Camel - Moonmadness - Rare MINT 1976 UK First Pressing LP with P-1/P-1 Matrices

	£		58
	$		76

Artist & Title: Camel – Moonmadness

Rare MINT 1976 UK FIRST PRESSING 7-track vinyl LP on the Decca Gama label, housed in the original MINT textured gatefold picture sleeve complete with the original MINT inner sleeve. The vinyl is in immaculate MINT condition and the picture sleeve is also graded MINT. A superb copy of this essential Symphonic Prog album!
Highly desirable for its P-1/P-1 first pressing matrices and flawless Mint condition vinyl and increasingly difficult to find in playable condition, this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to add this superb rarity to your collection at an extremely advantageous price.

Catalogue Number: Decca ?– TXS-R 115, Gama ?– TXS-R 115

Release date: 26 March 1976

Overall Grade: MINT/MINT (LP/Cover)

Matrix/Runout: Side 1: XZAL-14394.P-1 BLAIR   Side 2: XZAL-14395.P-1

? 1976 Gama Records Ltd.
A Gama Records Ltd. Production.
The Decca Record Co. Ltd.
Made In England.
Sleeve printed in England by Robert Stace.

Recorded at Basing Street Studios, London, January/February 1976.

First pressing has a P-1 suffix.

This LP from Camel’s creative peak is hardly ever offered for sale in this condition.

“This album was where Camel really came of age.”

This is the extremely rare real thing: a genuine Mint/Mint condition UK first pressing. The record, sleeve and inner are all in immaculate Mint condition without any major defects like scratches, tears, creases, stickers, writing, dog ears, stains or the like. See pics. All items are the genuine originals bought together by me in 1976 not reprints or replacements. The LP is the original UK 1976 stereo LP, which was only played occasionally on top-end audiophile equipment and lovingly cared for.

“This is a masterpiece. A grandiose album with great performances, great songwriting and great lyrics.”

THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THIS ESSENTIAL PROG-ROCK ALBUM EVER OFFERED FOR SALE IN RECENT TIMES

Moonmadness is an album released in March 1976 by English progressive rock band Camel. It was their fourth album and the last to feature the band's original line-up (Latimer, Bardens, Ferguson, Ward). After the success of the tightly structured, instrumental The Snow Goose in 1975, the band added vocals to their music again.
The album has an overall theme, just as their previous one did, but doesn't follow a storyline since it's mostly based on the band members themselves. Overall, the tracks comprising the album were conceived as a loose concept based on the individual personalities that made up Camel; "Air Born" about Andrew Latimer, "Lunar Sea" about Andy Ward, "Chord Change" about Peter Bardens and "Another Night" about Doug Ferguson. The cover was designed by Field.
In the Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, the album came number 23 in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums".

This may be your only ONCE IN A LIFETIME chance to own this rare piece of rock history in this condition.

“Without a doubt, Moonmadness is one hell of an essential progressive album.”

Camel’s fourth LP Moonmadness closely rivals their second one Mirage: they are similar in the fact that they both feature some of the most energetic, original and awe-inspiring compositions the group ever created, and of course both appear in their classic era, which formation would be altered by the departure of bassist Doug Ferguson. Despite the obvious similarity in the overall vibe though, Moonmadness is also quite different. Mirage contained three vocal tracks, two of which were epics, woven around two instrumentals. This album is spread out a great deal more, the average song length being about five and a half minutes, and that makes it a smoother experience altogether.
The short Aristillus will, as is the sworn duty of any good opener, grab your attention immediately. The bumpy tune is heavy on synthesizers, creating a spacey sound that works very well and shows a new side of Camel; one that shows throughout the rest of the album as well. Another feature that starkly contrasts Mirage is the inclusion of several gorgeous melancholic tracks. The soothing flute and voice of the first part of Song Within a Song; the short and mystical Spirit of the Water; the floating atmosphere of Air Born: Camel once again takes you places.
For those looking for the more vibrant type of progressive, however, worry not. Chord Change is another classic Camel mood-changer (as its title already implies), and goes through some rockin’ passages. Another Night is even better, featuring a main riff closely bordering on hard rock, some of the best vocals on the album, and, to really top things off, both a guitar and organ solo near the end of the track. The best moment is however the instrumental closer Lunar Sea (also known as Lunacy), using whacky synthesizers, aggressive bass playing and the sound of blowing wind in its last minute to wrap things up in a truly unique manner.
Without a doubt, Moonmadness is one hell of an essential progressive album, very closely rivalling Mirage for Camel’s magnum opus. The group’s sound is not a bit outdated, still able to amaze the ears of new listeners today. The record has a strong sense of energy, melancholy, and a unique atmosphere that truly makes it stand out, not only amongst the band’s own other works, but the works of other artists in general. Sadly Camel’s heyday suffered a bit of a blow after their first four superb LP’s, and even if they recovered in a few spots, those are still the absolute essentials, waiting for the devout proggie to pick them up and put them on.

A fantastic time warp example of this rarity in amazing condition, a true investment grade item - get it while you can!

AND IT MUST SELL IN THIS ONCE ONLY AUCTION

You can read more about this album and Camel all over the web.

I pack my records professionally in stiff corrugated cruciform record boxes leaving the Vinyl (housed in anti-static bags) outside the Sleeve.

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