Camel - The Complete SHM-CD Set (1973 -1984) [12 Albums, 15 CDs] {2009 Japan Mini LP SHM-CD Remaster UICY-94130~94145}

Features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player). Cover artwork faithfully replicates original one. Comes with lyrics and a description. Camel was still finding its signature sound on its eponymous debut album. At this point, Peter Bardens and his grand, sweeping organ dominate the group's sound and Andrew Latimer sounds tentative on occasion.

Furthermore, the music fluctuates uncertainly between arty improvisations, jazz-inflected rhythms, and uninspired rock numbers. There are hints of promise scattered throughout the album, yet the record never gels into something special.

tracklist:
01. Slow Yourself Down
02. Mystic Queen
03. Six Ate
04. Separation
05. Never Let Go
06. Curiosity
07. Arubaluda
08. Never Let Go (Single Version) (bonus track)
09. Homage To The God Of Light (Live) (bonus track)






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With their second album, Mirage, Camel begin to develop their own distinctive sound, highlighted by the group's liquid, intricate rhythms and the wonderful, unpredictable instrumental exchanges by keyboardist Pete Bardens and guitarist Andy Latimer. Camel also distinguish themselves from their prog rock peers with the multi-part suite "Lady Fantasy," which suggests the more complex directions they would take a few albums down the line. Also, Latimer's graceful flute playing distinguishes several songs on the record, including "Supertwister," and it's clear that he has a more supple technique than such contemporaries as Ian Anderson. Camel are still ironing out some quirks in their sound on Mirage, but it's evident that they are coming into their own.

tracklist:
01. Freefall
02. Supertwister
03. Nimrodel - The procession - The White Rider
04. Earthrise
05. Lady Fantasy: Encounter/Smiles For You/Lady Fantasy
06. Supertwister (Bonus, Live 1974)
07. Mystic Queen (Bonus, Live 1974)
08. Arubaluba (Bonus, Live 1974)
09. Lady Fantasy (Bonus, Original Basing Street Studios Mix 1973)






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Camel's classic period started with The Snow Goose, an instrumental concept album based on a novella by Paul Gallico. Although there are no lyrics on the album – two songs feature wordless vocals – the music follows the emotional arc of the novella's story, which is about a lonely man named Rhayader who helps nurse a wounded snow goose back to health with the help of a young girl called Fritha he recently befriended. Once the goose is healed, it is set free, but Fritha no longer visits the man because the goose is gone. Later, Rhayader is killed in battle during the evacuation of Dunkirk. The goose returned during the battle, and it is then named La Princesse Perdue, symbolizing the hopes that can still survive even during the evils of war. With such a complex fable to tell, it is no surprise that Camel keep their improvisational tendencies reined in, deciding to concentrate on surging, intricate soundscapes that telegraph the emotion of the piece without a single word. And even though The Snow Goose is an instrumental album, it is far more accessible than some of Camel's later work, since it relies on beautiful sonic textures instead of musical experimentation.

tracklist:
CD1
01. The Great Marsh
02. Rhayader
03. Rhayader Goes To Town
04. Sanctuary
05. Fritha
06. The Snow Goose
07. Friendship
08. Migration
09. Rhayader Alone
10. Flight Of The Snow Goose
11. Preparation [Instrumental Album Version]
12. Dunkirk [Instrumental Album Version]
13. Epitaph [Instrumental Album Version]
14. Fritha Alone [Instrumental Album Version]
15. La Princesse Perdue [Instrumental Album Version]
16. The Great Marsh [Instrumental Reprise Version]
17. Flight Of The Snow Goose [Instrumental Single Edit]
18. Rhayader [Instrumental Single Edit]
19. Rhayader Goes To Town ["Live At The Marquee" Instrumental Version]
20. The Snow Goose/Freefall ["Live At The Marquee" Instrumental Version]

CD2
01. Rhayader Goes To Town [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
02. Sanctuary [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
03. Snow Goose [BBC Radio One "In Concert"], The - (live)
04. Migration [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
05. Rhayader Alone [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
06. Flight Of The Snow Goose [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
07. Preparation [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
08. Dunkirk [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
09. Epitaph [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
10. La Princesse Perdue [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
11. The Great Marsh [BBC Radio One "In Concert"] - (live)
12. Selections from The Snow Goose [BBC TV "Old Grey Whistle Test"] - (live)







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Abandoning the lovely soundscapes of Snow Goose, Camel delved into layered guitar and synthesizers similar to those of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here on the impressive Moonmadness. Part of the reason behind the shift in musical direction was the label's insistence that Camel venture into more commercial territory after the experimental Snow Goose, and it is true that the music on Moonmadness is more akin to traditional English progressive rock, even though it does occasionally dip into jazz-fusion territory with syncopated rhythms and shimmering keyboards. Furthermore, the songs are a little more concise and accessible than those of its predecessor. That doesn't mean Camel has abandoned art. Moonmadness is indeed a concept album, based loosely on the personalities of each member – "Chord Change" is Peter Bardens, "Air Born" is Andy Latimer, "Lunar Sea" is Andy Ward and "Another Night" is Doug Ferguson. Certainly, it's a concept that is considerably less defined than that of Snow Goose, and the music isn't quite as challenging, yet that doesn't mean that Moonmadness is devoid of pleasure. In fact, with its long stretches of atmospheric instrumentals and spacy solos, it's quite rewarding.

