Feature: Albums that time forgot – PETER BARDENS – Heart To Heart (1979)

Arista (1979) Esoteric (Reissue, 2012)

Peter Bardens has an interesting history. Although his career was cut short – succumbing to lung cancer in 2002 at the age of 56 – he spent time in the 1960s with Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green and then with Van Morrison’s band (Them) to whom he returned, briefly, in 1978. He is best known for his time in prog rockers Camel (1972-1978). The latter developed from Philip Goodhand-Tait’s backing band.

If you read online reviews you’d end up thinking his 1979 solo album was lack-lustre and a disappointment. Many citing his vocals and the fusion style to be a weakness. Even the venerable Malcolm Dome in his sleeve notes to the 2012 remaster described the album as a move away from prog. None of this is strictly true.

If you like late-seventies, sub ‘Moonmadness’ Camel and bands like post-Akkerman Focus you will love ‘Heart To Heart’.

Bardens gathered around him some seasoned musicians including one-time Camel collaborator Mel Collins (sax and flute), Gus Isidore (guitar) and Peter van Hooke (drums).

The album suffered from minimal promotion and the music world was in its punk/new wave phase, so it is unsurprising the album sounded somewhat incongruous at the time.

The adventurous will find much to like in the sheer tunefulness and even pop pretentiousness of largely instrumental music. Keyboard player Bardens in particular holding sway on the catchy and romantic title track and ‘Slipstream’. The 2012 remaster is a straight reissue with no bonus tracks.

He followed this with a series of uneven but creditable solo albums including ‘Seen One Earth’ (1987) and ‘Speed Of Light’ (1988) both of which were only released in the U.S. where Bardens latterly resided. These and subsequent albums went a bit new-agey.

The more adventurous may like to investigate the 2005 compilation which brings together various selections between 1963 and 2002 and is an excellent springboard for further deep dives. Separately a 2022 compilation brings together earlier recordings including The Village, Bardens’ solo debut ’The Answer’ featuring Peter Green (under the name of Andy Gee), and the second solo album ‘Write My Name In The Dust’ in 1971 (also known as ‘Peter Bardens’).

Feature by David Randall

Collectible Collections (Camel)

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Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025

We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.

Featured Albums w/c 1 December 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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