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Posts tagged Caravan
Caravan – Grey, Pink & Gold (Live 1991, 2002) (@256)
20 Apr 2011
(Info from sleeve)
The two discs in this set represent the best of Caravan from two distinct phases of their long and varied career.
Disc One was recorded live by the re-formed original line-up in 1991 and mainly concentrates on the classic material from the first three albums which gave the band its huge reputation between 1969 and 1974.
Disc Two recorded live in 2002 features essentially the line-up which recorded “Blind Dogs At St Dunstans” augmented by Doug Boyle on guitar. It features material which is more representative of the band from 1974 onwards.
Track List:
CD1
01. Headloss – 4:36
02. In The Land Of Grey And Pink – 4:38
03. Videos Of Hollywood – 6:38
04. Nine Feet Underground – 18:59
05. Winter Wine – 7:47
06. If I Could Do It All Over Again – 3:17
07. For Richard – 13:15
CD2
01. All The Way / A Very Smelly Grubby Little Oik – 10:37
02. Medley – 15:24
03. Nightmare – 9:44
04. I Know Why Your Laughing – 5:33
05. Liar – 7:07
06. The Dog, The Dog, He’s At It Again – 6:27
07. Nowhere To Hide – 8:40
08. Memory Lain Hugh / Headloss – 9:13
09. If I Could Do It All Over Again I’d Do It All Over You – 3:48
Link in comments.
Caravan – Canterbury Comes To London (Live From The Astoria 1997) (@256)
19 Apr 2011
(Review from allmusic)
This is one of the better 1990s live performance recordings to feature core band members (Pye Hastings, Geoffrey Richardson, Dave Sinclair and Richard Coughlan) as augmented by other non-Caravan alumni. Notable for their tenure in this incarnation is lead guitarist Doug Boyle (ex-Robert Plant), bassist Jim Leverton (ex-Fat Mattress, ex-Savoy Brown, ex-Juicy Lucy). Percussionist Simon Bentall’s contributions may seem out of place at times.
Enthusiasts whose interest began to wane in Caravan’s post-”Cunning Stunts” era will, at the very least, be pleasantly surprised at the residual intensity and attack which are readily displayed throughout this live set.
Immediately the togetherness of the band is demonstrated during the multi-rhythmic passages of “Headloss”, as well as throughout “For Richard”. There are no lagging tempos, forgotten lyrics, or neglected solos here. Caravan’s motifs of musical economy while providing multi-hued sonic canvases are alive and well.
Line-up:
- Doug Boyle / guitar
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- Pye Hastings / guitar, vocals
- Jim Leverton / bass, vocals
- Geoffrey Richardson / flute, mandolin, viola, spoons
- Dave Sinclair / keyboards
- Simon Bentall / percussion
Track List:
01. Memory Lain Hugh – 5:04
02. Headloss – 4:53
03. Nine Feet Underground – 17:33
04. The Dog The Dog, He’s At It Again – 6:28
05. Cold As Ice – 5:47
06. Somewhere In Your Heart – 5:39
07. I Know Why You’re Laughing – 5:47
08. Liar – 6:42
09. For Richard – 11:04
10. Golf Girl – 7:08
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Caravan – Live in Nottingham (1990) (@256)
17 Apr 2011
(Review from progarchives.com, wikipedia)
The band were largely dormant in the eighties until this one-off 1990 reunion for the television.
It features the classic Caravan line-up of Pye Hastings, Richard and David Sinclair, Richard Coughlan with the ever reliable Jimmy Hastings on flute.
Most of the songs here are well known Caravan classics including “Head Loss”, “Winter Wine”, “For Richard”. A nice version of “Nine Feet Underground” breaks things up a bit with the ubiqitous flute and sax.
Line-up:
- Pye Hastings / guitar, vocals
- Dave Sinclair / organ, piano
- Richard Sinclair / bass, guitar
- Jimmy Hastings / flute, saxophone
- Richard Coughlan / drums
Track List:
01. Head Loss – 4:38
02. Videos Of Hollywood – 6:38
03. Nine Feet Underground – 18:59
04. If I Could Do It All Over Again… – 3:17
05. Winter Wine – 7:47
06. In The Land and Of Grey And Pink – 4:36
07. For Richard – 13:15
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Caravan – Live UK Tour 1975 (@256)
16 Apr 2011
(Review from allmusic, progarchives.com)
This live recording was made a few months after the band had released “Cunning Stunts” in 1975. By that time keyboard player David Sinclair had left the band and was replaced by Jan Schelhaas. It is the same line-up that would record “Blind Dog at St. Dustans” a year later.
The show takes place December 5th, 1975, at Nottingham Polytechnic for the expressed purpose of a radio broadcast in support of their new album.
As such, the set fittingly commences with a spot-on reading of the LP’s opener, “The Show of Our Lives”. Matching the attendees audible enthusiasm, Caravan give the mid-tempo rocker a thorough and energetic workout, despite a moment or two of questionable vocal intonations from Pye Hastings. His guitar craft, however, is nothing short of stellar. The well-defined mix accentuates his electric fretwork as he dances behind the solid rhythm section.
