The Single Factor
A contract album made under pressure from Decca for a hit single, with Latimer the only original member.
Camel, 1982
- Released
- 1982
- Label
- Decca/Gama
The Single Factor was essentially a contractual obligation album, made under pressure from Decca to produce a hit single. Its songs were made to order, and they are shorter than on earlier Camel albums. Latimer was the only original member. Bardens returned as a guest on Sasquatch, and the liner notes said Ward was absent after a serious injury to his hand.
Anthony Phillips of Genesis plays guitar, organ and synthesizer. He said a song with big Genesis-sounding keyboard phrases was recorded but left off because it lacked the single factor. David Paton and Chris Rainbow sing, Graham Jarvis plays drums, and Susan Hoover wrote the lyrics for Heroes, Manic, Camelogue, Today's Goodbye and A Heart's Desire. In Britain it was promoted with a national flyposting campaign, point-of-sale displays and posters on the London Underground. It reached 57 in Britain. Esoteric reissued it on 8 September 2009 with a bonus version of You Are the One.
Track listing
- No Easy Answer2:55
- You Are the One5:20
- Heroes4:47
- Selva3:30
- Lullabye0:55
- Sasquatch4:40
- Manic4:24
- Camelogue3:41
- Today's Goodbye4:04
- A Heart's Desire1:11
- End Peace4:00
Personnel
- Andrew Latimer lead vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards
- David Paton bass, backing vocals; lead vocal on Heroes
- Chris Rainbow backing vocals; lead vocal on A Heart's Desire
- Anthony Phillips organ, grand piano, Polymoog, ARP 2600, marimba, acoustic and 12-string guitar
- Graham Jarvis drums
- Peter Bardens organ, Minimoog on Sasquatch
- Simon Phillips drums on Sasquatch
- Dave Mattacks drums on Heroes
- Francis Monkman Synclavier on Manic
- Tristan Fry glockenspiel on Manic
- Jack Emblow accordion on A Heart's Desire
- Tony Clarke engineer
More from Camel
Camel (1973), Mirage (1974), The Snow Goose (1975), Moonmadness (1976), Rain Dances (1977), Breathless (1978), A Live Record (1978), I Can See Your House from Here (1979), Nude (1981), Stationary Traveller (1984), Pressure Points (1984), Dust and Dreams (1991), Harbour of Tears (1996), Rajaz (1999), A Nod and a Wink (2002)
Sources
- The Single Factor, Wikipedia
- Camel: The Single Factor, Discogs
- Camel discography, Wikipedia