Rain Dances

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

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 line-up, by replacing bassist Doug Ferguson with ex-Caravan member Richard Sinclair, and by adding saxophonist Mel Collins, formerly of King Crimson. Guest musicians include Brian Eno on one song.

Rain Dances
Studio album by Camel
Released	September 1977
Recorded	February–August 1977
Studio	Basing Street Studios, London
Genre	Progressive rock jazz rock
Length	41:28
Label	Gama/Decca
Producer	Rhett Davies, Camel
Camel chronology
Moonmadness (1976) Rain Dances (1977) Breathless (1978)
Singles from Rain Dances
"Highways of the Sun" Released: 30 September 1977[1]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
ProgroGraphy review	[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Peter Bardens and Andrew Latimer except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"First Light" (instrumental)	Personnel: Andrew Latimer – 6- and 12-string guitars, pan pipes Mel Collins – alto saxophone Pete Bardens – Minimoog, string synthesizer Richard Sinclair – bass Andy Ward – drums, ocarina, teeth, cheek, Turkish ring	4:59
2.	"Metrognome"	Personnel: Andrew Latimer – guitar Mel Collins – tenor saxophone Pete Bardens – electric piano, organ, string synthesizer Richard Sinclair – bass, lead vocals Andy Ward – drums, percussion, money	4:07
3.	"Tell Me"	Personnel: Andrew Latimer – fretless bass, backing vocals, flute Mel Collins – soprano and bass clarinets Pete Bardens – electric piano, Minimoog Richard Sinclair – lead and harmony vocals Andy Ward – finger cymbals, glockenspiel	4:04
4.	"Highways of the Sun"	Personnel: Andrew Latimer – acoustic guitar, lead vocals Mel Collins – soprano and bass flutes Pete Bardens – acoustic and electric pianos, organ, Minimoog, string synthesizer Richard Sinclair – bass, wicket keeper Andy Ward – drums, percussion, liquid Boo Bams	4:25

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Notes	Length
1.	"Unevensong"	Bardens, Latimer, Andy Ward	Personnel: Andrew Latimer – guitar, second lead vocals Pete Bardens – electric piano, clavinet, Minimoog, string synthesizers, car horns Richard Sinclair – bass, first lead vocals Andy Ward – drums, percussion, Rototoms	5:22
2.	"One of These Days I'll Get an Early Night" (instrumental)	Bardens, Mel Collins, Latimer, Richard Sinclair, Ward	Personnel: Andrew Latimer – guitar Mel Collins – all saxophones Pete Bardens – electric piano Richard Sinclair – bass Andy Ward– drums, percussion, talking drum, smurd Martin Drover – trumpet Malcolm Griffiths – trombone	5:49
3.	"Elke" (instrumental)	Latimer	Personnel: Andrew Latimer – fuzz guitar, acoustic and electric pianos, Minimoog, string synthesizers, flute Brian Eno – acoustic and electric pianos, Minimoog, bells Fiona Hibbert – harp	4:20
4.	"Skylines" (instrumental)	Bardens, Latimer, Ward	Personnel: Andrew Latimer – feedback, 6- and 12-string, lead and rhythm guitars, bass, sore fingers Mel Collins – alto saxophone Pete Bardens – electric piano, Minimoog, string synthesizers Andy Ward – drums, Tunisian clay drum, swanee Martin Drover – flugelhorn Malcolm Griffiths – trombone	4:17
5.	"Rain Dances" (instrumental)		Personnel: Andrew Latimer – pizzicato guitar, treated piano, glockenspiel, umbrellas Mel Collins – soprano saxophone, umbrellas Pete Bardens – Minimoog, string synthesizer, umbrellas	2:47

CD bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
10.	"Highways of the Sun" (Single edit)	Bardens, Latimer	4:01

2009 expanded and remastered edition

No.	Title	Length
10.	"Highways of the Sun" (Single version)	4:00
11.	"First Light" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert - Golders Green Hippodrome, 22 September 1977)	5:01
12.	"Metrognome" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert - Golders Green Hippodrome, 22 September 1977)	4:55
13.	"Unevensong" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert - Golders Green Hippodrome, 22 September 1977)	5:47
14.	"Skylines" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert - Golders Green Hippodrome, 22 September 1977)	5:36
15.	"Highways to the Sun" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert - Golders Green Hippodrome, 22 September 1977)	4:59
16.	"One of These Days I'll Get an Early Night" (Live; taken from BBC "Sight and Sound" in Concert - Golders Green Hippodrome, 22 September 1977)	4:12

Personnel

Camel

• Andrew Latimer – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, panpipes, flute, backing vocals; fretless bass on "Tell Me"; electric piano, Minimoog, synthesizer and fuzz guitar on "Elke"; piano on "Elke" and "Rain Dances"; rhythm guitar and bass on "Skylines"; glockenspiel on "Rain Dances"; lead vocals on "Highways of the Sun" and "Unevensong"
• Peter Bardens – organ, piano, electric piano, Minimoog, synthesizer, Hohner 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", flugelhorn 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

• Rhett Davies – producer
• 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)

Charts

Chart (1977)	Peak position
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[4]	29
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5]	49
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[6]	17
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[7]	18
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[8]	30
UK Albums (OCC)[9]	20
US Billboard 200[10]	136

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Greek Albums (IFPI)[11]	95