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Camel
Camel
The greatest classic progressive rock band you've never heard of. I wish I could remember how I discovered this band, I believe it was going down the rabbit hole that is Spotify and scrolling through shit. I came across their second album Mirage, which looked like the Camel cigarettes logo (which was part of the deal when Camel became aware of the band, there was an original cover). One listen to that A-side of that album and I was sold. Camel kicks ass. I remember strolling through a record store, actually it was an antique shop, in Lawrence, KS and I found Mirage on vinyl, and to this day, it is the best discovery I've found while crate-digging. But first, a little about the band...
Although Camel never achieved the mass popularity of fellow British progressive rock bands like Pink Floyd, they still cultivated a dedicated cult following. There were many line-up changes throughout the years but the main leader was Andrew Latimer. Camel formed in 1972 in Surrey, UK and originally consisted of Latimer (flute, guitar, vocals), Andy Ward (drums), Doug Ferguson (bass), and keyboardists Peter Bardens. By the end of 1973, the group had signed with MCA Records and released their eponymous debut. In 1974, the band switched record labels, signing with Decca's Gama subsidiary, and released Mirage. In 1975, Camel released their breakthrough album The Snow Goose, which climbed into the British Top 30. The band's popularity with their English audience declined with 1976's Moonmadness, but the album reached 118 on the Billboard charts [their highest charting album to date] and Camel soon found themselves with an American audience. Following the release of Moonmadness, Ferguson left the band and was replaced by Richard Sinclair; at the same time, the group added a saxophonist. Latimer and Bardens conflicted during the recording of 1977's Rain Dances and those tensions would come to a head during the making of 1978's Breathless. After Breathless was completed, Bardens left the band. By the time Camel released 1979's I Can See Your House From Here, rock 'n' roll had been changed by the emergence of punk rock, which resulted in less coverage and popularity for progressive rock bands like Camel. The 80's were what the 80's were for most 70's bands: a long up-hill battle. We got solid efforts: 1981's Nude, 1982's The Single Factor, and 1984's Stationary Traveller. After this came a long hibernation that lasted until the early '90s. During this period, Camel were in legal battles with their previous manager. Latimer sold his home in England in 1988 and moved to California where he founded Camel Productions. 1991 gave us Dust and Dreams and 1996 gave us Harbour of Tears. Two more albums ('99's Rajaz & '02's A Nod and a Wink) have been released, however, since the reformation in the early '90s, the band is simply Andrew Latimer and a handful of session musicians.
So there you have it. Camel. The band has been through a hell of a journey, but what they captured with those first four or five albums is something to be admired. If you are confused on where to start, PolyGram released a double-disc Camel retrospective titled Echoes (kind of like the titled to Pink Floyd's greatest hits... coincidence?)
It's...
Camel
Camel
Camel
The greatest classic progressive rock band you've never heard of. I wish I could remember how I discovered this band, I believe it was going down the rabbit hole that is Spotify and scrolling through shit. I came across their second album Mirage, which looked like the Camel cigarettes logo (which was part of the deal when Camel became aware of the band, there was an original cover). One listen to that A-side of that album and I was sold. Camel kicks ass. I remember strolling through a record store, actually it was an antique shop, in Lawrence, KS and I found Mirage on vinyl, and to this day, it is the best discovery I've found while crate-digging. But first, a little about the band...
Although Camel never achieved the mass popularity of fellow British progressive rock bands like Pink Floyd, they still cultivated a dedicated cult following. There were many line-up changes throughout the years but the main leader was Andrew Latimer. Camel formed in 1972 in Surrey, UK and originally consisted of Latimer (flute, guitar, vocals), Andy Ward (drums), Doug Ferguson (bass), and keyboardists Peter Bardens. By the end of 1973, the group had signed with MCA Records and released their eponymous debut. In 1974, the band switched record labels, signing with Decca's Gama subsidiary, and released Mirage. In 1975, Camel released their breakthrough album The Snow Goose, which climbed into the British Top 30. The band's popularity with their English audience declined with 1976's Moonmadness, but the album reached 118 on the Billboard charts [their highest charting album to date] and Camel soon found themselves with an American audience. Following the release of Moonmadness, Ferguson left the band and was replaced by Richard Sinclair; at the same time, the group added a saxophonist. Latimer and Bardens conflicted during the recording of 1977's Rain Dances and those tensions would come to a head during the making of 1978's Breathless. After Breathless was completed, Bardens left the band. By the time Camel released 1979's I Can See Your House From Here, rock 'n' roll had been changed by the emergence of punk rock, which resulted in less coverage and popularity for progressive rock bands like Camel. The 80's were what the 80's were for most 70's bands: a long up-hill battle. We got solid efforts: 1981's Nude, 1982's The Single Factor, and 1984's Stationary Traveller. After this came a long hibernation that lasted until the early '90s. During this period, Camel were in legal battles with their previous manager. Latimer sold his home in England in 1988 and moved to California where he founded Camel Productions. 1991 gave us Dust and Dreams and 1996 gave us Harbour of Tears. Two more albums ('99's Rajaz & '02's A Nod and a Wink) have been released, however, since the reformation in the early '90s, the band is simply Andrew Latimer and a handful of session musicians.
So there you have it. Camel. The band has been through a hell of a journey, but what they captured with those first four or five albums is something to be admired. If you are confused on where to start, PolyGram released a double-disc Camel retrospective titled Echoes (kind of like the titled to Pink Floyd's greatest hits... coincidence?)
It's...
Camel
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