Classical Composer Reacts to Rhayader/Rhayader Goes to Town (Camel) | The Daily Doug (Episode 205) 

Doug, you need to hear the entire studio recording of Snow Goose. In one sitting, like Free Hand.

Camel is such a great and underappreciated band. Thanks, Doug!

Camel is criminally underrated in the prog world and some of best prog ever made.

Thanks for that, Doug! I suspect the majority of Camel fans would prefer the studio version, with all the original line-up? I never felt they were the same after Pete Bardens, in particular, left. A very large part of Camel's music was instrumental, and they lacked a strong vocalist/frontman, which may be a reason they never hit the popularity of some of their peers? Lady Fantasy or Lunar Sea, or more of Snow Goose?

What a nice surprise, I hope that you do more Camel, Lady Fantasy would be great.

I would suggest next something from Moonmadness, either Lunar Sea (for instrumental) or A Song Within A Song (for vocal based). I also love the album Nude. Andrew Latimer is a highly underrated guitar player

"Lady Fantasy" next for Camel. Roughly 13 minutes.

Much less dynamics than the album version. It really takes away from the song. It sounds like a cover band in that recording

Yes! Snow Goose complete (live 1978). And also ‘Nude’ (album), ‘Mirage’ and ‘Rain dances’. Lot’s of beautiful tracks on those albums.

The only way to listen to something from this album is from the beginning to the end 😊 rhayader/rhayader goes to town are more stand alone pieces while the rest goes in to each other through the entire album. It's in my opinion one of, if not the most well thought through album there is in the genre. It's an absolute masterpiece

Camel is AMAZING!!!!! Lady Fantasy, Rajaz, Harbor of Tears and so many others.

Live version is ok, but you gotta hear the studio album. The sound is much more organic in the realm of acoustic instruments and the mood comes off as much more quirky.

That album is amazing It should be listened as a large song rather than separated tracks

I don't get why Pink Floyd is so popular and Camel isn't

I’ve been following Camel since the mid 70’s when I just happened to see them live. Glad you liked them of course. As a musician myself I really appreciated your chord progression analysis. It was a very interesting progression. Many many great tunes in their catalog.

Mirage is another great album 🤙

Please please do the full album! An all time favorite of mine

I saw their Pressure Points concert on tv in the 80s and I’ve loved them ever since. Nude is my favourite.

Thank you for Camel. Not the best choice of the song performance. It was deeper with the original lineup.

Camel is an incredible, incredible band... Whatever song you try, is just lovely.

There is another, earlier version done by original line-up 1975 for BBC with a wind instrument ensemble, "Snowgoose medley".

Doug dipped his toe into Camel. Wonder if he'll be going to Camel-ot. lol.

Grew up on Camel's Snow Goose (well my teens). Brilliant album in the studio, never so good live imo.

Snow Goose is a brilliant instrumental album, start to finish. It moves through so many various moods, I love it!

I much prefer the studio version over this 80's live performance. Peter Barden, Andy Ward and Doug Ferguson were no longer in the group and these musicians playing with Latimer are not of the same calibre, in my opinion. I can't stand the way prog bands sounded in the 80's and 90's. Probably the disgusting digital keyboard sounds.

Please Please React to Lunar Sea by Camel! Couldn't be more thankful that you're reacting to Camel finally!!!

Nothing beats the original album. The whole album is a masterpiece! Rhayader Goes to Town is a Bardens\Latimer classic with one of Latimer's amazing solos that should only be played at full volume. Thanx Doug!

Doug, many other stated this already. The album must be appreciated as a whole. Listening to only these 2 pieces is like trying to appreciate a symphony with only the second movement. The entire album is lyric less. Pure marvelous instrumental piece of music. You will really like it.

As a self taught musician, it's fascinating to hear Doug talk of a "substitution of a chord for the chord that should be there and it's a tritone away from where it should be". It's like watching Big Bang Theory and listening to Sheldon explaining quantum mechanics. He may as well be speaking in tongues. I have no clue what he's talking about but I so wish I could do that.

Very nice footage. A lot of Camel's music is instrumental. I particularly like their tracks "Lunar Sea" and "First Light" to name a few. Like so many others they tried to become more 'pop' in the 1980s, which isn't their strongest phase IMO.

Oh my God, Doug! That's one of my favorites songs ever! Thank you!

Played the hell out of Snow Goose back in my youth.

Doug, you can fall deep into the Camel rabbit-hole. Absolutely amazing band and just as good as any of the prog heavy hitters like Yes, King Crimson, etc...

