The snow goose

All compositions of the album are fully instrumental and written by Andrew Latimer and Peter Bardens in collaboration. In contrast to the previous album Camel " Mirage ", the musicians chose to create a large number of short compositions over a small number of long ones.

The album reached 22 position in the UK charts. To date, the album The Snow Goose is the most famous of all the work of the group and is actually its business card.

In 2013, the group re-recorded the album, coinciding with the European tour. The album was released on November 4 ^[1] with a new design and slightly modified arrangements.

The concept of the album is based on the eponymous story by American writer Paul Gallico . The group turned to Gelliko to write the lyrics to the album, but he refused, because the name of the group Camel was associated only with the eponymous cigarette company . Gallico also went to court to prohibit the use of the title of the story as an album title. The result of the trial was a slight clarification of the title on the cover: “Music inspired by the Snow Goose” ( Rus. “Music inspired by the Snow Goose” ).

Below is an approximate correspondence of the songs of the album and the plot of the play.

1. The Great Marsh (2:02) . Night on the marshes, just before sunrise.
2. Rhayader (3:01) . Ryayder - the hunchback. He lives in an old lighthouse in the Essex swamps and takes care of wild and wounded birds.
3. Rhayader Goes To Town (5:20) . Rayder comes to town. Residents look at him wary because of his appearance, albeit with an inner sympathy for his noble soul.
4. Sanctuary (1:05) . The girl Frita finds an emaciated, wounded and wrecked goose on the Essex coast. She takes it and carries it to the Ryder, since she has heard that he takes care of the birds.
5. Fritha (1:19) . When she meets Ryayder, she is frightened by his appearance, but her business overpowers her fear. She gives Rayder Goose.
6. The Snow Goose (3:12)
7. Friendship (1:44) . As he recovers, Snow Goose often visits Frit. Three friends have growing affection for each other.
8. Migration (2:01) . Recovered Snow Goose flies away.
9. Rhayader Alone (1:50) . With the departure of Goose Frit no longer comes to the Rayder, and he, as before, is left alone with the swamps.
10. Flight Of The Snow Goose (2:40) . Once high in the sky, a familiar figure of a white bird appears. Ryayder in joy sends to Frit.
11. Preparation (3:58) . Ryayder prepares to sail with a small number of other boats to help wounded soldiers in Dunkirk .
12. Dunkirk (5:19) . Rayder sails away. Snow Goose leaves Frit and flies after him.
13. Epitaph (2:07) . Rayder saves many wounded until he is hit. The Snow Goose was seen circling around a small boat going downstream.
14. Fritha Alone (1:40)
15. La Princesse Perdue (4:44) . Frita realizes that Rayder is no longer there, but is still in search of the Snow Goose.
16. The Great Marsh (1:20)

1. Flight of the Snow Goose (Single Edit) 2:05
2. Rhayader (Single Edit) 3:09
3. Flight of the Snow Goose (Alternate Single Edit) 2:49
4. Rhayader Goes to Town (Recorded Live at The Marquee Club) 5:07
5. The Snow Goose / Freefall (Recorded Live at The Marquee Club) 11:01

• Andrew Latimer - guitar , flute , vocals ( vocals )
• Peter Bardens - Keyboards
• Doug Ferguson - Bass
• Andy Ward - drums , percussion

Record version of 2013:

• Andrew Latimer - guitar, flute, keyboards
• Guy Leblank - keyboards, acoustic guitar
• Colin Bass - Bass, Acoustic Guitar
• Denis Clement - drums, percussion, keyboards, bass guitar.

Invited musicians:

• Jan Shelhaas ( Caravan ) - keyboards
• Jason Hart ( Renaissance ) - keyboards, acoustic guitar.

• The Snow Goose at discogs.com