Rain Dances

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

Rain Dances
Studio album by Camel
Released	17 September 1977
Recorded	February–August 1977 at Basing Street Studios, London
Genre	Progressive rock, jazz fusion
Length	44:57
Label	Gama/Decca
Producer	Rhett Davies and Camel
Camel chronology
Moonmadness (1976)Moonmadness1976 Rain Dances (1977) Breathless (1978)Breathless1978

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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 - Mini Moog, 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 - eletric piano, Mini Moog
   • 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, Mini Moog, 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, clavinet, Mini Moog, 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, Mini Moog, string synthesizers, flute
   • Brian Eno - acoustic and electric pianos, Mini Moog, 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, Mini Moog, 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 - Mini Moog, 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, fretless bass on "Tell Me", electric piano on "Elke", piano on "Elke" and "Rain Dances", Minimoog on "Elke", synthesizer on "Elke", fuzz guitar on "Elke", rhythm guitar on "Skylines", bass on "Skylines", glockenspiel on "Rain Dances", backing vocals, lead vocals on "Highways of the Sun"
• Peter Bardens – organ, piano, electric piano, Minimoog, synthesizer, 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)