The Snow Goose and blindly buying albums

After reading this thread I had to register and reply. I remember back in the mid 70's  someone in the old neighborhood talking about this great group Camel . But I never heard anything by them until I picked up Mirage about two years ago. They've quickly become a fixture on my turntable. I especially like the two songs that kick off side two of Snow Goose and Moonmadness. I try to push this group on all my friends now. Gentle Giant has also been a very pleasant surprise for me, having "discovered" them in the past couple of years.

cuncuna wrote: The snow goose is a "pretty" album. Like opening a book for children or something.

Hardly surprising when it's based on a short story written (primarily) for children (though perfectly suitable for adults too). Those who slate it for its lack of wierdness/adventure miss the point. It's music INSPIRED by a book. The book has a character and the music has to match it; gentle, sad and exquisitely beautiful. Those who slate it probably have never heard of Paul Gallico.

Snowgoose was amoung the first prog albums i got and it blew my away. I think some hard-core proggers are alienated by its lack of pretence or wierdness but it think thats its strength... its just beutifull, melodic and often accessable music. Needless to say camel became and still are one of my favourite bands.... buy any of their first 5 ablums and you cant go wrong.

A few indeed

• A ghost is born - Wilco
• Larks tongues in aspic/ In the court of the crimson king (anyone who knows me at all will know which i prefer ) - King crimson
• A farewell to kings - Rush 
• The rotters club - Hatfield and the north
• Agaetis byrjun - Sigur ros
• Third - Soft machine
• In the land of grey and pink - Caravan (same day as Third )
• Frances the mute - Mars volta
• Misplaced childhood - Marillion

I do a lot of random purchasing Now though that I have been introduced to the site I can check some of the songs from bands/albums I'm thinking of getting. Handy all right but ruins the surprise

Edited by Winter Wine

Poxx wrote: Nude is way above the Snow Goose. The Snow Goose is not neccesarily weak, but it's certainly uninspired, at least compared to Mirage and Moonmadness, which are both brilliant all the way through. Only 'Rhayader', 'Rhayader Goes to Town' and 'La Princesse Purdue' stands out, where the latter is just a variation of the title track. It is "funny" how this album has attracted so much praise as of late. It's a nice example of how popularity has nothing to do with quality.

Those who favour instrumental music may instinctivly be drawn to the Snow Goose over the other albums. Latimers voice is also very weak IMO. I prefer the Snow Goose to Nude, and I DONT favour instrumental music..

I would however agree that Moonmadness and Mirage are far better than both SG and Nude.

The Snow Goose is just perfect. I fell in love with this album from the first listen, in my opinion, one of the best progressive rock albums of all time.

Ty1020 wrote: Has anyone had similar experiences with albums they bought on a whim and ended up loving?

Yes but I've had the opposite as well. I've bought some prog classic albums without hearing them and have been a bit disappointed.

camel just rule my heart.I remember like 4 years ago i was taking with a costumer at the restaurant where i work  about progressive rock.irecoment to this person to listen to dream theater, queensryche, spocks beard,etc and he was taking like crazy about camel.thanks to him i bought ''moonmadness'  and a week later this guy gave me to listen a live albun from camel where they play the whole ''snow goose'' albun live.since that day i fell in love whit this amaizing band .ps:i recoment rain dances, mirage, moonmadness, and my favorite ''a not an a wink'' [the last masterpiece from camel],camel rules progressive rock.

Moonmadness is the absolute best. Snow Goose though as well as Camel ( debut), Mirage and Rain Dances are all classics.

A very underrated band....La Princesse Perdue!!

Like you I still have a lot of Camel music to explore! I only have Nude and Stationary Traveller and I love 'em. I might go for a live album next!

One album that meets your criteria is Utopia's RA! I actually bought it on a whim for my brothers birthday but I soon had my own copy! If you havn't heard this album I highly recomend it!