Camel: the most underrated prog band at 70`s?

from the beautifully floating flute tones in `Spirit Of The Water` to harsh symphonic moments of `Pressure`,
from the simple structured but catchy `Sanctuary` to massive epic `A Nod And A Wink`, Camel, in my opinion, has been a significant point in prog-rock history. Andrew Latimer has always carried the weight of his own created unique sound on his shoulders alone, trying to provide a stable condition for the band, unfortunately unsuccessful most of the times.
Amazingly he composes such a brilliant work `A Nod and a Wink` when everyone think that Camel sound is ended after Rajaz. a beautifully composed and well structured album which contains almost all of the possible moods and elements of Progressive music in a quite experienced way, of course expected by Latimer.
of course most of us know camel today and appreciate it, but how come Camel was so obscured and underrated compared at 70`s compared to other UK prog rockers, this is the question that i always have in mind. whether my statement is right or wrong, Hope to be a good discussion about the band.

Edited by sohraab - October 12 2010 at 03:15

Snow Dog wrote: I think you ARE wrong...they are a very popular band. maybe in the seventies they weren't Premier league but they sure are popular now.

yes, but my discussion is about the situation of the band at 70`s prog society of UK and world in general. wondering how they WERE so underrated. maybe i should change the post text a little!

Not at all. They're massively rated around here.

FIRST: My English is not good and many of PA fans know it !!! I dont agree with you Sohraab. I love CAMEL (like many of Iranian proggers) but they are not one of my idols. Camel start very good with their 4 first albums (Camel,Mirage,The Snow Goose and MoonMadness). In my opinion "The Snow Goose" is a masterpiece and one big step in Symphonic-Rock  genre. After TSG Camel released MoonMadness. I dont like all of MoonMadness songs and I think its lower than The Snow Goose. I think MoonMadness is the end of Camel's golden era. Raindances is a smooth jazz album and I think Camel's new members didnt fix in line up well. I allways like Mel Collins but he wasnt good in Camel. "Breathless" and "I can see your house from here" was 2 pretty bad albums (IMO) specially "Breathless". I cant undrestand why they released these 2. Nude is very ordinary album and "Single Factor"  is one of the worst Prog album I have evere listened. I dont want write Camel history. They have one masterpiece, 2 or 3 perfect album and some good albums. Rajaz and "A nod and a Wink" are good but not masterpiece.

Easy Livin wrote: ExittheLemming wrote: I saw them live in the late 70's at Glasgow University (I wasn't a student, just a guest) and thought them highly competent but unremittingly tedious.   First time I saw them was in the City halls in Glasgow when they were supporting Stackridge. At that time they were still playing "Homage to the god of light" from Barden's solo album "The answer" (99p in Woolworths at the time!). One of the best support gigs I've ever seen.

That sounds like it would have been a really good show (Maybe you saw Camel closer to their 'peak'? ) and I have always loved Stackridge to bits ever since they became something of a staple on 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' in the early 70's.

Old men like me forget I just looked it up and the Camel concert I saw was actually at the Glasgow City Halls in 1978 with Soft Machine and Michael Chapman as support. Don't time fly?


Edited by ExittheLemming - October 11 2010 at 07:44

If you use the old football analogy in the UK, Camel were second division in terms of sales as compared to the big bands of the First Division.

However, in terms of appreciation, certainly on sites such as this, they are most definitely up there.

I've recently converted my old Camel vinyl to digital, and am able once again to appreciate just what a marvellous band they were.

lazland wrote: If you use the old football analogy in the UK, Camel were second division in terms of sales as compared to the big bands of the First Division. However, in terms of appreciation, certainly on sites such as this, they are most definitely up there. I've recently converted my old Camel vinyl to digital, and am able once again to appreciate just what a marvellous band they were.

yes absolutely they are well respected in PA. but i mention again, my question is that why should they have been in second division? did they miss technical elements? or maybe their mood was not well accepted by public comparing other prog rockers? what has been the reason?

sohraab wrote: lazland wrote: If you use the old football analogy in the UK, Camel were second division in terms of sales as compared to the big bands of the First Division. However, in terms of appreciation, certainly on sites such as this, they are most definitely up there. I've recently converted my old Camel vinyl to digital, and am able once again to appreciate just what a marvellous band they were. yes absolutely they are well respected in PA. but i mention again, my question is that why should they have been in second division? did they miss technical elements? or maybe their mood was not well accepted by public comparing other prog rockers? what has been the reason?

Paravion wrote:

seems that this time u like my post more than PF one! anyway nice artwork from camel. thx.

Paravion wrote: sohraab wrote: Paravion wrote: seems that this time u like my post more than PF one! anyway nice artwork from camel. thx. Sorry to break it to you - but this is not camel art work. It's the cover of a 7" issued by swiss blues/psychedelia/kraut band Krokodil in 1969. It's a homage to the camel cigarette. Great song. It's very confusing. Both bands have animal names and Krokodil even issued a record with (almost) the same cover art as Mirage. When I mean Krokodil i sometimes utter Camel and vice virsa. I hate Camel. I find them rather boring and without edge. They don't suit my temper I guess. Krokodil - on the contrary - ranks as one of my all time favourite bands. Their album "An Invisible World Revealed" is a must. Sorry about the digression.

it`s OK no problem! i`ll check `Krokodil` to know how it makes u don`t like camel. sounds interesting. thx.