CARAVAN discography and reviews - Prog Archives

The band itself was originally formed in early 1968 by guitarist/vocalist Pye HASTINGS, keyboardist Dave SINCLAIR , bassist/vocalist Richard SINCLAIR (later of ... Progarchives.comhasalways(since2002)reliedonbannersadstocoverwebhostingfeesandall.PleaseconsidersupportingusbygivingmonthlyPayPaldonationsandhelpkeepPAfast-loadingandad-freeforever. HOME FORUMS PROGROCKGUIDES LOGIN PROGRADIOS PROGLINKS FAQ ABOUTUS PROGSUB-GENRES: CanterburyScene CrossoverProg EclecticProg Experimental/PostMetal HeavyProg Indo-Prog/RagaRock JazzRock/Fusion Krautrock Neo-Prog PostRock/MathRock ProgFolk ProgressiveElectronic ProgressiveMetal Psychedelic/SpaceRock RIO/Avant-Prog RockProgressivoItaliano SymphonicProg Tech/ExtremeProgMetal Zeuhl VariousGenres/Artists ProgRelated Proto-Prog ARTISTS: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # VA:SAMPLERS VA:CONCEPTALBUMS VA:TRIBUTES ALL MISC: TopProgAlbums(all-time) Top2021Albums Top2020Albums TopDVDs Videos Interviews GigsReviews ActiveTopics Review, Video PROGSHOPPING: DougLarson'sImports discographies forums CARAVAN CanterburyScene•UnitedKingdom FromProgarchives.com,theultimateprogressiverockmusicwebsite Tour&showsupdates Press&newsupdates Forumdiscussions Videos(Youtube) Buymusic Discography Reviews Officialwebsite Caravanbiography Formedin1968inCanterbury,UK-Disbandedin1978-Reformedseveraltimes(1980-85,90-92andsince1995)CARAVANweretheotherhalfoftheWILDEFLOWERS-theSOFTMACHINEbeingtheother-thatoriginatedinCanterbury,Kent.Thebanditselfwasoriginallyformedinearly1968byguitarist/vocalistPyeHASTINGS,keyboardistDaveSINCLAIR,bassist/vocalistRichardSINCLAIR(laterofHATFIELD&THENORTH,NATIONALHEALTH,etc.),anddrummerRichardCOUGHLAN.AllfourmembersofCARAVANwere,atonetimeoranother,inthatband.Theywerealeadingexponentofwhatbecameknownas"theCanterburysound".Theband's1968self-titleddebutwasahybridofjazzandpsychedelia.Thingsbecameseriouswiththesecondalbum,"IfICouldDoItAllOverAgain,I'dDoItAllOverYou"andwouldmarkthestartoftheirclassicperiod.Thematerialwasaveryoriginalmixtureofstylesincludingclassical,jazz,andtraditionalEnglishinfluences.AMILESTONEINTHEIRHISTORY.Thisrecipewasusedtogreatsuccessonthenextalbum,"IntheLandofGreyandPink".Thisalbumwasaperfectblendbetweensimplenorthern-Englishpopandcomplexprogressiverock.Quitesimplyoneofthegreatestprogressiverockclassics.Thestyledominatedthenextalbum,"WaterlooLily",releasedinMayof1972,whichmarkedaclearsteptowardsjazz.Yet,RichardSINCLAIR'sinfluencewasclearlyapparentonthefirstside."ForGirlsWhoGrowPlumpintheNight"markedanotherchangeintheband'ssound,thistimetowardsamorestreamlinedsymphonicapproach.Thisalbumisnotabadalbumtakenbyitself,buttheclassicCanterburysoundstoppedhere.ForamorerepresentativelookatCARAVANintheirprime,checkouttheprecedingthreealbums.Thislineupalsorecordedthelivealbum"CaravanandtheNewSymphonia",alive1973performanceaccompaniedbyafullorchestra."CunningStunts"(1975)markedthebeginningofaseriesofmediocrereleasesandlineupchanges,eventuallyleadingtothereunionoftheoriginalmemberson"BacktoFront".Manydifferentcompilationsandlivealbumswerereleasedintheinterveningtwelveyearsbeforeanewstudioalbum,"Battle...Formedin1968inCanterbury,UK-Disbandedin1978-Reformedseveraltimes(1980-85,90-92andsince1995)CARAVANweretheotherhalfoftheWILDEFLOWERS-theSOFTMACHINEbeingtheother-thatoriginatedinCanterbury,Kent.Thebanditselfwasoriginallyformedinearly1968byguitarist/vocalistPyeHASTINGS,keyboardistDaveSINCLAIR,bassist/vocalistRichardSINCLAIR(laterofHATFIELD&THENORTH,NATIONALHEALTH,etc.),anddrummerRichardCOUGHLAN.AllfourmembersofCARAVANwere,atonetimeoranother,inthatband.Theywerealeadingexponentofwhatbecameknownas"theCanterburysound".Theband's1968self-titleddebutwasahybridofjazzandpsychedelia.Thingsbecameseriouswiththesecondalbum,"IfICouldDoItAllOverAgain,I'dDoItAllOverYou"andwouldmarkthestartoftheirclassicperiod.Thematerialwasaveryoriginalmixtureofstylesincludingclassical,jazz,andtraditionalEnglishinfluences.AMILESTONEINTHEIRHISTORY.Thisrecipewasusedtogreatsuccessonthenextalbum,"IntheLandofGreyandPink".Thisalbumwasaperfectblendbetweensimplenorthern-Englishpopandcomplexprogressiverock.Quitesimplyoneofthegreatestprogressiverockclassics.Thestyledominatedthenextalbum,"WaterlooLily",releasedinMayof1972,whichmarkedaclearsteptowardsjazz.Yet,RichardSINCLAIR'sinfluencewasclearlyapparentonthefirstside."ForGirlsWhoGrowPlumpintheNight"markedanotherchangeintheband'ssound,thistimetowardsamorestreamlinedsymphonicapproach.Thisalbumisnotabadalbumtakenbyitself,buttheclassicCanterburysoundstoppedhere.ForamorerepresentativelookatCARAVANintheirprime,checkouttheprecedingthreealbums.Thislineupalsorecordedthelivealbum"CaravanandtheNewSymphonia",alive1973performanceaccompaniedbyafullorchestra."CunningStunts"(1975)markedthebeginningofaseriesofmediocrereleasesandlineupchanges,eventuallyleadingtothereunionoftheoriginalmemberson"BacktoFront".Manydifferentcompilationsandlivealbumswerereleasedintheinterveningtwelveyearsbeforeanewstudioalbum,"BattleofHastings",whichwasreleasedin1995.ThisalbumwasanicecollectionofpoppytunesretainingtheclassicCARAVANsound(organ,violin,flute,saxandHASTINGS'inimitablevocals).CARAVANisstillactivetoday,playingmanylivedatesinBritainandHollandandin2000sawthebeginningofrenewedactivity(festival,concert,etc.).InFebruary2001,allthealbumsfrom"IfICould..."to"CunningStunts"werereissuedwithamyriadofbonusmaterial,copiouslinernotesandimpeccablesoundquality.2002alsosawthebandplaystheirfirstperformanceintheUnitedStatesin28yearsatNEARFEST2002.readmore CARAVANforumtopics/tours,shows&news CARAVANforumtopics WhereButForCaravanWouldI?CaravanAlbumReviewCaravanDebutvsCamelDebutCaravan-"IfIwastoFly"Caravan-It'sNoneOfYourBusinessCaravan-WhoDoYouThinkWeAre?BoxSetAJourneytoKobaïa,Gong,andKansasviaCaravanTheFlyingCaravanforSymphonicProgTop7CaravanAlbumsHowdidEggandCaravannailtheorganfuzzsolo? Createatopicnow CARAVANtours,shows&news RoSfest2014LineupToFeat.ProgLegendsCaravan(3replies)Caravanrecordingnewstudioalbum,"pledges"sought(33replies)Caravanconvention50kmnorthofAmsterdam,NL(9replies)Caravantorelease40thAnn."Landofgrey&pink"(25replies)PsychotropicCaravanFestivalIII!(0replies)CaravanandJohnLeesBJHgig,Chiswick,London(0replies)PsychotropicCaravanIIinHelsinki,Finland(4replies)DougBoyleleavesCaravan(2replies)CaravanTourCancelled(8replies)CaravanTourLate2007(8replies) Postanentriesnow CARAVANVideos(YouTubeandmore) Showingonlyrandom3|ShowallCARAVANvideos(2)|SearchandaddmorevideostoCARAVAN Caravan'LoveSongwithFlute',sixtiesCanterburypsych... (5min7sec) AddedbyFruitsdeMer Caravan-GolfGirl1971BBC (4min19sec) AddedbyClegg BuyCARAVANMusic MoreplacestobuyCARAVANmusiconline DOUGLARSONIMPORTS—Buyprogrockmusicandrarities(Freeshippingonordersover10cds) CARAVANdiscography Orderedbyreleasedate|Showingratings(topalbums)|HelpProgarchives.comtocompletethediscographyandaddalbums CARAVANtopalbums(CD,LP,MC,SACD,DVD-A,DigitalMediaDownload) 3.69|573ratings Caravan 1968 4.25|1124ratings IfICouldDoItAllOverAgain,I'dDoItAllOverYou 1970 4.31|1900ratings IntheLandofGreyandPink 1971 3.77|624ratings WaterlooLily 1972 4.17|827ratings ForGirlsWhoGrowPlumpintheNight 1973 3.19|389ratings CunningStunts 1975 3.30|281ratings BlindDogAtSt.Dunstans 1976 2.89|179ratings BetterbyFar 1977 2.31|144ratings TheAlbum 1980 2.61|143ratings BacktoFront 1982 2.84|144ratings TheBattleofHastings 1995 3.34|145ratings TheUnauthorisedBreakfastItem 2003 3.12|111ratings ParadiseFilter 2013 2.95|21ratings TheBackCatalogueSongs 2014 3.16|45ratings It'sNoneofYourBusiness 2021 CARAVANLiveAlbums(CD,LP,MC,SACD,DVD-A,DigitalMediaDownload) 3.95|215ratings Caravan&TheNewSymphonia 1974 3.66|30ratings TheBestofCaravan"Live" 1980 3.20|17ratings ShowofOurLives 1981 3.41|47ratings BBCRadio1LiveinConcert 1991 2.85|27ratings Live1990 1993 3.83|22ratings Live:CanterburyComestoLondon 1997 3.38|13ratings BackOnTheTracks 1998 3.62|24ratings EtherWay:BBCSessions1975-77 1998 3.05|21ratings SurpriseSupplies[Aka:HereAmI] 1999 3.15|15ratings GreenBottlesForMarjorie 2002 4.47|125ratings LiveAtFairfieldHalls-1974 2002 3.90|21ratings LiveUKTour1975 2003 2.80|10ratings NowheretoHide 2003 3.14|18ratings LiveinNottingham 2003 2.63|8ratings WithStringsAttached 2003 4.22|61ratings TheShowOfOurLives:CaravanAtTheBBC1968-1975 2007 2.54|22ratings AHuntingWeShallGo:Livein1974 2008 2.59|11ratings TheEuropeanTour2011:LiveAtShepherdsBushEmpire 2012 3.00|2ratings LiveinConcertatMetropolisStudios,London 2012 CARAVANVideos(DVD,Blu-ray,VHSetc) 3.38|25ratings ClassicRockLegends(DVD) 2001 2.39|14ratings AKnightInLondon 2003 3.80|21ratings ANight'sTale:LiveInTheUSA 2004 4.06|17ratings Caravan-The35thAnniversaryConcert 2005 2.90|10ratings TheAnthology/TheUltimateAnthology 2007 3.17|6ratings ClassicRockLegends:CaravanLiveAtMetropolisStudios 2011 2.80|5ratings LiveAtRosfestGettysburgUSA 2014 CARAVANBoxset&Compilations(CD,LP,MC,SACD,DVD-A,DigitalMediaDownload) 4.00|3ratings TheBestOfCaravan:From1970-1974 1974 3.67|3ratings ThisIsCaravan 1974 3.00|3ratings Dos 1976 4.22|25ratings CanterburyTales-TheBestofCaravan 1976 3.00|2ratings Caravan(Compilation) 1979 2.09|6ratings TheCanterburyCollection 1984 4.00|2ratings AndIWishIWereStonedDon'tWorry 1985 3.00|2ratings SongsAndSigns 1991 4.05|9ratings TheBestOfCaravan 1993 3.76|38ratings CanterburyTales:TheBestOfCaravan1968-1975 1994 2.47|28ratings CoolWater 1994 3.15|25ratings AllOverYou 1997 3.00|5ratings TravellingMan 1998 3.31|22ratings SongsForOblivionFishermen 1998 3.47|23ratings AllOverYou...Too 1999 3.04|5ratings Headloss 1999 3.00|4ratings TheHTDYears 2000 3.18|14ratings WhereButForCaravanWouldI? 