Caravan reach slightly further back for a sinuous reading of “The Love in Your Eye” from 1972 and all the way to 1970 for a driving and well jammed out version of the typical Caravan show closer, “For Richard”.
Line-up:
- Pye Hastings / guitars, vocals
- Richard Coughlan / percussion, drums
- Jan Schelhaas / keyboards, vocals
- Mike Wedgwood / bass, vocals
- Geoff Richardson / viola, flute, guitar
Track List:
01. The Show Of Our Lives – 4:41
02. Memory Lain, Hugh-Headloss – 9:52
03. The Dabsong Conshirtoe – 12:29
04. Virgin On The Ridiculous-Be Alright-Chance Of A Lifetime – 14:23
05. Love In Your Eye – 18:22
06. For Richard – 16:50
Link in comments.
Caravan – A Hunting We Shall Go (Live 1974) (@256)
15 Apr 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
Recorded in November 13th 1974, this is a rather lightweight live album, only thirty four minutes long, with three songs.
The minor classic suite “A Hunting We Shall Go” features some brief bits of curious improvisation with a magnificent riff.
The highlight here, “For Richard” takes up more than half of the album. It is translated brilliantly to the new line-up. Richardson’s viola really changes the flavour of the piece to something a little more pastoral while the bass-heavy mix keeps it powerful and punchy as ever. Pye Hastings’ vocals are fleeting but delightful. In the nearly 20 minutes running time, we see the whole plethora of cool, loose improvisations and tight, light-hearted rock music that defines Caravan taken over wholesale by a fresh line-up with a star soloist.
“Hoedown” is the encore… Caravan bring out the participational elements of that song in a trite, amusing, ironic way. Hastings’ echoey guitar and Richard Coughlan’s drums hold things down and various cutesy improvisations from the band’s major instrumentalists change the song more drastically.
Line-up:
- Pye Hastings / guitar, vocals
- Geoffrey Richardson / viola
- Mike Wedgwood / bass
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- David Sinclair / keyboards
Track List:
01. A Hunting We Shall Go – 8:43
02. For Richard – 19:16
03. Hoedown – 5:51
Link in comments.
Caravan – Live at the Fairfield Halls (1974) (@256)
14 Apr 2011
(Review from allmusic)
Documented during an era in which U.K. performances by Caravan were few and far between, “Live at the Fairfield Halls 1974″ is a complete presentation of a concert held just prior to their inaugural tour of North America. This warm-up show took place on September 1, 1974, at Fairfield Hall in Croydon. The sound is crisp and the stereo image is direct and very warm.
Although Caravan had been subjected to several key personnel and managerial alterations in the preceding months, once they hit the stage they shed any behind-the-scenes acrimony and were transformed into a stunning synergy of progressive and symphonic rock.
Enthusiasts who prefer the band’s lineup and subsequent edgier tone, circa For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, will be doubly thrilled with this release as they re-create most of the album. Additionally, they wrap themselves around the crushing “Memory Lain, Hugh”/”Headloss” opener. Perhaps foreshadowing how powerful this rendition will be, the evening’s proceedings fade in to the hovering resonation of Geoffrey Richardson’s electric viola as he fiddles underneath the band’s introduction.
Caravan’s most recent release concurrent to this performance is the equally impressive “Caravan & the New Symphonia”. From that album comes “Virgin on the Ridiculous” — performed here by just the quintet. Although composed for the incorporation of an orchestra, this rendition is leaner and displays the band’s almost conversational way of jamming and improvising.
The transition into the “Be Alright Now” suite is seamless, and, under the thunder sticks of Richard Coughlan (drums), the band is propelled into one of the only live versions of the medley to have been professionally documented.
This is the same concert released in France, in 1980, under the title “The Best of Caravan Live”.
Line-up:
- David Sinclair / keyboards
- Geoffrey Richardson / viola
- Mike Wedgwood / bass
- Pye Hastings / guitar, vocals
- Richard Coughlan / drums
Track List:
01. Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss – 9:27
02. Virgin on the Ridiculous – 7:14
03. Be Alright / Chance of a Lifetime – 6:37
04. The Love in Your Eye – 15:23
05. L’Auberge du Sanglier / A Hunting We Shall Go / Pengola / Backwards / A Hunting We Shall Go (Reprise) – 9:49
06. The Dog, The Dog, He’s at It Again – 6:23
07. For Richard – 19:01
08. Hoedown – 5:58
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Caravan – Ether Way (BBC Sessions 1975-77) (@256)
07 Apr 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
Here are some excellent renditions of their more commercially produced sounding albums recorded live at the BBC from 1976-1979 and in great sound quality.
Highlights include “Nightmare” with an impressive guitar crescendo at the end. “All The Way” has some of their most ethereal vocal. The version of “Dabsong Conshirto” is more impressive and “raw” than that of the version on “Cunning Stunts”.
