Compact Compilation

Camel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B000003498
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,771 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Firefall

2. Lady Fantasy: Encounter/Smiles for You/Lady Fantasy

3. The Great Marsh

4. Rhayader

5. Rhayader Goes to Town

6. The Snow Goose

7. Flight of the Snow Goose

8. Dunkirk

9. Song Within a Song

10. Lunar Sea

11. First Light

12. Metrognome

13. Rain Dances

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Initial reactions/ thoughts...., September 30, 2006

By 

Jeffrey G. Stevenson "Drummer J" (F.W.B.,FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Compact Compilation (Audio CD)

Being a big fan of progressive/fusion type music, I decided to give Camel a listen after reading many positive reviews on several of their albums. Not being able to decide on any one of their releases to "get me started" with the band, I decided on this compilation after finding a copy through Amazon (it appeared to have the best tracks from their 4 most known albums). Well, right from the first track I was "floored" with what I was hearing----great musicians, nice interplay, cool sounding "prog" passages and odd meters......then I heard something less than appealing on this very same track.....some of the most hideous vocals these ears have stumbled across! I know that I have just set myself up for getting many "not helpful" votes from purists of this band, but from my understanding, this is somewhat of an "open forum" here at Amazon. I will say that whoever is singing on just a few of the songs (thank goodness) here on this compilation is not a terrible singer....just very dull and monotone.....enough so that it immediately took the wind out of my sails on a purchase that up until the vocals, I was getting the "warm and fuzzies" on. This is definitely progressive music of high caliber that I would certainly turn some of my friends onto.....if it weren't for these small vocal passages.....they literally made me cringe, and would be quite embarassing playing for other people. Now, in my defense, you will notice that I still gave this release 4 stars.....the music is worth at least that alone. Songs such as "dunkirk", "Lunar Sea", and most of the material from "Snowgoose" ranks right up there with the "big hitters" of progressive music....though they fall short of greats such as "Firth of Fifth", "Heart of the Sunrise" and "Thick as a Brick" just to name a few. I will continue to listen to this compilation and may even explore some more of the bands material....more than likely "The Snowgoose", which I understand contains ALL instrumentals-----maybe just the ticket I'm looking for! In conclusion I would recommend this "tasty" band to someone looking for "different" music....just be prepared for said vocal parts....after all it was made in the 70s when there was certainly weird and wacky sounds abound. Jeff

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars camel filters out bad vibes, July 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Compact Compilation (Audio CD)

I PULLED OUT MY CAMEL VINYL COPY OF OASIS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND WAS SIMPLYBLOWN AWAY BY THOSE EXCELLENT BRITISH MUSICIANS.THEY ARE IN THE SAME LINES AS PINK FLOYD OR ATOMIC ROOSTER.THE KEYBOARD PLAYING IS STELLAR BY PETE BARDENS.OH AND THE GUITAR PLAYING BY ANDREW LATIMER IS TWO CUTS ABOVE GREAT.WOW!! I PLAYED IT FOR A FRIEND AND HE WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THE MUSICIANSHIP ON THIS ALBUM.I FOR ONE CONCUR.IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD WHEN YOU HEAR LADY FANTASY AS IT IS A RARE SONG WITHIN A SONG .I ONLY WISH I COULD FIND IT ON C.D.I WOULD SNAP IT UP NO DOUBT.A CHERISHED PIECE OF ART INDEED.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to this excellent, underrated band, April 3, 2000

By 

David J. Wimer "djw31" (Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Compact Compilation (Audio CD)

I bought this CD because I wanted to familiarize myself with Camel's music and I really got my money's worth. Excellent CD from start to finish. "Lady Fantasy" and "Rhayander" really stand out. Most of the CD is instrumental, but when there are vocal parts they're done well. If you're looking to get into Camel this is a great place to start. I just wish the band had a better name! It's hard to take a band called Camel seriously, but they deserve more credit and attention than they've received.