind the Doors in its organ-tinged verses and progresses through three movements and a good half-dozen major themes, alternating some of the softest, dreamiest moments on the album with some of the loudest and most intense. Another masterpiece.
Camel were never very popular, which is a damn shame, because they deserve a much wider audience than just progheads. If you'd like to delve into their uniquely dreamy brand of musical magic, MIRAGE would be a great place to start.
Camel are the masters of knowing how to write memorable songs. The jams are melodic, not to mention creative. They include keyboards, guitars, flutes, drums, bass, organs, and who knows what else. All this adds up to one fantastic listen. Over and over again I listen to this album and can't believe how good it not only sounds, but IS. The music is great. Every song is written so carefully to the point of being extremely melodic. It's incredible.
I wish Camel would tour the USA more. Some of us over here LOVE this band. Heck, even my dad who doesn't listen to rock music anymore said he LOVES what this band is doing. "freefall" is SO melodic, "lady fantasy" will remind you of dreams you had as a child. Those dreams will return and be as pleasant as ever when listening to this song. The rest of the album maintains that pleasant dream atmosphere and helps me conclude this album is truly worth owning. If something ever happened to my copy, I'd buy another one immediately.
I also have another thing that urgently needs to be said, and this is also important- I'm an American who was born in the early 80's. I wasn't around when these 70's masterpieces were created and released to the public. I find it extraordinary that these musicians were able to write music that connects with me on a very personal level.
You know, people like to think "People from other countries have different traditions, and aren't really like me in any way" but that's completely NOT true because Camel manages to put creative images in my head that *very* few musicians seem to be able to do. Every time I listen to a Camel album and get caught up in the keyboards, guitar work or synth jams, a dream I had many years ago all of a sudden enters my head that I thought had been forgotten forever. Dreams that I had forgotten for years suddenly return and become the center of my thoughts.
It's amazing how these musicians who were writing music years before I was born were able to really glue me into their sound and style like it was completely natural. This music is just extremely *right* in every way. Sometimes I even think the band members feel like brothers to me.
When human beings write honest music, sometimes it works on a level that I believe they never thought was even possible, because the feeling of connection can be unbelievably strong sometimes. It's amazing, and goes to show how much alike people are. People like to say "Everyone's different" but not in this case. It's totally amazing to me how the dreams I have every night are very similar to the visions and the creations from this band. That will probably fascinate me until the end of time.
So yeah, Moonmadness is a great album, but so is everything else from Camel. You must look into this band. Put it on your "Must Do" list.
I know Camel didn't have as much success in the States that they probably wanted to, but I hope the surviving members are aware that the music they created back in the day really holds up well today, and that it's really a great experience listening to their music and getting caught up in their peaceful and honest dream world. I plan on keeping Camel's music alive forever. If I ever have kids, they will know this band.
The lineup on Moonmadness includes Andrew Latimer (electric and acoustic guitars, flute, and vocals); Pete Bardens (Hammond organ, electric piano, acoustic piano, mini-moog, ARP Odyssey, and vocals); Doug Ferguson (electric bass and lead vocal on Song within a Song); and Andy Ward (drums, percussion and voice on Aristillus). All of the musicians are very good and I especially like Pete's Hammond organ and especially his synthesizer work on this album - he gets some great synth sounds. The ensemble work is very good too - this is especially surprising given that Doug was on his way out of the band at this point. With respect to the vocal department, they are not necessarily Camel's strong suit but it does not ruin anything for me at all. Come to think of it, they seem to try and get around the vocal problem by subjecting the vocals to various electronic effects on a few tracks.
The seven tracks on the album range in length from 1'56" to 9'07". Musically, Moonmadness presents an excellent mixture of sprightly prog/jazz rock instrumentals; vocal tracks; softer more pastoral tracks (Spirit of the Water; Air Born) and longish proggy tracks including the synth-heavy Lunar Sea. There is not much of a hard feel to any of the tracks and everything is very "warm" sounding. There is also good use of melodies and harmonies on this album - they really spent a lot of time on them. Oh one last thing - it seems that the emphasis on repeated riffs (ostinatos) has been lessened somewhat and ensemble work/counterpoint is favored more.
This remastered album by Decca is excellent and features great sound quality, restored cover art, and loads of liner notes and photos of the band. The bonus tracks include a mix of singles, demos, and live recordings of Song within a Song, Lunar Sea, and Preparation/Dunkirk (from The Snow Goose). The live recordings were taken from a concert held at the Hammersmith Odeon on April 14, 1976. The sound quality is just OK although the performances are very good.
Moonmadness is a fantastic album and one of my favorites from the group and is very highly recommended along with the debut, The Snow Goose, and Rain Dances (1977).
Camel's self-titled debut is, however, one of my very favorite albums and quite possibly Camel's strongest album as well. There's virtually no filler on this one and their energy is at its peak.
And in fact, this is not prog in the same way early Genesis is prog, to cite a reference in the genre. Camel from this age is quite a bit more rythmic and rocking. This doesn't happen in later albums, particularly towards the end of their career, when everything getts much more mellow, yet beautiful.
"Slow Yourself Down" sets the pace for the entire record, an upbeat track sang by Andy Latimer in his quite original tone. But it's "Never Let Go" (which has an even better rendition on "A Live Record") - my favorite Camel track - and "Arubaluba" that steal the record for me. "Six Ate" has this great grooving bass line as the backbone of the entire track while "Mystic Queen" is the most mellow track yet doesn't disappoint, being beautifully sung by bassist Doug Ferguson and featuring Bardens intensely exquisite keyboards. And everywhere Andy Ward's drumming is perfect for the mood.
I find Camel to be an essential band in the genre, and as I find this to be their best effort, this record is also essential, even if you're probably better served with next year's "Mirage" for a more progressive output.
The musicians on this debut comprise the classic Camel lineup including great guitarist Andy Latimer (vocals on Slow Yourself Down and Separation); keyboardist Peter Bardens (Hammond organ, mellotron, VCS3, acoustic piano, and vocals on Never Let Go), great drummer Andy Ward; and bassist Doug Ferguson (vocals on Mystic Queen and Curiousity. All of the guys are fantastic musicians and the vocals are not bad at all, although they do not seem very confident about their vocal abilities. Andy Latimer is a great guitarist and easily quotes from range of styles. I also like Pete's use of the synthesizers and the mellotron - he was a very tasteful player and knew exactly where certain sounds worked best on this album. I guess it is worth noting that synthesizer use is pretty scarce on this album, although synthesizers would be used a lot on subsequent albums. Sadly Pete Bardens passed away in 2002, and this reissued album was dedicated to him.
