I was fortunate enough to know Pete Bardens circa 2000 and would drop by his place often for a cup of tea, a spliff and a chat. We didn't talk much of Camel but he did mention his leaving was a split was over the band's direction (and wasn't overly amicable). We mostly talked of his solo works, which I like more than Camel, and what he was working on at the time (his last release: "Art Of Levitation") He was always friendly and chatty, a nice guy and talented for sure.
I respect Luis's opinion, but they exist also people like me, and I'm probably not the only one, when the record is playing on the turntable, my brains don't process the lyrics at all. The music comes first, if there are vocals, the color of the voice attracts me the most, the lyrics come last.
"Mirage" is my favorite album from my favorite prog band. Camel is such an underrated band and Andy Latimer is the poster child of un-sung guitar hero`s. I guess because he`s more tasteful than flashy he never gets the recognition he deserves. I see "Mirage" as their best with Moonmadness a close second, but really in my view, they don`t have a bad one.
What an incredible underrated band and album! One of my favorite prog albums of all time. Thank you all for covering this. Camels debut album is a great album to check out.
Really very interesting and absorbing video about Camel, big thanks to everyone involved. Remember them playing, Leeds University on, The Snow Goose Tour, very well indeed.
Really like these specific album deep dive discussions. Good to see people with different opinions listen to each other respectfully and end up agreeing on some strengths and weaknesses of the album or band. Well done, all.
I lived in Paterson NJ and would take a little white bus to 175th st, and the A train down to the Port Authority. I worked on W 35th. Camel's double CD compilation, "Echoes", would be playing on my off brand mp3 player. This was a humbling and difficult post divorce period in my life. Camel would lull me to sleep. Not because they were boring, but because it was so soothing and dreamy. I would sleep every morning and night on busses and trains through Harlem and Paterson around 2008. I probably wouldnt do that in today's NYC. Somehow I only missed my stop once or twice. And I discovered Camel through Opeth around 2003.
Loved the format! Sometimes when you talk about many albums I get somewhat lost, just taking note of names; but this in-depth about an iconic album was really great. Thanks! 🍺🤘
Apart from the musicianship and compositions, Mirage offers THE progressive rock sound. Bass, drums, keys, guitar, production. All perfect for the genre. 5/5 album.
I'm glad that the topic is being mentioned a day ahead of schedule. I can fit in this CD tomorrow and live vicariously through the panelists like some kind of parasite, or maybe just a groupie.
I saw Camel many times in the 70s and can't wait for their UK tour this summer. Listen carefully to A Live Record and I swear you can hear me cheering.
Fun show, thanks! Found Camel in 1984 and that's my favorite album of them with Moonmadness. Great band and I like all their albums. Andy is a amazing guitarist, one of the best for me.
A criminally underrated band, they were one of my favourites back in the day, and Andy Latimer deserves to be a superstar of the guitar. I've seen them many times live over the years, and they never disappointed
Great episode/ and. Yes. PETE is correct. I expect 3-4x spins of MIRAGE, for those who have yet to hear 👂 this fine album. PRINCIPAL JOYCE request. Thanks to the panel 👍💯
Love the album. From the amazing interplay between the flute and organ on Supertwister to the incredibly melodic guitar and grooves on White Rider, it truly is a masterpiece.
I’ll never understand how this album and that band were so ignored back in the day. “ Mirage “ is exceptional. I love it more every time I hear it. I never once recall that album getting any airplay. And I’d never even heard of these guys until many years later. They’re right up there with other great prog bands like Eloy and Nektar who also never received enough attention. But I’m looking forward to hearing Mirage once again. I’m finding it’s music to be rather addictive. And every so often, Camel sounds like the Doors. Another reason I love this band.
I like the band and really need to revisit the catalog. I was buying the albums in the 70’s and 80’s and Mirage is my favorite though I’ve never had or heard the first one. Got to see them only once, in NYC on the Mirage tour.
I noticed, over the years, that this is the album that Camel fans hand to the initiates as their introduction to this band. It’s obviously a favorite amongst the hardcore fans.
I love this album as I do most early Camel, but the hidden gem on this album for me is Earthrise, sandwiched in between Nimrodel and Lady fantasy, it’s unfairly gets forgotten about, but it’s an absolutely brilliant song. My favourite album by them though is Breathless as I love Richard Sinclair’s voice, it was MADE for prog. And ‘Camelvan’ were a great band.
I like the concept for this episode. Camel is a perfect band to analyze this way. Thanks to Eric for introducing me to them on the Album Homework Assignment we did together. I only have four of their albums so far (including Mirage), but I like all four and hear new things with each listen.
In recent times I put Camel - Mirage straight to my top3 favourite albums (along VdGG - Godbluff and King Crimson - Red). It's just the album with 5 masterful compositions. Instrumentally flawless. And I don't have any issues with vocals, I sometimes think that flat Bardens singing (e.g. Freefall) just adds a bit of flavour to the sound. Latimer's vocal timbre is soft and melodic, complements the music in most cases. And I never ever thought that Bardens is the main figure of the band. For me Camel in 1974 is a four-piece ensemble in which every part of it is a unstoppable force. And I wouldn't add distortion to Latimer's guitar - their softness is their uniqueness, I suppose. It's hard to me to even pick a favourite song, but maybe Nimrodel / The Procession / The White Rider, especially that third part. Very spacious. The whole album has some element of spaciousness that makes the whole entity that attractive.
With all deference to Ken, one of the best radio concert broadcasts ever was Camel on KSAN FM from the Great American Music Hall in SF around the time of Mirage. My tape of the concert is long stretched out beyond listening, but the version of White Rider was amazing. Any "grey market" radio broadcast reissue company, please look for this one. Thanks for the interesting discussion of, what for me, is a classic.
great show it was you guys who got me into this band , i didn't realize how much i would like them , mirage is a superb album 👊😎 thanks for the insight
Camel are a great band, I love mirage but another one of my favourite albums is Stationery Traveler, guitar solo on the title track is awesome, Andy Latimer is such an underrated musician
Camel is my favourite prog band and needless to say, I consider "Mirage" a masterpiece. I liked this "album-study" you guys did a lot and I am looking forward to the next episodes. Andy Latimer is a rare bird among the other prog guitarists. What distinguishes him is that he is an economical player and "Mirage" is the perfect case-study for that. He won't do more than the track requires. This is almost unheard of in prog circles. He was to prog 50 years ago what Julian Lage is to fusion today. And with all due respect to the great Pete Bardens, without Andy Camel would be just another good prog band, because Bardens was not an economical player. While others would grab any chance they get to continue a solo, Andy will search for the perfect moment to stop one. That's why Mirage and Snow Goose are so densely packed albums. Like Luis said, structuraly in a couple of tracks they do what others have never done in their 30-year discography. The lyrics are LSD lyrics. To me that is very clear. And I don't know if Andy partook in such experiments, but he certainly was around people that did. I don't mind the lyrics at all because for some strange reason they fit. They are not great of course but they fit. What I like and what my big disagreement is with most of you guys is the way he sings. I prefer his singing to Sinclair's because he has character. I like that he sounds a little bit tired and actually he improved as the years went by and in "Stationary Traveller", an album that is based on vocals more than any other Camel album, he sings great. Anyway, great discussion there and I hope you do "Thick As A Brick", the best prog album of all times in this format in the future.