Line-up:
- David Sinclair / keyboards
- Dek Messecar / bass
- Geoffrey Richardson / viola
- Jan Schelhaas / keyboards
- Mike Wedgwood / bass
- Pye Hastings / guitar, vocals
- Richard Coughlan / drums
Track List:
01. The Show Of Our Lives – 4:54
02. Stuck In A Hole – 3:15
03. Dabsong Conshirto – 12:32
04. All The Way – 6:33
05. A Very Smelly Grubby Little Oik-Bobbing Wide-Come On Back-Grubby Oik Reprise – 11:44
06. Behind You – 5:13
07. The Last Unicorn – 5:34
08. Nightmare – 6:17
09. Better By Far – 4:48
Link in comments.
Caravan – Songs For Oblivion Fishermen (BBC Sessions 1970-74) (@256)
22 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com, allmusic)
These BBC tapes published in a uncharacteristicly medium sound quality. Apparently some of the original tapes were stolen or lost and they had to use transcripts. The sessions features examples of both styles of Caravan, witty pop songs as well as complex but melodic extended workouts.
Half the disc features the band’s original lineup with highly rated bassist Richard Sinclair. For the seasoned Caravan enthusiast, the repertoire is somewhat predictable, including standards “If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You”, “Hello Hello”, “In the Land of Grey and Pink” and “Memory Lane Hugh”. To the band’s credit, it does not attempt to recreate its studio recordings note for note, adding interest for longtime fans. Also included are two songs that were never released on Caravan’s studio albums, “Mirror for a Day” and “Virgin on the Ridiculous”.
Line-up:
- Pye Hastings / guitar, vocals
- Dave Sinclair / keyboards, vocals
- Richard Sinclair / bass, vocals (1-6)
- John Perry / bass (7-12)
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- Geoffrey Richardson / viola (7-12)
Track List:
01. Hello Hello – 2:51
02. If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You – 2:48
03. As I Feel I Die – 4:31
04. Love Song Without Flute – 3:20
05. Love To Love You – 2:25
06. In The Land Of Grey And Pink – 3:39
07. Memory Lain Hugh – 4:54
08. A Hunting We Shall Go-Backwards – 8:25
09. Love In Your Eye – 13:52
10. Mirror For The Day – 4:15
11. For Richard – 15:03
12. Virgin On The Ridiculous – 7:00
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Caravan – Show Of Our Lives (Live at the BBC 1968-75) (@256)
20 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
The amazing thing about Caravan is just how much they recorded for the BBC, whether in radio sessions or live concerts. This is is yet another one of those releases, a double disc affair for that matter, and still no overlapping from sessions.
It’s quite pleasant to hear three from their debut album, including a rare Wilde Flowers/Soft Machine stunning tidbits “Feelin’, Reelin’, Squelin’” from a 1971 session. Other rarities are the rarely heard “Love To Love You”, a vastly different “Love Song With A Flute” (Sinclair on electric piano) and an unfortunately abridged “9 Ft Underground”.
The second disc offers us a bunch of Richardson-era sessions, but not past the Stunts album. Of interest is the “Love In Your Eyes” with violin and the two new for the New Symphonia gig tracks as well as a “For Richard”. We even hear Pye answering Geoffrey’s great violin runs in “For Richard”. One of the best versions of “Dabsong Conshirtoe” is also present here.
Line-up:
- David Sinclair / keyboards
- Pye Hastings / guitar, vocals
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- Richard Sinclair / bass
- Steve Miller / keyboards
- Geoffrey Richardson / viola
- Jan Schelhaas / keyboards
- Mike Wedgwood / bass
Track List:
CD1
01. Place Of My Own – 4:13
02. Ride – 4:18
03. If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You – 2:47
04. Hello Hello – 3:13
05. As I Feel I Die – 6:25
06. Love To Love You – 3:13
07. Love Song Without Flute – 3:34
08. In The Land Of Grey And Pink – 3:46
09. Nine Feet Underground – 14:28
10. Feelin’, Reelin’, Squealin’ – 9:31
11. A Hunting We Shall Go – 9:16
12. Waffle Part One- Be Alright & Chance Of A Lifetime – 6:46
CD2
01. Memory Lain Hugh – 5:04
02. Headloss – 4:29
03. The Love In Your Eye – 13:55
04. Mirror For The Day – 4:17
05. Virgin On The Ridiculous – 7:02
06. For Richard – 15:06
07. The Dabsong Conshirtoe – 15:13
08. Stuck In A Hole – 3:16
09. The Show Of Our Lives – 4:54
Link in comments.
Caravan – Unauthorised Breakfast Item (2003) (@256)
18 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
Eight years after “Battle Of Hastings”, Caravan comes back for a strong effort.
Pye is of course Caravan almost by himself and his songwriting is still the same (very pop with delightful melodies and witty lyrics) and he has his signature on most of the songs on this album. Caravan makes more diverse albums as others make their influences better felt other than by their impeccable playing but to enlighten these tunes.
Most of the tunes on here are typical Caravan numbers but the more interesting times in them are the spaces where the instruments are doing the talking and then one can see those slots alloted were “glued on” at the end of a song or “stuck/fitted” in the middle of one.
The brilliance of the early days might not be on the rendez-vous, but this is a good and unexpected come back.
