Camel Albums

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. Inspired by the Cold War (then at its height) between the Eastern Bloc countries and NATO, the album featured such classics as Cloak and Dagger Man, West Berlin, Stationary Traveller and Long Goodbyes and saw Camel reach new heights of creativity.

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. Long unavailable on CD, this newly re-mastered Esoteric Recordings reissue has been expanded to a 2CD set to include songs not featured on the original album.

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. Long unavailable on CD, this newly re-mastered Esoteric Recordings reissue has been expanded to a 2CD set to include songs not featured on the original album.

Unlike many bands whose careers had begun in the 1970 s, Camel continued to enjoy much success in the 1980 s, producing fine studio albums such as Nude. A conceptual work, the album featured many fine songs such as Lies, City Life and Drafted, along with excellent instrumental pieces such as Captured. An international success, Camel toured globally to promote the album, with their concert at Hammersmith Odeon recorded by the BBC for the In Concert programme. This re-mastered and expanded release includes the lengthy medley Excerpts from Nude from that radio broadcast as over 30 minutes of bonus material. This new release also includes an extensive booklet with copious photographs, memorabilia and a new essay.

The elegant, ambitious and all-instrumental album, Camel’s third, was first released in April 1975, and became the first of their eight consecutive UK chart albums over the following decade. Formed in London in 1971, the band had released their self-titled debut in 1973, then made inroads on the American market with the following year’s Mirage. That didn’t chart in their own country, but by 1975, with the album-oriented market in its prime and artists able to sell large quantities of LPs without the need for hit singles, Camel really hit their stride.

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.

Unlike many bands whose careers had begun in the 1970 s, Camel continued to enjoy much success in the 1980 s, producing fine studio albums such as Nude. A conceptual work, the album featured many fine songs such as Lies, City Life and Drafted, along with excellent instrumental pieces such as Captured. An international success, Camel toured globally to promote the album, with their concert at Hammersmith Odeon recorded by the BBC for the In Concert programme. This re-mastered and expanded release includes the lengthy medley Excerpts from Nude from that radio broadcast as over 30 minutes of bonus material. This new release also includes an extensive booklet with copious photographs, memorabilia and a new essay.