Thanks for the mention Ken. Actually I saw them at the San Jose Convention Center February 9,1979 with Richard and David Sinclair and I dubbed them Camelvan or Caramel. I saw them again in San Jose at The Cabaret August 16,1992 on the Dust and Dream tour.
I like George came late to Camel, I had heard them back in the 80s and they did nothing for me then, but a few years ago I bought Mirage and Moonmadness and liked them and the more I played them the more I liked them. Mirage is a brilliant album, a real prog album, the singing is fine by me because if like me you like early Rush and if you can put up with Geddy's singing you can put up with anyone singing. Great show as always Pete and the descriptions and analysis of the album are second to none.
Ken Golden - "I am going to need a bigger desert island." I think that Ken sums it up nicely. Eric Porter's assessment that Snow Goose is ranked higher, there is no doubt that Mirage is a masterwork of Progressive Rock. What a great discussion.
Was lucky enough to see Camel in their 70's prime on many occasions including their Snow Goose concert with full orchestra at The Albert Hall. Mirage is one of their finest for sure, but i still prefer their '73 self titled debut. Tracks like Never let Go, Mystic Queen, Curiosity and the brilliant instrumental Arubaluba really do it for me. Incidentally their rhythm section of Doug Ferguson and the excellent Andy Ward on drums never get the credit they deserve. Love the later incarnation with Richard Sinclair on bass as well.
The discussion about lyrics is very interesting. I discovered Camel in 1992 at age 15. Coming from Yes, Genesis, ELP, Tull,KC etc I was actually IMPRESSED by Camel lyrics the moment I heard them. I felt these were regular guys I could relate not all this aerie fairy nonsense. Lady Fantasy really struck a chord with me as a teenager LOL. None of those other bands had a song like that. BTW the Camel album I got first was "Compact Compilation" (greatest hits). It had Lady Fantasy and Freefall, but I didn't hear the full Mirage or most other albums until a lot later.
I came aboard with Camel in 1978 with Breathless. I locked in bought the catalogue, Kit Watkins; Ton Sherpenzeel was in for Stationary Traveler, so I picked up with Kayak. Also Peter Bardens "Seen One earth" and his Mirage band.
I first saw Camel in 1979 at Hammersmith Odeon in London, didn't see them again until 2018 in Cambridge! don't know why I waited so long, the two fantastic melodic Andy Latimer solos on the live version of Long Goodbyes from Pressure Points live certainly bring a tear to my eye
Camel is my dark horse favourite band of the classic prog scene. So under rated and they penned majestic albums in the 70s constantly. I don't believe that the reason of their lack of success resides in the perceived lack of aggressiveness because there are plenty of rocking guitar parts from Latimer. Listen to Moon madness, Dust and Dreams. It's just that Latimer put melody first before fireworks. I'm sure their lack of success resides in the management and the record company. They had a several years long dispute against the record company and the management that crippled their career for the rest of the 80s, that's why it took Latimer so long to release another album and he had to do it independently Until this day Decca has the rights of their music and they continue to be kept in obscurity when they should be as appreciated as Gentle Giant is being now. Where are Steven Wilson's remixes of Camel's albums? I agree that they needed a frontman, but that band was fire on stage! And come on, Jon Anderson is the most lame sauce frontman in all rock music. I love to the point of adoration the voice of Richard Sinclair and what he brought to the band. Rain Dances was the album that made me fall in love with Camel. And Bardens keyboards. Finally someone agrees with me that Camel is not a Canterbury band! Yay! I agree that Mirage is still an album where they were developing their sound but if we look closely at their discography, no album is like the other, ever! The lyrics weren't important to me, as I'm not a native English speaker. I preferred to listen to the music and put my own meaning to the lyrics. Much better this way. I believe they improved by MoonMadness, no wonder they took a hiatus from lyrics and singing with The Snow Goose, lol. My first encounter of the Camel kind was You Are The One back in 1984, their most commercial song. There was no coming back for me. I got hooked by the band,in 1987 when someone lend me Rain Dances. I was a kid in the 80s. camel might has been as well my introduction to prog rock!
Great show. I bought Mirage back in 1976 and loved it. It was my introduction to Camel. I happily own all their releases. I would rate Mirage #3, after the first album and then Moonmadness. Camel is a top 5 Desert Island Group for me. If I could take the entire catalog of 5 groups to a desert island, Camel would be one (along with Jethro Tull, Neil Young, Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze). I get that Latimer’s vocal aren’t the best, but I still like them. They go well with the music. Great discussion.
Thank you Pete and ITPS gentlemen. Looking forward to seeing the review later tonight. Have family matters earlier this evening. All the ITPS gentlemen made many excellent points, pros and cons, on the Mirage album. Love the musicality of Bardens and Latimer but agree that most of their lyrics were out of sync with their instruments. imho Mirage is a top 10 dessert island Prog album pick. I feel that Camel’s lyrics were not their strong point whereas a group like Van der Graaf Generator’s lyrics and Hammill vocals usually worked seamlessly and matched their great musicality. Love the idea of doing deep dives in class prog albums ... essential overviews for the complexity of prog albums.
Actually, as I see, they are quite well-received and known in prog community. It's almost surprising for me how everyone love Rajaz. Ofc it's a very good album, but generally later albums are much more overlooked than in the case of Camel.
The first song I ever heard by Camel was Lunar Sea from Moonmadness. I went straight out and bought the album. That was 1976. I went on to get all their albums but I can’t agree that there isn’t a dud track anywhere. To my ears there’s some real stinkers. To this day my favourite is still Moonmadness. I agree with Eric that “Ice” from ICSYHFH, is awesome and my favourite song/instrumental by them. The guitar solo in Lunar Sea has a slightly overdriven tone to it and showcases what Latimer can do on the guitar.
I agree entirely with Eric. I like the album, but prefer Goose, Moon, House and Nude. One point that should always be made when discussing Camel is the extraordinary physical likeness between Latimer, Bardens and (to some degree) Ward. I often can't tell who is who in photographs.