Line-up:
- Pye Hastings / vocals, guitars
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- Jan Schelhaas / keyboards, backing vocals
- Doug Boyle / lead guitar
- Geoffrey Richardson / viola, banjo, ukelele, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Leverton / bass, vocals, backing vocals
with
- Dave Sinclair / keyboards (9)
- Jimmy Hastings / tenor and soprano saxophone, flute
- Simon Bentall / percussion
- Ralph Cross / additional percussion (3)
Track List:
01. Smoking Gun (Right for me) – 5:36
02. Revenge – 5:15
03. The Unauthorised Breakfast Item – 4:44
04. Tell Me Why – 6:16
05. It’s Getting a Whole Lot Better – 8:56
06. Head Above the Clouds – 7:21
07. Straight Through the Heart – 4:40
08. Wild West Street – 4:47
09. Nowhere to Hide – 8:54
10. Linders Field – 3:38
Link in comments.
Caravan – All Over You…Too (1999) (@256)
16 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
This is a reunited return to the band’s beloved songs from the early 70s. The guitar work is heavier and more up to date but the same Caravan spirit is here in all the tracks.
There are some incredible moments on this album. “Hoedown” and “Very smelly grubby little Oik” sound terrific with the heavier guitars, Pye’s vocals are fabulous. “The Dog The Dog He’s At It Again” is an excellent version of the classic. Stuck in a hole has a great lead break and very powerful guitar work. Doug Boyle is a key factor to the heavier sound and it is a welcome change darkening the music that is usually lighter and giving it a razor’s edge, The version of ‘Cthlu Thlu’ is much darker than the original and has an incredible time sig change and killer riff. The nasty laugh at the end augments the portentous impending doomy atmosphere.
‘Nightmare’ is a well executed throwback to the classic version and it ends with a reprise of ‘Bobbing Wide’. The dynamic enthusiasm and vibrant energy of the band even in their twilight years is surprising and delightful. They still inject humour and potent instrumental breaks in the songs making them one of the genuine survivors of the 70s Canterbury prog movement.
Line-up:
- Pye Hastings / Rhythm guitar, bass, vocals
- Richard Coughlan / Drums
- Jim Leverton / bass (1-5, 7-9), guitar
- Dave Sinclair / Keyboards
- Geoffrey Richardson / viola, cello
with
- Doug Boyle / lead guitar
- Hugh Hopper / bass (6)
Track List:
01. Hoedown – 4:08
02. Very Smelly Grubby Little Oik – 3:28
03. Bobbing Wide – 3:01
04. The Dog, The Dog, He’s At It Again – 6:01
05. Stuck In A Hole – 3:57
06. Ride – 7:27
07. Nightmare – 7:00
08. Cthlu Thlu – 7:03
09. Bobbing Wide – 4:22
Link in comments.
Caravan – Battle of Hastings (1995) (@256)
14 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
Recorded after the band’s heyday, the title “Battle of Hastings” is a play on words referring to both the Norman invasion of England, and the surname of two of the band’s key members. Following disagreements about the band’s direction in the early 90s, Richard Sinclair is missing from the line up, and so therefore is his usually strong influence.
“Battle of Hastings” is essentially a pop orientated album, with little in the way of progressive sounds or structures and the complex jazz tingled. Caravan’s shorter tracks have always tended to be rather whimsical, and serve as lighter intermissions between their more complex longer tracks.
Tracks such as “Liar”, “I Know Why You’re Laughing” and “If It Wasn’t For Your Ego” are excellent, but little more than high class pop songs. Indeed, the verses of “Liar” sound like they could have been taken from an Alan Parsons project album.
One of the more interesting tracks is “Travelling Ways”, which features a rare appearance by Jim Leverton on lead vocals. The track sounds similar to Simon Nicol’s work with Fairport Convention.
Although there is some pleasant instrumentation, in particular the flute work on several tracks, there is little in the way of instrumentals and certainly none of the lengthy breaks which characterised their early output. An album full of their short tracks will probably be of less appeal to Caravan fans and “Battle of Hastings” was clearly directed more towards the transient, pop orientated market.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- Jimmy Hastings / clarinet, flute, flute (alto), flute (bass), piccolo, sax (soprano), sax (tenor)
- Pye Hastings / accordion, guitar (electric), vocals, harmony vocals, guitar (Leslie)
- Jim Leverton / bass, vocals, harmony vocals
- Geoffrey Richardson / guitar (acoustic), clarinet, mandolin, violin, accordion, guitar (electric), tambourine, viola, wind, kalimba, harmony vocals, shaker, amplifiers
- Dave Sinclair / keyboards, harmony vocals
Track List:
01. It’s A Sad, Sad Affair – 3:23
02. Somewhere In Your Heart – 5:43
03. Cold As Ice – 4:09
04. Liar – 6:07
05. Don’t Want Love – 6:48
06. Travelling Ways – 3:52
07. This Time – 5:18
08. If It Wasn’t For Your Ego – 3:35
09. It’s Not Real – 5:30
10. Wendy Wants Another 6′ Mole – 2:26
11. I Know Why You’re Laughing – 5:30
Link in comments.
Caravan – Back To Front (1982) (@256)
12 Mar 2011
(Review from allmusic)
In 1982, Pye Hastings decided to reconvene all four original members for “Back to Front”. In an unusually democratic move, he divided the writing between himself, Richard Sinclair, and David Sinclair (with drummer Richard Coughlan abstaining).