tracklist:
CD1
01. Aristillus [Instrumental Version]
02. Song Within A Song
03. Chord Change [Instrumental Version]
04. Spirit Of The Water
05. Another Night [Album Version]
06. Air Born
07. Lunar Sea [Instrumental Studio Version]
08. Another Night [Single Version]
09. Spirit Of The Water [Demo Version]
10. Lunar Sea ["Live At The Hammersmith Odeon" Instrumental Version]

CD2
01. Song Within A Song [Live At The Hammersmith Odeon]
02. Excerpt From The Snow Goose (First Three Tracks) [Live At The Hammersmith Odeon]
03. Air Born [Live At Hammersmith Odeon]
04. Chord Change [Live At Hammersmith Odeon]
05. The White Rider [Live At Hammersmith Odeon]
06. Preparation/Dunkirk [Live At The Hammersmith Odeon Instrumental Version]
07. Another Night [Live At Hammersmith Odeon]
08. Lady Fantasy [Live At Hammersmith Odeon]







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The band's fifth release, Rain Dances is Camel at its best, offering the most consistent and representative package in their saga. The addition of Caravan-cofounder Richard Sinclair proves profitable, as do a few colorist touches by Brian Eno on "Elke." Mel Collins' woodwinds are among the highlights, especially on "Tell Me" and the title track. From beginning to end, this project flows gracefully.

tracklist:
01. First Light
02. Metrognome
03. Tell Me
04. Highways Of The Sun
05. Unevensong
06. One Of These Days I'll Get An Early Night
07. Elke
08. Skylines
09. Rain Dances
10. Highways Of The Sun [Single Version]
11. First Light [BBC "Sight & Sound" In Concert]
12. Metrognome [BBC "Sight & Sound" In Concert]
13. Unevensong [BBC "Sight & Sound" In Concert]
14. Skylines [BBC "Sight & Sound" In Concert] G
15. Highways Of The Sun [BBC "Sight & Sound" In Concert]
16. One Of These Days I'll Get An Early Night [BBC "Sight & Sound" In Concert]






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With Rain Dances, Camel began exploring shorter, more concise songs, but it wasn't until its follow-up, Breathless, that they truly made a stab at writing pop songs. Although they didn't completely abandon improvisational prog rock – there are several fine, jazzy interludes – most of the record is comprised of shorter songs designed for radio play. While the group didn't quite achieve that goal, Breathless is nevertheless a more accessible record than Camel's other albums, which tend to focus on instrumentals. Here, they try to be a straightforward prog rock band, and while the results are occasionally a little muddled, it is on the whole surprisingly successful.

tracklist:
01. Breathless
02. Echoes
03. Wing and Prayer
04. Down on the Farm
05. Starlight Ride
06. Summer Lightening
07. You Make me Smile
08. The Sleeper
09. Rainbow's End






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This newly remastered 2 cd set "A Live Record" provides a great retrospective for the early years of progressive rock greats Camel. The set contains portions of live concerts from the years 1974-1977 with an amazing 7 bonus tracks not on the original lp version. The second disk contains an inspired performance of their entire "Snow Goose" lp with the London Symphony Orchestra. "Snow Goose" was arguably the band's best album. The early period of Camel which appeared on their first four albums featured Andrew Latimer on guitar, flute and vocals, Peter Bardens on keyboards and vocals, Doug Ferguson on bass and vocals and Andy Ward on drums and vocals. After their "Moonmadness" album Doug Ferguson left the band to be replaced by bassit Richard Sinclair from Caravan and Mel Collins from King Crimson was also added on saxophone and flute. This early period of the band tended to focus on instrumental material with a few vocals added. After the "Snow Goose" album Decca increased pressure on the band to include more vocals for commercial appeal. Highlights of the disk are many. The "Snow Goose" material mentioned earlier and favorites like "Another Night", "Lady Fantasy", and "Chord Change" are included. Andy Ward's drumming is solid but jazzy at the same time as heard in the great live version of "Lunar Sea" included here. The sweet "Song Within A Song" illustrates what lyrical writers Andrew Latimer and Peter Bardens were. The disk also contains a version of "Liggin" At Louis'" from Peter Barden's solo career. The band were fond of changing tempo and feel during songs as in "Lady Fantasy" when the song starts out soft and slow and later features some vicious guitar work by Latimer. He is one of a number of unsung guitarists from the seventies. His playing while lyrical and not overly flashy remains interesting. He reminds me at times of Jeff Beck during his quieter moments or Andy Powell or Ted Turner from Wishbone Ash with whom Camel sometimes toured. Camel's first four albums are highly recommended especially "Snow Goose" and "Moonmadness". Each of these albums have been remastered with improved sound and bonus tracks. These 4 albums contain more bonus live material from the same concerts featured on this newly remastered version of "A Live Record" not available here due to time constraints.

