Camel Album: “Echoes: The Retrospective”

It is true that alot of progressive music bands over-indulged themselves in their own abilities, therefore isolating the listener and eventually forcing them to turn off. Not so with Camel though. They consistently show their gritty determination in one blistering track after another. The most exceptional songs have to be "Lies" and "Echoes". Try listening to the live version of Lies on the album Pressure Points and witness the only true song performed which justifies a band ever releasing a live album. It is pure perfection. Ask anyone who the best guitar player is and you'll get either Eric Clapton or Jim Hendrix as your answers. Please, make no doubts that Andrew Latimer is better. Not because of speed or how many chords/notes he knows, but the way he plays. Again, perfection. A friend of mine has guitar lessons from the person who taught Joe Satriani. He recalls, "...Latimers guitar influence within Camel is exceptional. I taught Joe the chords in Echoes. He played me the lead break in Airborne. We loved the music that much..." It is a shame that Camels albums will never ever reach a top 40 place in the charts nowadays, but...when the Smurfs can reach number 1, can we expect that from an imature dance/acid happy album buying public? The same goes for albums by groups such as Horslips or Steve Hackett. Geniuses in their own right but neglected for the sake of being seen as uncool. Listen to this retrospective album and wallow in the clarity of every track. And believe me, some tof the other best Camel tracks are not on this. If Camel be the food of music.......... then play on. Case rested.

Being new to the Camel "pack", I probably cannot speak to whether this compilation represents the best choices of tracks from their entire catalog; however, for me, it was a very good introduction and gave a good cross-section of Camel works from 1973 to 1991 ... I have since gone back to purchase The Snow Goose and Moonmadness, but I still really enjoy listening to this 2 CD retrospective.

I think that this is a fine starting point to discover Camel and help you decide which period best suits your listening preferences. Then you can go back and get additional titles as you see (hear) fit ...

Camel is probably one of the best of the 70s progressive bands although one of the least known and appreciated in the US ...

Discover them for yourself ...

I think it is a good collection for two golden decades of this fantastic British progressive rock band. But I wish I could find Stationary traveler(one the best songs of rock music),Finger Tips or Rain dance in the Retrospective. I recommand for everbody who wants to taste CAMEL first listen to Echoes of Camel.

I am a huge fan of prog rock. I have heard various songs (both studio and live) from Camel in the past and liked some a lot. However, after listening to this 2 disk set, I have to say that Camel are a band that I will not be following in the future. They have their moments, but often I find the song writing uneven, the vocals dull, and the musical production fair.

As the rest of Camel's fans, it's hard to make a compilation for every fan's taste, but even so the CD is specially indicated to all that people who wants to resume a musical legend called Camel in only 2 cd's and be introduced within the "simpho-rock" of 70's and earlier 80's. Great melodies in all tracks, exceptionally well performed musical instruments, specially guitarist Andrew Latimer, absolute leader after Peter Bardens era. I would be critic in one sense: why "Unevensong" was not included???? Try it in album Rain Dances. Absolutely great!!