My mom was born in Rhayader. I have never had a chance to go there. would love to someday....

Camel is an incredible band, these two songs only scratch the surface. They are responsible for some of the most beautiful music from their era. You also need to delve into the catalog of Nektar.

Ah, great! Brings back memories to seeing and hearing Camel live in Rotterdam, I think it was not too long after the album was released.

Mirage, Snow Goose and Moonmadness are worth listening to in full. Also, the re-recording of Snow Goose is quite good, and the best parts of Breathless are terrific.

This is a concept album (studio) and it's best to listen to it from beginning to end

Finally Camel! especially "The snow goose" you need to listen to the whole album, not just parts as individual songs

Camel Mirage & Camel Snowgoose🐫 their best. I prefer Mirage myself, more classic rock sounding. Snowgoose more jazz progressions.

The Snow Goose is the crowning masterpiece of prog. Magnificently composed, brilliantly played and it interprets the story of The Snow Goose wonderfully. But it's best listened to from start to finish because it is a cyclical piece: it starts with The Great Marsh and ends the same way, indicating that whilst characters like Rhayader, Fritha and the Snow Goose come and go, the natural world still remains.

One of my favorite bands from my teenage years. They were very famous in Europe and certainly famous in my home country the Netherlands. The albums up to Stationary Traveller are Progrock which I like very much. Later albums became more jazzy and I didn’t like them that much. ‘A Live Album’ contains the whole Snowgoose album. I advise you to hear the whole studio album; preferably in one go. So good.

Now you are getting somewhere with these videos!

Fritha alone is a beautiful piano piece off the album. You want to sing random vocals to it..

Oh Camel - the band that has stayed with me through all the people I've been in life. Like everyone says, this performance is a bit of a departure from the original, but the concert you've picked is special because Andy thought this might be the band's swan song, and Pete Bardens came back to play keys on the show. The band has a rich catalog, and more connections than Kevin Bacon. There is a wealth of intricate prog-tastic material I think you'd enjoy sinking your teeth into.

I saw Camel in the 1980s at the Hammersmith Odeon on 'The Single Factor' tour, when Kit Watkins was playing keyboards. I still have the programme! When the band played 'The Snow Goose' at the Royal Albert Hall circa 1975, my mum wouldn't let me go to London to see them, as she said I was too young!!

Moonmadness is excellent as well. Enjoy Camel. I put them on as background music when I'm busy around the house. Great music 🎶

Camel 🤟🏼 A Song Within A Song!

Camel is such a great band. Great reaction Doug.

You should dissect some Gentle Giant, Excerpts From Octopus is a fun one

Thank you for That!! It's nice to see Camel getting some love and maybe some new listeners. Its great to see you utilize the keyboard to analyze chord structures and progressions. Thanks again! Song recommendation : Nuclear Apathy by Crack The Sky

I think it’s time for some more Emerson Lake and Palmer, maybe Take A Pebble???

Camel is a wonderful band, definitely one of the unsung heroes of prog rock. Suggest you check out Lady Fantasy, Lunar Sea, or Ice.

Camel was a great choice. Now, a video with Mahavishnu Orchestra is missing in the channel.

I am amazed you haven't yet done one of Procol Harum number, let's say 'Grand Hotel' for example. I would so much like to hear you react to that fabulous band and piece in particular but makke sure you do the album version of 1973!

I saw Camel perform the whole album in London in 1975. It's a very powerful piece, describing the military evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. You really need to listen to the album in one go. Great reaction., Doug.

Thank you Doug, you´ve done almost all my favourites: Queen, Dream Theater, Rammstein, Camel, Nightwish, Rainbow, Metallica...but not Muse...yet.

LISTEN TO HENRY COW

Love that you did these songs! Only wish you would have listened to the album version! On that note please do the entire album like you did Free Hand! I promise you won't be disappointed! Cheers Doug!

Glad you're finally doing some Camel! Mirage is great.

Hey Doug, great video. Have you heard tool's "culling voices"? Really like the vocal performance on that track.

Mel Collins on sax?

Lady Fantasy is one of my favorite songs of all time. I hope you get a chance to check it out soon!

I grew up listening to the snow goose. such a great album

Yeeessss, Camel are one of my 70s faves, their first four albums are amazing!! It's time to let Lady Fantasy in your life....she'll visit you and you'll never let her walk away again. :)

Beautiful song 👏👏😉👍

Thanks for the video! You should also check some stuff from "Moonmadness" and "mirage". Greetings from Brazil!

