Rain Dances

For dances intended to invoke rain, see Rainmaking (ritual).

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Rain Dances is the fifth studio album by English progressive rock band Camel. It was released in 1977 on Gama Records/Decca Records, and brought a major change to the band's lineup, by replacing bassist Doug Ferguson with ex-Caravan member Richard Sinclair and by adding saxophonist Mel Collins, formerly of King Crimson.

Track listing

Side one

1. "First Light" (Peter Bardens, Andrew Latimer) – 5:01
   • Andrew Latimer – 6- and 12-string guitars, pan pipes
   • Mel Collins – alto saxophone
   • Pete Bardens – Minimoog, string synthesizer
   • Richard Sinclair – bass
   • Andy Ward – drums, nocarina, teeth, cheek, Turkish ring
2. "Metrognome" (Bardens, Latimer) – 4:15
   • Andrew Latimer – guitar
   • Mel Collins – tenor saxophone
   • Pete Bardens – electric piano, organ, string synthesizer
   • Richard Sinclair – bass, lead vocals
   • Andy Ward – drums, percussion, money
3. "Tell Me" (Bardens, Latimer) – 4:06
   • Andrew Latimer – fretless bass, backing vocals, flute
   • Mel Collins – soprano and bass clarinets
   • Pete Bardens – electric piano, Minimoog
   • Richard Sinclair – lead and harmony vocals
   • Andy Ward – finger cymbals, glockenspiel
4. "Highways of the Sun" (Bardens, Latimer) – 4:29
   • Andrew Latimer – acoustic guitar, lead vocals
   • Mel Collins – soprano and bass flutes
   • Pete Bardens – acoustic and electric pianos, organ, Minimoog, string synthesizer
   • Richard Sinclair – bass, wicket keeper
   • Andy Ward – drums, percussion, liquid Boo Bams

Side two

5. "Unevensong" (Bardens, Latimer, Andy Ward) – 5:35
   • Andrew Latimer – guitar, second lead vocals
   • Pete Bardens – electric piano, clarinet, Minimoog, string synthesizers, car horns
   • Richard Sinclair – bass, first lead vocals
   • Andy Ward – drums, percussion, Rototoms
6. "One of These Days I'll Get an Early Night" (Bardens, Mel Collins, Latimer, Richard Sinclair, Ward) – 5:53
   • Andrew Latimer – guitar
   • Mel Collins – all saxophones
   • Pete Bardens – piano
   • Richard Sinclair – bass
   • Andy Ward – drums, percussion, talking drum, smurd
   • Martin Drover – trumpet
   • Malcolm Griffiths – trombone
7. "Elke" (Latimer) – 4:26
   • Andrew Latimer – fuzz guitar, acoustic and electric pianos, Minimoog, string synthesizers, flute
   • Brian Eno – acoustic and electric pianos, Minimoog, bells
   • Fiona Hibbert – harp
8. "Skylines" (Bardens, Latimer, Ward) – 4:24
   • Andrew Latimer – feedback, 6- and 12-string, lead and rhythm guitars, bass, sore fingers
   • Mel Collins – alto saxophone
   • Pete Bardens – electric piano, Minimoog, string synthesizers
   • Andy Ward – drums, tunisian clay drum, swanee
   • Martin Drover – flugelhorn
   • Malcolm Griffiths – trombone
9. "Rain Dances" (Bardens, Latimer) – 3:01
   • Andrew Latimer – pizzicato guitar, treated piano, glockenspiel, umbrellas
   • Mel Collins – soprano saxophone, umbrellas
   • Pete Bardens – Minimoog, string synthesizer, umbrellas

CD bonus track

10. "Highways of the Sun" (Single edit) (Bardens, Latimer)

2009 Expanded & Remastered Edition

10. "Highways of the Sun" (Single version) – 4:00
11. "First Light" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert 1 October 1977) – 5:01
12. "Metrognome" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert 1 October 1977) – 4:55
13. "Unevensong" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert 1 October 1977) – 5:47
14. "Skylines" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert 1 October 1977) – 5:36
15. "Highways to the Sun" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert 1 October 1977) – 4:59
16. "One of These Days I'll Get an Early Night" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert 1 October 1977) – 4:12

Personnel

Camel

• Andrew Latimer – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, panpipes, flute, backing vocals; fretless bass on "Tell Me"; electric piano, Minimoog, synthesizer and fuzz guitar on "Elke"; piano on "Elke" and "Rain Dances"; rhythm guitar and bass on "Skylines"; glockenspiel on "Rain Dances"; lead vocals on "Highways of the Sun"
• Peter Bardens – organ, piano, electric piano, Minimoog, synthesizer, Hohner Clavinet
• Andy Ward – drums, percussion, ocarina, glockenspiel, talking drum
• Richard Sinclair – bass; lead vocals on "Metrognome", "Tell Me" and "Unevensong"
• Mel Collins – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, bass flute, brass arrangements

Additional personnel

• Martin Drover – trumpet on "One of These Days I'll Get an Early Night", flugel horn on "Skylines"
• Malcolm Griffiths – trombone on "One of These Days I'll Get an Early Night" and "Skylines"
• Brian Eno – Minimoog, electric piano, piano on "Elke"
• Fiona Hibbert – harp on "Elke"

Production

• Dave Hutchins – engineer
• Paul Henry – sleeve design
• Bob Searles – illustration

Release details

• 1977, UK, Gama/Decca, Release date: September 1977, LP
• 1991, UK/GER, Deram, Release date: 26 August, CD (w. bonus track)
• 2004, UK, London 8207252, Release date: 2 February 2004, CD (remastered version)

External links

• Camel - Rain Dances (1977) album review by Matthew Plichta, credits & releases at AllMusic.com
• Camel - Rain Dances (1977) album releases & credits at Discogs.com
• Camel - Rain Dances (1977) album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com
• Camel - Rain Dances (1977) album review by Archibald C. Burke, credits & user reviews at SputnikMusic.com
• Camel - Rain Dances (1977) album to be listened as stream at Play.Spotify.com