The seven tracks on the album are all in the 4-7 minute range and are great examples of Camels jazzy, yet very English, brand of progressive rock. In fact, the instrumental track Six Ate is probably the best illustration on the album of Camel's ability to seamlessly mix jazzy and prog styles together. For those of that are wondering, there is a rock side to Camel on this debut, which really comes through with Andy's guitar work - especially on the thunderous and riff-heavy Separation and instrumental track Arubaluba. Other tracks that are great include the spacey Mystic Queen, and my personal favorite Never Let Go, which features haunting parts played on the acoustic guitar and a ton of glorious mellotron with string setting, before breaking into a vigorous rock workout. Believe it or not, Never Let Go features a sprightly mellotron solo. In that this instrument was notoriously difficult to play, it was never used as a solo instrument but more as a sustained backdrop. I guess it shows you just how good Pete was. The remaining tracks are also excellent and feature tight musicianship.
This remastered album features excellent sound quality, along with the restored cover art, a few band photos, and loads of liner notes. There are two bonus tracks including a single version of Never Let Go and a 19'01" live track entitled Homage to the God of Light. Homage to the God of Light was recorded on October 29, 1974 at the Marquee Club. The live track is pretty well recorded and is a great jam.
All in all, this is a great Camel album and is very highly recommended along with Mirage (1974); my personal favorite, The Snow Goose (1975); Moonmadness (1976); and Rain Dances (1977), which features Richard Sinclair on bass/lead vocals.
The lineup at this point included Andrew Latimer (acoustic and electric guitars, Yamaha CS80/50, Vocals); Peter Bardens (electric piano, acoustic piano, synthesizers, Hammond organ, Vocals); Mel Collins (Flute, Saxophones); Richard Sinclair (Bass guitar, Vocals); Andy Ward (Drums, Percussion); and Dave Sinclair (Keyboards (uncredited)). In general the playing by all members is very good, with Andy Latimer contributing some fine playing. I have always been a fan of Richard Sinclair's vocals and bass playing, so his presence on the album works for me. Following this album, Peter and Richard left the band. Apparently Peter and Andy Latimer were having problems (creative differences), which precipitated his leaving the band, and he was replaced by two keyboardists for the Breathless tour including Dave Sinclair and Jan Schelhaas. For the I Can See Your House from Here album (1979), the two keyboardist approach was maintained, yet with Jan and ex-Happy the Man player Kit Watkins.
The tracks on the album range in length from 2'59" to 7'17". In general the music on Breathless is considerably different from previous albums and includes a greater percentage of mainstream styles, including a sizeable chunk of disco (Summer Lightning, You Make me Smile). The inclusion of Richard's whimsical Canterbury track `Down on the Farm", while entirely appropriate for a Caravan album, seems a bit out of place on a Camel album - although his vocal part is very interesting. Wing and a Prayer is not completely awful, and is actually just a very nice and well-written pop song, with great woodwind parts.
Although this may all sound very unappealing, there are however some nice "Camel-ish" pieces on the album that are actually very good including the highly melodic title track, the vigorous progger Echoes, the delicate Starlight Ride, another atmospheric/proggy track The Sleeper, and the synthesizer heavy and gloomy closing track Rainbow's End. I am of the opinion that the album is worth picking up just for those five tracks alone, albeit at a "used copy" price.
Well there you have it. While Breathless may not represent Camel at their finest hour, there is still some good material here. For those of you that are new to the band, start out with any of these albums: Camel (1973); Mirage (1974); The Snow Goose (1975); Moonmadness (1976); and Rain Dances (1977). Of these albums, The Snow Goose is a fan favorite (mine too).
This album is so full of hooks. The rhythm section is tight and the album is very well played. Wing on a prayer almost makes me wanna sing. Breathless has one of the most beatifull melodies I have ever heard and a slow section in the middle separates it from a normal pop love song. I don't understand why so many people hate Down on the farm. I was so happy when I first heard it and this album, because I noticed that this band can change their style and not just make rip offs of past glories. You have to understand two facts. Camel was under pressure to make a hit album and they wanted to evolve and expand their musical influences. In my opinion Camel succeeded and made their most entertaining album ever.
Don't get me wrong. I love Camel, so I really like this album; however, if you just start going with this band, you should go with "Camel", "Mirage", and "The Snow Goose" first.
Anyway, a great album, but not as good as the other three.
But it was not until 1973 that there first self titled album was released , and although attracting a little critical attention ,did little else , listening to it now it is hardly surprising as it is a little twee. The second album got them all the publicity they wanted, but mostly not for musical reasons. Mirage ( 1974) came in an album cover replicating a packet of Camel cigarettes, which got them sued by Camel cigarettes in America , and their then turned the tables and got an endorsement from Camel cigarettes Europe , giving away free packets of five Camels to all the audience members at all their European gigs of that tour , so they ended up with enormous hassles in the States and had to change their album covers, and in Europe were hated by the Anti-smoking league for ever. Because of this their next album the all instrumental album based on Paul Gallico's Snow Goose, had to be called 'Music inspired by the Snow Goose' due to the authors abhorrence to all things nicotine. Never the less Snow Goose was Camel's breakthrough album opening up the world market to the band . Due to the record companies ( Decca) horror at having put out an all instrumental album last time the bands next effort was a bit of a compromise between band and record executives with all the songs having actual words, chorus's and verses ' Moonmadness'(1975).
By now the sound of the Camel had moved far away from the rock'n'roll roots of 'The Brew', and after the tour too promote ' Moonmadness' Doug Ferguson decided to hang up his camel saddle and move on. Famed session saxophonist Mel Collins had toured with the band on the last tour , and was now keen to carry on his association with the band and was to be an unofficial member of the band for all further albums and tours for the next decade. But a new bass player and vocalist had to be found. Top of the list was original founding member of both ' Caravan ' and 'Hatfield and The North' Richard Sinclair,who just happened to be arriving back from his holidays that had helped him recuperate after the termination of his last band ' Hatfield and The North' . One telephone call was all it took and Richard Sinclair packed up his bags in Canterbury and joined the dromedary cause.This gave Camel so much more artillery under it's hump. Richard Sinclair was blessed with very distinctive vocal chords , far superior to anything the band had in their armoury before , Mel Collins being full time available to the band meant much more space to stretch out in the long instrumental sections of the Camel material ( Does that make Camelhair?) . Whilst Andy Ward on the drums was much more comfortable with Richard Sinclair's more jazzy bass style than the straight ahead rock style of the previous incumbent .
The new album ' Raindances ' ( 1977) was waited for with great anticipation by the massed ranks of Camel fans. They were not disappointed ,the album opens up with a bright instrumental titled 'First Light' which would of been far more aptly titled ' Introducing Mel and Richard' the first three minutes of the song are taken up by some pretty impressive musical jousting between, the keyboard work of Peter Bardens , and Andy Latimer's guitar, as they quieten down it is left to the nifty bass work of Richard Sinclair to take the next section of the song onwards before handing over to Mel Collins who brings this musical section to a rousing conclusion with a rasping saxophone solo . A very satisfying beginning.