tracklist:
CD1
01. First Light
02. Metrognome
03. Unevensong
04. Skylines
05. A Song Within a Song
06. Lunar Sea
07. Raindances
08. Never Let Go
09. Chord Change
10. Ligging at Louis'
11. Lady Fantasy

CD2
01. Spoken introduction by Peter Bardens
02. The Great Marsh
03. Rhayader
04. Rhayader goes to Town
05. Sanctuary
06. Fritha
07. The Snow Goose
08. Friendship
09. Migration
10. Rhayader Alone
11. Flight of the Snow Goose
12. Preparation
13. Dunkirk
14. Epitaph
15. Fritha Alone
16. La Princesse Perdue
17. The Great Marsh
18. The White Rider
19. Another Night







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Although not an honest representation of the band's character, this is undoubtedly their most popular work. The one-time addition of American Kit Watkins produces some fine keyboard lead work. Rupert Hine's resourceful production and appearances by Phil Collins and Mel Collins round out this strong import release. "Survival" and "Who We Are" feature some fine orchestrations, and guitarist Latimer delivers some exceptional lead work on the album's closer, "Ice."

tracklist:
01. Wait
02. Your Love Is Stranger Than Mine
03. Eye Of The Storm
04. Who We Are
05. Survival
06. Hymn Ho Her
07. Neon Magic
08. Remote Romance
09. Ice






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A new, larger version of Camel debuted on Nude, a concept album about a Japanese soldier stranded on a deserted island during World War II and staying there, oblivious to the outside world, for 29 years. More ambitious than the preceding I Can See Your House from Here, Nude is in many ways just as impressive. Although it's a less accessible effort, it has a number of quite intriguing passages, particularly since it boasts heavier improvisation, orchestration, and even some worldbeat influences. It's not as spacy as Camel's earlier progressive rock records, yet it is quite atmospheric, creating its own entrancing world.

tracklist:
01. City Life
02. Nude
03. Drafted
04. Docks
05. Beached
06. Landscapes
07. Changing Places
08. Pomp & Circumstance
09. Please Come Home
10. Reflections
11. Captured
12. The Homecoming
13. Lies
The Last Farewell
14. The Birthday Cake
15. Nude's Return






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Following the ambitious song cycle Nude, Camel attempted their version of an Alan Parsons Project album with The Single Factor. Considering that Parsons was having hits that year with songs like "Eye in the Sky," it's not surprising that Camel tried to capture the same audience, yet their talent didn't lay with pop music – it lay with atmospheric instrumentals and creating detailed soundscapes. Consequently, The Single Factor sounds a little forced and often fails to capture the group's magic, even though there a few strong moments on the record.

tracklist:
01. No Easy Answer
02. You Are the One
03. Heroes
04. Selva
05. Lullabye
06. Sasquatch
07. Manic
08. Camelogue
09. Today's Goodbye
10. A Heart Desire
11. End Peace
12. You Are The One (Edited Version) (bonus track)






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Unlike many bands whose careers had begun in the 1970s, CAMEL continued to enjoy much success in the 1980s, producing fine studio albums such as Stationary Traveller. Although destined to be Camel's final studio album for Decca Records, it was a fine effort. The subsequent tour to promote the album was equally memorable and was captured by Decca at Hammersmith Odeon on 11th May 1984 and released as the album Pressure Points later that year. The concert saw CAMEL joined by former member PETER BARDENS for certain songs during the set, including a rousing version of Lady Fantasy, not featured on the original album.

tracklist:
01. Pressure Points
02. Drafted
03. Captured
04. Lies
05. Sasquatch
06. West Berlin
07. Fingertips
08. Wait
09. Rhayader
10. Rhayader Goes To Town






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Although Stationary Traveller is a concept album, it musically falls into line with its predecessor The Single Factor, which found Camel trying to refashion themselves as the Alan Parsons Project. Where The Single Factor suffered from Camel's attempts to write pop hooks, Stationary Traveller finds the band breaking down the barriers, opening up their relatively concise songs with long, atmospheric instrumental passages. The album's lyrics, which were written by Susan Hoover, is about the divided Berlin and its political, emotional and physical divides. Often, the lyrics and music – which work as individual entities – don't quite work together, since they follow different emotional directions, yet the record remains a worthwhile listen, especially since it features Andy Latimer on pan flute.

tracklist:
01. Pressure Points (instrumental)
02. Refugee
03. Vopos
04. Cloak and Dagger Man
05. Stationary Traveller (instrumental)
06. West Berlin
07. Fingertips
08. Missing (instrumental)
09. After Words (instrumental)
10. Long Goodbyes