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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Use British English|date=November 2011}}
Name = Mirage |
{{Infobox album
Type = [[Album]] |
Artist = [[Camel (band)|Camel]] |
| name = Mirage
Cover = Camel-Mirage.jpg |
| type = studio
| artist = [[Camel (band)|Camel]]
Released = [[March]] [[1]][[,]] [[1974]] |
| cover = Camel-Mirage.jpg
Recorded = ??? |
Genre = [[Progressive rock]] |
| alt =
Length = 37:06 |
| released = {{Start date|1974|03|01|df=yes}}
Label = [[Deram Records]] |
| recorded = November 1973
Producer = David Hitchcock |
| venue =
| studio = {{unbulleted list|[[Island Studios]], London|[[Decca Studios]], London|[[AIR Studios]], London}}
Reviews =
| genre = <!-- Sourced in "Critical reception" section -->{{hlist|[[Progressive rock]]}}
* [[All Music Guide]] {{rating-5|2.5}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:iyg9kezt7q7n link] |
| length = {{plainlist}}
Last album = ''[[Camel (album)|Camel]]''<br />(1973) |
*37:58
This album = ''Mirage'' <br /> (1974) |
*{{Duration|38:08}} (2023 Remix)
Next album = ''[[The Snow Goose (album)|The Snow Goose]]''<br />(1975) |
{{endplainlist}}
| label = {{hlist|[[Deram Records|Deram]]|Gama|[[Janus Records|Janus]]}}
| producer = [[Dave Hitchcock|David Hitchcock]]
| prev_title = [[Camel (album)|Camel]]
| prev_year = 1973
| next_title = [[The Snow Goose (album)|The Snow Goose]]
| next_year = 1975
}}
}}


'''''Mirage''''' is the second [[studio album]] by the English [[progressive rock]] band [[Camel (band)|Camel]], released on 1 March 1974.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Stephen |url={{AllMusic|class=artist |id=p3821/biography |pure_url=yes}} |title=Camel – Biography |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref> It features songs such as "The White Rider", "Lady Fantasy", and "Supertwister" which includes a showcase for [[Andrew Latimer]]'s flute.
'''''Mirage''''' is [[Camel (band)|Camel]]'s second album, released in 1974. Their self-titled debut ''[[Camel (album)|Camel]]'' came before this one in 1973, and ''[[The Snow Goose (album)|The Snow Goose]]'' came after it in 1975.


There are five tracks on ''Mirage'', two over 9 minutes. Those two are multi-part songs: "Lady Fantasy" and "Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider", the latter being about ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. The album was released on Gama Records/[[Deram Records]]. [[Mick Rock]] shot the inner sleeve photo.
''Mirage'' is one of the group's most remembered albums. It features their most well known song, ''[[Lady Fantasy]]'' and is also a showplace for [[Andrew Latimer]]'s flute, notably on "Supertwister".


==Creation==
There are only 5 tracks on this record, two over 9 minutes. Those two are multi-part epics: ''Lady Fantasy'' and Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider, the latter being about [[The Lord of the Rings]]. It was released on [[Deram Records]].
Gama Records was looking for an outlet for their projects and quickly signed a long-term deal with Decca/London branch label, [[Deram Records]]. The first fruits of this collaboration was Mirage. For this first installment, the Gama Records label makes a production effort well above that of the first album with MCA. The first step was to have a weight producer like [[David Hitchcock (music producer)|David Hitchcock]] ([[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], [[Caravan (band)|Caravan]]), and half a dozen sound engineers including [[John Burns (audio engineer)|John Burns]], [[Bill Price (record producer)|Bill Price]] or Howard Kilgour and distributed between [[Basing Street Studios|Island Studios]], [[Decca Studios]] and the [[Air Studios]].