2000 2.29|10ratings TravellingWays 2002 4.88|34ratings TheWorldIsYours-TheAnthology1968-1976 2010 3.00|4ratings PlaceofMyOwn:TheCollection 2014 CARAVANOfficialSingles,EPs,FanClub&Promo(CD,EP/LP,MC,DigitalMediaDownload) 3.21|9ratings PlaceofMyOwn 1969 3.70|10ratings Hello,Hello 1970 3.67|6ratings IfICouldDoItAllOverAgainI'dDoItAllOverYou 1970 3.40|14ratings GolfGirl 1971 3.75|8ratings LovetoLoveYou 1971 3.80|5ratings AHuntingWeShallGo 1974 3.75|4ratings Headloss 1974 3.07|6ratings StuckinaHole 1975 3.67|3ratings AllTheWay 1976 2.00|5ratings BetterByFar 1977 2.00|4ratings Heartbreaker 1980 1.67|3ratings Keepin'UpDeFences 1980 CARAVANReviews Showinglast10reviewsonly Boxset/Compilation,1999 3.47|23ratings BUY AllOverYou...Too CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby Warthur ProgReviewer Caravan'sfourstudioalbumsofthe1990sareanoddbunch,notleastbecausetheyonlyrecordedonealbumofall- originalmaterialinthedecade(TheBattleofHastings).CoolWaterconsistedofdemosfromthelate1970swithsome extratrackstacked-onfromastudiosession,andthenthere'sAllOverYou,whichconsistedofrerecordedmaterialfrom theirclassicalbumsgivenradicalrearrangementstogivethemamoremodernsound.Thenthere'sAllOverYou...Too,recordedinmid-1999,whichisthesequeltoAllOverYou.It'sanothersetofupdated songs,andisrecordedbyessentiallythesamelineup-withtheadditionofJimLevertononbass(who'dsatouttheAll OverYousessionsdespitehavingjoinedthebandforBattleofHastings)andDougBoyleonguitar(offeringanextratwist similartothosehecontributedontheCanterburyComesToLondonlivealbum),andwithaguestspotfromHugh HopperofSoftMachineononetrack.ThisfeelslikeamoresuccessfultakeonthesamegeneralexperimentthatAllOverYouwastrying.IthelpsthatCaravan aren'tnecessarilymessingwiththeirmostbelovedmaterialhere.That'snottosaytheydon'ttouchanyoftheirsacred cows-someofthetrackshere(likethecutsfromForGirlsWhoGrowPlumpIntheNight)arehighly-regardedCaravan trackswhichareundeniablyinthetoptieroftheircatalogue.Atthesametime,they'remorewillingthistimearoundtodipintomaterialwhichperhapsisn'tsowell-remembered- manyconsiderCaravantohavebeenonthewanealittleonBlindDogAtSt.Dunstans'andatalowebbonBetterByFar, butthey'rehappytodipintothosealbumsforthatmaterial,andarguablyNightmare(fromBetterByFar)thesectionsof theGrubbyLittleOiksuite(fromBlindDog)theyreworkherehaveneversoundedbetter-andit'slessofashocktohear theexperimentbecauseevenifyouareaCaravanfanyouprobablydon'tregardtheoriginalversionswithquiteasmuch fondnessas,say,anyofthematerialonIntheLandofGreyandPink.Thatsaid,eventhereworkingsoftrulyfirst-classCaravanclassicsherearesomewhatinteresting,thebanddoinga decentjobofcastingtheirclassicmaterialinamoremodernformwhichsuggeststhattheirperceivedunfashionabilityin the1990smaywellhavebeenoneofthegreatmusicalinjustices.IfyouonlycareforCaravanasa1970sclassicprogactandhavenodesiretohearthatmaterialplayedinawaywhich substantiallydiffersfromtheoriginalalbums,youwon'tlikethisalbumregardlessofhowwell-executeditis.If,onthe otherhand,you'reopentoadifferenttakeonfamiliarandnot-so-familiarCaravansongs,it'sworthapunt. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedMonday,January24,2022|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2676073) StudioAlbum,1971 4.31|1900ratings BUY IntheLandofGreyandPink CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby eduardico21 Ireallyreallylikethisalbum,butIcan'tseeitasthemasterpiecethateveryonesay.I'mgoingtostartwiththethingsI loveaboutIntheLandofGreyandPink.Firstly,thebassworkofRichardSinclairisoneofthebestIhaveheardinmy life.ItmaynotbeasflashyasChrisSquire,norasrecognizableasRogerWaters,butindeedhisbasslinesarewhat carrythesongsforward.Theyareverycatchybutneverstopbeingthesolidfoundationofthesongalongsidethe drums,whichissomethingthatmanyplayfulbassiststendtoforget.Intheperformingdepartmenttheother outstandingmusicianisDavidSinclair,aterrifickeyboardistandoneofthemostunderrated.Theytrulyshineinmytwofavoritesongsfromthebunch.Thefirstbeing"WinterWine",amixbetweenthefolkmagic fromJethroTullandthejazzsoftnessfromCamel,andthemonstruoussuite"NineFeetUnderground".Thelateris trulyamarvelouspiece,whichwasintendedtobeaninstrumentalsongforDavidtoshowoff.Well,objective