After this the album is split into two halves the next four songs having vocals , whilst the remaining four are instrumentals . ( This copy has got the single version of 'Highways of the Sun ' tagged onto the end , completely unnecessary as it is only the original version with a thirty second section chopped out of the middle.) ' Metrgnome' is a good Camel song where you feel that the new band are getting acquainted ,'Tell Me ' is an emotional ballad written by Latimer and Bardens ,but giving full reign to the voice and bass work of Richard Sinclair.On ' Highway Of The Sun' Camel almost get carried away with themselves , with its driving marching keyboard driven beat , and chirpy vocals , why this was not a hit single at the time is beyond me . "Unevensong' follows in equally upbeat mood, showing why Camel were such a class act crammed into its five minutes thirty three seconds are well sung verses, crystal clear solo's from each member of the band , giving you a complete saga in its allotted time .
The instrumentals are all extremely well executed each with it's own distinctive flavour .The wonderfully titled ' One Of These Days I'll Get An Early Night' the only title credited to every member of the band is a vicious slab of fusion jazz/rock , with each soloist elbowing his way to the front of the instrumental stage to have his share of the limelight , grabbing on literally with two hands , and giving their instruments a real shake .
'Elke' is a slowly burning piece written by Andy Latimer reminding you of his Scottish heritage , and featuring Andy's haunting flute work, underpinned by some sympathetic keyboards from Peter Bardens . ' Skylines shakes you out of your reverie with it's funky beat,and jaunty attitude , Richard Sinclair's bass work again excels. The album closes with the title track which lulls you along to its conclusion on a very comfortable cushion of sound.
Camel found themselves with another huge hit on their hands and soon set out on another world tour to promote the album , recording a lot of the concerts along the way for their next album a double live vinyl affair , wittily titled 'A Live Record'. Which has recently been re-released with lots of bonus material on it bringing the total playing time up to over two and a half hours.
The success of these albums by Camel is all the more remarkable by the fact that these songs of grace and dignity were released whilst punk rock was sweeping all before them . Most bands of Camel's ilk were never stood a chance and were blown away, but the Camel is a sturdy animal, and made great commercial progress , filling concert halls and selling albums wherever it went.
Unfortunately 1976, 1977, and 1978, were to be the Camels finest years , disaster was only just around the corner, but for now sit back and enjoy the beast at it's best.
Mott The Dog.
This album is good throughout. It doesn't have any weak tracks. Overall, I think it is a better album than the previous Moon Madness. The only thing is that this album does not have a monster track, like Lunar Sea from Moon Madness, or Lady Fantasy from Mirage or Never Let Go from the first album.
This is the first album to include Richard Sinclair on bass and vocals. Sinclair was in Caravan, Hatfield and the North and other groups. He has a very distinctive voice and style of playing bass. Fortunately, he does not have much impact on Camel's sound on this album. On the next album, Breathless, he has a much greater presence and that album suffers. It is not that I don't like Sinclair. I really enjoy much of his stuff. But, at times he can be overbearing and his attempts at whimsey can fall flat.
But Camel amazed me once more, this time with Rajaz.
A combo of excellent and moving, moodfull songs.
This really is "close the blinds, tuen of the light, put the stereo on 12 and sheer enjoy" music.
Maybe the best lyrics of any rock album released in the 70s, maybe best ever.
UK reissue of 1973 album, remastered from the original tapes & includes 2 bonus tracks 'Never Let Go' (single version-previously unreleased on CD) & 'Homage To The God of Light' (recorded live at Marquee Club-29th October 1974). 2002.
Camel,Camel,Universal/Um3,Rock,Rock/Pop
Camel [Original recording remastered] [Import]
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The Snow Goose
Camel Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
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ASIN: B00005V1B2 Release Date: 2002-06-10 |
Tracks:
- The Great Marsh
- Rhayader
- Rhayader Goes To Town
- Sanctuary
- Fritha
- The Snow Goose
- Friendship
- Migration
- Rhayader Alone
- Flight Of The Snow Goose
- Preparation
- Dunkirk
- Epitaph
- Fritha Alone
- La Princesse Perdue
- The Great Marsh
- Flight Of The Snow Goose (Single Edit)
- Rhayader (Single Edit)
- Flight Of The Snow Goose (Alternate Single Edit)
- Rhayader Goes To Town
- The Snow Goose/Freefall
Album Description
UK reissue of 1975 album, remastered from the original tapes & includes 5 previously unreleased bonus tracks 'Flight of the Snow Goose' (single edit), 'Rhayader' (single edit), 'Flight of the Snow Goose' (alternate single edit), 'Rhayader Goes To Town' (recorded live at The Marquee Club) & 'The Snow Goose/Freefall' (recorded live at The Marquee Club). 2002.Album Details
Digitally Remastered and Restored Edition of the Progressive Rock Classic and Camel's Best Selling Album Ever. The Regular Tracks of the Album Are Now Augmented with Three Studio Rarities and Two Songs Recorded Live at the Marquee Club in London.Customer Reviews:
Great Album.......2007-06-29
INTERESTING ALBUM.......2007-06-13
A great buy for any lover of this band.......2007-06-13
a perfect album.......2007-06-06
In fact, everything Camel did in the 70's is incredible. They are a band that really means something to me on a personal level. I don't know what it is- something about the way the band members make sure every musical instrument they play is perfectly in tone, and the way everything comes across so beautifully every time really shows me just how talented they are. Whether it's the flutes, keyboards, organs, guitars, mellotrons, bass or drums, everything sounds as perfect as can possibly be. What a band.
The Snow Goose is just one of many great Camel albums. They really are a band that's impossible to hate. I seriously mean that. You CANNOT hate them. It doesn't matter if you hate progressive rock, or hate rock and roll as a whole- you will like this album. Try to pick up the version with the bonus tracks.
My only complaint is that they opted not to put on a live version of "Dunkirk" that is TOTALLY awesome. It makes me think about giant castle doors closing shut (you know, those bridge things that are connected to castles that pull up and slam shut- think Bugs Bunny!)
Anyway, pick up this album right away. It's worth it. You will agree with me and all the other reviewers. We're praising the album because it really is THAT good. I guarantee it.