Surprised the band would let this on their channel. That mix was dreadful! Long stretches of harmony completely missing, way too much echo. Studio mix SO much better!

I second those requests for something from Moonmadness - Studio version of Song within a Song or Lunar Sea as others have mentioned. Meanwhile, I'm off to Rhayader in the morning for work...

You need to hear the studio version!

Please please please review Frost* Milliontown?

Awesome vid, Doug! Glad you chose these songs over Lady Fantasy (although that song is no slouch either!). If you listen to Camel again in the near future, I would suggest Lady Fantasy or Ice. But I know you have a lot on the list! Happy to see this at least.

I'll join in and say album version is better ;)

You Should listen to Echoes by Camel

Hey Doug glad you're doing Camel, they are an amazing and underrated band! What I would propose is to always listen to the studio version of a song for the first time, since live performances are not meant to be perfectly executed. It can take away many of the nuances you find in a controlled environment.

I don't think you have ever reacted to Deep Purple. Child in Time would be a great starting point!

I think the lineup of this performance is: Andrew Latimer - guitar, flute, keyboards, vocals Richard Sinclair - bass, vocals Jan Schelhaas - keyboards, synthesisers Dave Sinclair - keyboards, synthesisers Andy Ward - drums, percussion Mel Collins - saxophones, flute, clarinet

wow i haven't heard this for a long time.

Thanks for the insights, but I can't say I like this version. The sax is an unnecessary intrusion. One for your consideration for an album side reaction: The Three Paintings - side 1 of England by Amazing Blondel.

I guess other already said this: 1) except for Latimer, the original members aren’t there in this live version,2) the album is so original that it cannot be played properly with a classical rock band setup, 3) this is a truly concept album, so it should be reviewed as a whole and in the original format. For Live camel 🐪 versions check other great songs, I love the Rain Dances album. The first album has some very nice darker but melodic tracks . And of course Mirage, Moonmadness etc are great

Hmmm...should be the studio version first, and as has been said, you need to do the whole album in one go, or at least two side-long chunks 🤔

Mel Collins from King Crimson on sax solo

Camel is one of the best bands ever.

You definitely should check out Ayreon - The Human Equation entire album

great choice from camel !

Camel is great and if you like them you should check out Caravan.

There is two other song of camel you should react to, lady fantasy and coming of ages live, its just insane

This a tune I love to play on guitar! Such a magical guitar solo!

Thanks for these reaction videos... been enjoying catching up on your thoughts about early Genesis and Queen, particularly... I'd love to hear your thoughts on Author of Confusion by Neal Morse...

Snow Goose is an instrumental album, but their vocals are super cool, too. Do more Camel :) I suggest Lady Fantasy!

As many other have already commented, the album really needs to be listened to in one sitting to do it justice.

If you are a real musician, or composer anything related to- then I said, me, too, but I just now realized that, upon your content. Okay, I just not said those jargon terms around cords, but when I heard that song with a keyboard infront of me, I able to follow somehow from about the second time. To be honest, I never feeled that "talent" of mine is great, but rather than can I play back what I listen. When I was 16, I volunteer on a garage-band style project, playing live background tracks on small club. You just listened the same rinthim about who knows many times, and still touching the keyboard random cords, searching the closely. Oh, I not musician. Either not hobbyist. Just have two ears, and some kind of "feel the rinthim". Great to see, a professional is always an overcomplicated guy, with too much knowledge, and less sensitivity.

Hey doug love your videos. Could you please react to "concierto for group and orchestra 1969" the second movement by deep purple?

One of my very favourite bands - I mean ever! We need more Camel!

It's not just these two songs that have no lyrics, is the whole album that hasn't.

I was unfamiliar with this band, but I'm glad I've heard them now. I'll DEFINITELY check out some more CAMEL.

Even though Camel has had myriad personnel changes over the years, their output is remarkably consistent, quality-wise, even as they moved into shorter songs with vocals (Andy Latimer being the constant). At one point, they were jokingly referred to as Caramel due to half the band being former members of Caravan.

Great! Old friend had a grey red tail parrot. We used to play the record or whistle the flute theme for the beast called Koko. He did a damn good job singing it throughout the day. With the occasional shrill mishit once in a while, casting a malevolent eye on us lazy students... Fun memories...

What happened to your full length snow goose album reaction? I wanna watch it again pal

That album got me through my last year at university. I loved that live Snow Goose recording. The other songs are pretty excellent too.