accomplished,asthekeyboardsolosinthisoneareoutfromthisworld.Ontheotherhand,Idon'treallylikethat muchtheothersongsfromthealbum."GolfGirl"and"IntheLandofGreyandPink"areniceandfun,buttheyare reallysimple.And"LovetoLoveYou"doesn'tdoitformeatall,andhis60spoppatternstakemeoutofthe experience.TheotherthingsIdon'treallyenjoythatmuchfromthisalbumsarethevocalsandtheguitars.AlthoughIconsider RichardanexcellentbassistIbelievehimtobeaverymediocrevocalist.Hedoesn'thavethevirtuoushighpitched vocalsofJonAnderson,northetheatricsofPeterGabriel,northewarmtoneofGregLakeorIanAnderson,sohefalls alittleonnoman'sland.He'snotbad,buthe'snothingreallyspecialeitherandabettervocalistwouldhavebenefited thealbumalot.Thesamecouldbesaidabouttheguitars,whicharenotbadinitselfbutarealittleabsentattimes (withtoomuchprominenceofthekeyboards,whileIlikeacombinationofboth)andnothingthatinterestingwhen present.IstillreallyenjoythisalbumeverytimeIlistentoit,butIcan'tputitonthesamelevelofthingssuchasClosetothe Edge,WishYouWereHere,ThickAsaBrickorFoxtrot.SoIbelievethat4starsistheperfectratingforIntheLandof GreyandPink. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedMonday,January17,2022|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2673430) Live,1997 3.83|22ratings BUY Live:CanterburyComestoLondon CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby Warthur ProgReviewer CanterburyComesToLondonfindsCaravanperformingwiththesamelineupthatmadetheBattleofHastingsalbum, plusDougBoyleprovidingadditionalelectricguitarhereandthere.ThiswasrecordedinbetweenAllOverYouandAll OverYouToo,thetwoalbumsofrerecordedCaravanclassicswhichthebandproducedinthelatterhalfofthe1990s, butdon'texpectradicalre-imaginingsoftheoldmaterialhere-asidefromsomeadditionalZappa-esqueguitarsolos fromBoyle,thesongsaremoreorlessintheiroriginalconfigurations,albeitwiththen-currentequipmentfor1997.Asitstands,thesetisactuallyprettygood.Caravanseemtohaveacceptedthatthefansarelargelyherefortheir materialfromthefirsthalfofthe1970s,andsothesetlistisconstructedasasortofsandwich:agoodchunkofclassic- eraCaravanmaterialatthebeginningandendoftheset,thensomenewersongsslippedintothemiddle(asitturnsout, allthenewertuneshailfromtheBattleofHastingsalbum).ThoughIwouldn'tputitonthetopflightofCaravanlive albums,it'sstillapleasantenoughlistenwhichprovesthatthebandcouldstillconjuretheoldmagiconstage,evenif theirstudioofferingsfromthisperiodmighthavebeenabithitandmiss. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedSaturday,January1,2022|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2657696) Boxset/Compilation,1997 3.15|25ratings BUY AllOverYou CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby Warthur ProgReviewer Iguess"AllOverYou"makessensesasthetitleofaCaravanalbumprovidingradicallyreworkedtakesontheirclassic material-afterall,theytoldusbackintheirearlycareerthatifthey"CouldDoItAllOverAgain",they'ddoitlikethat.There'scertainlyalotofimaginationinvolvedintherenditionsofthematerialhere.AlbumopenerIfICouldDoItAllover Again,I'dDoItAllOverYousoundsstrikinglymodern,whilstPlaceofMyOwnisgiventhisforeboding,dramaticacoustic guitarintrowhichhelpslendthesonganewgravitas,thoughthisislargelylostoncewestartgettingintothealmost samba-esquemusicalbreakdownmidwaythroughthesong.Otherpicksfeelsubstantiallyclosertotheiroriginals,such asTheLoveInYourEye(thoughthere'sapunchofLatinmusictheretoowhichtheoriginaldidn'thave.)ThelineuphereconsistsofthreeCaravanfoundermembers-RichardCoughlan,PyeHastings,andDaveSinclair-plus long-standingregularguestperformerJimmyHastingsandthewell-establishedGeoffreyRichardson.It'snotlikewe're dealingwithaunitthatactivelyhascontemptfortheoriginalversionsofthesesongs,orwhohaven'tdoneafinejob performingliverenditionsclosetotheoriginalformatinthepast.Instead,youhavefiveguyswhoabsolutelyknowthese songsinsideandoutgivingtheirbestgoatputtingafreshcoatofpaintonthem.Partoftheintenthereseemstohavebeentoprovideamoremoderntakeonthesongs.Evenwhenitcomestothose presentationswhichareclose-ishtotheoriginals,youcancatchCoughlanslippingsomedecidedly1990s-esquedrum loops(orplayingwhichsoundsremarkablylikeadrumloop)hereandthere.Atthesametime,inkeepingwiththe mellowpopdirectionthatCaravanhadbeencommittedtoforacoupleofdecadesorsowhenthiscameout,the approachhereseemstobetoprovideasomewhatmoresedatetakeonalotofthematerial.Electricguitarand orchestraisscaledrightback,acousticguitarisin.