Soundtrack for a Quest - A review for those new to Camel.......2007-05-06
As a disaffected teenager I would have said a "rock" album (and I use the term loosely with this album) without words was boring, but I learned better when I discovered progressive rock. Yes, there are no words on this album, but it is PERFECT without words. Not many bands can pull this off. This is the kind of music that when you hear it, a smile comes to your lips. I am so genuinely happy listening to some of the songs on this album (try "Rhayader" and "Rhayader Goes to Town" first). Even the "darker songs" without the flute melody make me smile, they are just that amazing. No amount of rearrangement could make them any better.
When I listen to this album, my mind goes back to being a 10-year-old playing the Legend of Zelda, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy, or Quest for Glory all summer long. You can imagine running through fields with your sword and shield, ready to fight off the monsters, on a quest to save the princess ("La Princesse Perdue"). If there was a soundtrack for an adventure, this would be it. Yes, there is a story behind the album, but you don't need to know it to genuinely enjoy these songs.
A note to the wise: Listen to the album all the way though. I honestly can't put my finger on which song I like best because they fit together so nicely - I feel like I'm ruining it trying to take it apart. A story is not as good when you only read one page (unless it was badly written to begin with).
What I wanted to get across in this review was, if you are a fan of talented musicians, progressive rock, folk, and adventure games, you WILL enjoy this album. Even friends who never even heard of prog-rock liked it, although they were less happy about the lack of lyrics. But who cares? Please, give this album a shot. It is *amazing* and you won't regret it.
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Mirage
Camel Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B00005V1B1 Release Date: 2002-06-10 |
Tracks:
- Freefall
- Supertwister
- Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider
- Earthrise
- Lady Fantasy: Encounter/Smiles for You/Lady Fantasy
- Supertwister [Live][#][*]
- Mystic Queen [Live][#][*]
- Arubaluba [Live][#][*]
- Lady Fantasy: Encounter/Smiles for You/Lady Fantasy [#][*]
Album Description
UK reissue of 1974 album, remastered from the original tapes & includes 4 bonus tracks 'Supertwister' (recorded live at The Marquee Club), 'Mystic Queen' (recorded live at the Marquee Club), 'Arubaluba' (recorded live at The Marquee Club) & 'Lady Fantasy-Encounter/Smiles For You/Lady Fantasy' (previously unreleased version). 2002.Album Details
Re-mastered from the Original Tapes with Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. Album Includes New Liner Notes, Photos and Memorabilia.Customer Reviews:
This is a Wonderful Recording by Camel.......2007-07-12
To describe the sound of this album is difficult, but I might suggest something along the lines of a hybridization of Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull, with some occasional Doors-like keyboard work, only with much more energy and perhaps more impressive chops (musicianship). Camel is definitely a ROCK band first and foremost--some of the pieces are in fact fairly heavy, at least in parts--and it would be inaccurate to say that they are a fusion band, but there is certainly a lot of jazziness in here.
The mood of the album is neither overwhelmingly dark and harsh like King Crimson or Van Der Graf Generator, nor sickeningly cheerful like Yes. It is just COOL and CALM, a bit mystical around the edges.
The production values are excellent. This music sounds like it might have been recorded yesterday. Very full and rich. I would recommend this album wholeheartedly to anyone who loves good rock music with an experimental bent.
My fav. CAMEL album!!!!!!.......2007-06-19
not just write that?)I first heard Mirage in 75("OUCH,AGE")and
had the u.s.a. album cover(not the smokes cover)I thought it was
so cool to see this buffed camel with wings holding cut pieces
of diamonds. I quickly put it on the turntable scratching the hell
out of it(sorry mom)but heard such wonderful music I could not
believe it.Nimrodel for me will always be my personal fav.I-I
don't know why till this day there is a lyric in this masterpiece
song,I guess the way it's sang still makes my eyes blurry and wet.
Anyway I never heard there debut album and will buy,but for me
this will always be my FAV. Camel album and easily in my top 10
of ALL time,it is to bad that more people don't know of them.For
they are a fantastic band.Adios you lovers of Camel and great music.
And shame,shame on you who graded this 4 stars or even less????????
You naughty naughty lil boys and girls you! "As if he never there
but somehow far away. Although he seem far,like a distant star
HIS FORM...BEGAN TO FADE......................................
A great buy for any lover of this band.......2007-06-13
In the Middle of My Daydream, Oh My Lady Fantasy - I Love You.......2007-04-16
And I'm glad I did too. MIRAGE was the first disc I sought out, and I know of very few albums that conjure a more distinct, cohesive atmosphere than the dream-like mist that pervades this one. A bracing "Freefall" opens the set, a song whose multiple time and dynamic changes place the album squarely in the prog camp right from the get-go. Next comes the soporific instrumental "Supertwister", a showcase for Andy Latimer's flute playing, which acts as a delicate counterpart to the "dirtier" stylings of, say, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson. Most of MIRAGE is instrumental really - the lyrics are few and far between, and delivered in a sleepy croon that only contributes to the hazy soundscape suggested by the cover artwork.
Side I of the original vinyl concludes with what may be my favourite entry in the Camel canon, the Tolkien-inspired "White Rider" suite. A musical impression of Gandalf the Grey's triumphant rebirth as Gandalf the White, the tune incorporates ambient keyboard passages, martial rhythms, galloping instrumentals, and ethereal woodwinds to evoke a true vision of Middle-earth. Seldom have I heard a better piece of progressive rock.
Side II features another instrumental, "Earthrise", that continues in the mold established by Side I and gives the musicians a chance to strut their stuff - Andy Bardens' immediately recognizable guitar licks (shades of Dave Gilmour) and Pete Bardens' elegant keyboards especially standout. And last but not least comes the other candidate for my single favourite Camel song, the twelve-minute "Lady Fantasy" suite. Opening with a suitably bombastic blast of keyboards and drum fills, "Lady Fantasy" calls to mind the Doors in its organ-tinged verses and progresses through three movements and a good half-dozen major themes, alternating some of the softest, dreamiest moments on the album with some of the loudest and most intense. Another masterpiece.
Camel were never very popular, which is a damn shame, because they deserve a much wider audience than just progheads. If you'd like to delve into their uniquely dreamy brand of musical magic, MIRAGE would be a great place to start.
it doesn't get any better than this.......2007-04-05
Camel are the masters of knowing how to write memorable songs. The jams are melodic, not to mention creative. They include keyboards, guitars, flutes, drums, bass, organs, and who knows what else. All this adds up to one fantastic listen. Over and over again I listen to this album and can't believe how good it not only sounds, but IS. The music is great. Every song is written so carefully to the point of being extremely melodic. It's incredible.
I wish Camel would tour the USA more. Some of us over here LOVE this band. Heck, even my dad who doesn't listen to rock music anymore said he LOVES what this band is doing. "freefall" is SO melodic, "lady fantasy" will remind you of dreams you had as a child. Those dreams will return and be as pleasant as ever when listening to this song. The rest of the album maintains that pleasant dream atmosphere and helps me conclude this album is truly worth owning. If something ever happened to my copy, I'd buy another one immediately.
