Following their stint as Phillip Goodhand-Tait’s backing band and the recruitment of veteran R&B keyboard participant Peter Bardens in 1971, Camel set about establishing themselves as a power to be reckoned with. The band toured the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, and Holland enjoying assist gigs to the likes of Barclay James Harvest, Gong, Hawkwind, and the Pink Fairies.
On August 2, 1972, Camel signed to MCA Data and on August 15 they had been at Morgan Sound Studios the place they spent slightly over per week recording their self-titled debut album. It’s a set of road-honed songs with 4 written by guitarist Andy Latimer, one co-written with drummer Andy Ward, and the opposite three songs from the pen of Peter Bardens.
The opening music “Slow Yourself Down” is trademark Camel, with Bardens’ intricate keyboard work and Latimer’s dynamic guitar enjoying. The primary of Barden’s compositions is “Mystic Queen,” so redolent of the time and so very indicative of what would make Camel so standard. The 2 songs that make up the remainder of Facet One are “Six Ate” and “Separation,” each present Latimer’s love of jazz, one other side of Camel’s progressive credentials.
Facet two opens with “Never Let Go,” one other Latimer music that additionally turned the band’s first single when it was launched in November 1972. That includes Barden’s vocals, it developed into one of many band’s best-loved songs. The second observe, “Curiosity,” is one other Bardens unique. Additionally the B-side of their debut single, it’s a trademark Bardens music which options his evocative keyboard work. “Arubaluba,” one other of his compositions, is the album nearer and the type of quantity that makes a prog fan go weak on the knees – all ascending riffs, time adjustments, and naturally instrumental dexterity.
Camel was lastly launched on February 28, 1973. However regardless of being such an excellent report it met with restricted business success. That didn’t hassle Camel, as they carried on touring and gigging onerous regardless of being dropped by MCA. The band acquired new managers in Geoff Jukes and Max Gap of Gemini Artists and moved to Decca Data, the place they’d stay for the following ten years to immense acclaim.
Camel may be purchased right here.