This was absolutely fantastic Pete. I had never heard of Camel, but after watching this, I will definitely be checking this album and band out for sure. I’m really excited about this new one album show you are doing. I think it’s going to be great!🔥🔥
This is going to be interesting. Listened to the album twice, once yesterday and today. It's great WFH music. Can hardly wait for the expert commentary.
this was the first album i heard from Camel when a friend of mine showed me a couple years ago and i loved the whole album. every song was great with nothing bad to say. one thing that may surprise some is that after i checked out their albums i really loved Nude from 1981 and Harbour of Tears from 1996 almost as much
Camel are in my top 3 prog bands. Mirage was my introduction to them, the cover is striking. Freefall and Lady Fantasy are excellent, However, it is my 3rd best Camel after Moonmadness and Snowgoose. I would rate it 4,5 out of 5. I still listen to it a lot as I do with most 70s CAMEL albums. Love them.
Enjoyed this 'departure' from the whirl of A-Z albums. Talking of processing, I'm about a third of the way through that!! Hadn't listened to Mirage for quite a time, so I did just that, prior to ITPS. Felt like puttin' on a favourite old jacket. Familiar and comforting, but in a trad prog way. Thoroughly concur with Luis on the lyrics...they are pretty dire, but those and the meh vocal style, don't detract from the familiar, glorious prog stirrings of that era. At times, Tull-ish and Canterbury-esque, in my humble. Whatever, it's a great album and well worthy of ITPS dissection. Great work, fellas..See y'all in 2 weeks...
When the gents discussed should Andrew Latimer have been more aggressive in some places I thought of Roye Albrighton from Nektar. He had perfect balance of aggression and mellow melodic passages IMO.
For early live Camel goodness, the Camel On The Road 1972 cd release in 1992 is very good. 4 long tracks with Lady Fantasy and White Rider already written and performed.
I love this Camel Productions "Official Camel Bootleg" release. The best window we have into their early performing days. Peter's fantastic God Of Light (Revisited) is here, maybe the same "Greasy Truckers" recording that Ken mentioned in the show?
I dig this album, but haven't been listening to other Camel albums In a long time, I will listen to the Snow Goose and Moon Madness again today. Sweet episode, I am all in for this new concept 🙂.
Andy and Susan didn't move to California until the late 1980s. They didn't release anything during this period because there was a court case against their former management in 1985. I think they began recording "Dust and Dreams" before the move, and finished it in California over a 3-4 year period. They toured the US quite extensively in 1974 but mostly as a support act. They did a short West Coast tour in early 1979, their last US gigs until 1992. By then Ferguson and Bardens had left, Mel Collins and Richard Sinclair had joined, and Dave Sinclair and Jan Schelhaas were hired to replace Bardens when he left just before the album was completed.
I first got into Camel with Rain Dances after I caught their Sight & Sound in concert (since released by Camel productions on a couple of DVDs with the audio on the 2009 remaster). I was drawn to watch it as the BBC trailers for it showed the point at which latimer hits the power chord transition from Rhayader into Rhayader goes to town. I had already heard Lunar Sea on the radio but I cant remember if I had heard the Snow Goose yet - a friend had taped it for me - on the flip side to Deep Purple's Concerto - but that could well have been after getting Rain Dances. Eric is right that that band is different to the one on the first four, although the jazz rock leanings in Lunar Sea were carried through into Rain Dances with the addition of Richard Sinclair and Mel Collins on flute and Sax and Andy Ward's desire to go more in that direction. As for Mirage, its a favourite, and apart from a few guys - Sinclair, Chris Rainbow, David Paton - they never had a proper out and out lead vocalist - bit like Wishbone Ash to a degree - but for me Bardens and Latimer's voices provide a certain charm. I'd agree that this would be the best Camel album to introduce anyone to them as it covers all their bases. To Eric - I agree, a Nod and a Wink is fantastic but then I'm a big fan and love everything they did although would have to agree that the very best of their catalogue are the albums with Peter Bardens with the first and Breathless being the not quite so stellar as the rest bookends - although they both have a number of killer songs on them.
I'm slightly more of a Caravan fan so I admit I enjoy Rain Dances and Breathless more than some Camel fans. Moonmadness is my favorite yet I listen to Nude the most. If that makes no sense to all of you out there think about how confused I am about it! :D
Love this album, enjoyed this discussion! I’ve read that the Greasy Truckers version of “God of Light” was issued on CD on the Camel official bootleg “‘73-‘75 God of Light”. But I haven’t done an A-B comparison. Anyone know if it’s really the same version?
mirage is where I have started off with Camel, just this year, and like it a lot. Have the Snow Goose and Moonmadness coming soon… a lot of the second tier Prog from the 70’s I need to catch up on…
Great discussion on MIRAGE. I have to agree with most of the points, this is a 'good' album though hardly perfect. The band is starting to get their writing together though they would have to improve in the lyric dept. Song suites and engaging instrumental passages are what Camel does best. Not surprising that their next release would be the all instrumental album inspired by "The Snow Goose". (Fun fact: they couldn't get permission from the writer's estate to use any of the dialogue from the book so Camel kept it instrumental.) I also agree that the vocals on MIRAGE are serviceable at best. (Their vocal chops would improve immensely with the later addition of Richard Sinclair.) If you want to hear the MIRAGE songs really rock, check out A LIVE RECORD. Hope "In the Prog Seat" will continue to focus on other, lesser known bands/albums as this generated some lively discussion.
To me Mirage came out in my mid-teens. It blended perfectly into what we were in, moodwise. Part of the soundtrack of my youth. You greenhorns analyze this stuff from your rearview-mirrors. 😉
As far as I can tell, it's Bardens singing lead on "Freefall", not Latimer. He did sing a few songs on the first few albums, including "Spirit of the Water" and "Wing And A Prayer".
Great episode guys! Camel is easily one of my favorite Prog bands....always blows me away when people criticize the vocals....have you heard the vocals of Van DER Graaf, Gentle Giant, Eloy....yikes🙉 Just my 2 cents. Nektar and Camel are my two favorites....would not have found either if it had not been for Sea of Tranquility 👍
Last thing, Camel toured with Supersister in Holland after the first album. "Supertwister" was a very conscious nod to Supersister because it was meant to sound exactly like them - Latimer took up the flute (he didn't play any on the debut) and the keyboards/bass/drums trio backed him, exactly the same instrumental set-up as Supersister.
From what I recall Supersister - mostly sung in Dutch (or with a heavy accent when in English) & a sort of mix between Zappa, Floyd & Caravan? I don't do non-English lyrics, may have to revisit some of their albums...
@@wolf1977 Nearly all of their music is sung in English - a lot of the lyrics are surreal rather than serious. Heavy accent? Not that much imho but if you really can't stand any non-Oxbridge deviation... A lot of instrumental passages. Heavy early Softs influence on the first two albums, with 7/8 signatures, fuzz organ etc.