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Moonmadness
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ASIN: B00005V1B3 Release Date: 2002-06-10 |
Tracks:
- Aristillus
- Song Within a Song
- Chord Change
- Spirit of the Water
- Another Night
- Air Born
- Lunar Sea
- Another Night [Single Version][*]
- Spirit of the Water [#][*][Demo Version]
- Song Within a Song [#][*]
- Lunar Sea [*]
- Preparation/Dunkirk [#][*]
Album Description
UK reissue of 1976 album, remastered from the original tapes & includes 5 bonus tracks 'Another Night' (single version), 'Spirit Of The Water' (demo), 'Song Within A Song' (recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, London 14th April 1976), 'Lunar Sea' (recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, London 14th April 1976) & 'Preparation/Dunkirk' (recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon, London 14th April 1976). 2002.Album Details
Reissue and Remastered with Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. Includes New Liner Notes, Prevoiusly Unseen Photos and Memorabilia.Customer Reviews:
what an amazing experience.......2007-07-08
I also have another thing that urgently needs to be said, and this is also important- I'm an American who was born in the early 80's. I wasn't around when these 70's masterpieces were created and released to the public. I find it extraordinary that these musicians were able to write music that connects with me on a very personal level.
You know, people like to think "People from other countries have different traditions, and aren't really like me in any way" but that's completely NOT true because Camel manages to put creative images in my head that *very* few musicians seem to be able to do. Every time I listen to a Camel album and get caught up in the keyboards, guitar work or synth jams, a dream I had many years ago all of a sudden enters my head that I thought had been forgotten forever. Dreams that I had forgotten for years suddenly return and become the center of my thoughts.
It's amazing how these musicians who were writing music years before I was born were able to really glue me into their sound and style like it was completely natural. This music is just extremely *right* in every way. Sometimes I even think the band members feel like brothers to me.
When human beings write honest music, sometimes it works on a level that I believe they never thought was even possible, because the feeling of connection can be unbelievably strong sometimes. It's amazing, and goes to show how much alike people are. People like to say "Everyone's different" but not in this case. It's totally amazing to me how the dreams I have every night are very similar to the visions and the creations from this band. That will probably fascinate me until the end of time.
So yeah, Moonmadness is a great album, but so is everything else from Camel. You must look into this band. Put it on your "Must Do" list.
I know Camel didn't have as much success in the States that they probably wanted to, but I hope the surviving members are aware that the music they created back in the day really holds up well today, and that it's really a great experience listening to their music and getting caught up in their peaceful and honest dream world. I plan on keeping Camel's music alive forever. If I ever have kids, they will know this band.
A great buy for any lover of this band.......2007-06-13
A very warm and final album from the original lineup.......2007-03-18
The lineup on Moonmadness includes Andrew Latimer (electric and acoustic guitars, flute, and vocals); Pete Bardens (Hammond organ, electric piano, acoustic piano, mini-moog, ARP Odyssey, and vocals); Doug Ferguson (electric bass and lead vocal on Song within a Song); and Andy Ward (drums, percussion and voice on Aristillus). All of the musicians are very good and I especially like Pete's Hammond organ and especially his synthesizer work on this album - he gets some great synth sounds. The ensemble work is very good too - this is especially surprising given that Doug was on his way out of the band at this point. With respect to the vocal department, they are not necessarily Camel's strong suit but it does not ruin anything for me at all. Come to think of it, they seem to try and get around the vocal problem by subjecting the vocals to various electronic effects on a few tracks.
The seven tracks on the album range in length from 1'56" to 9'07". Musically, Moonmadness presents an excellent mixture of sprightly prog/jazz rock instrumentals; vocal tracks; softer more pastoral tracks (Spirit of the Water; Air Born) and longish proggy tracks including the synth-heavy Lunar Sea. There is not much of a hard feel to any of the tracks and everything is very "warm" sounding. There is also good use of melodies and harmonies on this album - they really spent a lot of time on them. Oh one last thing - it seems that the emphasis on repeated riffs (ostinatos) has been lessened somewhat and ensemble work/counterpoint is favored more.
This remastered album by Decca is excellent and features great sound quality, restored cover art, and loads of liner notes and photos of the band. The bonus tracks include a mix of singles, demos, and live recordings of Song within a Song, Lunar Sea, and Preparation/Dunkirk (from The Snow Goose). The live recordings were taken from a concert held at the Hammersmith Odeon on April 14, 1976. The sound quality is just OK although the performances are very good.
Moonmadness is a fantastic album and one of my favorites from the group and is very highly recommended along with the debut, The Snow Goose, and Rain Dances (1977).
Beautiful, melodic listening music.......2007-02-04
Awesome- Camel's best.......2005-12-14
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Camel
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ASIN: B00005YUAC Release Date: 2002-06-10 |
Tracks:
- Slow Yourself Down
- Mystic Queen
- Six Ate
- Seperation
- Never Let Go
- Curiosity
- Arubaluba
- Never Let Go [*]
- Homage to the God of Light [#][*]
Album Description
UK reissue of 1973 album, remastered from the original tapes & includes 2 bonus tracks 'Never Let Go' (single version-previously unreleased on CD) & 'Homage To The God of Light' (recorded live at Marquee Club-29th October 1974). 2002.Album Details
Re-mastered from the Original Tapes with Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. Album Includes New Liner Notes, Photos and Memorabilia.Customer Reviews:
Great Album.......2007-06-13
Very good unknown gem.......2006-09-13
Best of Camel.......2006-08-02
Camel's self-titled debut is, however, one of my very favorite albums and quite possibly Camel's strongest album as well. There's virtually no filler on this one and their energy is at its peak.
And in fact, this is not prog in the same way early Genesis is prog, to cite a reference in the genre. Camel from this age is quite a bit more rythmic and rocking. This doesn't happen in later albums, particularly towards the end of their career, when everything getts much more mellow, yet beautiful.
"Slow Yourself Down" sets the pace for the entire record, an upbeat track sang by Andy Latimer in his quite original tone. But it's "Never Let Go" (which has an even better rendition on "A Live Record") - my favorite Camel track - and "Arubaluba" that steal the record for me. "Six Ate" has this great grooving bass line as the backbone of the entire track while "Mystic Queen" is the most mellow track yet doesn't disappoint, being beautifully sung by bassist Doug Ferguson and featuring Bardens intensely exquisite keyboards. And everywhere Andy Ward's drumming is perfect for the mood.
I find Camel to be an essential band in the genre, and as I find this to be their best effort, this record is also essential, even if you're probably better served with next year's "Mirage" for a more progressive output.
