Camel

[David]

I don't know well this band, but I saw a few vids on Youtube.
As you Frosties* are so skilled in prog music, I have to ask : what album should I buy first?

Thanks!

[D S]

Camel are a great band - good choice there David!

They started as a 1970s proggy 4 piece and have undergone more line-up changes than Yes but always containing Andy Latimer, who to many is Camel.  Some love the early stuff (the Snow Goose, Mirage, etc), others the 1980s material (personally I love Stationary Traveller), and others the post-Decca material (Dust and Dreams, Harbour of Tears, Rajaz, A Nod & A Wink).

Not knowing your particular tastes, I would suggest either 'Lunar Sea - An Anthology 1973- 1985', which is a great compliation of their time with Decca records or, to show just how good they are live, 'Never Let Go', which has a 'greatest hits' set on CD 1 and then Dust and Dreams in its entirety on CD 2.

Sadly, Andy Latimer has not been too well the last couple of years but he seems to be on the mend now.  Although Camel will never tour again, there is hope for the odd show once in a while and maybe a new album.

http://www.camelproductions.com/

[stelyn]

My fave Camel album is Moonmadness, dont think there's a bad track on it!
Highly recommended    

Have to agree with DS about "Never Let Go" as a live album to give a decent account of the band.

By the way re. Jems blog about Foss Patterson, he was one of the many keyboard chaps to play on Camel albums after Pete Bardens left the band.

Steve

[Dodie]

I agree with all of the above. Camel are one of the great unsung bands - their music isn't often spectacular, flashy, eccentric or harmonically complex, and so they seem to get unfairly forgotten when people talk about the golden age of early 70s prog. But Andy Latimer is certainly one of my favourite guitarists because he plays with a lot of heart and a lovely tone.

I don't know the compilation mentioned above, but there was a double-disc set called "Echoes" that is a well-chosen overview of the band's stuff.

There are certainly different phases in the band's style - but good things in most of them. I'd be sorry to be without "Mirage" (for me the punchiest of the early albums; others might say "The Snow Goose" or "Moonmadness" are better), "Breathless" (not every track is a gem, but "Echoes" is tasty) and "Nude" (the best of the middle period, in which things crept a bit towards sounding like the Alan Parsons Project, but maybe with more passionate playing). The only album I'd avoid recommending outright is "The Single Factor", though there are two or three special instrumental tracks on that too.

The later post-Decca albums are mostly very good - I love "Harbour of Tears" and "Rajaz". I second the comment about the live album "Never Let Go", though I slightly prefer the next live album "Coming of Age" (with the afore-mentioned Foss Patterson on keys), on which the band sounds to me a bit tighter and gutsier. But certainly those two live albums should hook anyone that likes unpushy prog.

I think some of the DVD version of "Coming of Age" is on youtube, so that should give you an idea...

Cheers

David

[JamesA]

I have always enjoyed Stationary Traveller, and find it to be an easily accessible album.

[D S]

Camel are one of the great unsung bands - their music isn't often spectacular, flashy, eccentric or harmonically complex, and so they seem to get unfairly forgotten when people talk about the golden age of early 70s prog. But Andy Latimer is certainly one of my favourite guitarists because he plays with a lot of heart and a lovely tone.

Absolutely.  I think he's up there with Dave Gilmour for feel, tone and correct choice of notes, and not just 'look at me, I can play fast'!  Interestingly, he would have got the job of covering DG's role touring with Roger Waters a couple of years ago except for the fact that his voice couldn't quite reach DG's high notes.  The guitaring was not an issue though.
Ice and Sasquatch are classic examples of his tone and control.

[catherine]

He also pulls the most amazing faces as he plays - when I saw Camel live at the Junction in Cambridge a few years back I was absolutely fascinated by all the guitar gurning.

Great band; I love their work, and the recent output is also excellent - Rajaz and a Nod and a Wink are both well worth having. I've known and loved Mirage for almost 30 years now (that makes me feel really old - of course, i was VERY young when I bought it) so if I had to choose just one Camel album, that would be the one for me. But if I could take half a dozen to my desert island, I'd pack Nude, Moonmadness, Stationary Traveller, and Rajaz and a Nod and a Wink as well. I'd probably leave the Snow Goose at home though - that's OK but it's never stirred me in the same way that the others have.

[Brom]

Ditto to the above.

Camel and I go back a long way. My first ever gig - The Snow Goose tour in Swansea. Andy L is the master of the melodic guitar. Their music has definitely "progressed" over the years, from classic prog, through prog-pop in the eighties, a quiet spell until their re-emergence in the 90's with a more modern but back to roots kind of sound.

Almost any album, IMHO, is worth more than a listen (then I would say that   ) however, even "The Single Factor" which would probably fit in the Classic Rock magazine bracket of "One to avoid" has a couple of gems nestling in there.

For pure proggyness you can't go wrong with Mirage, The Snow Goose, Moonmadness, Nude, Rajaz. More symphonic?, try Dust and Dreams, and The Harbour of Tears. Most Camelites vote "Lady Fantasy" (Mirage), and "Ice" (I Can See Your House From Here) as their favourite tracks.

I too am wishing Andy Latimer a speedy recovery and hope to see him performing or recording again soon.

[Mouse]

I love Camel, and I'd recommend Moonmadness as a good introduction album. It was the first one I bought, and what an album it is! Sadly, I haven't been able to get hold of their post-Decca albums yet. No-one really seems to stock them apart from the Camel website. As soon as I get some spendable cash, I'm buying some!

In fact, Brom posted a link to a video of Ice live over on Jem's Blog in the comments of the Foss entry. It's a stunning performance!

Here's to Andrew Latimer, one of the most underrated guitar players and musicians ever, having a speedy recovery.