==Track listing==
==Critical reception==
#"Freefall" ([[Peter Bardens|Bardens]]) – 5:53
#"Supertwister" (Bardens) – 3:22
#"Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider" ([[Andrew Latimer|Latimer]]) – 9:17
#"Earthrise" (Bardens, Latimer) – 6:40
#"[[Lady Fantasy]] Suite: Encounter/Smiles for You/Lady Fantasy" (Bardens, [[Doug Ferguson|Ferguson]], Latimer, [[Andy Ward|Ward]]) – 12:45


'''Bonus Tracks on 2002 Remaster'''


{{Album ratings
#"Supertwister" (Recorded Live at The Marquee Club) – 3:14
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
#"Mystic Queen" (Recorded Live at The Marquee Club) – 6:09
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r3166|title= Camel - ''Mirage'' (1974) album review at AllMusic|first=Daevid|last=Jehnzen|website=AllMusic|accessdate=28 December 2011}}</ref>
#"Arubaluba" (Recorded Live at The Marquee Club) – 7:44
| rev2 = ''Sputnikmusic''
#"Lady Fantasy: Encounter / Smiles for You / Lady Fantasy" (Different Take) – 12:59
| rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Van der Lee">{{cite web |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/38413/Camel-Mirage/ |title=Camel – ''Mirage'' (1974) Album Review |first=Matthijs |last=van der Lee |website=SputnikMusic.com}}</ref>
}}
There was no promo single, nor did it chart in the UK, but the general media response to the finished record was very promising. The prestigious [[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds magazine]] was one of the first to praise the work and [[Andy Ward (musician)|Andy Ward]] and [[Doug Ferguson (musician)|Doug Ferguson]] were described as a well-oiled machine. Even further was ''The Beat Magazine'' that declared ''Mirage'' "Album of the Month", and finally came the surprise when the record entered the Billboard Top 200 at number 149 and remained visible for no less than 13 weeks. Today, ''Mirage'' is considered one of the essential Progressive Rock albums of all time, occupying position 21 on the list of the 50 Essential Progressive Rock Albums by [[Rolling stone magazine|Rolling Stone magazine]].

In a ''Sputnikmusic'' album review, critic Matthijs van der Lee declared ''Mirage'' as Camel's "magnum opus".<ref name="Van der Lee"/> The album was voted no. 51 in the Top 100 [[Progressive music|Prog]] albums of All Time by readers of ''[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]]'' magazine in 2014.<ref>{{cite web
|first=Richard |last=Havers |date=1 March 2021 |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/rediscover-camel-mirage/amp/ |title=''Mirage'': The Album That Brought Camel Into Focus |website=Udiscovermusic.com |access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref>

Prog Sphere considered ''Mirage'' to be the band's best album, writing that it is a prog classic that should be owned by anyone that is a fan of [[progressive rock]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Camel Albums Ranked |first=Prog |last=Sphere |date=22 May 2017 |magazine=[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]] |url=https://www.prog-sphere.com/specials/camel-albums-ranked}}</ref>

===Release details===
* 1974, U.S., Janus Records
* 1974, UK, Deram Records SML 1107, Release Date 1 March 1974, LP
* 2002, UK, London 8829292, Release Date 3 June 2002, CD (remastered edition)
* 2023, Deram Records, Release Date 20 October 2023, Digital (2023 Remastered & Expanded Edition)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deaux |first=John |date=2023-10-05 |title=Celebrating the 50th anniversary of their self-titled debut album Camel A 32-disc super deluxe box set ‘Air Born: The MCA & Decca Years 1973-1984’ |url=https://allabouttherock.co.uk/celebrating-the-50th-anniversary-of-their-self-titled-debut-album-camel-a-32-disc-super-deluxe-box-set-air-born-the-mca-decca-years-1973-1984/ |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=All About The Rock |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Freefall
| writer1 = [[Peter Bardens]]
| length1 = 5:53
| title2 = Supertwister
| writer2 = Bardens
| note2 = instrumental
| length2 = 3:22
| title3 = The White Rider"
:a. "Nimrodel"
:b. "The Procession"
:c. "The White Rider
| writer3 = [[Andrew Latimer]]
| length3 = 9:16
*0:49
*1:03
*7:24
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title1 = Earthrise
| writer1 = Bardens, Latimer
| note1 = instrumental
| length1 = 6:40
| title2 = Lady Fantasy"
:a. "Encounter"
:b. "Smiles for You"
:c. "Lady Fantasy
| writer2 = Bardens, Latimer, [[Andy Ward (musician)|Andy Ward]], Doug Ferguson
| length2 = 12:44
*3:47
*1:25
*7:32
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus tracks on 2002 remaster
| title6 = Supertwister
| note6 = Recorded Live at [[The Marquee Club]] - 30 October 1974
| length6 = 3:14
| title7 = Mystic Queen
| note7 = Recorded Live at The Marquee Club - 30 October 1974
| length7 = 6:09
| title8 = Arubaluba
| note8 = Recorded Live at The Marquee Club - 30 October 1974
| length8 = 7:44
| title9 = Lady Fantasy: Encounter/Smiles for You/Lady Fantasy
| note9 = Original [[Basing Street Studios]] Mix - November 1973
| length9 = 12:59
}}