(AmajorexceptionistowardstheendoftherenditionofForRichard here,whichtakesonanalmostindustrialtrip-hopqualitytoit.)Assuch,whetherAllOverYouisworthittoyoureallyhingesonwhethertheideaof"chilled-outacousticCaravan" soundsgoodtoyou.Ifyou'reintothemellowpopsideofCaravanaswellastheirmorecelebratedprogside,thismight wellbethecase,thoughoddsareyou'llfindsomeoftheseexperimentaltweakstotheoldmaterialmoresuccessfulthan others,andthatyou'llstillcomeawaypreferringtheoriginals.IfyouonlycareabouttheprogsideofCaravan'swork, you'llprobablydislikethis,butthenyou'llprobablydislikemostoftheirdiscographyoutsideofthatwindowinthe1970s whentheirprogsidecametothefore. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedSunday,December12,2021|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2651692) StudioAlbum,1995 2.84|144ratings BUY TheBattleofHastings CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby Warthur ProgReviewer ThisisCaravan'sfirst"proper"studioalbumofthe1990s-andtheironlyoneofall-originalmaterial.ThoughCoolWater wasroundedoutwithafewtrackssetdownbyacobbled-togetherlineup,thebulkofitcamefromoldArista-eratapes fromthelate1970s;theband'sotherstudioeffortsfromthedecadewouldallbere-recordingsofoldmaterial.Theline-upherewouldcertainlylookpromisingtoanyCaravanfan:bandfoundersPyeHastings,RichardCoughlan,and DaveSinclairareallonboard,asisthelong-servingGeoffreyRichardson,andthealbumalsomarksthestartofJim Leverton'slongstintonbass.Pye'sbrotherJimmyisguesting,ashefrequentlydidinthepast,andbehindtheproduction deskisPye'ssonJulian;theproliferationofHastingsinthestudioinspiredthealbumtitle,naturally.Whatofthemusicweget?Well,it'smoresunny,mellowCaravanpopnumbers.Forthosewhoareonlyinterestedinthe proggiersideofCaravan'ssound,thisislikelytobeadisappointment-butitshouldn'tbeasurprise.Fromatleastasfar backasBetterByFar,Caravanseemtohavebeendisinterestedinwritingnewprogmaterial-andwhyshouldthey, whentheirclassic-periodepicsstillgetrapturousreceptionslive?-andhavefocusedinsteadonthepoppiersideoftheir soundwhichmightnotbewhatendearedthemtotheprogcrowd,butwasunquestionablyacomponentoftheir portfolioasfarbackastheirdebutalbum.WhenitcomestoCaravan'spop-eraalbums,I'dsaythisisacceptable,enjoyablestuff,roughlyonatierwithBetterBy Far,butIwouldn'tsayitisquiteascharmingasTheAlbumorBackToFront.It'spleasant,relaxing,butforgettable- backgroundmusicCaravantosootheyouwhenyouareinafoulmood,perhaps. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedWednesday,December1,2021|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2638752) StudioAlbum,1971 4.31|1900ratings BUY IntheLandofGreyandPink CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby Saimon Review#11:IntheLandofGreyandPinkIfIhadtodescribethisalbuminafewwordsitwouldbe:Anadventureafterthegreatestmusicalcompositionofthe Canterburysceneofalltimeandalsooneofthebestalbumsever.IntheLandofGreyandPink,Caravan'sthirdalbum,releasedin1971,offersusgreatandemblematiclyrics,catchymelodies,anda superinterestingMedley("NineFootUnderground")withquitecaptivatingandharmoniousrhythmicandother changes.Ioftenlistentothisalbumasifitwereasong,becauseeverysongissoexcitingandcatchy,tothepointthatyoucan't stopsingingalongtotuneslike"GolfGirl"or"LovetoLoveYou(andTonightPigsWillFly)".Maybe,atfirstlisten,youmightnotlikeorcareforthealbum,oryoujustdon'tfinditexcitingwithoutidentifyinganymelodythatgrabsyouasinotherworks.But,Imustadmit,Itoofoundthelyricsandsongsnotsoappealing,andtherealityis,it'sanalbumthatyouhavetolistento2or3timestogetthesweetandwittyflavourthatCaravan implementsthroughoutthemasterpiece.Myfavouritesongis"GolfGirl".Simplelyrics,asoftandcosymelodytostartthealbumoffcalmly,andbonuspoints forRichardSinclair'sfriendlyanddistinctivevoice.GolfGirl:5/5WinterWine:4/5LovetoLoveYou(andTonightPigsWillFly):4.5/5IntheLandofGreyandPink:4/5NineFeetUnderground:5/59/10,5starsforthegreatestCanterburycreationofalltimeandanalbumthataccompaniesusineverysituationinanoptimisticandepicway. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedSunday,November28,2021|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2638003) StudioAlbum,2021 3.16|45ratings BUY It'sNoneofYourBusiness CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby alainPP CARAVANisthemonsterthatemergedfromCanterburyin1968.10yearstobringoutababyin2014,another8 forthisone;PyeremainingtheonlyoneactivewithGeoffreycomingsoonafter.Folk,rockandjazz,melodicpop first,progressiveforaysaroundcertaintrackswithindividualsolosandawarmandluminoussound;bridge betweenprogandpsyche.Ahugeboxsetof37recordscoveringtheirlegacytitled"WhoDoYouThinkWeAre?" "Isreleasedthisyearjustbeforethismemoryalbumoftheirjourneythroughmusicaltime.InfactCARAVANis justamusicaldinosaurthatIcouldonlygetintointhiscolumn."DownFromLondon"setsthetonedirectly,country-stylefolk-pop-rockwithGeoffrey'sviolin,thatfitswellwith