Full title - The Miraculous Hump Returns From The Moon. After sitting in the Warner Bros. Vault for 28 years, the Camel's long awaited early 70's album has finally been put on CD. 2002.
Full title - The Miraculous Hump Returns From The Moon. After sitting in the Warner Bros. Vault for 28 years, the Camel's long awaited early 70's album has finally been put on CD. 2002.
CD Reviews
Hidden treasure uncovered
Peppino | 06/04/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With even the most obsure titles avaliable on cd format, I was always perplexed that this "UNDERGROUND CLASSIC LP" did not exist on cd. As of this date, it is still only accessable special order. Well, Peppi "orders" you,please - get this cd sent to you ASAP. Sopwith Camel's unfortunate legacy (as most people who have even heard of this group usually equate), is with the silly novelty "hit" "HELLO HELLO"- a song that gives absolutely NO indication as to the contents of this recording. Sopwith Camel were not a guitar driven group, but rather emphasis was on jazzy and (way ahead of the current craze) "world" and quasi-Latin grooves,with sax/ keyboards sound predominant. The basslines are subtlely funky, the vocals understated in an almost "bossa nova" fashion ( as in whisper/spoken sung).The compositions are dreamy, floating sound poems, no instrumental "stretching out", but appropriate & tasteful soloing- emphasis is on the songs . What maks the musics all the more enjoyable are the scathing lyrics, in the fashion of ZAPPA & STEELY DAN in their sardonic outlook or in direct criticism of the "hippy movement" and other of life's absurdities.Quite a dadaist approach, at times.As for the musics.............. "Fazon" is the centerpiece, with its hip groove & trancelike arrangement. It was a minor "hit" on FM underground radio, and owes a little in comparison to Jimi Hendrix's suite "1983, a merman I should turn...."in lyrical content, and it's etherial sound. "Coke, Suede, & Waterbeds simply skewers the hippies, and is not only "right on" lyrically, but is a hip melody to boot! "Orange Peel" takes you closer to the Indo/Asian continent than any western rock group ever could! A great lost treasure of the early 70s is "found " again! A galaxy of stars for this release! Sopwith Camel do indeed "return from the moon", a most "miraculous HUMP"!"
A GREAT, CLASSIC ALBUM;No ifs, ands or buts about it!!
D. Lockman | Southern California, United States | 10/30/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is a perfect and magical blend of rock, jazz, pop, folk, Eastern music and even sci-fi elements. Anyone who likes the music of Steely Dan or Traffic would take to this masterful
work by a little-known, but obviously talented and very smart band.
The melodies are superb, the arrangements exquisite, the lyrics devilishly clever and wide-angle view imaginative. The sound fidelity is also quite good (especially for the early 70s). Why this album didn't sell at least several million copies will always remain a mystery to me (must have been due to a lack of promotion?). I find this music timeless, absolutely ageless. As fresh today as it was 30 years ago. The folks who DO know about this album tend to be downright ferocious in both their love of it, and their support for it. Find out why. Check it out."
Way ahead of their time.
Fred Luiszer | Boulder, CO United States | 01/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sopwith Camel's "The Miraculous Hump Returns From The Moon" sounds as futuristic today as it did 30 years ago. Good music only gets better with time. I can not add anything else that the other reviewers have not already said, except, "BUY IT!"
Oh wow, man
robfox | 10/03/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Truly surprized I was to see the ol' Sopwith available on Cd. I had put them into the category of "where are they now". This is a great album, jazz-influenced in a melodic, tasty manner. The band swings to a groove from the moon. Things move along a little bit different from what you are commonly used to, but that is the nature of the beast. These guys were there at the original summer of love in San Francisco, their musical contemporaries being the likes of the Airplane and the Dead. Originally more of a novelty act, I was happy to hear them mature into the music heard on this album. Fazon opens the album with a nice floating beat. Dancin' Wizard is a slow, simple tune with great melody and lyrics and lots of soul. Any song that includes lines like "City lights hit me like a blizzard/I ought to go back as far as I can stagger/And dance on the rocks like a wise old lizard." is a-okay in my book. Mellow, with a little touch of sass. Yeah."
Absolutely one of the best all-time albums
Music Lover | 04/10/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been collecting LPs, CDs, cassettes, SACDs, reel-to-reels, etc of psychedelic music, British folk-rock, other types of music for 30 years. This Sopwith Camel album (Miraculous Hump) is truly one of maybe 50 or 100 that have really stood the test of time and still entertain, relax, interest the listener even through that whole period. Fantastic! I have the original LP and both CD reissues (2001 and 2006). The CD's sound really great, better even than the LP, which already sounds good. The 2001 issue is from a reel that was one generation down from the master, while the 2006 is from the master reel; both sound excellent, although the 2006 one is slightly clearer. "Fazon" on the 2006 one sounds maybe a little different to me than on the 2001 issue - maybe a narrower stereo? Or even mono? Other songs sound similar between the two to me. Under any circumstances, both are beautifully mastered, and the music is great. Everyone I've ever given a copy of this album to has grown to love it. Out of all the dreck you could get through Amazon, treat yourself to one of the real classics."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1