A great debut.......2006-05-30
The musicians on this debut comprise the classic Camel lineup including great guitarist Andy Latimer (vocals on Slow Yourself Down and Separation); keyboardist Peter Bardens (Hammond organ, mellotron, VCS3, acoustic piano, and vocals on Never Let Go), great drummer Andy Ward; and bassist Doug Ferguson (vocals on Mystic Queen and Curiousity. All of the guys are fantastic musicians and the vocals are not bad at all, although they do not seem very confident about their vocal abilities. Andy Latimer is a great guitarist and easily quotes from range of styles. I also like Pete's use of the synthesizers and the mellotron - he was a very tasteful player and knew exactly where certain sounds worked best on this album. I guess it is worth noting that synthesizer use is pretty scarce on this album, although synthesizers would be used a lot on subsequent albums. Sadly Pete Bardens passed away in 2002, and this reissued album was dedicated to him.
The seven tracks on the album are all in the 4-7 minute range and are great examples of Camels jazzy, yet very English, brand of progressive rock. In fact, the instrumental track Six Ate is probably the best illustration on the album of Camel's ability to seamlessly mix jazzy and prog styles together. For those of that are wondering, there is a rock side to Camel on this debut, which really comes through with Andy's guitar work - especially on the thunderous and riff-heavy Separation and instrumental track Arubaluba. Other tracks that are great include the spacey Mystic Queen, and my personal favorite Never Let Go, which features haunting parts played on the acoustic guitar and a ton of glorious mellotron with string setting, before breaking into a vigorous rock workout. Believe it or not, Never Let Go features a sprightly mellotron solo. In that this instrument was notoriously difficult to play, it was never used as a solo instrument but more as a sustained backdrop. I guess it shows you just how good Pete was. The remaining tracks are also excellent and feature tight musicianship.
This remastered album features excellent sound quality, along with the restored cover art, a few band photos, and loads of liner notes. There are two bonus tracks including a single version of Never Let Go and a 19'01" live track entitled Homage to the God of Light. Homage to the God of Light was recorded on October 29, 1974 at the Marquee Club. The live track is pretty well recorded and is a great jam.
All in all, this is a great Camel album and is very highly recommended along with Mirage (1974); my personal favorite, The Snow Goose (1975); Moonmadness (1976); and Rain Dances (1977), which features Richard Sinclair on bass/lead vocals.
Diamond in the rough.......2006-05-17
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Breathless
Camel Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000006TSC Release Date: 1992-06-29 |
Tracks:
- Breathless
- Echoes
- Wing And A Prayer
- Down On The Farm
- Starlight Ride
- Summer Lightning
- You Make Me Smile
- The Sleeper
- Rainbow's End
Album Description
1978 album for British progressive rock act.Customer Reviews:
This is actually not bad at all.......2007-04-14
The lineup at this point included Andrew Latimer (acoustic and electric guitars, Yamaha CS80/50, Vocals); Peter Bardens (electric piano, acoustic piano, synthesizers, Hammond organ, Vocals); Mel Collins (Flute, Saxophones); Richard Sinclair (Bass guitar, Vocals); Andy Ward (Drums, Percussion); and Dave Sinclair (Keyboards (uncredited)). In general the playing by all members is very good, with Andy Latimer contributing some fine playing. I have always been a fan of Richard Sinclair's vocals and bass playing, so his presence on the album works for me. Following this album, Peter and Richard left the band. Apparently Peter and Andy Latimer were having problems (creative differences), which precipitated his leaving the band, and he was replaced by two keyboardists for the Breathless tour including Dave Sinclair and Jan Schelhaas. For the I Can See Your House from Here album (1979), the two keyboardist approach was maintained, yet with Jan and ex-Happy the Man player Kit Watkins.
The tracks on the album range in length from 2'59" to 7'17". In general the music on Breathless is considerably different from previous albums and includes a greater percentage of mainstream styles, including a sizeable chunk of disco (Summer Lightning, You Make me Smile). The inclusion of Richard's whimsical Canterbury track `Down on the Farm", while entirely appropriate for a Caravan album, seems a bit out of place on a Camel album - although his vocal part is very interesting. Wing and a Prayer is not completely awful, and is actually just a very nice and well-written pop song, with great woodwind parts.
Although this may all sound very unappealing, there are however some nice "Camel-ish" pieces on the album that are actually very good including the highly melodic title track, the vigorous progger Echoes, the delicate Starlight Ride, another atmospheric/proggy track The Sleeper, and the synthesizer heavy and gloomy closing track Rainbow's End. I am of the opinion that the album is worth picking up just for those five tracks alone, albeit at a "used copy" price.
Well there you have it. While Breathless may not represent Camel at their finest hour, there is still some good material here. For those of you that are new to the band, start out with any of these albums: Camel (1973); Mirage (1974); The Snow Goose (1975); Moonmadness (1976); and Rain Dances (1977). Of these albums, The Snow Goose is a fan favorite (mine too).
melodies all over it.......2007-04-14
Breathless Camel.......2007-01-21
Come into the warmth.......2006-05-07
An extremely entertaining mix of pop and prog rock.......2006-03-20
This album is so full of hooks. The rhythm section is tight and the album is very well played. Wing on a prayer almost makes me wanna sing. Breathless has one of the most beatifull melodies I have ever heard and a slow section in the middle separates it from a normal pop love song. I don't understand why so many people hate Down on the farm. I was so happy when I first heard it and this album, because I noticed that this band can change their style and not just make rip offs of past glories. You have to understand two facts. Camel was under pressure to make a hit album and they wanted to evolve and expand their musical influences. In my opinion Camel succeeded and made their most entertaining album ever.
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Rain Dances
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ASIN: B000006XDW Release Date: 1991-12-02 |
Tracks:
- First Light
- Metrognome
- Tell Me
- Highways of the Sun
- Unevensong
- One of These Early Days I'll Get an Early Night
- Elke
- Skylines
- Rain Dances
- Highways of the Sun [Single Version]
Album Description
BIN# R00552 1977 Gama Records release. 1991 Decca Recoeds release out of the U.K.Album Details
1977 Release from the Group that Has Been Compared to King Crimson and Yes. Brian Eno Contributes Keyboard Parts on "Elke"; Also Includes the Standout Title Track and "Metrognome" plus Seven More. The Tour Coinciding with this Release Was a European Sell-Out Extravaganza.Customer Reviews:
What can i say? Unique!.......2006-08-30
Should I get this one?.......2006-07-08
Don't get me wrong. I love Camel, so I really like this album; however, if you just start going with this band, you should go with "Camel", "Mirage", and "The Snow Goose" first.
Anyway, a great album, but not as good as the other three.