thestory;thefinalcascadingguitarsolo,fresh,bringsclosertotheCanterburyatmosphere."WishingYouWere Here"followswitharhythmicballadanditsflightofinstrumentsthroughoutthetitle,heavyrockevolution midwaythenthekeyboardsthatsmellofvintage."It'sNoneOfYourBusiness"withasoundàlaDIRESTRAITS, bucolicforoneofthetwogreatpieceswithsnubonthemusicindustryorwhatremainsofit;it'sfresh,itsmacks ofworktofindaclassicalcompositionthatunfoldssoeasily;littlegroovewithafreshkeyboardthattakesyouto theGenesisterritories,psycheviolin,wearewellatthegenesisofrockwhenwetookthetimeandthatconfirms theprogressiveimprint;atitlethatmakesyousaythatmakingmusicsoundseasy,endingwiththereturntothe tuneoftheenchantedanddancingdepartureandalastrhythmicsolobyPyeandJan."ReadyOrNot"violin forwardpeepingovertheJETHROTULLbutnotCARAVANalsohasastampedviolasound;briefsambaasideon thistrackwherebossanovahintsclearlyooze;alwaysafrankdynamicandthecottonyvoiceofPyewhich completestomeltthelistenernotknowinganymoreifheisinthe70'sorjustnow,superb."SpareAThought" andtheacoustic,divine,simplisticballad;guitar,violin,flutetoimprintabucolic,melancholymemoryoflifethat passesandsomethatpassaway,atitlethatflowsnaturally.atitlethatmakesyousaythatmakingmusicsounds easy,endingwiththereturntothetuneoftheenchantedanddancingdepartureandalastrhythmicsolobyPye andJan."ReadyOrNot"violinforwardpeepingovertheJETHROTULLbutnotCARAVANalsohasastampedviola sound;briefsambaasideonthistrackwherebossanovahintsclearlyooze;alwaysafrankdynamicandthe cottonyvoiceofPyewhichcompletestomeltthelistenernotknowinganymoreifheisinthe70'sorjustnow, superb."SpareAThought"andtheacoustic,divine,simplisticballad;guitar,violin,flutetoimprintabucolic, melancholymemoryoflifethatpassesandsomethatpassaway,atitlethatflowsnaturally.atitlethatmakes yousaythatmakingmusicsoundseasy,endingwiththereturntothetuneoftheenchantedanddancing departureandalastrhythmicsolobyPyeandJan."ReadyOrNot"violinforwardpeepingovertheJETHROTULL butnotCARAVANalsohasastampedviolasound;briefsambaasideonthistrackwherebossanovahintsclearly ooze;alwaysafrankdynamicandthecottonyvoiceofPyewhichcompletestomeltthelistenernotknowingany moreifheisinthe70'sorjustnow,superb."SpareAThought"andtheacoustic,divine,simplisticballad;guitar, violin,flutetoimprintabucolic,melancholymemoryoflifethatpassesandsomethatpassaway,atitlethat flowsnaturally.endwiththereturntothetuneoftheenchantedanddancingdepartureandalastrhythmicsolo byPyeandJan."ReadyOrNot"violinforwardpeepingovertheJETHROTULLbutnotCARAVANalsohasa stampedviolasound;briefsambaasideonthistrackwherebossanovahintsclearlyooze;alwaysafrank dynamicandthecottonyvoiceofPyewhichcompletestomeltthelistenernotknowinganymoreifheisinthe 70'sorjustnow,superb."SpareAThought"andtheacoustic,divine,simplisticballad;guitar,violin,fluteto imprintabucolic,melancholymemoryoflifethatpassesandsomethatpassaway,atitlethatflows naturally.endwiththereturntothetuneoftheenchantedanddancingdepartureandalastrhythmicsoloby PyeandJan."ReadyOrNot"violinforwardpeepingovertheJETHROTULLbutnotCARAVANalsohasastamped violasound;briefsambaasideonthistrackwherebossanovahintsclearlyooze;alwaysafrankdynamicandthe cottonyvoiceofPyewhichcompletestomeltthelistenernotknowinganymoreifheisinthe70'sorjustnow, superb."SpareAThought"andtheacoustic,divine,simplisticballad;guitar,violin,flutetoimprintabucolic, melancholymemoryoflifethatpassesandsomethatpassaway,atitlethatflowsnaturally.briefsambaasideon thistrackwherebossanovahintsclearlyooze;alwaysafrankdynamicandthecottonyvoiceofPyewhich completestomeltthelistenernotknowinganymoreifheisinthe70'sorjustnow,superb."SpareAThought" andtheacoustic,divine,simplisticballad;guitar,violin,flutetoimprintabucolic,melancholymemoryoflifethat passesandsomethatpassaway,atitlethatflowsnaturally.briefsambaasideonthistrackwherebossanova hintsclearlyooze;alwaysafrankdynamicandthecottonyvoiceofPyewhichcompletestomeltthelistenernot knowinganymoreifheisinthe70'sorjustnow,superb."SpareAThought"andtheacoustic,divine,simplistic ballad;guitar,violin,flutetoimprintabucolic,melancholymemoryoflifethatpassesandsomethatpassaway, atitlethatflowsnaturally.self-evidenttitle.self-evidenttitle."EveryPreciousLittleThing"andanothertitlewhichremindsmefromafarthesoaringDIRESTRAITSforrhythm guitarandespeciallytheorganthatseemstocomefromachurchinMississippi;it'smorefolk,rhythmic, dancingatmosphere,encouragingtoenjoythelittlemomentsoflife,theaerialflutebringingbacktoCanterbury. "IfIWasToFly"andthisAmericantune,punctuatedbetweenthebanjoandtheguitar,fresh,playful,givingin