The result was a generally uneven album, but one which maintains a certain nostalgic charm.
Surprisingly, the best songs here were written by Dave Sinclair, who was usually overshadowed by vocalists Hastings and Richard Sinclair in the early days. On “Sally Don’t Change It” and “Videos of Hollywood”, he reveals a soft romantic side previously hidden. “Proper Job/Back to Front” is another gem. It most closely recalls early Caravan.
Another winner is cousin Richard Sinclair’s “Back to Herne Bay Front,” an amusing cameo of daily bingo and fish and chips in the small seaside town of Herne Bay.
The three songs written by Pye Hastings, on the contrary, are fairly pop numbers.
“Back to Front” doesn’t equate with their best work, but admirers of the group will be intrigued by the disparate personalities that emerge from this quiet reunion.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums, percussion, voice (8)
- Pye Hastings / guitar, vocals
- David Sinclair / keyboards, lead vocals (8)
- Richard Sinclair / lead vocals, bass, guitar (3)
with
- Mel Collins / saxophone
Track List:
01. Back To Herne Bay Front – 5:58
02. Bet You Wanna Take It All – 5:20
03. AA Man – 5:01
04. Videos Of Hollywood – 5:11
05. Sally Don’t Change It – 4:07
06. All Abroad – 4:10
07. Taken By Breath Away – 4:53
08. Proper Job – 8:19
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Caravan – Album (1980) (@256)
10 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
The Album is the ninth full-length studio album, David Sinclair has returned on the keyboards once again.
The music is soft rock with only a few of the progressive elements left that made earlier albums by Caravan so great.
The highlight of the album is “Watcha Gonna Tell Me” with its flute and those quirky fast vocal lines. The opener “Heartbreaker” and the song “Piano Player” are also respectable.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- Pye Hastings / guitars, vocals
- Dek Messecar / bass, backing vocals
- Geoff Richardson / guitar, viola, flute, vocals
- David Sinclair / keyboards
Track List:
01. Heartbreaker – 3:38
02. Corner Of My Eye – 3:38
03. Watcha Gonna Tell Me – 5:48
04. Piano Player – 5:22
05. Make Yourself At Home – 3:27
06. Golden Mile – 3:10
07. Bright Shiny Day – 6:17
08. Clear Blue Sky – 6:25
09. Keepin’ Up The Fences – 5:18
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Caravan – Cool Water (Compilation 1977) (@256)
09 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
This album contains material, recorded by Caravan in studio in 1977. Recordings spent 17 years somewhere in the vaults before they were released for a first time. Obviously material wasn’t developed till the end, so many songs sound more as demos with simplistic arrangements.
Not too many traces of Canterbury sound could be find there. Just pop-rock with nice vocals harmonies.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / percussion, drums
- Pye Hastings / guitars, vocals
- Geoff Richardson / guitars, flute, violin, vocals, soloist
- Dave Sinclair / organ, piano, keyboards, Mini Moog
- Mike Wedgewood / bass
Track List:
01. Cool Water – 4:06
02. Just The Way You Are – 3:41
03. Tuesday Is Rock And Roll Nite – 4:19
04. The Crack Of The Willow – 5:35
05. Ansaphone – 4:57
06. Cold Fright – 5:21
07. Side By Side – 4:36
08. You Won’t Get Me Up In One Of Those – 3:54
09. To The Land Of My Fathers – 4:55
10. Poor Molly – 5:53
11. Send Reinforcements – 4:46
Link in comments.
Caravan – Better By Far (1977) (@256)
07 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
Recorded in Spring 1977, the line up is essentially that which recorded the previous “Blind dog at St. Dunstans”, with Dek Messecar replacing Mike Wedgwood on bass. The band moved labels once again for the album, this time to BTM/Arista, with the legendary Tony Visconti taking on the roll of producer. Pye Hastings is once again the dominant force throughout, writing all but three of the tracks.
The album sets out in reassuringly traditional fashion with the upbeat “Feelin’ alright” (no relation to other songs of the same name), which has the sound of the lighter Caravan songs of old. The song sets the mood for much of the album. The following “Behind You” tells a raunchy tale. The title track is a slower ballad type song which finds Hastings in particularly melodic tone vocally.
“Silver strings” features the violin, the song’s clever arrangement enhances what is actually a pretty ordinary number. “The Last Unicorn”, a fine instrumental dedicated to Peter S Beagle, the author of the book by that name. The early part of the tracks which features strings is reminiscent of Stackridge, before a more familiar synth solo lifts the tempo. This track has distinct echoes of the great Caravan days, and shows the band still willing to work out instrumentally. “Give me more” features some more of Caravan’s wonderfully smutty lyrics. The naive innocence of Hastings voice countered by the erotic screams of guest vocalist Vicki Brown only add to the fun.
Jan Schelhaas’ sole compositional contribution to he album is “Man in a car”, which he also appears to sing. The vocal sections are rather prosaic, but his bursts of synth are positively striking. The songs marks a change of lyrical style for this track and the remainder of the album, the nudge-nudge innuendoes being replaced by more obscure fantasy based poetry.
