Camel Albums from the Post-1970's Era
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=123536
Printed Date: August 20 2025 at 21:17
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Topic: Camel Albums from the Post-1970's Era
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Subject: Camel Albums from the Post-1970's Era
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 02:24
CAMEL emerged from Guildford like a MIRAGE with the release of their first album in 1973. The band have since gone on to become as legendary as the flight of THE SNOW GOOSE, with its annual long migration from Canada to Mexico. Their fourth album was a concept album, released at a time when the concept album was King. When record buyers listened to the final track on the album, Lunar Sea (Lunacy), they may have thought they were experiencing a temporary bout of MOONMADNESS, as the song played on endlessly, in what's known as the "terminal groove" effect. Camel's next critically acclaimed album had their loyal fanbase performing RAIN DANCES of delight and they were BREATHLESS with anticipation for the follow-up album. Who can forget the stark image of the crucified astronaut on the cover of I CAN SEE YOUR HOUSE FROM HERE, where he's metaphorically NUDE and alone in the endless depths of space. THE SINGLE FACTOR determining his fate is whether there's a spacecraft waiting nearby to come to the rescue, or whether he's doomed to drift endlessly through space like a STATIONARY TRAVELLER, when all of his hopes will be crushed like DUST AND DREAMS in a HARBOUR OF TEARS. Camel had a return to form in 1999 with the release of their RAJAZ album, which gave A NOD AND A WINK towards their classic 1970's albums.  |
Replies:
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 03:01
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Rajaz ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 03:04
I have a feeling Rajaz might just win this poll.
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Man With Hat wrote:Posted By: Mirakaze
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 04:37
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Nude is pretty good all around if you ask me. Stationary Traveller isn't very good objectively speaking, I suppose, but it gets nostalgia points from me as it was one of the first albums I remember hearing (my dad used to put it on a lot because the title track was played at his sister's funeral, who died a month after I was born). Rajaz and A Nod And A Wink both have some good tracks but are a bit too uneven for me. It's been a long time since I heard the other ones but I recall being less than impressed by all of them. |
Posted By: Rick1
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 04:45
| I have seen Camel three times - in 79, 81 and then 2015! In that 34 year gap, I didn't realise they had been knocking out some great music... |
Posted By: Mormegil
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 05:04
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I really dig Rajaz. ------------- Welcome to the middle of the film. |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 05:31
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Nude is the second best in their entire catalog. ------------- 
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Posted By: VianaProghead
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 05:41
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I hesitated a bi between "Rajaz" and "A Nod And A Wink". Still, I decided by the last one.
------------- "PROG IS MY FERRARI". Jem Godfrey (Frost*) |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 05:47
| So many great albums by Camel. For me, any of them could win and that would be fine. I really enjoy them all. I voted Harbor of Tears, since it was the tour when I got to meet Andy Latimer after the show and shake his hand. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 06:11
I'll give a nod and a wink towards the Rajaz album. |
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 06:32
Rajaz...Cool post Phil ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: dougmcauliffe
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 06:35
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Contrary to my profile picture, its Rajaz. Super important album for me and imo, one of their best albums. Though I dig all of these to some degree, especially Nude and Nod. ------------- The sun has left the sky... ...Now you can close your eyes |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 06:38
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I vote for Nude, but all of these have their qualities, even Single Factor. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 06:42
Who's Phil?
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 06:49
There are some excellent songs on The Single Factor, despite the album generally getting a bad rap from Camel fans.  Like these three songs for instance..... 1. Heroes 2. Selva 3. Sasquatch |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 06:54
| Stationary Traveler for me. Brilliance from beginning to end, prog meets new wave. |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 07:03
Yes, great selection!
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 07:09
4. Camelogue |
Posted By: geekfreak
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 07:15
Oops sorry Paul ------------- Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music Is Live Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. Keep Calm And Listen To The Music… < |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 07:17
^ That's okay. I was just left wondering who the mysterious Phil was. 
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Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 07:26
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Rajaz is the only post 70's album that can compete with the first four ------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 07:41
Moonmadness will always be my favourite Camel album, but I like all of the albums on this list too. I used to have the hump with The Single Factor album at one time, but I've grown to like it now.
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Posted By: judahbenkenobi
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 08:44
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The Single Factor and Traveler are automatically out. Dust and Dreams is ok, but not a favorite. So it was between the other 90's albums, Nod, and Nude. Voted for Nude in the end |
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 08:53
I disagree about Stationary Traveller. It's very 80s in the sound, they also used a fairlight, but it's not a bad album and absolutely not as rubbish as the single factor ------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 08:57
And I agree with you about Stationary Traveller, as it's one of my favourite Camel albums.