@@aymericleroy8500 OK thx, the tracks (with lyrics) that I remember weren't, or like I said sounded heavily accented. I can deal with that to an extent until/unless it becomes distracting...
Love Camel, dig pretty much all of the catalog. Like most here, I got into them after digesting the bigger bands and went looking for more. Mirage is probably the better of the early lps, and agree with the points brought up, lyrics really not great, vocals okay... but somehow it works, maybe you just look past it because the music is so brilliant. I always thought Camel's strength WAS the fact they had a softer approach compared to other bands and there is a warmness to most of camels music (for lack of a better term) that endears them to me. Bardens is great , but to me Latimer is the draw... he is up there with Hackett and Gilmour in my book of guitar legends. Guitar players who evoke emotion rather than just wanking, and showing off.
I like MIRAGE quite a bit. Moonmadness as well. The debut is a bit "plain" for sure, but it's cool. I also enjoy the later 70s Sinclair records too. * While I do appreciate it, I've always been slightly put off by "The Snowgoose." I don't tend to reach for it much either. But I have been wanting to sit down with it again and reevaluate. Maybe I might warm to it better with a different title like... "THE SUN-BLASTED DUCKBILL PLATYPUS" I mean, there's no avoiding that "The Snowgoose" (title alone) comes off a bit, I dunno, esoterically avoidable. Slightly too pretty or mildly non-threatening? Thinking about it more, yeah...just give me the damn "Sun-blasted Duckbill Platypus" baby! Also, I do have the lime green delight called the Ibanez Tube Screamer 🍏 Very good friend of mine. Have "sustained" a fine relationship since the early 80s. And I agree with LUIS (who still looks like George Clooney in mid transformation to a werewolf) that a little more "bite" in the guitar could help a bit. At least in places. Also, the Camel BOX SET is a good choice for new fans as well (ironically it came out right around the same time as the also groovy Caravan box) 🐪
Really like this episode, revisiting an old album & hearing all the different perspectives. May I suggest a few artists names that would be worth diving into again? Jack Bruce (solo work), Family, Colosseum, Procol Harum, Pete Brown & Piblokto.
Regarding the Peter Barden’s solo track “Homage To The God Of Light”, the an uncredited Peter Green plays guitar original version on Barden’s “The Answer” album, he also plays lead guitar on the tile track of the album.
That's the 13.5 minute version of “Homage To The God Of Light” right? I didn't know of the Green connection - Discogs confirms it! Greg Isadore (Robin Trower) also plays drums & looks like Bruce Thomas from Elvis Costello & The Attractions is on bass. The other guitarist on the album Andy Gee was in a 70's band called Ellis with Zoot Money - been trying to track down some of their albums
@@wolf1977 yep, he wasn’t credited on the album, Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood were also in Barden’s Peter B’s Looners too which predated his solo career albums, Zoot Money plays on Peter Green’s first solo album “End Of The Game” which was a contractual obligation for Warner Brothers and just consists of tripped out instrumental jams.
@@sspbrazil Yeah I have End Of The Game, a few good tracks on that one ("Hidden Depth" & the title track)...Barden’s Peter B’s Looners - don't have anything by them, looks like maybe one album called If You Wanna Be Happy from '66.... I think Bardens played on the album The Angry Young Them (Van Morrison) all the way back in '65 & then later on Morrison's Wavelength (one of my fave Van albums)...He did a cover of Genesis' "Many Too Many" (from And Then There Were Three) that I really like a lot
@@wolf1977 yeah, he was in Them briefly and did indeed play on Wavelength which is a great album. That Many Too Many cover is on the Genesis tribute albums that Magna Carta put out. I had that one, it’s called Supper’s Ready.
I’m totally surprised that Andy Ward wasn’t recognized for his Great Drumming. Also his and Doug Ferguson tightness as a Rhythm section being the glue that made Camel work. Richard Sinclair was probably a better Bassist and he latched on with Ward pretty damn well but some of Camel’s greatest moments happened on top of that well rehearsed and thought out Bass/Drum unit of Andy and Doug.
Beautiful album. While I agree that the vocals and lyrics are not a strong point, they are serviceable. I love the album front to back. Not a weak track in the bunch. There are songs on Snow Goose, Moonmadness and Rain Dances that I like more than the songs on Mirage, but those albums have tracks that I sometimes want to skip, which isn't the case with Mirage.
One of my favorite Camel albums. I too noticed they were never quite as aggressive sounding as on the debut and "Mirage". I don't think "Earthrise" is as memorable as the rest of the album.
I was fortunate enough to know Pete Bardens circa 2000 and would drop by his place often for a cup of tea, a spliff and a chat. We didn't talk much of Camel but he did mention his leaving was a split was over the band's direction (and wasn't overly amicable). We mostly talked of his solo works, which I like more than Camel, and what he was working on at the time (his last release: "Art Of Levitation") He was always friendly and chatty, a nice guy and talented for sure.
I respect Luis's opinion, but they exist also people like me, and I'm probably not the only one, when the record is playing on the turntable, my brains don't process the lyrics at all. The music comes first, if there are vocals, the color of the voice attracts me the most, the lyrics come last.
Most of the time I'm the same way
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Great show gents. The first four Camel albums are exceptional, though I do like the later ones as well - especially the ones with Sinclair.
Am I the only one loving Earthrise? Fell in love with this song at first hearing...the build up is amazing...
"Mirage" is my favorite album from my favorite prog band. Camel is such an underrated band and Andy Latimer is the poster child of un-sung guitar hero`s. I guess because he`s more tasteful than flashy he never gets the recognition he deserves. I see "Mirage" as their best with Moonmadness a close second, but really in my view, they don`t have a bad one.
Totally agree
What an incredible underrated band and album! One of my favorite prog albums of all time. Thank you all for covering this. Camels debut album is a great album to check out.
Love this album. I agree with Pete... Top 10 Prog album for sure. Can't wait to go and see them in June on their 50th anniversary UK tour
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Really very interesting and absorbing video about Camel, big thanks to everyone involved.
Remember them playing, Leeds University on, The Snow Goose Tour, very well indeed.
Really like these specific album deep dive discussions. Good to see people with different opinions listen to each other respectfully and end up agreeing on some strengths and weaknesses of the album or band. Well done, all.
I lived in Paterson NJ and would take a little white bus to 175th st, and the A train down to the Port Authority. I worked on W 35th. Camel's double CD compilation, "Echoes", would be playing on my off brand mp3 player. This was a humbling and difficult post divorce period in my life. Camel would lull me to sleep. Not because they were boring, but because it was so soothing and dreamy. I would sleep every morning and night on busses and trains through Harlem and Paterson around 2008. I probably wouldnt do that in today's NYC. Somehow I only missed my stop once or twice. And I discovered Camel through Opeth around 2003.