“Let it shine” starts of with a slight country twinge before settling into a pretty orthodox Caravan pop song of the type the band would utilise more and more on subsequent albums. Guitar and keyboards duet effectively for the track’s play-out. The album closes with “Nightmare”, the longest track at around 6½ minutes. The lyrics here are particularly troubled and un-Caravan like, but at least have a positive ending. Richardson’s swan-song on viola is superb.
Despite a reasonable promotion effort by the band’s new label, the album failed to find significant success. Geoff Richardson would leave within a year of its release to pursue a career in session work, and the band was once again in turmoil.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums, percussion
- Pye Hastings / vocals, guitars
- Dek Messecar / bass, backing vocals
- Geoff Richardson / viola, guitars, flute, sitar, mandolin, vocals
- Jan Schelhaas / keyboards, backing vocals
with
- Vicki Brown / vocals (6)
- Fiona Hibbert / harp (7)
- Tony Visconti / recorders (5), electric double bass (7)
Track List:
01. Feelin’ Alright – 3:31
02. Behind You – 5:04
03. Better By Far – 3:27
04. Silver Strings – 3:58
05. The Last Unicorn – 5:52
06. Give Me More – 4:40
07. Man In A Car – 5:43
08. Let It Shine – 4:27
09. Nightmare – 6:23
Link in comments.
Caravan – Blind Dog at St. Dunstans’ (1976) (@256)
05 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
St. Dunstan’s is a home for blind people in the south east of Great Britain, hence the (play on words) title. The original LP had a clever cartoon on the cover with plenty of dog related puns
There has been a major change in the lineup since Cunning Stunts as David Sinclair left Caravan for the second time, Jan Schelhaas comes on board. Geoffrey Richardson who was very dominant on the previous album is superseeded by Pye Hastings this time. Pye even plays guitar solos on the album. The orchestrations of the previous album are gone, Mike Wedgwood sticks mainly to just bass. A lot of the whimsy has returned as well.
The highlights are the first four songs, we even get some real Canterburian clarinet playing in the short instrumental “Bobbing Wide”. “Here Am I”, “Chiefs and Indians” and “A Very Smelly, Grubby Litle Oik” are all excellent Caravan songs just the way I like them. Soft rocking with light jazzy hints and great humour.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- Pye Hastings / vocals, guitars
- Geoffrey Richardson / viola, flute, electric guitar, night-shift whistle
- Jan Schelhaas / keyboards
- Mike Wedgwood / bass, vocals, congas
with
- Irene & Doreen Chanter / vocals (6)
- Jimmy Hastings / sax (2-5-9), flute (9), clarinet (4-5)
Track List:
01. Here Am I – 6:19
02. Chiefs And Indians – 5:15
03. A Very Smelly Grubby Little Oik – 4:13
04. Bobbing Wide – 2:30
05. Come On Back – 3:56
06. Oik (reprise) – 2:27
07. Jack And Jill – 6:28
08. Can You Hear Me – 6:19
09. All The Way – 8:50
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Caravan – Caravan & The New Symphonia (Live 1974) (@256)
03 Mar 2011
(Review from progarchives.com, allmusic)
Fusing with a 39-piece orchestra is a daring move that pays off. This live album includes over a half an hour of Caravan, with and without the New Symphonia Orchestra, during the same October 28, 1973 Theatre Royal concert. It captures the band at a creative zenith.
The concert commences with a brief introduction from BBC Radio’s Alan Black. The band then presents three from their latest album: “Memory Lain, Hugh”/”Headloss” suite, “The Dog, the Dog, He’s at It Again” and “Hoedown”. This mini-set sparkles with the frenetic energy that a live audience will often provide. The intense interaction during the waning moments of “The Dog, the Dog, He’s at It Again” allow Caravan to reach a whole different stratum.
The second set features the orchestra with the band and commences with “Introduction”, an orchestrated piece which leads into the very delicate preface of “The Love in Your Eye”. The synergies truly begin to flow as the band weaves in and out of the orchestra. Pye Hastings composed two new pieces specifically for this recording: “Mirror for the Day” and the brilliant “Virgin on the Ridiculous”; the latter became a performance staple for Caravan.
The remainder of the set features some of their most formidable performance numbers, including an emotive “For Richard.” The newly restored encore, “A Hunting We Shall Go” is stunning in it’s scope and perfectly encapsulates what Caravan & the New Symphonia is really all about: allowing good music and good musicians the chance to be mutually superior.
Originally this album only included performances with the New Symphonia Orchestra. In this expanded edition, songs have been placed in their correct positions as they originally were performed on the night.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- Jimmy Hastings / flute, alto saxophone
- Pye Hastings / vocals, guitar
- John G. Perry / bass, vocals
- Morris Pert / percussion
- Geoff Richardson / electric viola
- David Sinclair / keyboards
Track List:
01. Introduction by Alan Black – 11:00
02. The Dog, The Dog, He’s at It Again – 6:35
03. Hoedown – 3:54
04. Introduction – 6:49
05. The Love in Your Eye – 12:49
06. Mirror for the Day – 4:29
07. Virgin on the Ridiculous – 7:57
08. For Richard – 14:18
09. A Hunting We Shall Go – 10:23
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Caravan – In The Land Of Grey And Pink (1971) (@256)
28 Feb 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
The band’s third album is one of its finest. While the centrepiece is the side long “Nine feet underground”, the complete album offers a melodic and coherent 40 minutes.
