Breathless (Camel album)

Infobox Album | Name = Breathless
Type = Album
Artist = Camel


Released = September 22, 1978
Recorded = 1978
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 44:47
Label = Deram Records
Producer = Camel/Mick Glossop
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:r69gs33ba3vg link]
Last album = "A Live Record"
(1978)
This album = "Breathless"
(1978)
Next album = "I Can See Your House from Here"
(1979)

"Breathless" is an album by the progressive rock group Camel, released in 1978. It is the last album to feature the group's original keyboardist Peter Bardens, who left the group before the tour for the album. He was replaced with two keyboardists for the tour: Dave Sinclair (Bassist Richard Sinclair's cousin) and Jan Schelhaas.

The album focuses on shorter, radio-friendly songs, as the group was trying to gain some airplay. Also, the group gives their sound another feel on some tracks. For example, the humorous "Down on the Farm" sounds like Caravan (The song's feel, besides Richard Sinclair is the lead singer), and "Summer Lightning" has a disco-feel with extended solos from Bardens and Latimer.

However, the group retained its jazz influence and progressive sound on other tracks. Notable examples of this are "The Sleeper" and "Echoes", which sound similar to music contained on early albums like "Mirage" and "Moonmadness". Both songs are highlights of the album, and "Echoes" also became a favorite on the group's live repertoire, and is considered among fans as one of the best songs the group ever recorded.

This album shows how the band continued transforming their sound into a pop-like sound, while it also displays the group's progressive and jazz roots and other styles as well.

Track listing

#"Breathless" - (Latimer, Bardens, Ward) - 4:19
#"Echoes" - (Latimer, Bardens, Ward) - 7:18
#"Wing and a Prayer" - (Latimer, Bardens) - 4:45
#"Down on the Farm" - (Sinclair) - 4:24
#"Starlight Ride" - (Latimer, Bardens) - 3:25
#"Summer Lightning" - (Latimer, Sinclair) - 6:09
#"You Make Me Smile" - (Latimer, Bardens) - 4:17
#"The Sleeper" - (Latimer, Bardens, Ward, Collins) - 7:06
#"Rainbow's End" - (Latimer, Bardens) - 3:00

Personnel

*Andrew Latimer: Guitar, Yamaha CS80/50, Vocals
*Peter Bardens: Keyboards, Organ, Vocals
*Mel Collins: Flute, Saxophones
*Richard Sinclair: Bass, Vocals
*Andy Ward: Drums, Percussion
*Dave Sinclair: Keyboards (uncredited)