I came to this band later on & I think Echoes was also my first Camel purchase - bought about 20 more of their albums since!
Loved the format! Sometimes when you talk about many albums I get somewhat lost, just taking note of names; but this in-depth about an iconic album was really great. Thanks! 🍺🤘
Camel's Mirage is just a masterpiece, and they are one of the best prog rock bands.
Apart from the musicianship and compositions, Mirage offers THE progressive rock sound. Bass, drums, keys, guitar, production. All perfect for the genre. 5/5 album.
I'm glad that the topic is being mentioned a day ahead of schedule. I can fit in this CD tomorrow and live vicariously through the panelists like some kind of parasite, or maybe just a groupie.
I saw Camel many times in the 70s and can't wait for their UK tour this summer. Listen carefully to A Live Record and I swear you can hear me cheering.
Fun show, thanks! Found Camel in 1984 and that's my favorite album of them with Moonmadness. Great band and I like all their albums. Andy is a amazing guitarist, one of the best for me.
My introduction to Camel was through this channel and now I'm hooked, especially enjoying the Snow Goose album at the moment. Thank you SoT.
I have been able to get all their albums and cd's in the used bins here in Canada over 35 years no problem!And Mirage is my favourite!
A criminally underrated band, they were one of my favourites back in the day, and Andy Latimer deserves to be a superstar of the guitar. I've seen them many times live over the years, and they never disappointed
Great episode/ and. Yes. PETE is correct. I expect 3-4x spins of MIRAGE, for those who have yet to hear 👂 this fine album. PRINCIPAL JOYCE request. Thanks to the panel 👍💯
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Love the album. From the amazing interplay between the flute and organ on Supertwister to the incredibly melodic guitar and grooves on White Rider, it truly is a masterpiece.
See this is why I love SoT, reminds me to get back to some albums I was impressed with years ago.
I’ll never understand how this album and that band were so ignored back in the day. “ Mirage “ is exceptional. I love it more every time I hear it. I never once recall that album getting any airplay. And I’d never even heard of these guys until many years later. They’re right up there with other great prog bands like Eloy and Nektar who also never received enough attention. But I’m looking forward to hearing Mirage once again. I’m finding it’s music to be rather addictive. And every so often, Camel sounds like the Doors. Another reason I love this band.
I like the band and really need to revisit the catalog. I was buying the albums in the 70’s and 80’s and Mirage is my favorite though I’ve never had or heard the first one. Got to see them only once, in NYC on the Mirage tour.
Great show Pete Was blown away when I first heard this 50 years ago.Love the first four albums. A masterpiece and definitely top 10 prog album.
I noticed, over the years, that this is the album that Camel fans hand to the initiates as their introduction to this band. It’s obviously a favorite amongst the hardcore fans.
I love this album as I do most early Camel, but the hidden gem on this album for me is Earthrise, sandwiched in between Nimrodel and Lady fantasy, it’s unfairly gets forgotten about, but it’s an absolutely brilliant song. My favourite album by them though is Breathless as I love Richard Sinclair’s voice, it was MADE for prog. And ‘Camelvan’ were a great band.
One of my favorite album of all time!
I like the concept for this episode. Camel is a perfect band to analyze this way. Thanks to Eric for introducing me to them on the Album Homework Assignment we did together. I only have four of their albums so far (including Mirage), but I like all four and hear new things with each listen.
Scott 👍
@@azdh85224 you and me both!
In recent times I put Camel - Mirage straight to my top3 favourite albums (along VdGG - Godbluff and King Crimson - Red). It's just the album with 5 masterful compositions. Instrumentally flawless. And I don't have any issues with vocals, I sometimes think that flat Bardens singing (e.g. Freefall) just adds a bit of flavour to the sound. Latimer's vocal timbre is soft and melodic, complements the music in most cases. And I never ever thought that Bardens is the main figure of the band. For me Camel in 1974 is a four-piece ensemble in which every part of it is a unstoppable force. And I wouldn't add distortion to Latimer's guitar - their softness is their uniqueness, I suppose.
It's hard to me to even pick a favourite song, but maybe Nimrodel / The Procession / The White Rider, especially that third part. Very spacious. The whole album has some element of spaciousness that makes the whole entity that attractive.
Mirage is such a great album but I think my favourite Camel is The Snow Goose. Has grown on me over the decades - what a beautiful album.
With all deference to Ken, one of the best radio concert broadcasts ever was Camel on KSAN FM from the Great American Music Hall in SF around the time of Mirage. My tape of the concert is long stretched out beyond listening, but the version of White Rider was amazing. Any "grey market" radio broadcast reissue company, please look for this one. Thanks for the interesting discussion of, what for me, is a classic.
I believe I have this buried in my live tape collection.
Only heard lady fantasy but will listen to the whole thing soon! Thanks guys.
great show
it was you guys who got me into this band , i didn't realize how much i would like them , mirage is a superb album 👊😎 thanks for the insight
Camel are a great band, I love mirage but another one of my favourite albums is Stationery Traveler, guitar solo on the title track is awesome, Andy Latimer is such an underrated musician
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Camel is my favourite prog band and needless to say, I consider "Mirage" a masterpiece. I liked this "album-study" you guys did a lot and I am looking forward to the next episodes.
Andy Latimer is a rare bird among the other prog guitarists. What distinguishes him is that he is an economical player and "Mirage" is the perfect case-study for that. He won't do more than the track requires. This is almost unheard of in prog circles. He was to prog 50 years ago what Julian Lage is to fusion today. And with all due respect to the great Pete Bardens, without Andy Camel would be just another good prog band, because Bardens was not an economical player. While others would grab any chance they get to continue a solo, Andy will search for the perfect moment to stop one. That's why Mirage and Snow Goose are so densely packed albums. Like Luis said, structuraly in a couple of tracks they do what others have never done in their 30-year discography.
The lyrics are LSD lyrics. To me that is very clear. And I don't know if Andy partook in such experiments, but he certainly was around people that did. I don't mind the lyrics at all because for some strange reason they fit. They are not great of course but they fit. What I like and what my big disagreement is with most of you guys is the way he sings. I prefer his singing to Sinclair's because he has character. I like that he sounds a little bit tired and actually he improved as the years went by and in "Stationary Traveller", an album that is based on vocals more than any other Camel album, he sings great.
Anyway, great discussion there and I hope you do "Thick As A Brick", the best prog album of all times in this format in the future.
Thanks for the mention Ken. Actually I saw them at the San Jose Convention Center February 9,1979 with Richard and David Sinclair and I dubbed them Camelvan or Caramel.
I saw them again in San Jose at The Cabaret August 16,1992 on the Dust and Dream tour.
