Camel - 2026 - Earthrise [Live at The Marquee 1974]

(99:13; Esoteric Recordings)

This double CD captures the original line-up of Andrew Latimer (guitars, flute, vocals), Peter Bardens (organ, piano, Minimoog, Mellotron, vocals), Doug Ferguson (bass) and Andy Ward (drums & percussion) at The Marquee on October 30th, 1974. They were touring in support of their second album, ‘Mirage’, and the set was recorded on 16-track by Decca to promote their forthcoming American tour as well as getting more publicity for the album in Europe. Stephen W Tayler has mixed this from the original tapes, and for any fan of the band, this is absolutely essential. The guys are incredibly tight, having been working through the rigour which was the early Seventies rock scene of recording quickly and then spending most of the time on the road, and they had been hard at it since the album release in March 1974. Not only that, but they were already looking forward to their third album, the classic ‘Music Inspired by the Snow Goose’ and we get some of that material here in its earliest forms. This release contains three songs from the debut album, the whole of ‘Mirage’, plus two tracks written by Peter Bardens but not recorded by Camel in the studio, including a heavily extended version of “Homage to the God of Light” which appeared on his debut solo album, ‘The Answer’ and here is nearly 19 minutes long.

This is a gem of a release and certainly does not sound as if Tayler was working from tapes which were more than 50 years old. I know this has previously been available as part of the ‘The Live Recordings 1974-1977’ digital only release, and the ‘Air Born’ 32-disc set, but don’t know if this is a new mix or the same, and given I have neither of those I cannot compare, but what I do know is that this is just mastery from beginning to end. The combination of these four musicians was the true Camel, and everything they touched turned to gold, with a rhythm section who could be dramatic or stable, a keyboard player who sadly has never really received the acclaim he deserved, and a guitarist (and flautist it should not be forgotten) who still sounds like no-one else around. This release is an absolute delight, and if you do not have the digital set nor cannot afford the massive, boxed set then this is simply essential. One of the finest prog bands ever to set foot on the stage, at the height of their powers and imagination. 

Kev Rowland, January 2026

Links:
https://www.camelproductions.com/
https://www.esotericrecordings.com/