Camel - Live Album Recommendations(Not Named A Live Record)

[progman1975]

I was looking at getting Pressure Points...Any thoughts or other recommendations...Latimer has become a big fav lately..

[Yaman Aksu]

I don't know a lot of Camel other than Stationary Traveller but if you like that album then I'd definitely recommend Pressure Points (note: I only listened to its DVD version and I assume its CD version is the same performance) because on Pressure Points they play a lot of that album…and quite well…They're not adventurous performances though…they pretty much stick close to what you hear on the album.

[bigjohnwayne]

On the Road 72 is pretty earthy and has an especially great version of "Six Ate" from their debut.

On the Road 81 is excellent--Kit Watkins playing stuff from the Nude album? yes please.


I'm no expert at their more recent stuff, but I can tell you that Never Let Go and Coming of Age both have intriguing song choices on their first discs besides the obligatory "play the whole damn recent album" thing going on on their respective second discs

[rcarlberg]

Pressure Points and both On The Roads are all worth your $ if you like you some live Camel.

[rickawakeman]

The '92 live set "Never Let Go' is your ticket in. Features material through "Harbour of Tears",a nice cross-section of this beloved band's illustrious career.

[calyx]

The '92 live set "Never Let Go' is your ticket in. Features material through "Harbour of Tears"...

You mean through "Dust And Dreams", unless you mean the next live 2CD, "Coming Of Age", from the 1997 tour ("Harbour..." was released in 1996).

[rich]

You mean through "Dust And Dreams", unless you mean the next live 2CD, "Coming Of Age", from the 1997 tour ("Harbour..." was released in 1996).

Confirmed... Never Let Go is from the Dust and Dreams tour, second greatest live recording by Camel... besides A Live Record it! Truly a suburb LP.

[calyx]

Truly a suburb LP.

Would you say, conversely, that other Camel live album have more of a "downtown" feel ?

[Squigelyfox]

'Never let go' and 'Coming of Age' are my faves. Those too are sheer brilliance!

[Squigelyfox]

I was looking at getting Pressure Points...Any thoughts or other recommendations...Latimer has become a big fav lately..

IMO 'Pressure Points' is not long enough, so not as good as the DVD. 'Total Pressure' DVD is even longer than that though. Pretty much the whole show.

[rickawakeman]

You mean through "Dust And Dreams", unless you mean the next live 2CD, "Coming Of Age", from the 1997 tour ("Harbour..." was released in 1996).

Man, it sucks to get old. I did indeed mean "Never Let Go." I have Coming of Age on DVD...or do I?

[JeffCarney]

Gods Of Light '73~'75.

[Sputnik]

Gods Of Light '73~'75.

For me, this and the '72 Camel On the Road are the two essential ones. There is some repeated material, but the performances on both differ, so I'm really pleased having both. Highest recommendation on both of these from me.

Bill

[flowerking]

I like all of Camel's live releases although the Paris Collection is the poorest performance wise and probably the least interesting of the releases. Each has its own emphasis. The 82 set is heavy with Single Factor, 81 heavy with Nude material and Pressure Points heavy with Stationary Traveler. But even if you aren't much on that album, Pressure Points picks the best of the songs and they play them very well. And as others have mentioned, the 72 set is a must.

[Squigelyfox]

I like all of Camel's live releases although the Paris Collection is the poorest performance wise and probably the least interesting of the releases. Each has its own emphasis. The 82 set is heavy with Single Factor, 81 heavy with Nude material and Pressure Points heavy with Stationary Traveler. But even if you aren't much on that album, Pressure Points picks the best of the songs and they play them very well. And as others have mentioned, the 72 set is a must.

I wouldn't say 'Pressure Points' picks the best of the songs. Loads of great stuff missing from the show! I believe 'The Paris Collection' was meant to be a kind of best from the show too. Was a bit disappointed with that track list too, but still prefer it to PP. 'Sahara' is hot!

[everyday]

Either the 81 or 82 On The Road is devoid of bass due to technical issues with the recording - can't remember which though without playing them. All depends on which era you like best as to which live to go for.

[Cameloyes]

I wouldn't say 'Pressure Points' picks the best of the songs. Loads of great stuff missing from the show! I believe 'The Paris Collection' was meant to be a kind of best from the show too. Was a bit disappointed with that track list too, but still prefer it to PP. 'Sahara' is hot!

Pressure Points was re-released as a two disc set with I belive the whole show plus extras.

[calyx]

Pressure Points was re-released as a two disc set with I believe the whole show plus extras.

No extras except if by extras you actually mean the whole show. Your description applies to the DVD version, which does have "extras" in that certain songs have only been preserved in inferior quality and so have not been restored into the rest of the concert to reflect the actual setlist. The recent 2CD reissue, in contrast, reflects the exact order in which the songs were played, i.e. the complete concert.

[ca1ore]

Not sure if its a repeat or not, but the live set included on the Moonmadness deluxe edition is a fave of mine.

[arise_shine]

I love Camel and I love their live albums. My favorites:

On the Road 1981: Kit Watkins omgggggggggg
Pressure Points: Full-sounded power pop with some great playing all around. West Berlin > Fingertips is one of my all-time favorite Camel live duologies. Smooooth.
Coming of Age: Several nice concept album excerpts (plus, you know, all of Harbour of Tears). Lunar Sea > Hymn to Her is a great opening one-two punch.
Never Let Go: Nice retrospective. Spirited playing.
Gods of Light, On the Road 1972: ROCK OUT WITH YOUR ---- OUT!!1
The Paris Collection: Love the "Guy LeBlanc featuring Camel" version of Lady Fantasy. Cool acoustic mini-set too. Wish there was more of Rajaz.
On the Road 1982: The Single Factor was awful. The official bootleg of the supporting tour isn't much better.

[calyx]

On the Road 1982: The Single Factor was awful. The official bootleg of the supporting tour isn't much better.

I don't quite agree. Surely it's the least interesting of the bunch, but any record that has Kit Watkins playing keyboards on it is worth a listen. The track selection focusses on the less adventurous songs from the older albums, but there are exceptions, like "Sasquatch", the "Nude" medley, "Hymn To Her" and "Who We Are" from "I Can See Your House..." and a version of "A Heart's Desire/End Peace" that's better than the studio version. Sure, I could do without "Neon Magic" or "Manic" but it's not THAT bad. ("The Single Factor" actually is not THAT bad either - there's about 12 minutes of very fine music in there, which is more than can be said of a lot of 1980s albums by prog bands)