01	First Light						05:00
	02	Metrognome						04:19
	03	Tell Me						04:07
	04	Highways Of The Sun						04:30
	05	Unevensong						05:35
	06	One Of These Days I'll Get An Early Night						05:54
	07	Elke						04:29
	08	Skylines						04:28
	09	Rain Dances						03:01
	10	Highways Of The Sun - Single Version						04:00

Rain Dances
1977

Andrew Latimer: 6/12 String Guitars, Pan Pipes, Fretless Bass, Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Electric & Acoustic pianos, Mini Moog, "String synthesizer", Glockenspiel, Treated guitars
Peter Bardens: Mini Moog, String synth, Electric Piano, Organ, Acoustic Piano, Car Horns
Andy Ward: Drums, Nocarina, Teeth, Cheek, Turkish Ring, Money, Percussion, Finger Cymbals, glockenspiel, Liquid Boo Bams, Rototoms, Talking Drum, Smurd, Swanee Whistle, Tunisian Clay Drums
Richard Sinclair: Bass, Vocals
Mel Collins: Saxophones, Bass & Concert Flutes, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Brian Eno: Mini moog, Electric & Acoustic Pianos, Bells, Random Notes
Fiona Hibbert: Harp
Martin Drover: Flugel horn
Malcolm Griffiths: Trombone

Ferguson left, Sinclair joined, Augmenting some Jazzy touch to Camel's progressive music, as well as his unique voice - finally, a Singer. Sinclair's bass work is often more dynamic and complex than Ferguson's solid lines, adding more presence to Camel's rhythm section. This is the first Camel album to feature "shorter" songs, with some pop tendency (Metrognome, Highways of the sun), along with some excellent fusion pieces (Skylines, Unevensong).
The album's back cover has a picture of the band (without Collins), Latimer holding another picture of the band.
Available on LP, MC and CD. Deram CD release features an edited single version of Highways of the Sun.

Mel Collins in not a member of the group yet, and so are the rest of the guest musicians listed after him. He did play in the live tour that followed.
Sinclair joined in a rush, after Ferguson left the band a few days before the recording started. His impressive bass work is notable.
Andy Latimer played fretless Bass on Tell Me and Skylines (rather good!).
The Rain Dances tour was a sellout. Camel toured Europe, but the American tour, planned for the beginning of 1978, got canceled.
Producer Rhett Davies had been working with Brian Eno, so he brought him to give his personal touch to Elke. In those days synthesizers were still uncapable of producing multiple sounds, so the notes had to be recorded seperately, weaving together the unique sonic result.
Sinclair played with Caravan until 1972, then formed Hatfield & The North, releasing two albums with that band. Hatfield's demise left him with no band to play in, until being approached by Camel.


Deram CD version includes notes by John Tracy.
Decca TXS-R 124. Passport PB 9858. Janus JXS-2, Janus 7035, Released in September 1977
Passport PBC 9858, Janus JXSC-2
Deram 820 725-2
Total Playing Time: 41:34 (w/o Highways of the Sun single version)
Rain Dances reached 20 in the charts, 136 on the Billboards charts.


Rain Dances Liner Notes


Following the success of their fourth album, Moonmadness (UK: Decca TXS-R 115; Rel.: 26th March 1976; US: Janus 7024), Camel experienced the first personnel amendment since their formation back in 1971. Andrew Latimer (Electric, Acoustic and Slide Guitars, Flute, Vocals); Peter Bardens (Keyboards) and Andy Ward (Drums, Vibes, Varispeed Percussion) bid farewell to their bass player, Doug Ferguson, following that album's attendant tours, and while he went off to pursue other interests they considered how to plug the gap and set to work on formulating ideas for their next project.

Andy had not been excessively happy about the fact the heavy road commitments forced Moonmadness's creation to be squeezed into some three weeks, with about the same time again remaining for rehearsals, so any enforced delay in transferring anything further to magnetic oxide caused by Doug's departure naturally meant greater creative time for preparation. It was not wasted.

Discussions between the remaining trio about how to cure their immediate headcount problem though decreed one Richard Sinclair top of the wants list. A founder member of Caravan and, latterly, leading light in Hatfield & The North, the gentleman described glowingly in a Melody Maker article of the era as 'one of the few rock singers who can actually sing', was contacted with a view to possible recruitment. It goes without saying he was also a wizard on the amplified four-string to boot.

During the months since Hatfield's demise, Canterbury, Kent's-finest had initially taken a few weeks well deserved holiday abroad and the returned to England and set himself up in business making musical equipment, maintaining playing links with matters melodic by gigging locally and even forming for fun a one-off band called Sinclair & The South. When the telephone call came with an offer to join Camel for recording purposes though he required no second bidding, and checked in, guitar in hand, during February '77.

Sinclair settled into his role with a relish over the seven months spent in the studio as they taped album number five, and it became obvious to all concerned that here was a rather more permanent solution to filling their vacancy than anyone had even dared hope. As things progressed he automatically involved himself in writing and definitely brought a new dimension to the band's crotcheted horizons and sound, as Latimer was quick to appreciate when discussing Rain Dances after its completion: 'It was probably a reaction against Moonmadness, but we wanted to do more concise material, and we also wanted to get into jazzier areas. Richard could play all the jazzy things we wanted - and some of them were quite complex.' Speaking, as they were, at the very height of the punk rock revolution, Peter added: 'It's a very optimistic album compared with much of the material that is being released at the moment. We've branched out into different directions ranging from jazz to classical, yet Rain Dances is more accessible than any of its predecessors. I suppose it's just a logical progression', adding enthusiastically, 'Richard has really fitted in perfectly, his voice enhances Camel's music.'

