CAMEL - A Live Record

[Progatron]

I can't stop playing this lately. I pulled it from the shelf in the days leading up to Christmas since I've always found The Snow Goose to be a very Christmassy-sounding album (despite it having no relation), and IMO the best version can be found here on disc two. But it's been both discs I've been spinning over and over... for some reason, I haven't had my fill just yet, and it's odd because it's not like this music is anything new to me.

I believe opinion tends to be split on the running order, but personally I prefer the expanded version from 2002 as it's not only better sounding to my ears, but with over 40 minutes of restored material more reflective of the Rain Dances era (which the original versions barely acknowledged with only one track), and a couple more biggies from Moonmadness thrown in.

Anyway, just one of those strange little things... I've liked this album for 30+ years. Suddenly, I find that I love it.

[gallen1964]

I can't stop playing this lately. I pulled it from the shelf in the days leading up to Christmas since I've always found The Snow Goose to be a very Christmassy-sounding album (despite it having no relation), and IMO the best version can be found here on disc two. But it's been both discs I've been spinning over and over... for some reason, I haven't had my fill just yet, and it's odd because it's not like this music is anything new to me.

I believe opinion tends to be split on the running order, but personally I prefer the expanded version from 2002 as it's not only better sounding to my ears, but with over 40 minutes of restored material more reflective of the Rain Dances era (which the original versions barely acknowledged with only one track), and a couple more biggies from Moonmadness thrown in.

Anyway, just one of those strange little things... I've liked this album for 30+ years. Suddenly, I find that I love it.

Great album with some fabulous Moog solos . Have both vinyl and CD , Andy Ward fantastic in this too. Great album

[Wah3]

One of those live albums, like The Name of This Band is Talking Heads and Kansas' Two for the Show, that became much better with the expanded reissue.

[Progatron]

One of those live albums, like The Name of This Band is Talking Heads and Kansas' Two for the Show, that became much better with the expanded reissue.

And Soft Machine's Alive And Well.

[Mister Triscuits]

And Soft Machine's Alive And Well.

And this might be heresy, but Live at Leeds.

[Steve983]

I love it too, it compiles the best of Camel to that point for me, must play it soon.

[lazland]

And this might be heresy, but Live at Leeds.

Not heresy here. Couldn’t agree more.

[JKL2000]

Now Lorne has ME listening to A Live Record!

BTW, anyone who loves this album should have the two Camel "Curriculum Vitae" DVD compilations that Camel Productions released. I love watching Bardens play those Moog leads, and of course Latimer soloing as well. Classic footage there!

[ca1ore]

Yes, excellent …. Particularly the expanded version.

[Digital_Man]

I have one of the live albums from the eighties. This one is supposed to be much better though.

[progmatist]

This was actually my first Camel album. I bought it cheap from Tower Records when they were liquidating their inventory. Needless to say, my Camel collection has grown considerably since.

[JKL2000]

I have one of the live albums from the eighties. This one is supposed to be much better though.

Is it Pressure Points? Despite that one not being from the band's best time, I still like that live album a lot! Although one of the vocalists (Chris Rainbow?) hits a bum note at one point that always makes my skin crawl. But Camel never really overdid it with the number of live albums, so those single-disk ones released by Camel Productions are all worth having, IMO.

[Progatron]

Is it Pressure Points? Despite that one not being from the band's best time, I still like that live album a lot! Although one of the vocalists (Chris Rainbow?) hits a bum note at one point that always makes my skin crawl. But Camel never really overdid it with the number of live albums, so those single-disk ones released by Camel Productions are all worth having, IMO.

Yes, Pressure Points is decent actually, it just can't compete based on the song selection IMO. But like A Live Record, it was much improved by the expanded 2 CD edition.

[Digital_Man]

Is it Pressure Points? Despite that one not being from the band's best time, I still like that live album a lot! Although one of the vocalists (Chris Rainbow?) hits a bum note at one point that always makes my skin crawl. But Camel never really overdid it with the number of live albums, so those single-disk ones released by Camel Productions are all worth having, IMO.

Yep. I have it on cd. I didn't listen to it yet though.Which part of what song does Chris Rainbow hit the bumb note? I'll have to listen for that.

