Camel (album)

Camel is the first studio album by English progressive rock band Camel, released on MCA Records in February 1973.

Camel
Studio album by
Camel
Released28 February 1973
Recorded15–26 August 1972 at Morgan Studios, London
GenreProgressive rock
Length39:17
LabelMCA
ProducerDave Williams
Camel chronology
Camel
(1973)		 Mirage
(1974)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Timeline

By August 1972, Camel were signed to MCA Records. They quickly entered the studio to record their first self-titled album, Camel. A collection of individual songs, chiefly from Andrew Latimer and Peter Bardens, the album was greeted with muted success and MCA did not take an option for a second album. By then, the group had acquired the management team of Geoff Jukes and Max Hole of Gemini Artists (later to become GAMA Records) and had moved to Decca Records, where they would remain for the next 10 years.

Tour

Camel gigged 9 months of the year and firmly established a reputation for their live sound in the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. They shared the stage with other artists such as Stackridge, Barclay James Harvest, Gong, Hawkwind, Pink Fairies, Global Village Trucking Company, and Spyro Gyra.

Reception

In their ranking of the band's 14 albums, Prog Sphere placed Camel at #4, calling the song "Never Let Go" the real highlight on it. They wrote "this debut is not just another example of a stepping stone, but an accomplished work in its own right. While not as good as the group’s later albums, it is a most excellent start and an essential Camel release, as well as a very good starting point to get into their wonderful music."[2]

Reissue

The album was remastered and reissued in 2002 on London Records with two bonus tracks: the single version of "Never Let Go" and a live version of "Homage to the God of Light", a staple of the band's early shows. A studio version of the latter had appeared on keyboard player Peter Bardens' debut solo album The Answer in 1970.

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slow Yourself Down"Andrew Latimer, Andy Ward4:47
2."Mystic Queen"Peter Bardens5:40
3."Six Ate" (instrumental)Latimer6:06
4."Separation"Latimer3:57
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Never Let Go"Latimer6:26
6."Curiosity"Bardens5:55
7."Arubaluba" (instrumental)Bardens6:28
Bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
8."Never Let Go" (Single version)Latimer3:36
9."Homage to the God of Light" (Peter Bardens cover; Recorded Live at The Marquee Club – 29 October 1974)Bardens19:01

Personnel
Camel
Production
  • Engineered by Roger Quested
  • Sleeve design by Modula

Release details
  • 1973, US, MCA MUPS 473, Release Date February 1973, LP
  • 1973, UK, MCA MCL 1601 Release Date February 1973, LP
  • 2002, UK, London 8829252, Release Date 3 June 2002, CD (remastered edition)

References
  1. Jehnzen, Daevid (2011). "Camel - Camel (1973) album review at AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  2. https://www.prog-sphere.com/specials/camel-albums-ranked
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