Stationary Traveller is the tenth studio album by English progressive rock band Camel. Like much of Camel's output, it is a concept album, in this case centering on the trials of East German refugees attempting to cross the Berlin Wall from East Berlin into West Berlin. The album also touches on the theme of politics between the two different government ideologies. It is the last Camel album to be recorded on the Decca label.

Stationary Traveller
Studio album by
Released13 April 1984
StudioRiverside Studios (England)
GenreProgressive rock
Length40:45 (original)
48:36 (2004 re-release)
LabelDecca
ProducerAndy Latimer
Camel chronology
The Single Factor
(1982)
Stationary Traveller
(1984)
Dust and Dreams
(1991)
Singles from Stationary Traveller
  1. "Cloak and Dagger Man"
    Released: March 1984[1]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]

The album was recorded at Riverside Studios, England. It was mixed in Los Angeles, California and mastered at The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles.

Track listings

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Original release (1984)

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All tracks are written by Andrew Latimer and Susan Hoover, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Notes[3]Length
1."Pressure Points" (instrumental)Andrew Latimer
Personnel:
    • Haydn Bendall - Fairlight synthesizer, mixing
    • Andy Latimer - all the other instruments, mixing
2:11
2."Refugee" 
Personnel:
    • Andy Latimer - guitar, lead vocals, electric piano, bass
    • Ton Scherpenzeel - accordion, Prophet synthesizer
    • Paul Burgess - drums
3:37
3."Vopos" 
Personnel:
    • Andy Latimer - guitar, lead vocals, piano, PPG, Juno 60 and Yamaha CS-80 synthesizers, Drumulator
    • Haydn Bendall - Fairlight synthesizer
    • Ton Scherpenzeel - Yamaha CS-80 and Prophet synthesizers
    • David Paton - bass
5:22
4."Cloak and Dagger Man" 
Personnel:
    • Andy Latimer - electric and 12-string guitars
    • Chris Rainbow - lead vocals
    • Ton Scherpenzeel - Prophet and Juno 60 synthesizers
    • David Paton - bass
    • Paul Burgess - drums
3:42
5."Stationary Traveller" (instrumental)Latimer
Personnel:
    • Andy Latimer - electric and classical guitars, pan pipes, bass
    • Ton Scherpenzeel - Prophet, PPG and Juno 60 synthesizers, grand piano
    • Paul Burgess - drums
5:27
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Notes[3]Length
1."West Berlin" 
Personnel:
    • Andy Latimer - guitar, lead vocals, bass
    • Ton Scherpenzeel - Prophet and PPG synthesizers, grand piano
    • Paul Burgess - drums
4:58
2."Fingertips" 
Personnel:
    • Andy Latimer - drumulator, lead vocals
    • Ton Scherpenzeel - Korg and PPG synthesizers, grand piano, organ
    • David Paton - fretless bass
    • Mel Collins - saxophone
4:21
3."Missing" (instrumental)Latimer
Personnel:
    • Haydn Bendall - PPG voices
    • Andy Latimer - all the other instruments
4:04
4."After Words" (instrumental)Ton Scherpenzeel
Personnel:
    • Ton Scherpenzeel - electric grand piano, accordion, Prophet synthesizer
1:55
5."Long Goodbyes" 
Personnel:
    • Andy Latimer - guitar, flute
    • Chris Rainbow - lead vocals
    • Ton Scherpenzeel - grand piano, Prophet synthesizer
    • David Paton - fretless bass
    • Paul Burgess - drums
5:08

Camel Productions digital remaster (2004)

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No.TitleLength
1."In the Arms of Waltzing Frauleins"2:18
2."Refugee"3:49
3."Vopos"5:31
4."Cloak and Dagger Man"3:55
5."Stationary Traveller"5:35
6."West Berlin"5:10
7."Fingertips"4:29
8."Missing"4:22
9."After Words"2:02
10."Long Goodbyes"5:17
11."Pressure Points" (bonus track, extended mix)6:14

Cherry Red Records reissue (2009)

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No.TitleLength
1."Pressure Points"2:10
2."Refugee"3:49
3."Vopos"5:31
4."Cloak and Dagger Man"3:55
5."Stationary Traveller"5:35
6."West Berlin"5:10
7."Fingertips"4:29
8."Missing"4:22
9."After Words"2:02
10."Long Goodbyes"5:17
11."In the Arms of Waltzing Frauleins" (bonus track)2:17
12."Pressure Points" (bonus track, extended 12" single version)6:15

Personnel

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Camel

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Additional personnel

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Production and other credits

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Charts

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Chart (1984) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[4] 16
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[5] 33
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[6] 48
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 57

References

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  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 116. ISBN 9780862415419.
  2. ^ Jehnzen, Daevid (2011). "Stationary Traveller - Camel | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Camel - Stationary Traveller". Discogs.
  4. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Camel – Stationary Traveller" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  6. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Camel – Stationary Traveller". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  7. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  • The Rough Guide to Rock. (2003). United Kingdom: Rough Guides. p.165