“Golf girl” and the title track are whimsical almost pop tracks, the former having fairly basic double entendres. They bookend a couple of fine Caravan pieces to form an excellent first half. “Winter wine” in particular is a classic Caravan track, with that unique keyboard sound, a lovely melody and a totally relaxed feel.
“Nine feet underground” is nominally in 8 parts, but it’s very much a single piece. Being largely instrumental, the band clearly had fun naming the sub-sections, with titles such as “Hold Grandad by the nose” and “Dance of the seven paper hankies”. The track weaves through various themes, with a mainly rock orientation, occasional wandering into more jazz like freeform areas, but always tight.
For this album, Pye Hastings, who had written most of the material for the first two albums, took a back seat. Although the credits are, in true democratic fashion, attributed to the four principle band members, Dave and Richard Sinclair in fact did most of the writing. Credit is also due to David Hitchcock and Dave Grinsted who edited together the five original sections of “Nine feet..” into the masterpiece it became.
A truly superb album, worthy of any music collection (prog or otherwise!).
Line-up:
- Richard Sinclair / bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
- Pye Hastings / electric. guitars, acoustic guitar, vocals
- David Sinclair / organ, piano, mellotron, harmony vocals
- Richard Coughlan / drums, percussion
- Jimmy Hastings / flute, tenor saxophone, piccolo
- David Grinsted / cannon, bell, wind
Track List:
01. Golf Girl – 5:01
02. Winter Wine – 7:36
03. Love to Love You (and Tonight Pigs Will Fly) – 3:03
04. In the Land of Grey and Pink – 5:00
05. Nine Feet Underground – 22:43
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Caravan – Caravan (1968) (@256)
27 Feb 2011
(Review from progarchives.com)
The Wilde Flowers were a popular music group based in the vicinity of Canterbury, England. The group was active between 1964 and 1967 but never released any records during its existence; however it led to the formation of two other groups that became well-known and influential: Caravan and Soft Machine.
Caravan’s 1968 self-titled debut is a hybrid of jazz and psychedelia, rather than the classic Caravan of the later years. The sound is is much more closely related to Pink Floyd’s debut, the legendary “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn”. Their take on psychedelia is highly original and entertaining, and the members of the band, in spite of their youth, are more than capable as musicians and songwriters.
The album’s opener, “A Place of My Own”, released as a single, attracted quite a lot of attention at the time. It’s an endearing ditty, sung in a slightly more uncertain voice than usual, with great organ work. The keyboardist is possibly the real star of this album, as his trademark organ makes the overall sound fuller and richer, as well as adding complexity and interest to the compositions. The closing track, the 9-minute “Where but for Caravan Would I?” is the album’s most convincing stab at fully-fledged progressive. It is outstanding, the sinuous sound of the organ weaving in and out of the vocal interludes. Richard Sinclair sings lead in the Beatles-flavoured “Policeman” and the distinctly Syd Barrett-ish “Grandma’s Lawn”, backed up by haunting organ – a slightly disturbing song with weird lyrics, further enhanced by Richard’s smooth delivery. His best vocal performance, though, comes towards the end of “Where but for Caravan Would I”, where his voice achieves that velvety tone that is so irresistible.
The sinister, almost discordant “Cecil Rons” is probably the most uncharacteristic of the band’s output. On the other hand, the romantic “Love Song with Flute” is almost classic Caravan with beautiful vocals.
The band’s follow-up album was a rather giant leap forward in terms of songwriting and overall sound; but this endearingly homespun album, for all its shortcomings, deserves recognition of its own for being a gem of late 1960s psychedelic progressive.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums
- Pye Hastings / vocals, guitars, bass
- David Sinclair / keyboards, vocals
- Richard Sinclair / vocals, bass, acoustic guitar
with
- Jimmy Hastings / flute
Track List:
01. Place Of My Own – 4:00
02. Ride – 3:41
03. Policeman – 2:45
04. Love Song With Flute – 4:09
05. Cecil Runs – 4:05
06. Magic Man – 4:01
07. Grandma’s Lawn – 3:23
08. Where But For Caravan Would I Be – 9:01
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Caravan – Waterloo Lily (1972) (@256)
18 Aug 2007
(Review from progarchives.com, vintageprog.com)
Waterloo Lily is Caravan’s most overlooked release from their golden age. By 1972, keyboardist Dave Sinclair had left the band and was replaced by Steve Miller, a guy who obviously preferred el-piano instead of organ. The music on this album turned into a much more jazz-influenced direction.