Mr. Sinclair was not alone in adding instrumentation though, since top saxophonist Mel Collins also fleshed out proceedings and declared himself ready, willing and able to augment the quartet on their inevitable supporting tour.

With everybody delighted at results achieved, that which had been christened after Messrs. Latimer and Bardens' closing opus debuted in Britain as TXS-R 124 early in September '77, a single Highways of the Sun in edited form, backed with an untouched Tell me, also from the set, gracing dealers' release sheets as F-R 13729 on the 23rd of the month.

The 45 didn't dent our Top 50 despite being decidedly radio-friendly, but Camel had never courted that market anyway and were already residing on its album relative, for Rain Dances breezed into the published best-sellers on September 17th and took an 8-week tenancy as it peaked at 20 with the sold-out British tour in full swing. An exhausting pilgrimage around mainland Europe followed. Across the 'big pond', Janus did not this time offer a seven-inch taster as they had for Moonmadness but watched gleefully as their latest nine-track acquisition, accorded catalogue reference 7035, nudged into Billboard's Top 200 on November 12th and pushed up to 136 during a 5 week stay.

For transfer to Compact Disc Rain Dances' original contents is now augmented by suffixing that truncated Highways of the Sun variation, which should hopefully delight anyone replacing their vinyl collection by helping to keep your Camel libraries complete, though way-back-when our heroes were already tentatively turning their thoughts towards whatever might come next, although from certain events of late it was perceived by those close to the band, and not least by Andy Latimer and Pete Bardens themselves, that each definitely saw Camel's future travels venturing along somewhat different, incompatible paths.

Something, or rather somebody, would have to give seemingly, but any such 'storm clouds' were early in 1978 still only a shadow on the horizon. While minds were seeking inspiration for a wholly new subject to tackle, ears, hands and concentration were devoted to the careful assembly of an in-concert chronicle celebrating their history to date for home issue in April. Without beating about the bush its direct billing would state, A Live Record...

c John Tracy London, 1991




Rain Dances (1977)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This album brings the first major cast change to the group. Bassist Doug Ferguson departs and is replaced by Richard Sinclair, and Mel Collins brings his saxophone to the band.
It also brings a major change in the "sound", and (to me anyway) a rather disappointing one. Overall the album is, well, boring. There are a lot more vocals and a lot less imagination. The songs are all slower and more mellow than those of the previous albums, which is not in itself bad, but there's just no "bite" to them. Latimer and Bardens still get all the writing credit, but with rare exceptions, these songs could have been done by any one of a dozen "ordinary" rock acts. There is less of Andy's guitar, less of his flute, and just too much saxophone. Only one song, "Skylines", brings to mind the flavor of previous Camel.

This is probably the only Camel album that I wouldn't recommend except to die-hard fans (like myself).

Other Opinions
From William W. Thompson:
You were not too keen on this CD. It was one of my favorites. The addition of Mel Collins added a new jazzy, free flowing dimension to Camel. The level of musicianship and production quality went up significantly with the release of Raindances. Although I agree with you on missing the flute.

Personnel:
Andrew Latimer
Peter Bardens
Andy Ward
Richard Sinclair
Mel Collins

Guests:
Martin Drover
Malcolm Griffiths
Eno
Fiona Hibbert
Produced by Camel and Rhett Davies





Camel - Rain Dances

Released: 1977/1991
Label: Deram
Cat. No.: 820-725-2
Total Time: 42:34


Reviewed by: Stephanie Sollow, July 1999
What can be said about Camel that hasn't already been said? My initial thoughts upon listening to this are - this would go over with the pop crowd, with the smooth jazz crowd, and the melodic prog crowd and that I can hear where Alan Parsons may gave gained an influence on his sound. Whether that latter observation is actually true or not, it sure seems so to me.

Anyone who is unfamiliar with Camel, the Parsons comparison is apt as a guidepost (there may be even a Parsons connection that I've overlooked).

Overall this is a very enjoyable album. The most immediately memorable song, and the most accessible, is "Highways of The Sun". "One of These Days I'll Get An Early Night" is the most jazzy track on the album, written by the entire band - Andrew Latimer (g/f/vox), Peter Bardens (k), Andy Ward (d/vibes/perc), Mel Collins (sax), and Richard Sinclair (b).

On the other hand, "Elke," a piece written by Latimer is atmospheric, a la Steve Roach, for example. Sinclair's bass work in "Skylines," oddly enough, made me think of Djam Karet (another band influenced by Camel?). The title track is a gentle wash of overlying keyboard signatures, one taking the role of percussion (without sounding drumlike).

If you like melodic music - progressive or otherwise - you will like Camel - at least this edition of Camel. Also recommended is my favourite (thus far), Nude.

More about Rain Dances:

Track Listing: First Light (5:01) / Metrognome (4:15) / Tell Me (4:06) / Highways Of The Sun (4:29) / Unevensong (5:33) / One Of These Days I'll Get An Early Night (4:50) / Elke (4:26) / Skylines (4:24) / Rain Dances (2:53) / Highways...Single Version (3:57)

Musicians:
Andrew Latimer - Guitars, Flute, And Vocals
Peter Bardens - Keyboards
Andy Ward - Drums, Vibes, And Percusssion
Richard Sinclair - Bass and Vocals
Mel Collins - Sax