thefestivetitle,amusicalinterludeinmyopiniontoremaincheerfulandpositiveinthisspecialyear."I'llReach OutForYou"forthe2ndlongtrack;pop-rockintroagreedwithoutprogressivecatch,basictuneatfirst,thesong Canterburyaccordingtome,goeseverywhere,simplerocktoDYLANwithoutparticularity?.thendriftswithan instrumentation,guitarandpianofine,noteswhicharescattered,progressivedrawersthatopen,thisnotionof progressionthatsetsin,thisflute,weremainstuck;bucolicfreshnessimpartinganairofrelaxationwhichisstill remarkableforourtime;theslapofthealbuminmyopinion."ThereIsYou"beginsjazzywiththepiano,the spleenviolin,themuffledvoice;winkonDYLANagain;thepianoseemstostoptimeandputsabeatofthe positivemelancholycolor.Wearefarfromrockhowever,weareperhapsinCARAVAN!"Luna'sTuna"andthe lastinstrumentaltitle,stillspleenwiththisviolin,thesepianokeys;theviolamakesitpossibletoreflectonthe notionofcurrentmusic,ofwhatitcanprintasasensationatthelevelofourpsyche;emotionwhichremindsme alittleoftheluxuriantresearchofDavidDARLINGandwhichbringsbacktothepresenttime.Idealfor meditating.CARAVANisreleasingtheconsensualalbumattheendoftheyear2021,offeringhereandtheresimpleand effectivenotes.Ireadsomewherethat'thepigswillflyovergrandma'slawnoverandoveragain'.Thelegacyof theCANTERBURYisstillpresentandshowshowtheprogressivecurrentcancreepineverywhere.Themorethis feelingoflisteningtoayounggroup;atleastthatofenteringtheworldofCARAVANandlisteningtoeverything again. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedWednesday,November10,2021|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2632748) StudioAlbum,1975 3.19|389ratings BUY CunningStunts CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby Dapper~Blueberries TheCanterburySceneisnotreallyagenreIlistentoveryoften.HecktheonlyalbumIlistenedtofromthewhole genreisFourthbySoftMachineandIonlythoughtthatalbumwasjustOk.Nothingtoospecial.Thismademefeel alittlediscouragedtoocheckoutanymorealbumsfromtheCanterburyScene,untilIdecidedtolistentothis album,andohboy,Iwasmissingoutonsomegood,funkyandgreattunes.Thisalbumstartswiththebeautifulandamazing'TheShowofOurLives'.It'sliketheperfectopener,filledwith beautifulpianoarrangements,amazingguitarplaying,andaslowbutgroovybeat.PlusthevocaldeliveryofPye Hastingsareso,soverygood.Afterwards,StuckinAHoleplays,averyfunkyandgroovysong,thatsortareminds meofthoseroadtripjamsthatyoubobyourheadtoo.LoverandNoBackstagePassarebothverybeautifultracks inthesamevainasTheShowOfOurLives,howeverwithalovesongtwist,andsomebeautifulstring arrangements.WelcomeToTheDayisanotherhitonthisalbum,butwithamoredirectfunkadelicsound,that remindsmeofjazzartistslikeB.B.King.Afterthat,wehavethe18minutesuiteofpureamazementthatisDabsong Conshirtoe.It'sliketheperfectcombinationofallofthesongsfromthisalbum,puttogetherintoabrilliantpotof gloriousproportions,plustheendingbeingallweirdandalmostlikethesongisoverlappingwithitselfissoweird, interestingandsatisfying.Thelasttrack,TheFearandLoathinginTollingtonPark,isn'tsomethingtowrighthome about,butitisalittlenicetune,likeabowwrappingthewholealbumtogether.Allinall,thisalbumisanamazingpieceofworkthatIamsurprisedisn'taswellknownasanyotherProgalbum thatisregardedasthebest.Iabsolutelylovethisalbum. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedWednesday,November10,2021|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2632736) Boxset/Compilation,1994 2.47|28ratings BUY CoolWater CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby Warthur ProgReviewer Caravan'sCoolWaterisderivedfromtwoverydifferentCaravanquartets.Thefirstseventrackswererecordedbackin 1977bythelineupofPyeHastings,JanSchelhaas,RichardCoughlan,andareturningRichardSinclair,withthe intentionofdemoingmaterialforthefollowuptoBetterByFar.Afriendlytip-offwarnedthemthattheywereaboutto bedroppedfromArista,andsothebandkeptholdofthetape.Fastforwardtotheearly1990s,whentheHTDlabelbecameinterestedinreleasingCaravanmaterial-neworarchival. Pyedustedoffthetapes,gavethemapolish-up,andthenrecordedthelastfourtracksonthisreleasetofluffthisup tofullalbumlength.TheselatertrackswereperformedbyalineupofPyehimself,plusJimmyHastingsonsax(alogical callgiventhatJimmywasaregularguestonclassic-eraCaravanalbums),RodEdwardsonkeyboards,JohnGustavson ofQuatermass,RoxyMusic,andIanGillianBandfameonbass,andMarillion'sIanMosleyondrums.