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Posted By: dougmcauliffe
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 09:19
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I've grown to really appreciate Harbour of Tears, but man, the 25 minutes of ocean sounds at the end is really overkill. ------------- The sun has left the sky... ...Now you can close your eyes |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 10:02
I think I'll vote for that one, too. It gets glossed over. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 10:53
That's like the "terminal groove effect" that you used to hear at the end of some LP's, including Moonmadness.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 12:37
You were probably thinking of the "Psychedelic Phil" album by Neil Young.
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Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 14:44
This is what we mean for "a filler", but during the lockdown it wasn't so bad. ------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution |
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 14:45
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I see that the only two Camel albums that I don't like are still with zero votes, so it's not only me... ------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 15:00
I'd be surprised if The Single Factor picks up a single vote, even though I like the album generally.
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Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 15:21
Surely not. For me they're both OK albums (far better than the worst albums of other major prog bands), but I'd still rate them lowest of their output. Dust and Dreams isn't very memorable and Single Factor has some stinkers in between the good material.
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Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 15:55
| I'm a bit surprised Dust and Dreams has 0 votes. Maybe I never gave Harbour of Tears enough chance but I always though D&D was better. True, the instrumental 2nd part part can drag a bit but this is similar to and close to Nude level, perhaps a bit better |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 16:00
Dust and Dreams is a good album, but it's up against some really strong contenders.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 16:16
| I haven't heard all of them so no vote. However, I think Dust and Dreams must be one of their most under rated in their entire catalog and actuallly in all of prog in general(imo). |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 16:29
I posted the full Rajaz album on Page 1 of this poll if you haven't already heard it.
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Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 16:37
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I've always loved Nude, and Rajaz is magnificent. I love the track Shout because it's so different and Andy Latimer's guitar playing is simply stellar. Stationary Traveller has some wonderful material, especially the title track and Fingertips. The first time I heard Dust and Dreams, I dismissed it as too American, but after hearing the songs live at the Royal Albert Hall (when I too got to shake hands - very carefully - with Andy Latimer), I gave it another try and it grew on me a lot. Harbour of Tears has some lovely tracks on it and the Irish theme appeals, but it isn't quite up to the others. The Single Factor is probably the weakest of all their albums, but still far better than the weakest of almost any other major prog band and it has some very good tracks. But my favourite of these is a A Nod and A Wink. I love the gentle pastoral feel epitomised by Fox Hill and Squigely Fair, and it ends with the truly glorious For Today. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2020 at 16:44
I definitely agree with you about The Single Factor album: it may be Camel's weakest album, but it's still a stronger album than anything Genesis recorded in the 1980's & 90's.
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Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: July 21 2020 at 00:28
| Unlike a lot of bands who went into decline Camel kept coming up with great albums. Single Factor is the only one on the list I didn't particularly like. Great band. |
Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: July 21 2020 at 00:32
I like Genesis as much as anybody. However, as much as their highs are as good as any other band their lows tend to be lower than most other bands I look up to. Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett did the right thing leaving the band.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 21 2020 at 01:09
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^ That's true. Virtually every album that Steve Hackett has recorded solo - with the exception of "Cured" - is better than any Genesis album from the 1980's & 90's. The same thing applies to Tony Banks' solo albums too. I'll have to finally get around to listening to Peter Gabriel's solo albums one day too.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 22 2020 at 00:48
| Rajaz but I'm not a massive fan of anything they did post seventies. The introduction of Ton Scherpenzeel (Kayak) for Stationary Traveller could have been massive but it fell a bit flat really although Cloak and Dagger Man kicks serious ass. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 22 2020 at 02:37
I suppose office workers on their way to work in the morning could be termed "stationery travellers" Pressure Points is my personal favourite from the Stationary Traveller album. |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: July 22 2020 at 07:08
yes, yet others say that's the weakest track on the album. The reality is that the whole album is a masterpiece that captures a mood like no other. Sure the mood is dire, but it was what it was
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 23 2020 at 08:26
Wow! I just listened to Camel's Rajaz album for the first time today and I was blown away by this musical tour de force. It's on the same level of par excellence as their classic Moonmadness album and it's easy to see why the album won this poll. Thanks to everyone who took part in the voting.  This is the video for "Lawrence" from the Rajaz album, featuring scenes from the 1962 David Lean movie, Lawrence of Arabia, starring Peter O'Toole. |