01	Slow Yourself Down						04:47
	02	Mystic Queen						05:40
	03	Six Ate						06:06
	04	Separation						03:57
	05	Never Let Go						06:26
	06	Curiosity						05:55
	07	Arubaluba						06:29

Released in February 1973

Andy Ward: Drums and Percussion
Doug Ferguson: Bass and Vocals on tracks 2,6
Peter Bardens: Organ, Mellotron, Piano, VCS3 Synthesizer and Vocals on track 5
Andy Latimer: Guitar and Vocals on track 1,4

Camel's debut album can be considered among their finest. Very similar in sound textures and production to their second release, it features some jazz-rock improvisation tracks, along with simple (yet grooving) rock songs. Peter Bardens' fantastic Organ improvisations are heavily featured here, although Latimer's guitar solos feel held back a little
The Record's original back cover has a black & yellow picture of the band
The album was once available on LP by MCA records, and was reissued by Camel Productions on CD. The CD has a lyrics sheet and pictures of the group.

- Camel sold about 5000 copies in it's first year.
- Camel never got the success it should have had, and it became somewhat a collector's item only years later.
- Camel toured this album, supporting Barcley James Harvest.
- Eddie (no last name) played Congas on Slow Yourself Down. This "Eddie" was a mate of Peter Bardens'. Peter never knew his second name. (Thanks Susan!)
- The CD release does not include the song credits: 3,4,5 by Latimer, 2,6,7 by Bardens, and 1 by Ward/Latimer.
- Andy said to a fan that the photos of the group members were taken at Andy Ward's flat.
- Rami Zakh suggested that the obscure Six Ate title refer's to the song's time signature, which is mostly 6/8. Susan Hoover Approves that it's true.
- Dave Williams, the album's producer, urged the band to find a real singer. The idea was finally dropped after the band auditioned a singer who started dancing on stage while the other were gigging through instrumental improvisations.
- The album's recording started in August 15th and lasted 12 days. Andy Latimer summarized the album's recording as "a bloody nightmare".





Rarities and Oddities
Would it be possible for Camel to release a compilation album featuring old, rare or 'lost' material, archived tapes of tasty bits of music from the good ol' years?

Well, let's check what we've got to so far:

Ligging at Louis'
A live recording of this Peter Bardens piece is available on A Live Record. It's a cute piece which reflects the Mirage-era type of Camel's music. Could there be a studio recording?

Lord of Light
This Peter Bardens piece surfaced on an official Camel release only in 1992, in the On the Road, 1972. Before that, another live rendition was available on the rare Greasy Truckers. Camel played it during their 1972 gigs along with Lady Fantasy and White Rider which later surfaced only in the 1974 release of Mirage. Is it possible that Camel also recorded the piece in the studio, but decided not to release it, as it was previously released on Bardens' solo release, The Answer? If no studio recording exist, how about re-releasing the Greasy Truckers version?

Another Night
An alternative recording of the song is available on a 7" single. The recording varies in the mix and in some parts played totally differently. Apparently, this track is available on the new 25th Anniversary compilation.

Lunar Sea
A live recording is available as the B-side of the Another Night single. This live recording isn't available anywhere else. Apparently, this track is available on the new 25th Anniversary compilation.

Rainbow's End
According to the Breathless CD liner notes, a different version of the track appears on a special 7" promotional release that proceeded the I Can See... album. Apparently, this track is available on the new 25th Anniversary compilation.

Nobody Knows
This is, in fact, not a Camel track at all.
The song is a Neil Larsen track called 'Jungle Fever'. Camel used it at the end of a set during the '79/80 tour because they liked this song. It was only a jam on someone else's material. At the time no one could remember the song title, so when they announced the song as: "Nobody knows the title".


River Man
This little piece is remembered fondly by Susan Hoover. Latimer said in an interview that it was based on Herman Hesse's Siddhartha, and that it was attempted to be a hit single. Siddhartha is a book about a lost young soul who ventures out to find himself, only to find he was right where he lost himself to begin with. (submitted by Jeff Gebhardt).

Pressure Points
A extended mix of this song is available on a 12" single. The live rendition of the whole thing is played in the Pressure Points live album.

In the Arms of Waltzing Frauleins
Written by Latimer and Hoover, this cabaret sung waltz is featured on the Pressure Points live video, but does not appear on any audio release. The track is also played on tour before the band goes on stage.

The entire second half of Dust and Dreams
Latimer has written the entire second half of Dust and Dreams during the 'lost' Camel years. What happened to the original version? Was it ever recorded by the musicians? Is there a basic sketch sequence available?
This is all I have gathered so far... And it sums up to more than 45 minutes of Interesting material, although not necessarily of the quality that glues up to an album...

Are Camel Productions considering such release? Considering - maybe, but it's definitly isn't going to be easy... It will probably require licensing from labels such as PolyGram and MCA as well as permits from the other people involved. Most of the material will have to be dug up from the archives and remastered. Camel Productions seem very keen on the quality of recordings they produce and release, and they may decline to release material which doesn't fit their standards.

We are only left to wait and wonder, and perhaps even write a letter and say what we think about it...




Camel - "Camel" (1973)
Camel was one of the best progressive rock groups around in the mid-70's. Their debut-album is representative for the early Camel-sound. Superb, energetic and inspired instrumental parts relive relaxed vocal-parts dominated by the voice of Andy Latimer and excellent melodies. The opening track "Slow Yourself Down" is an excellent example of this. And the duels between Latimer's guitar and Peter Bardens' organ is really outstanding. "Mystic Queen" and not at least the classic "Never Let Go" shows the group from their most melodious side while "Separation" and the instrumental "Arubaluba" are energetic blowouts of the highest class. "Six Ate" is another instrumental number with the slight jazz-influence that sometimes dominated the classic Camel-sound. Overall, this is a good debut-album.