(Notably,Pye's ownsonJulianHastingshandledtheproductiondesk.)Whatdowegetoutofthispatched-togetherpackage,then?Well,ifyouwerehopingforsomeofCaravan'sproggier material,you'llbesorelydisappointedhere,butthenagainCaravanthemselvesseemedtogiveupontryingto producenewlonger-formpieceswellbeforethis(the"GrubbyLittleOik"suiteonBlindDogAtStDunstansbeingthe lastgaspofthatsideoftheirsongwriting).Instead,whatyougethereforthemostpartiswhimsical,sunny,quirkypopwithaprogressivesheentoit.Thatmay bugsomelisteners,thoughit'sworthnotingthatthissortofthinghasbeenacomponentofCaravan'smusicfromthe start-thinkoftheirdebutalbum,thinkofGolfGirlfromIntheLandofGreyandPink,thinkmostespeciallyofthepost- BlindDogstudioalbums.Thethingis,mildlyprogressiveart-popwithanairofgentlewhimsymighthavebeenalltherageinthe1960s,when Caravanhadtheirroots,butby1977theappetiteofthemassaudiencehadshifted.Inretrospect,it'snosurprisethat Aristapassedonthismaterial.It'snotthatit'sbad-infact,it'soptimistic,sunny,andundertherightcircumstancesI finditarealmood-lifter-it'sjustthat,evenwiththatdirty,funkybasslineonAnsaphoneorthediscoatmosphereon ColdFright,itstillwasdeeplyunfashionableatthetime.Onemightspeculateaboutthisbeingareactiontopunk,thoughtobehonestI'mmoreinclinedtoseeitthenatural continuationofthepaththebandweretakingonBetterByFar.Inprinciple,shuttingthesetapesinasafeandthen pullingthemoutafterenoughtimehadpassedtogivethemtheairofnostalgiaanda"lostalbum"wasprobablythe rightcall,becauseIcan'timaginethiswouldhavefaredanybetterin1977haditbeenreleasedthen.Thatsaid,CoolWaterdroppedrightinthemiddleofthegrungeera,soitwasn'texactlygoingtofindanenthusiastic mainstreamaudiencetheneither.Ofcourse,you'relookingattheearlydaysofInternetprogfandomcoalescingat aroundthistime,andthataudiencemighthavebeenveryexcitedaboutalostCaravanalbum-hadthemusiconit beensomethinglikeNineFeetUnderground.Asitis,theprogfandomofthetimedoesn'tseemtohaveembracedthe lost1977tapesallthatmucheither.Whatofthenewsongs?Well,they'reinmoreorlessthesameveinintermsofbeingjauntypopnumberswith Canterburyinflections;IanMoselyseemstoenjoyaddingabitmoreofajazzyvibetohisplayingthanistypicalofhis workwithMarillion,forinstance.Unfortunately,theproductiontakesanotablehit-clearly,thesetrackswereknocked outinahurryinaless-than-stellarstudiosetup,butwhenyour1990s-eratracksdon'tsoundasniceassome15-year- olddemossomethinghasclearlygoneratherwrong.YouWon'tGetMeUpInOneofThoseisprobablytheworstof thesetracks;TotheLandofMyFathersmanagessomethingofacoursecorrection,announcingitselfwithalagubrious instrumentalsectionandmellowsaxsolothatestablishesanice,dreamytexturethat'smissingfrommuchoftherest ofthealbumandmakesanicechangeofpace.Intheend,then,CoolWaterseemstohavebeendestinedtobeappreciatedonlybytheCaravandie-hards.If,likeme, you'reoneofthosefreakswhothinksBetterByFarisbetterthanCunningStunts(becauseCunningStuntsdoesn't knowwhetheritwantstobefull-onprogoraprog-tingedart-popalbum,whilstBetterByFaratleastknowswhatit wantstobeandtacklesthatheadon),andwholovesthepoppiersideofCaravanasmuchastheirprogside,thenCool Watermightbeinterestingtotakeadipin.It'sfarfromessential,though,andmaybebestthoughtofasasolid1978 EPwithashort1990s-erademoattached. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedSaturday,October30,2021|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2629085) StudioAlbum,2021 3.16|45ratings BUY It'sNoneofYourBusiness CaravanCanterburyScene Reviewby BeautifulScarlet IamunsurprisedCaravancontinuestobeterriblymediocre.WhenthisalbumwasannouncedIwaslike"lolperfect timing,alittlebrotherfor"Yes"TheQuest."Noticetheparenthesis?Thosearetherebecauseneitherbandis actuallytherealone.SoyeahhereCaravanhasoneoriginalmember,PyeHastingswhohaswrittenthebulkofa Caravansoutputsincethe60s.ThatbeingsaidnumberslikeCan'tBeLongNowandWinterWine,prettymuchmost ofCaravanssignaturesongshewasn'tresponsiblefor,rathertheSinclaircousinswere.Hereandforthelast45~ yearsonecanseePyeHastingscontributionstoCaravan,forgettable"pop"songswithatrociouslyrics.Overallthisalbumisokay,justkindoflacksinmemorability,eachsongblendingtogetherbecausetheysoundthe same,cheesylyricsandoverlongsongs(everysongisoutrageouslystretched).Itsnotbadformeitsoundslikean absolutelackofinspiration.Itsoundslikeanalbumthatdidn'tneedtobemadebecauseeverythingsaidonhere wasalreadysaidonbetteralbumsdecadesago.TLDRSoundsnothinglikeclassicCaravanjustanotherboringPyeHastingssoloalbum.I'mnotreviewingtherestastheyaresosamey/nonCanterburian. socialreviewcomments|ReviewPermalink PostedMonday,October25,2021|Reviewthisalbum|Report(Review#2607413) ThankstoProgLuckyfortheartistaddition. andtoQuininoforthelastupdates CopyrightProgArchives,Allrightsreserved.|LegalNotice|PrivacyPolicy|Advertise|RSS+syndications OthersitesintheMACnetwork:JazzMusicArchives.com—jazzmusicreviewsandarchives|MetalMusicArchives.com—metalmusicreviewsandarchives DonatemonthlyandkeepPAfast-loadingandad-freeforever.