I like George came late to Camel, I had heard them back in the 80s and they did nothing for me then, but a few years ago I bought Mirage and Moonmadness and liked them and the more I played them the more I liked them. Mirage is a brilliant album, a real prog album, the singing is fine by me because if like me you like early Rush and if you can put up with Geddy's singing you can put up with anyone singing. Great show as always Pete and the descriptions and analysis of the album are second to none.
Ken Golden - "I am going to need a bigger desert island." I think that Ken sums it up nicely. Eric Porter's assessment that Snow Goose is ranked higher, there is no doubt that Mirage is a masterwork of Progressive Rock. What a great discussion.
Was lucky enough to see Camel in their 70's prime on many occasions including their Snow Goose concert with full orchestra at The Albert Hall. Mirage is one of their finest for sure, but i still prefer their '73 self titled debut. Tracks like Never let Go, Mystic Queen, Curiosity and the brilliant instrumental Arubaluba really do it for me. Incidentally their rhythm section of Doug Ferguson and the excellent Andy Ward on drums never get the credit they deserve. Love the later incarnation with Richard Sinclair on bass as well.
The discussion about lyrics is very interesting. I discovered Camel in 1992 at age 15. Coming from Yes, Genesis, ELP, Tull,KC etc I was actually IMPRESSED by Camel lyrics the moment I heard them. I felt these were regular guys I could relate not all this aerie fairy nonsense. Lady Fantasy really struck a chord with me as a teenager LOL. None of those other bands had a song like that. BTW the Camel album I got first was "Compact Compilation" (greatest hits). It had Lady Fantasy and Freefall, but I didn't hear the full Mirage or most other albums until a lot later.
I came aboard with Camel in 1978 with Breathless. I locked in bought the catalogue, Kit Watkins; Ton Sherpenzeel was in for Stationary Traveler, so I picked up with Kayak. Also Peter Bardens "Seen One earth" and his Mirage band.
Fantastic presentation Pete. Look forward to similar presentations in In The Prog Seat" (and probably across other genres in other programs ?)
I first saw Camel in 1979 at Hammersmith Odeon in London, didn't see them again until 2018 in Cambridge! don't know why I waited so long, the two fantastic melodic Andy Latimer solos on the live version of Long Goodbyes from Pressure Points live certainly bring a tear to my eye
Never warmed to Mirage. I like the self-titled debut, The Snow Goose, Moonmadness and even Rain Dances far more.
I like Camel and this album a lot.😄👍
Camel is my dark horse favourite band of the classic prog scene. So under rated and they penned majestic albums in the 70s constantly.
I don't believe that the reason of their lack of success resides in the perceived lack of aggressiveness because there are plenty of rocking guitar parts from Latimer. Listen to Moon madness, Dust and Dreams. It's just that Latimer put melody first before fireworks.
I'm sure their lack of success resides in the management and the record company. They had a several years long dispute against the record company and the management that crippled their career for the rest of the 80s, that's why it took Latimer so long to release another album and he had to do it independently
Until this day Decca has the rights of their music and they continue to be kept in obscurity when they should be as appreciated as Gentle Giant is being now.
Where are Steven Wilson's remixes of Camel's albums?
I agree that they needed a frontman, but that band was fire on stage!
And come on, Jon Anderson is the most lame sauce frontman in all rock music.
I love to the point of adoration the voice of Richard Sinclair and what he brought to the band. Rain Dances was the album that made me fall in love with Camel. And Bardens keyboards.
Finally someone agrees with me that Camel is not a Canterbury band! Yay!
I agree that Mirage is still an album where they were developing their sound but if we look closely at their discography, no album is like the other, ever!
The lyrics weren't important to me, as I'm not a native English speaker. I preferred to listen to the music and put my own meaning to the lyrics. Much better this way. I believe they improved by MoonMadness, no wonder they took a hiatus from lyrics and singing with The Snow Goose, lol.
My first encounter of the Camel kind was You Are The One back in 1984, their most commercial song. There was no coming back for me. I got hooked by the band,in 1987 when someone lend me Rain Dances. I was a kid in the 80s. camel might has been as well my introduction to prog rock!
I always thought Camel is what Pink Floyd would be if Floyd grew up.
Great show. I bought Mirage back in 1976 and loved it. It was my introduction to Camel. I happily own all their releases. I would rate Mirage #3, after the first album and then Moonmadness. Camel is a top 5 Desert Island Group for me. If I could take the entire catalog of 5 groups to a desert island, Camel would be one (along with Jethro Tull, Neil Young, Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze). I get that Latimer’s vocal aren’t the best, but I still like them. They go well with the music. Great discussion.
Their best album in my book.
Thank you Pete and ITPS gentlemen. Looking forward to seeing the review later tonight. Have family matters earlier this evening. All the ITPS gentlemen made many excellent points, pros and cons, on the Mirage album. Love the musicality of Bardens and Latimer but agree that most of their lyrics were out of sync with their instruments. imho Mirage is a top 10 dessert island Prog album pick. I feel that Camel’s lyrics were not their strong point whereas a group like Van der Graaf Generator’s lyrics and Hammill vocals usually worked seamlessly and matched their great musicality. Love the idea of doing deep dives in class prog albums ... essential overviews for the complexity of prog albums.
i love this album but i don't understand why their later releases are so underrated.
'Rajaz' and 'Harbor of Tears' are even among my favourites
I second that.
Actually, as I see, they are quite well-received and known in prog community. It's almost surprising for me how everyone love Rajaz. Ofc it's a very good album, but generally later albums are much more overlooked than in the case of Camel.
Harbor of Tears is one of my favorites from the band and Rajas is very good overall. i agree that the 80 onward is so underrated
Now you're talking
The first song I ever heard by Camel was Lunar Sea from Moonmadness. I went straight out and bought the album. That was 1976. I went on to get all their albums but I can’t agree that there isn’t a dud track anywhere. To my ears there’s some real stinkers. To this day my favourite is still Moonmadness. I agree with Eric that “Ice” from ICSYHFH, is awesome and my favourite song/instrumental by them. The guitar solo in Lunar Sea has a slightly overdriven tone to it and showcases what Latimer can do on the guitar.
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I agree entirely with Eric. I like the album, but prefer Goose, Moon, House and Nude. One point that should always be made when discussing Camel is the extraordinary physical likeness between Latimer, Bardens and (to some degree) Ward. I often can't tell who is who in photographs.
This was absolutely fantastic Pete. I had never heard of Camel, but after watching this, I will definitely be checking this album and band out for sure. I’m really excited about this new one album show you are doing. I think it’s going to be great!🔥🔥
Rain dances is good too with the caravan guy on it!