Mott Dances.......2005-10-11
But it was not until 1973 that there first self titled album was released , and although attracting a little critical attention ,did little else , listening to it now it is hardly surprising as it is a little twee. The second album got them all the publicity they wanted, but mostly not for musical reasons. Mirage ( 1974) came in an album cover replicating a packet of Camel cigarettes, which got them sued by Camel cigarettes in America , and their then turned the tables and got an endorsement from Camel cigarettes Europe , giving away free packets of five Camels to all the audience members at all their European gigs of that tour , so they ended up with enormous hassles in the States and had to change their album covers, and in Europe were hated by the Anti-smoking league for ever. Because of this their next album the all instrumental album based on Paul Gallico's Snow Goose, had to be called 'Music inspired by the Snow Goose' due to the authors abhorrence to all things nicotine. Never the less Snow Goose was Camel's breakthrough album opening up the world market to the band . Due to the record companies ( Decca) horror at having put out an all instrumental album last time the bands next effort was a bit of a compromise between band and record executives with all the songs having actual words, chorus's and verses ' Moonmadness'(1975).
By now the sound of the Camel had moved far away from the rock'n'roll roots of 'The Brew', and after the tour too promote ' Moonmadness' Doug Ferguson decided to hang up his camel saddle and move on. Famed session saxophonist Mel Collins had toured with the band on the last tour , and was now keen to carry on his association with the band and was to be an unofficial member of the band for all further albums and tours for the next decade. But a new bass player and vocalist had to be found. Top of the list was original founding member of both ' Caravan ' and 'Hatfield and The North' Richard Sinclair,who just happened to be arriving back from his holidays that had helped him recuperate after the termination of his last band ' Hatfield and The North' . One telephone call was all it took and Richard Sinclair packed up his bags in Canterbury and joined the dromedary cause.This gave Camel so much more artillery under it's hump. Richard Sinclair was blessed with very distinctive vocal chords , far superior to anything the band had in their armoury before , Mel Collins being full time available to the band meant much more space to stretch out in the long instrumental sections of the Camel material ( Does that make Camelhair?) . Whilst Andy Ward on the drums was much more comfortable with Richard Sinclair's more jazzy bass style than the straight ahead rock style of the previous incumbent .
The new album ' Raindances ' ( 1977) was waited for with great anticipation by the massed ranks of Camel fans. They were not disappointed ,the album opens up with a bright instrumental titled 'First Light' which would of been far more aptly titled ' Introducing Mel and Richard' the first three minutes of the song are taken up by some pretty impressive musical jousting between, the keyboard work of Peter Bardens , and Andy Latimer's guitar, as they quieten down it is left to the nifty bass work of Richard Sinclair to take the next section of the song onwards before handing over to Mel Collins who brings this musical section to a rousing conclusion with a rasping saxophone solo . A very satisfying beginning.
After this the album is split into two halves the next four songs having vocals , whilst the remaining four are instrumentals . ( This copy has got the single version of 'Highways of the Sun ' tagged onto the end , completely unnecessary as it is only the original version with a thirty second section chopped out of the middle.) ' Metrgnome' is a good Camel song where you feel that the new band are getting acquainted ,'Tell Me ' is an emotional ballad written by Latimer and Bardens ,but giving full reign to the voice and bass work of Richard Sinclair.On ' Highway Of The Sun' Camel almost get carried away with themselves , with its driving marching keyboard driven beat , and chirpy vocals , why this was not a hit single at the time is beyond me . "Unevensong' follows in equally upbeat mood, showing why Camel were such a class act crammed into its five minutes thirty three seconds are well sung verses, crystal clear solo's from each member of the band , giving you a complete saga in its allotted time .
The instrumentals are all extremely well executed each with it's own distinctive flavour .The wonderfully titled ' One Of These Days I'll Get An Early Night' the only title credited to every member of the band is a vicious slab of fusion jazz/rock , with each soloist elbowing his way to the front of the instrumental stage to have his share of the limelight , grabbing on literally with two hands , and giving their instruments a real shake .
'Elke' is a slowly burning piece written by Andy Latimer reminding you of his Scottish heritage , and featuring Andy's haunting flute work, underpinned by some sympathetic keyboards from Peter Bardens . ' Skylines shakes you out of your reverie with it's funky beat,and jaunty attitude , Richard Sinclair's bass work again excels. The album closes with the title track which lulls you along to its conclusion on a very comfortable cushion of sound.
Camel found themselves with another huge hit on their hands and soon set out on another world tour to promote the album , recording a lot of the concerts along the way for their next album a double live vinyl affair , wittily titled 'A Live Record'. Which has recently been re-released with lots of bonus material on it bringing the total playing time up to over two and a half hours.
The success of these albums by Camel is all the more remarkable by the fact that these songs of grace and dignity were released whilst punk rock was sweeping all before them . Most bands of Camel's ilk were never stood a chance and were blown away, but the Camel is a sturdy animal, and made great commercial progress , filling concert halls and selling albums wherever it went.
Unfortunately 1976, 1977, and 1978, were to be the Camels finest years , disaster was only just around the corner, but for now sit back and enjoy the beast at it's best.
Mott The Dog.
Overall, better than Moon Madness, but no monster track.......2004-11-28
This album is good throughout. It doesn't have any weak tracks. Overall, I think it is a better album than the previous Moon Madness. The only thing is that this album does not have a monster track, like Lunar Sea from Moon Madness, or Lady Fantasy from Mirage or Never Let Go from the first album.
This is the first album to include Richard Sinclair on bass and vocals. Sinclair was in Caravan, Hatfield and the North and other groups. He has a very distinctive voice and style of playing bass. Fortunately, he does not have much impact on Camel's sound on this album. On the next album, Breathless, he has a much greater presence and that album suffers. It is not that I don't like Sinclair. I really enjoy much of his stuff. But, at times he can be overbearing and his attempts at whimsey can fall flat.
wonderful album.......2003-07-22
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Rajaz
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ASIN: B00002MIDO Release Date: 2005-08-08 |
Tracks:
- Three Wishes
- Lost And Found
- The Final Encore
- Rajaz
- Shout
- Straight To My Heart
- Sahara
- Lawrence
Album Description
1999 album by this excellent British prog band featuring Andrew Latimer, Colin Bass and Dave Stewart plus a guest appearance from Kayak's Ton Scherpenzeel. EightAlbum Details
1999 Release features the Modern-Day Line-Up of Founder Andrew Latimer, Colin Bass, Ton Scherpenzeel, Dave Stewart and Barry Phillips. Features the Title Track, "Three Wishes", "Straight to My Heart" and Five More.Customer Reviews:
Great More Recent Effort From Camel.......2006-11-22
Guitarzan.......2005-06-02
Camel are there for 30 years now.. and maturing like wine.........2004-03-28
But Camel amazed me once more, this time with Rajaz.