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
'''Camel'''
*[[Andrew Latimer]]: Guitar, Flute, Vocals
* [[Andrew Latimer]] – guitars, flute; vocals on "The White Rider" and "Lady Fantasy"
*[[Peter Bardens]]: Keyboards
* [[Peter Bardens]] – organ, piano, [[Minimoog]], [[Mellotron]], [[Rhodes piano|Fender electric piano]], [[Hohner clavinet]], [[celesta]]; vocals on "Freefall" and "Lady Fantasy"
*[[Doug Ferguson]]: Bass, Vocals
* [[Doug Ferguson (musician)|Doug Ferguson]] – bass
*[[Andy Ward]]: Drums
* [[Andy Ward (musician)|Andy Ward]] – drums, percussion


'''Production'''
==Release details==
* Produced by David Hitchcock
*1974, U.S., Janus Records
* Engineered by Howard Kilgour and [[Bill Price (record producer)|Bill Price]]
*1974, UK, Deram Records 820 613-2, Release Date ? ? 1974, LP
*2002, UK, London 8829292, Release Date [[3 June]] [[2002]], CD (remastered edition)


==Charts==
[[Category:1974 albums]]
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
[[Category:Camel albums]]
|-
! Chart (1974)
! Peak<br />position
|-
{{albumchart|Billboard200|149|artist=Camel|album=Mirage|access-date=8 April 2022|rowheader=true}}
|-
|}


==References==
[[fr:Mirage (album)]]
{{Reflist}}
[[no:Mirage]]

[[pl:Mirage (album Camel)]]
==External links==
[[pt:Mirage (álbum)]]
* [http://www.camelproductions.com/ Official Site]
[[ru:Mirage (альбом Camel)]]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/album/mirage-mw0000739787 Camel - ''Mirage'' (1974) album review by Daevid Jehnzen, credits & releases] at [[AllMusic.com]]
[[fi:Mirage (Camel)]]
* [https://www.discogs.com/Camel-Mirage/release/619057 Camel - ''Mirage'' (1974) album releases & credits] at [[Discogs|Discogs.com]]
[[sv:Mirage (musikalbum)]]
* [https://play.spotify.com/album/2DZEwt8Lhz6PuqxsJWF7Ap Camel - ''Mirage'' (1974) album to be listened] as stream at [[Spotify|Play.Spotify.com]]

{{Camel}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1974 albums]]
[[Category:Camel (band) albums]]
[[Category:Deram Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Dave Hitchcock]]
[[Category:Albums with cover art by Mick Rock]]

Latest revision as of 15:19, 29 February 2024

Mirage
Studio album by
Camel
Released1 March 1974 (1974-03-01)
RecordedNovember 1973
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 37:58
  • 38:08 (2023 Remix)
Label
ProducerDavid Hitchcock
Camel chronology
Camel
(1973) 		Mirage
(1974) 		The Snow Goose
(1975)

Mirage is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band Camel, released on 1 March 1974.[1] It features songs such as "The White Rider", "Lady Fantasy", and "Supertwister" which includes a showcase for Andrew Latimer's flute.