The presence of wind instruments (particularly saxophone) is much stronger here than on the previous albums, reinforcing the record’s more pronounced jazzy feel. Some passages of “Nothing at All”, for instance, can remind listeners of Soft Machine rather than of Caravan’s earlier output – which is no bad thing at all, though it might be somewhat disappointing for those who had loved “If I Could Do..” or “In the Land…”. Besides the jazzier numbers, however, there are the usual (for Caravan) catchier, poppier offerings, like the excellent “Aristocracy” and the closing “The World Is Yours”; while the Miller-penned “Songs and Signs” occupies a sort of middle ground between these two kinds of tracks. The album’s second suite, Pye Hastings’ “The Love in Your Eye”, is more typically progressive than the first, complete with string arrangements and great flute playing by Jimmy Hastings. The bonus tracks included in the remastered edition are all Pye Hastings compositions, all more than competent.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums, percussion
- Pye Hastings / vocals, guitars
- Steve Miller / keyboards
- Richard Sinclair / vocals, bass
with
- Mike Cotton / trumpet (5b)
- Lol Coxhill / soprano saxophone (1-2)
- Colin Frechter / string arrangement (5a)
- Jimmy Hastings / flute, tenor saxophone (5b)
- Phil Miller / guitar (2)
- Barry Robinson / oboe (5a)
Track List:
01. Waterloo Lily
02. Nothing at all /It’s coming soon / Nothing at all (reprise)
03. Songs and signs
04. Aristocracy
05. The love in your eye / To catch me a brother / Subsultus / Debouchement / Tilbury kecks
06. The world is yours (3:41)
07. Pye’s June Thing (Bonus)
08. Ferdinand (Bonus)
09. Looking Left, Looking Right / Pye’s Loop (Bonus)
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Caravan – Cunning Stunts (1975) (@256)
08 May 2007
(Review from progarchives.com)
“Cunning Stunts” is the last of the great Caravan albums. The school playground humour of the title, and the rather nondescript sleeve disguise an excellent work which features many fine moments. The jazz influence which came to the fore on “Waterloo Lily” is seldom in evidence here, the album being among the band’s most accessible releases, while retaining a significant depth of Canterbury progressive.
“The show of our lives” is a majestic opener, complete with chiming bells contributing to a veritable wall of sound. The stately pace and choral vocals give an almost stage show feel to the track. “Lover” and “No backstage pass” combine well to form a beautiful 10 minute piece which was to become a regular feature of their live set.
The “Dabsong concerto” occupies virtually all of side 2 of the LP. It carries many of the Caravan trademarks, with some fine instrumental work. It does tend to drift a bit midway through, but is brought back together by a reprisal of “The show of our lives” to end the track.
Overall, a slightly more commercial album than their previous offerings, but another classic Caravan release nonetheless.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums, percussion
- Pye Hastings / vocals, guitars
- Geoff Richardson / viola, guitars, flute
- David Sinclair / keyboards
- Mike Wedgwood / basses, vocals, congas
+ Jimmy Hastings / brass arrangements
Track List:
01. The Show of Our Lives (5:47)
02. Stuck in a Hole (3:09)
03. Lover (5:08)
04. No Backstage Pass (4:35)
05. Welcome the Day (4:03)
06. Dabsong Conshirto (Pt. 1 the Mad Dabsong… (18:01)
07. The Fear and Loathing in Tollington Park (1:09)
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Caravan – If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You (1970) (@256)
05 Mar 2007
(Review from progarchives.com)
Considering this album was originally released in 1970, it still sounds astonishingly fresh.
The title track was a surprise hit single at the time, but it is not really representative of the band, or indeed the album. The distinctive vocals and Canterbury keyboards are already present, especially on tracks like “And I wish I were stoned/Don’t worry”. Caravan found their direction on this album, and subsequent releases explored a similar vein.
The track “For Richard (etc.)” first appeared on this album. It has of course gone on to become arguably the band’s best known and most popular song, appearing on a plethora of live albums, and being performed (I believe) at every gig they have done since. There is a strong jazz influence on parts of the track, but that never overpowers the prevailing prog structure.
It was only because there were so many other innovative and exciting bands around at the same time, that Caravan never went on to achieve the success they deserved, and that this album undoubtedly warranted. They did enjoy a level of success with subsequent albums such as “In the Land of Grey and Pink”, but this album remains something of a hidden diamond.
Line-up:
- Richard Coughlan / drums, congas, bongos, maracas, finger cymbals
- Pye Hastings / vocals, guitars, claves
- David Sinclair / keyboards
- Richard Sinclair / vocals, bass, tambourine
- Brother James / sax and flute
Track List:
01. If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You (3:07)
02. And I Wish I Were Stoned – Don’t Worry (8:21)
03. As I Feel I Die (5:17)
04. With An Ear To The Ground You Can Make It / Martinian / Only Cox / Reprise (9:56)
05. Hello Hello (3:46)
06. Asforteri 25 (1:21)
07. Can’t Be Long Now / Françoise / For Richard / Warlock (14:18)
08. Limits (1:34)
09. A Day In The Life Of Maurice Haylett (Bonus) (5:40)
10. Why? (And I Wish I Were Stoned) (Bonus) (4:22)
11. Clipping The 8th (Hello Hello) (Bonus) (3:13)
12. As I Feel I Die (Bonus) (4:39)
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