[JKL2000]

Yep. I have it on cd. I didn't listen to it yet though.Which part of what song does Chris Rainbow hit the bumb note? I'll have to listen for that.

I forget - it may not be a bum note, but his voice goes all weirdly harsh on one note. I think you'll know it when you hear it!

I've never upgraded to the rereleased Pressure Points - it's always been in the back of my mind to do that!

[flowerking]

One of those live albums, like The Name of This Band is Talking Heads and Kansas' Two for the Show, that became much better with the expanded reissue.

It was a tremendous album before it was expanded. Expanding it made it that much better, perhaps elevating it to my second favorite live album of all time (Zappa's Stage II comes in #1).

[rich]

Is it Pressure Points? Despite that one not being from the band's best time, I still like that live album a lot! Although one of the vocalists (Chris Rainbow?) hits a bum note at one point that always makes my skin crawl. But Camel never really overdid it with the number of live albums, so those single-disk ones released by Camel Productions are all worth having, IMO.

Agreed with the single disc On The Road releases. They are all worth a listen... But Pressure Points is a great recording. Some tasty stuff from what many consider there down years.

As for A live Record, always one of my favorite live LP's by any band. The expanded version is the better as one would expect. I'd agree with a previous point made... I like this version of Snow Goose better than the studio LP. The version of Never Let Go on this LP just kills. They changed the arrangements over the years but that version is my favorite. Mel Collins and Pete's solo's are amazing... as are Richard's and Andy's for that matter

[Progatron]

Pressure Points is a great recording. Some tasty stuff from what many consider there down years.

Agreed. Latimer's solo on Stationary Traveller is classic Camel IMO.

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

And this might be heresy, but Live at Leeds.

Yes and no ... there was more concentrated power on the original five-or-six track version, but the fully expanded version kicks all kinds of ass and takes names. Worth the extra $$ just for the "A Quick One" and even more so for the complete Tommy. Same thing with the Isle of Wight set - wonderful.

As for live albums that were improved by expansion, I'll play. Chicago's Carnegie Hall set in the four-disc Rhino version. (I can't say about the sixteen-disc version because I waited too long to order and it was gone >sob<).

Back at Camel ... A Live Record is the only thing of theirs I have, though I keep meaning to expand to a few more. But an expanded version of this? Count me in!

[PROGMONSTER]

Excellent live album

[thedunno]

When I want to hear 'the Snow Goose' I always reach for this album.

[jcarr73729]

Agree with most of the comments above, great album, excellent expanded version and go-to for live Snow Goose.

I thought a search would show a previous 'Featured CD' in the past, but not on any search. Maybe this thread could be a starting point for a new feature on this album? I found this old thread on other live albums recommendations:
https://www.progressiveears.org/foru...el+live+record

[gallen1964]

I can't stop playing this lately. I pulled it from the shelf in the days leading up to Christmas since I've always found The Snow Goose to be a very Christmassy-sounding album (despite it having no relation), and IMO the best version can be found here on disc two. But it's been both discs I've been spinning over and over... for some reason, I haven't had my fill just yet, and it's odd because it's not like this music is anything new to me.

I believe opinion tends to be split on the running order, but personally I prefer the expanded version from 2002 as it's not only better sounding to my ears, but with over 40 minutes of restored material more reflective of the Rain Dances era (which the original versions barely acknowledged with only one track), and a couple more biggies from Moonmadness thrown in.

Anyway, just one of those strange little things... I've liked this album for 30+ years. Suddenly, I find that I love it.

Hard to find but can recommend ‘ On the Road 1981’ it’s a pristine BBC in Concert recording . Stunning versions of Never let Go. Song within a Song , Lunar Sea and a lot of Nude .

[Steve983]

Hard to find but can recommend ‘ On the Road 1981’ it’s a pristine BBC in Concert recording . Stunning versions of Never let Go. Song within a Song , Lunar Sea and a lot of Nude .

Agreed, that is an excellent recording.

[Steve F.]

The Richard Sinclair version of Camel didn't last very long, and I am under the impression that his work wasn't particularly appreciated or well liked by Peter and Andy, and one of his two studio album contributions to the band is not a particularly good album.

But Raindances and his part of the Live album are quite wonderful and both are my personal favorite Camel recordings. I realize that that's not the most popular take on Camel, but you saw it here first!