There are five tracks on Mirage, two over 9 minutes. Those two are multi-part songs: "Lady Fantasy" and "Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider", the latter being about The Lord of the Rings. The album was released on Gama Records/Deram Records. Mick Rock shot the inner sleeve photo.

Creation

[edit]

Gama Records was looking for an outlet for their projects and quickly signed a long-term deal with Decca/London branch label, Deram Records. The first fruits of this collaboration was Mirage. For this first installment, the Gama Records label makes a production effort well above that of the first album with MCA. The first step was to have a weight producer like David Hitchcock (Genesis, Caravan), and half a dozen sound engineers including John Burns, Bill Price or Howard Kilgour and distributed between Island Studios, Decca Studios and the Air Studios.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Sputnikmusic[3]

There was no promo single, nor did it chart in the UK, but the general media response to the finished record was very promising. The prestigious Sounds magazine was one of the first to praise the work and Andy Ward and Doug Ferguson were described as a well-oiled machine. Even further was The Beat Magazine that declared Mirage "Album of the Month", and finally came the surprise when the record entered the Billboard Top 200 at number 149 and remained visible for no less than 13 weeks. Today, Mirage is considered one of the essential Progressive Rock albums of all time, occupying position 21 on the list of the 50 Essential Progressive Rock Albums by Rolling Stone magazine.

In a Sputnikmusic album review, critic Matthijs van der Lee declared Mirage as Camel's "magnum opus".[3] The album was voted no. 51 in the Top 100 Prog albums of All Time by readers of Prog magazine in 2014.[4]

Prog Sphere considered Mirage to be the band's best album, writing that it is a prog classic that should be owned by anyone that is a fan of progressive rock.[5]

Release details

[edit]
  • 1974, U.S., Janus Records
  • 1974, UK, Deram Records SML 1107, Release Date 1 March 1974, LP
  • 2002, UK, London 8829292, Release Date 3 June 2002, CD (remastered edition)
  • 2023, Deram Records, Release Date 20 October 2023, Digital (2023 Remastered & Expanded Edition)[6]

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Freefall"Peter Bardens5:53
2."Supertwister" (instrumental)Bardens3:22
3."The White Rider"
a. "Nimrodel"
b. "The Procession"
c. "The White Rider"
Andrew Latimer9:16
  • 0:49
  • 1:03
  • 7:24
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Earthrise" (instrumental)Bardens, Latimer6:40
2."Lady Fantasy"
a. "Encounter"
b. "Smiles for You"
c. "Lady Fantasy"
Bardens, Latimer, Andy Ward, Doug Ferguson12:44
  • 3:47
  • 1:25
  • 7:32
Bonus tracks on 2002 remaster
No.TitleLength
6."Supertwister" (Recorded Live at The Marquee Club - 30 October 1974)3:14
7."Mystic Queen" (Recorded Live at The Marquee Club - 30 October 1974)6:09
8."Arubaluba" (Recorded Live at The Marquee Club - 30 October 1974)7:44
9."Lady Fantasy: Encounter/Smiles for You/Lady Fantasy" (Original Basing Street Studios Mix - November 1973)12:59

Personnel

[edit]

Camel

Production

  • Produced by David Hitchcock
  • Engineered by Howard Kilgour and Bill Price

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1974) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[7] 149

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Thomas, Stephen. "Camel – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  2. ^ Jehnzen, Daevid. "Camel - Mirage (1974) album review at AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b van der Lee, Matthijs. "Camel – Mirage (1974) Album Review". SputnikMusic.com.
  4. ^ Havers, Richard (1 March 2021). "Mirage: The Album That Brought Camel Into Focus". Udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  5. ^ Sphere, Prog (22 May 2017). "Camel Albums Ranked". Prog.
  6. ^ Deaux, John (5 October 2023). "Celebrating the 50th anniversary of their self-titled debut album Camel A 32-disc super deluxe box set 'Air Born: The MCA & Decca Years 1973-1984'". All About The Rock. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Camel Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
[edit]
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