Behind My Camel

"Behind My Camel"

Song by The Police from the album Zenyatta Mondatta

Released

2 October 1980

Genre

Post-punk, instrumental rock

Length

2:54

A&M

Zenyatta Mondatta track listing

"De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"
(7)

"Behind My Camel"
(8)

"Man in a Suitcase"
(9)

"Behind My Camel" is the eighth track from the 1980 album Zenyatta Mondatta by the British rock band The Police. The song was written by guitarist Andy Summers and was the first one to be composed solely by him during his career in The Police. It won the Grammy Award of 1982 (awarded in 1982, but for accomplishments in late 1980 or 1981) for the Best Rock Instrumental Performance.^[1]

The song features a simplistic, yet eerie guitar melody, which is quasi-Arabic in style (hence the title), a repetitive bass riff played by Summers himself because of Sting opting out,^[2] drums played by Stewart Copeland, and atmospheric keyboards rather deep in the mix.

Response of other band members

Behind My Camel was not very popular with the two other band members, especially Sting.

"I hated that song so much that, one day when I was in the studio, I found the tape lying on the table. So I took it around the back of the studio and actually buried it in the garden."
— Sting, Revolver 4/2000^[2]

Stewart Copeland was not in favour of the song either:

"As hard done by as I ever felt in this band, I could always take comfort in the fact that Andy got shafted even worse than I did on that little instrumental. Sting didn't even bother to play on it. Andy played all the bass and guitars, and I only played on the song because there wasn't anyone else to play drums."
— Stewart Copeland, Revolver 4/2000^[2]

Primus version

"Behind My Camel"

Song by Primus from the album Rhinoplasty

Released

August 11, 1998

Genre

Alternative rock

Length

2:54

Primus, Toby Wright

Rhinoplasty track listing

"Amos Moses"
(4)

"Behind My Camel"
(5)

"Too Many Puppies (remix)"
(6)

Behind My Camel was covered by the funk metal band Primus, for their 1998 EP of cover songs, Rhinoplasty.

In an interview, Primus bassist and vocalist Les Claypool commented on covering the song:

"I've always wanted to cover a Police song. We've jammed on several of their tunes but Sting's vocal parts are, to say the least, a bit too challenging for me. An instrumental seemed the logical option to choose. Brain plays exceptionally well on this tune."
— Les Claypool^[3]

Personnel

Andy Summers - guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
Stewart Copeland - drums

References

↑ "1981 Grammy Awards". Infoplease. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
1 2 3 Garbarini, Vic (Spring 2000). "I think if we came back...", Revolver.
↑ Rhinoplasty - A Word From Les Claypool

The Police

Stewart Copeland Sting Andy Summers Henry Padovani

Studio albums	Outlandos d'Amour Reggatta de Blanc Zenyatta Mondatta Ghost in the Machine Synchronicity

Live albums	Live! Certifiable: Live in Buenos Aires

Compilations	Every Breath You Take: The Singles Greatest Hits Every Breath You Take: The Classics The Very Best of Sting & The Police The Police

Boxed sets	Six Pack Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings

Singles	"Fall Out" "Roxanne" "Can't Stand Losing You" "So Lonely" "Message in a Bottle" "Walking on the Moon" "Bring on the Night" "The Bed's Too Big Without You" "Don't Stand So Close to Me" "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" "Invisible Sun" "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" "Spirits in the Material World" "Secret Journey" "Every Breath You Take" "Wrapped Around Your Finger" "Synchronicity II" "King of Pain" "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" "When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around" (Different Gear vs. The Police)

Other songs	"Next to You" "Reggatta de Blanc" "Driven to Tears" "Behind My Camel" "Demolition Man" "Synchronicity I" "Tea in the Sahara" "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da '86"

Tours	The Police Around the World Tour Zenyatta Mondatta Tour Ghost in the Machine Tour Synchronicity Tour A Conspiracy of Hope Tour The Police Reunion Tour

Related articles	Discography Strontium 90 Strontium 90: Police Academy Brimstone & Treacle ¡Policia!: A Tribute to the Police Everyone Stares

Book Category

Primus singles discography

Frizzle Fry	"John the Fisherman" "Too Many Puppies" "Mr. Knowitall"

Sailing the Seas of Cheese	"Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" "Tommy the Cat" "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers"

Miscellaneous Debris	"Making Plans For Nigel"

Pork Soda	"My Name Is Mud" "DMV" "Mr. Krinkle"

Tales from the Punchbowl	"Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" "Mrs. Blaileen" "Southbound Pachyderm"

Brown Album	"Shake Hands with Beef" "Over the Falls"

Rhinoplasty	"Behind My Camel"

Antipop	"Lacquer Head" "Electric Uncle Sam"

Green Naugahyde	"Tragedy's a' comin" "Lee Van Cleef"

Other	"Me Llamo Mud"

Collaborations	"N.I.B."

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