This is going to be interesting. Listened to the album twice, once yesterday and today. It's great WFH music. Can hardly wait for the expert commentary.
Andy Latimer is a superb guitarist.
He is
this was the first album i heard from Camel when a friend of mine showed me a couple years ago and i loved the whole album. every song was great with nothing bad to say.
one thing that may surprise some is that after i checked out their albums i really loved Nude from 1981 and Harbour of Tears from 1996 almost as much
Just listened to it. 1st song Doors meets Devo meets ELP. I dig it. Very cool! Thanks for introducing me to new stuff Prog Guys!
Camel are in my top 3 prog bands. Mirage was my introduction to them, the cover is striking. Freefall and Lady Fantasy are excellent, However, it is my 3rd best Camel after Moonmadness and Snowgoose. I would rate it 4,5 out of 5. I still listen to it a lot as I do with most 70s CAMEL albums. Love them.
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Listen to Rajaz......serious guitar playing. Superb album, almost forgotten.
Not by me, I love Rajaz
@@ericporter344 Cheers Eric. You have great taste :)
I see "Rajaz" as a real guitar showcase for Latimer.
Enjoyed this 'departure' from the whirl of A-Z albums. Talking of processing, I'm about a third of the way through that!! Hadn't listened to Mirage for quite a time, so I did just that, prior to ITPS. Felt like puttin' on a favourite old jacket. Familiar and comforting, but in a trad prog way. Thoroughly concur with Luis on the lyrics...they are pretty dire, but those and the meh vocal style, don't detract from the familiar, glorious prog stirrings of that era. At times, Tull-ish and Canterbury-esque, in my humble. Whatever, it's a great album and well worthy of ITPS dissection. Great work, fellas..See y'all in 2 weeks...
When the gents discussed should Andrew Latimer have been more aggressive in some places I thought of Roye Albrighton from Nektar. He had perfect balance of aggression and mellow melodic passages IMO.
For early live Camel goodness, the Camel On The Road 1972 cd release in 1992 is very good. 4 long tracks with Lady Fantasy and White Rider already written and performed.
I love this Camel Productions "Official Camel Bootleg" release. The best window we have into their early performing days. Peter's fantastic God Of Light (Revisited) is here, maybe the same "Greasy Truckers" recording that Ken mentioned in the show?
I dig this album, but haven't been listening to other Camel albums In a long time, I will listen to the Snow Goose and Moon Madness again today. Sweet episode, I am all in for this new concept 🙂.
Luis is absolutely right about guitar tone. A pedal or two can make a world of difference.
Andy and Susan didn't move to California until the late 1980s. They didn't release anything during this period because there was a court case against their former management in 1985. I think they began recording "Dust and Dreams" before the move, and finished it in California over a 3-4 year period. They toured the US quite extensively in 1974 but mostly as a support act. They did a short West Coast tour in early 1979, their last US gigs until 1992. By then Ferguson and Bardens had left, Mel Collins and Richard Sinclair had joined, and Dave Sinclair and Jan Schelhaas were hired to replace Bardens when he left just before the album was completed.
Thanks guys for covering this stuff!
Really enjoyed this show and I love this album. My ranking of the songs:
1. Earthrise 🔥🔥
2. Lady Fantasy
3. Freefall
4. Nimrodel
5. Supertwister
The snow goose got me into camel
Listening to Mirage would be great homework. I really enjoy the entire album.
Top album and some great drumming from Andy King who had a brief spell playing with Marillion 👌
I first got into Camel with Rain Dances after I caught their Sight & Sound in concert (since released by Camel productions on a couple of DVDs with the audio on the 2009 remaster). I was drawn to watch it as the BBC trailers for it showed the point at which latimer hits the power chord transition from Rhayader into Rhayader goes to town. I had already heard Lunar Sea on the radio but I cant remember if I had heard the Snow Goose yet - a friend had taped it for me - on the flip side to Deep Purple's Concerto - but that could well have been after getting Rain Dances. Eric is right that that band is different to the one on the first four, although the jazz rock leanings in Lunar Sea were carried through into Rain Dances with the addition of Richard Sinclair and Mel Collins on flute and Sax and Andy Ward's desire to go more in that direction.
As for Mirage, its a favourite, and apart from a few guys - Sinclair, Chris Rainbow, David Paton - they never had a proper out and out lead vocalist - bit like Wishbone Ash to a degree - but for me Bardens and Latimer's voices provide a certain charm. I'd agree that this would be the best Camel album to introduce anyone to them as it covers all their bases.
To Eric - I agree, a Nod and a Wink is fantastic but then I'm a big fan and love everything they did although would have to agree that the very best of their catalogue are the albums with Peter Bardens with the first and Breathless being the not quite so stellar as the rest bookends - although they both have a number of killer songs on them.
I'm slightly more of a Caravan fan so I admit I enjoy Rain Dances and Breathless more than some Camel fans. Moonmadness is my favorite yet I listen to Nude the most. If that makes no sense to all of you out there think about how confused I am about it! :D
Love this album, enjoyed this discussion! I’ve read that the Greasy Truckers version of “God of Light” was issued on CD on the Camel official bootleg “‘73-‘75 God of Light”. But I haven’t done an A-B comparison. Anyone know if it’s really the same version?
mirage is where I have started off with Camel, just this year, and like it a lot. Have the Snow Goose and Moonmadness coming soon… a lot of the second tier Prog from the 70’s I need to catch up on…
I keep the original vinyl since release and Moonmadness too.
Great discussion on MIRAGE. I have to agree with most of the points, this is a 'good' album though hardly perfect. The band is starting to get their writing together though they would have to improve in the lyric dept. Song suites and engaging instrumental passages are what Camel does best. Not surprising that their next release would be the all instrumental album inspired by "The Snow Goose". (Fun fact: they couldn't get permission from the writer's estate to use any of the dialogue from the book so Camel kept it instrumental.) I also agree that the vocals on MIRAGE are serviceable at best. (Their vocal chops would improve immensely with the later addition of Richard Sinclair.)
If you want to hear the MIRAGE songs really rock, check out A LIVE RECORD.
Hope "In the Prog Seat" will continue to focus on other, lesser known bands/albums as this generated some lively discussion.
To me Mirage came out in my mid-teens.
It blended perfectly into what we were in, moodwise.
Part of the soundtrack of my youth.
You greenhorns analyze this stuff from your rearview-mirrors. 😉
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As far as I can tell, it's Bardens singing lead on "Freefall", not Latimer. He did sing a few songs on the first few albums, including "Spirit of the Water" and "Wing And A Prayer".
Correct. Pete sings on Freefall. Andrew Latimer sings on The White Rider and they both sing on Lady Fantasy.
I can't wait for the album study of In the Court of the Crimson King featuring George Lamie, and I'm not even kidding.
