CAMEL ON THE ROAD 1972

An archival live recording released in 1992 some 20 years after this concert was recorded in 1972. This has to be one of the earliest recordings of CAMEL's classic lineup as their debut wasn't released until 1973. The four tracks will be familiar to any CAMEL fan but the surprising thing is that only one of these songs made their self titled debut and that was "Six Ate" the instrumental. Perhaps stranger still was that the second album "Mirage" would feature two others from this 1972 recording in "Lady Fantasy" and "White Rider". The final tune is one I'm familiar with from another live album but it was never used on a studio album and that's "God Of Light".

Some brief comments about the four songs as I've already reviewed them on other recordings and these aren't far off the originals, wait a minute aren't these the originals? "Lady Fantasy" is an almost 14 minute classic. The way multiple themes are repeated and the sound of that distorted organ and those laid back, almost whimsical vocals and melancholy, well this is why CAMEL is one of my favourite bands.

"Six Ate" the instrumental is much like the one on the debut with the organ and guitar taking turns leading and the calms that break things up. Applause ends it as it blends into "White Rider" where the applause continues as spacey sounds arrive and relaxed keys. Soon marching styled drums take over then it settles to that familiar melodic guitar after 1 1/2 minutes as our 10 minute ride is on the way. Love the distorted organ and again the vocals. Great track!

"God Of Light" is an instrumental that is not your typical CAMEL. The crazy synths that fire off like shooting stars and also create some experimental sounds take this beyond Symphonic at times although it is certainly that. I'm not sure why I'm settling with 4 stars and not more. It clocks in at just over 44 minutes and it's a pleasure to hear how amazing this band was in a live setting before their first album was even recorded.