A combo of excellent and moving, moodfull songs.
This really is "close the blinds, tuen of the light, put the stereo on 12 and sheer enjoy" music.
You could talk about best guitarist ever, but that soon gives me a headache as it's so difficult.
But there are only a few guitarist who play so unique, that you can immidiatly hear that it's David Gilmour, or Steve Rothery..
But in terms of someone that plays the guitar So beautiful and moving. That it goes straight to your heart and soul, and can easily make you cry, I would immidiatly say : Andy Latimer.
No doubt about it. This man deserves an Oscar for the 'way' he plays!
It's a shame that a band like Camel is so unknown, but I personally see it as having a Rembrand in my attick that nobody knows off..
Ps. For the uniniciated.. listen, shiver, buy, listen 100 times more ..and sheer enjoyyyy :)
Camel's best since Moonmadness.......2004-01-08
Maybe one fo the reason this is so good is that it is nothing like the Camel of the eighties. Instead it seems to borrow from many other progressive bands. It sounds just like Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here in the beginning and there are other parts that are similar to David Gilmore's music. Parts sound like Genesis, Alan Parsons and early Uriah Heep. There are some Indian influences to the music, as the title would suggest.
I have been a fan of Camel ever since I heard their second album, Mirage in 1974. I continued to buy Camel albums much long than I should have. After their 4th album, Moonmadness, Camel changed direction, and tried to create short, radio accessible songs. Then they tried to change their music to meet the evolving music styles of the time. For the most part, they were unsuccessful. Then, Camel became Andy Latimer's solo project after other 3 original members left the group, and he changed to a soft pop/jazz sound.
I completely gave up on Camel after seeing them perform the album Dust and Dreams in a small bar. Although Camel was starting to return to the original progressive sound, the piece was unemotional and boring.
Dust and Dreams is a major improvement over Camels eighties work. I haven't heard some of the more recent CD's such as Coming of Age, Harbour of Tears and Nod & A Wink, so I don't know if they match the quality of Rajaz.
I would avoid anything from the eighties. There is some good work, but the very early stuff or the more recent stuff is better. The one exception is I Can See Your House From Here. On this CD, Camel took a stab at the new wave music style of the times. They were actually fairly successful. It was their most popular album and Remote Romance was a commercial success. I actually heard being played in the edgy young man's clothing section of Macy's called Sprockets.
this may be Camels best.......2003-08-17
Average customer rating:
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A Live Record
Camel Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Britain
| British Isles
| Europe
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Live Albums
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Live Albums
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
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ASIN: B00005V1B4 Release Date: 2002-06-10 |
Tracks:
- First Light
- Metrognome
- Unevensong
- Skylines
- A Song Within A Song
- Lunar Sea
- Raindances
- Never Let Go
- Chord Change
- Ligging At Louis'
- Lady Fantasy: Encounter/Smiles For You/Lady Fantasy
Tracks:
- Spoken Introduction...
- The Great Marsh
- Rhayader
- Rhayader Goes To Town
- Sanctuary
- Fritha
- The Snow Goose
- Friendship
- Migration
- Rhayader Alone
- Flight Of The Snow Goose
- Preparation
- Dunkirk
- Epitaph
- Fritha Alone
- La Princesse Perdue
- The Great Marsh
- The White Rider
- Another Night
Album Description
UK reissue of 1978 album, remastered from the original tapes & includes seven previously unreleased bonus tracks 'First Light', 'Metrognome', 'Unevenson', 'Raindances', 'Chord Change', 'The White Rider' & 'Another Night'. 2002.Album Details
Reissue and Remastered with Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. Includes New Liner Notes, Prevoiusly Unseen Photos and Memorabilia.Customer Reviews:
An excellent album........2007-05-21
LIGHT IT UP.......2007-05-09
The classic Camel days.......2007-04-29
Better than the original vinyl in every way.......2005-12-28
Greatest Camel discs!.......2005-11-25
Average customer rating:
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Harbour of Tears
Camel Manufacturer: Camel Productions ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Britain
| British Isles
| Europe
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Progressive
| Rock
| Indie Music
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| Music
Rock
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| Stores
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ASIN: B000006XDP Release Date: 2006-12-18 |
Tracks:
- Irish Air
- Irish Air (Instrumental Reprise)
- Harbour Of Tears
- Cobh
- Send Home The Slates
- Under The Moon
- Watching The Bobbins
- Generations
- Eyes Of Ireland
- Running From Paradise
- End Of The Day
- Coming Of Age
- The Hour Candle (A Song For My Father)
Customer Reviews:
A Rare Treasure!.......2005-09-04
What could possibly be finer.......2005-04-08
device player important.......2002-09-01
Not a starting point.........2000-06-19
But Harbour takes a different approach--not a horrible approach--but different. The short instrumental pieces seem to be avenues for the guitarist alone, over synths that generally just float into the next track. And the vocals are more of a presence... not in a totally disagreeable way, but then Camel, like most bands, is better when they just shut up and play..
This isn't a bad album, but should definitely not be your first experience with Camel.
Average customer rating:
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The Miraculous Hump Returns from the Moon
The Sopwith Camel Manufacturer: Generic Type ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
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General
| Rock
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| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
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Psychedelic Rock
| Classic Rock
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Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Oldies
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
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ASIN: B00005B2V7 Release Date: 2001-04-10 |
Tracks:
- Fazon
- Coke, Suede and Waterbeds
- Dancin' Wizard
- Sleazy Street
- Orange Peel
- Oriental Fantasy
- Sneaky Smith
- Monkeys on the Moon
- Astronaut Food
- Brief Synthophonia
Album Description
Full title - The Miraculous Hump Returns From The Moon. After sitting in the Warner Bros. Vault for 28 years, the Camel's long awaited early 70's album has finally been put on CD. 2002.Customer Reviews:
70s underground radio classic.......2006-10-08
Maybe the best lyrics of any rock album released in the 70s, maybe best ever.
The Melodious Hump Hits The Bullseye.......2006-06-23
Timeless Music.......2004-04-10
Safe As Milk.......2002-07-24
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Way ahead of their time........2002-01-11
Rap Music:
- Camembert Electrique [Import]
- Carousel Waltz
- Chance [Extra tracks] [Import]
- Collection [Import]
- Dedicated to the One I Love [Import]
- Derringer Live [Live]
- Discipline [Original recording remastered]
- El Subliminoso [Extra tracks] [Original recording remastered]
- Episode
- F**K Forever Pt.2 [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]
Recommended Music:
Rendano: Piano Quintet/9 Piano Pieces
Roland Kirk's Finest Hour [Import]
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 23