Great episode guys! Camel is easily one of my favorite Prog bands....always blows me away when people criticize the vocals....have you heard the vocals of Van DER Graaf, Gentle Giant, Eloy....yikes🙉 Just my 2 cents. Nektar and Camel are my two favorites....would not have found either if it had not been for Sea of Tranquility 👍
Yeah I'd add Genesis & Argent to that list for me - also some of the "more recent"/related bands like Transatlantic/Spock's Beard/Flower Kings
Spectacular album! How can this release NOT be available on Spotify??!! So disappointing...
Last thing, Camel toured with Supersister in Holland after the first album. "Supertwister" was a very conscious nod to Supersister because it was meant to sound exactly like them - Latimer took up the flute (he didn't play any on the debut) and the keyboards/bass/drums trio backed him, exactly the same instrumental set-up as Supersister.
From what I recall Supersister - mostly sung in Dutch (or with a heavy accent when in English) & a sort of mix between Zappa, Floyd & Caravan? I don't do non-English lyrics, may have to revisit some of their albums...
@@wolf1977 Nearly all of their music is sung in English - a lot of the lyrics are surreal rather than serious. Heavy accent? Not that much imho but if you really can't stand any non-Oxbridge deviation... A lot of instrumental passages. Heavy early Softs influence on the first two albums, with 7/8 signatures, fuzz organ etc.
@@aymericleroy8500 OK thx, the tracks (with lyrics) that I remember weren't, or like I said sounded heavily accented. I can deal with that to an extent until/unless it becomes distracting...
Homage to the God of Light is a bonus on the reissue of the debut.
I rank Camel with ANY of the British Prog greats. Amazing band.
Love Camel, dig pretty much all of the catalog. Like most here, I got into them after digesting the bigger bands and went looking for more. Mirage is probably the better of the early lps, and agree with the points brought up, lyrics really not great, vocals okay... but somehow it works, maybe you just look past it because the music is so brilliant. I always thought Camel's strength WAS the fact they had a softer approach compared to other bands and there is a warmness to most of camels music (for lack of a better term) that endears them to me. Bardens is great , but to me Latimer is the draw... he is up there with Hackett and Gilmour in my book of guitar legends. Guitar players who evoke emotion rather than just wanking, and showing off.
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I like MIRAGE quite a bit. Moonmadness as well. The debut is a bit "plain" for sure, but it's cool. I also enjoy the later 70s Sinclair records too.
* While I do appreciate it, I've always been slightly put off by "The Snowgoose." I don't tend to reach for it much either. But I have been wanting to sit down with it again and reevaluate.
Maybe I might warm to it better with a different title like... "THE SUN-BLASTED DUCKBILL PLATYPUS"
I mean, there's no avoiding that "The Snowgoose" (title alone) comes off a bit, I dunno, esoterically avoidable. Slightly too pretty or mildly non-threatening?
Thinking about it more, yeah...just give me the damn "Sun-blasted Duckbill Platypus" baby!
Also, I do have the lime green delight called the Ibanez Tube Screamer 🍏 Very good friend of mine. Have "sustained" a fine relationship since the early 80s.
And I agree with LUIS (who still looks like George Clooney in mid transformation to a werewolf) that a little more "bite" in the guitar could help a bit. At least in places.
Also, the Camel BOX SET is a good choice for new fans as well (ironically it came out right around the same time as the also groovy Caravan box)
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Really like this episode, revisiting an old album & hearing all the different perspectives. May I suggest a few artists names that would be worth diving into again? Jack Bruce (solo work), Family, Colosseum, Procol Harum, Pete Brown & Piblokto.
Family would be a great one! Colosseum too
@@wolf1977 absolutely! great bands from the beginnings of the 70's!!! They deserve another listen.
Regarding the Peter Barden’s solo track “Homage To The God Of Light”, the an uncredited Peter Green plays guitar original version on Barden’s “The Answer” album, he also plays lead guitar on the tile track of the album.
That's the 13.5 minute version of “Homage To The God Of Light” right? I didn't know of the Green connection - Discogs confirms it! Greg Isadore (Robin Trower) also plays drums & looks like Bruce Thomas from Elvis Costello & The Attractions is on bass. The other guitarist on the album Andy Gee was in a 70's band called Ellis with Zoot Money - been trying to track down some of their albums
@@wolf1977 yep, he wasn’t credited on the album, Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood were also in Barden’s Peter B’s Looners too which predated his solo career albums, Zoot Money plays on Peter Green’s first solo album “End Of The Game” which was a contractual obligation for Warner Brothers and just consists of tripped out instrumental jams.
@@sspbrazil Yeah I have End Of The Game, a few good tracks on that one ("Hidden Depth" & the title track)...Barden’s Peter B’s Looners - don't have anything by them, looks like maybe one album called If You Wanna Be Happy from '66.... I think Bardens played on the album The Angry Young Them (Van Morrison) all the way back in '65 & then later on Morrison's Wavelength (one of my fave Van albums)...He did a cover of Genesis' "Many Too Many" (from And Then There Were Three) that I really like a lot
@@wolf1977 yeah, he was in Them briefly and did indeed play on Wavelength which is a great album. That Many Too Many cover is on the Genesis tribute albums that Magna Carta put out. I had that one, it’s called Supper’s Ready.
I’m totally surprised that Andy Ward wasn’t recognized for his Great Drumming. Also his and Doug Ferguson tightness as a Rhythm section being the glue that made Camel work. Richard Sinclair was probably a better Bassist and he latched on with Ward pretty damn well but some of Camel’s greatest moments happened on top of that well rehearsed and thought out Bass/Drum unit of Andy and Doug.
I have to agree with ken on this one I like moon madness but the mirage album is a step up
Great album
Beautiful album. While I agree that the vocals and lyrics are not a strong point, they are serviceable. I love the album front to back. Not a weak track in the bunch. There are songs on Snow Goose, Moonmadness and Rain Dances that I like more than the songs on Mirage, but those albums have tracks that I sometimes want to skip, which isn't the case with Mirage.
RIP Frank Wyatt.
Hope you will find the time in two weeks to do an Album Study show on "Happy The Man" or "Crafty Hands" to pay homage.
One of my favorites Arnaud. R.I.P. Frank Wyatt
To me Happy The Man is the best ever US prog band
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@@wolf1977 i agree
great show...maybe do some Bevis Frond soon.....
Brilliant album,great band. But in my opinion Stationary Traveller is their ultimate masterpiece.
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One of my favorite Camel albums. I too noticed they were never quite as aggressive sounding as on the debut and "Mirage". I don't think "Earthrise" is as memorable as the rest of the album.
supertwister sounds like a song from the dutch 'great' band " Supersister" because of the flute maybe