The Single Factor
| The Single Factor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 6 May 1982 | |||
| Recorded | January–February 1982 | |||
| Studio | Abbey Road studio 3 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock, progressive rock | |||
| Length | 39:01 | |||
| Label | Gama/Decca | |||
| Producer | Tony Clarke, Andy Latimer and Haydn Bendall for Gama Records Ltd. | |||
| Camel chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| MelodicMusic |  |
The Single Factor, released in 1982, is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock band Camel. The album was essentially a contractual obligation album, created under pressure from Decca Records to produce a hit single, and the "made-to-order" nature of its composition resulted in a selection of songs described as "odd" on the band's official website.[2] Unlike previous Camel albums, The Single Factor consists exclusively of shorter compositions around 3 to 5 minutes in length.
Guitarist Andrew Latimer was the only original member remaining, although original keyboardist Peter Bardens returned for a guest appearance on 'Sasquatch'. According to the liner notes, original drummer Andy Ward, who had appeared in all previous Camel albums, was now absent "following a serious injury to his hand". In reality the injury was self-inflicted, and years later it was revealed that he was forced to retire due to mental health problems.[3]
The album was reissued on 8 September 2009 by Esoteric Recordings with a bonus version of "You Are the One".
Anthony Phillips is featured on this album, playing guitar, organ and synthesizer.
Track listing
All songs written by Andy Latimer, except where noted.
- Side one
- "No Easy Answer" – 2:59
- Andy Latimer - guitar, lead vocals, piano
- Chris Rainbow - backing vocals
- David Paton - bass, backing vocals
- Graham Jarvis - drums
- "You Are the One" – 5:25
- Andy Latimer - guitar, lead vocals, keyboards
- David Paton - bass
- Graham Jarvis - drums
- "Heroes" (music: Latimer / lyrics: Susan Hoover) – 4:52
- Andy Latimer - guitar, piano solo
- Chris Rainbow - backing vocals
- Haydn Bendall - Yamaha CS80 synthesizer
- Anthony Phillips - grand piano, organ
- David Paton - fretless bass, lead vocals
- Dave Mattacks - drums
- "Selva" – 3:34
- Andy Latimer - electric guitar
- Anthony Phillips - classical acoustic guitar
- Duncan Mackay - Prophet synthesizer
- "Lullabye" – 0:59
- Andy Latimer - lead vocals, piano
- Side two
- "Sasquatch" – 4:44
- Andy Latimer - electric guitar
- Anthony Phillips - Rickenbacker 12-string guitar
- Peter Bardens - organ, Minimoog synthesizer
- David Paton - bass
- Simon Phillips - drums
- "Manic" (music: Latimer / lyrics: Susan Hoover) – 4:28
- Andy Latimer - guitar, lead vocals, Mellotron, bass
- Anthony Phillips - grand piano, organ, Polymoog
- Francis Monkman - Synclavier harpsichord
- Graham Jarvis - drums
- Tristan Fry - glockenspiel
- "Camelogue" (music: Latimer / lyrics: Susan Hoover) – 3:44
- Andy Latimer - guitar, lead vocals
- Chris Rainbow - backing vocals
- David Paton - bass, backing vocals
- Graham Jarvis - drums
- "Today's Goodbye" (music: Latimer / lyrics: Susan Hoover) – 4:10
- Andy Latimer - guitar, lead vocals, organ
- Chris Rainbow - backing vocals
- David Paton - bass, backing vocals
- Graham Jarvis - drums
- "A Heart's Desire" (music: Latimer / lyrics: Susan Hoover) – 1:11
- Andy Latimer - piano
- Chris Rainbow - lead vocals
- Jack Emblow - accordion
- "End Peace" (Latimer, Anthony Phillips) – 2:55
- Andy Latimer - guitar
- Anthony Phillips - grand piano, Polymoog and ARP 2600 synthesizers, marimba
- Chris Rainbow - wordless vocals [4]
- 2009 Expanded & Remastered Edition
- "You Are the One" (Edited version)
Personnel
- Andy Latimer – lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, Mellotron (B 2), organ (B 4), bass (B 2)
- David Paton – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals (A 3)
- Chris Rainbow – backing vocals, lead vocals (B 5)
- Anthony Phillips – organ (A 3, B 2), grand piano (A 3, B 2, 6), Polymoog (B 2, 6), ARP 2600 (B 6), marimba (B 6), acoustic guitar (A 4), 12-string guitar (B1)
- Graham Jarvis – drums
- Peter Bardens – organ, Minimoog (B1)
- Haydn Bendall – Yamaha CS80 synthesizer (A 3)
- Duncan Mackay – Prophet synthesizer (A 4)
- Francis Monkman – Synclavier (B 2)
- Dave Mattacks – drums (A 3)
- Simon Phillips – drums (B 1)
- Tristan Fry – glockenspiel (B 2)
- Jack Emblow – accordion (B 5)
Production
- Tony Clarke – engineer
References
- ^ Jehnzen, Daevid. "The Single Factor - Camel | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- ^ "Official Camel Website - Camel Timeline 1982-2000". Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ "A Drummer's Tale". Andy Ward official website. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Camel - The Single Factor". Discogs.