Friday, December 18, 2015

DUANE EVANS - The Camel's Hump (demos)

WHAT IF 1987 Tommy Funderburk
Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and owner of a recording studio, DUANE EVANS become a highly requested single / commercials maker during the '80s & '90s, but his musical travel started long time before.
After playing in several bands from the US East Coast, one day at the beginning of the Eighties Evans got a call from a friend... - Do you want to play in the band for Benny Mardones, whose 'Into The Night' single it's at the No. 5 on the Billboard charts?

The association with Mardones lasted more than ten years, they wrote together dozens of songs and of course, Evans recorded on all '80s Benny albums including the cult classics 'Unauthorized', 'American Dreams' and the outstanding major label release '89 'Benny Mardones' alongside Jeff Porcaro, Dave Amato and Mark Mangold.
In the meantime, Duane Evans had a publishing contract with Warner Chapel writing songs for other artists and many Hollywood movies. Plus, he played for Johnny Van Zant - even one of Evan's songs is included in the superb 'Van Zant' AOR album (Geffen Records, 1985).

As you see, Duane Evans has an impressive pedigree as Melodic Rock / AOR musician & composer. And every musician wants to record his own songs...
While managing his own recording studio and producing several artists / recording singles, Evans taped dozens of his songs in a highly professional quality.
Around 2009 Evans compiled many of these tracks and put them on sale at some obscure digital stores under the name "Camel's Hump" [not related with me :-)], but I am not sure if still are available.

Well, a reader requested the album here, and I found deeply buried into my archives a folder called "DUANE EVANS - Camel's Hump [demos / Benny Mardones related]". I don't know if the files here are demos or the final versions, but believe me, the sound is excellent.
And the musical style is nothing short than the awesome '80s American AOR / Melodic Rock we all love.



Tracks like the terrific mid-tempo "I Wanna Run To You", the Tim Feehan-like "Send A Message", or the classic melodic rocker "On The Brink of Your Love" are to die for.
"Ride Ride Ride" is pure radio-ready magic circa 1984 which seems designed for a movie soundtrack of the era, then "Only Love" is top class West Coast AOR in the best L.A. Session tradition.
More quality appears in the breezy AOR of "I'll Be Loving You", the heart-breaking "The Lady In White" is like a Mardones missing (and great) track, while "A Night To Remember" bring to mind 1982 Rick Springfield.

"DUANE EVANS - The Camel's Hump (demos)" is pure gold, not only for AOR / Melodic Rock fans but also for collectors of rare, high quality material in this genre. I never seen this stuff posted / shared anywhere, and it's a shame, these terrific songs deserve to be listened by all.
That's why I am here...
This is one of the best posts in the long existence of this blog: AWESOME SONGS!


01 - We Can Make It Work
02 - Ride Ride Ride
03 - I Wanna Run To You
04 - Only Love
05 - Send A Message
06 - On The Brink of Your Love
07 - I'll Be Loving You
08 - The Lady In White
09 - A Night To Remember
10 - You Will Be Forever (Fly Baby Fly)
11 - I'm Just A Kid (In A Rock 'n Roll Band)
12 - You Get What You Get
13 - Party For The Planet
14 - The Red Ribbon Song (There's Also Hope)
15 - Fly Baby Fly [instrumental]






DUANE EVANS - The Camel's Hump (demos) HERE
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9 Comments:

CLOUD FORCE said...

Thanks camel!you rock!

Stanley said...


Awesome! this is the best record that i listened in this year, AOR with class, high class!!!!

razors78 said...

Truly awesome AOR! Pure bliss!!

JC_AOR said...

Wow!!! Amazing post Camel!!!!!!
Thanks a million - I can't say enough good things about your blog. Just when I think you have delivered your best post ever, you come out with something like this!!! Incredible!!!
Thank you again!!!
JC

T.P said...

Better late to the party than never, haha! But honestly, it really looks like I've missed out (how did that actually happen?) this one of the best posts in the long existence of this blog. Which is so damn true! However, thanks to bustling nuttynikki who was fulfilling another eager request in R&F corner with exactly this demo collection today, I can finally enjoy all those fine songs of one incredible Duane Evans, creator of his exceptional Camel's Hump!

Thank you, too, Camelblue, of course, for a wonderful feature I even die for in 2019! :-)

Bye for now,
Thomas

Anonymous said...

Could you please repost? Thanks a lot.

Camelblue said...

Fixed

Anonymous said...

Perfect! Thanks a lot!

nimzoAOR said...

Awesome stuff, rare and with high quality demos. Pure gold for AOR lover like us. Thank you!!!!