Caravan - Caravan (1968/2002 Remastered Expanded)
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Album: Caravan - Caravan Remastered Expanded Edition
Released: 1968 (2002)
Styles: Canterbury Prog-Rock
Group Biography: AMG
Verve 8829522
An outgrowth of the Wilde Flowers, the ORIGINAL Canterbury band which also produced Soft Machine, Caravan were one of the leading lights of that scene. Fusing a folky rock sound centered around the guitar and dulcet voice of Pye Hastings with a jazzy element based in the keyboards of David Sinclair, they arrived at an original sound only hinted at by Traffic, yet remaining uniquely Canterbury. Dave Sinclair's organ never sounds like the swirling churchy tones people usually use, rather an almost reedlike tone with the punch of an electric guitar. Lead vocals are handled by Hastings mostly, but bassist Richard Sinclair's (cousin of David) deeper, rounder voice is also heard a great deal, and is often better remembered. The original quartet is rounded out by drummer Richard Coughlan, who plays complex parts with ease, yet uses a very basic drum kit. Here's an album-by-album synopsis:
Caravan: The Caravan sound is immediately present, albeit in embryonic form, with more pronounced folk elements, and some light psychedelic bits as well. Mostly consisting of lovely melodic songs with sailing vocal harmonies, Hastings' chiming guitars, and with a strong organ slant. "Love Song With Flute" is the first Caravan song to include that instrument, I think played by Brian Hopper. The first true foray into prog is also here, the eight minute "Where But For Caravan Would I?" Vocals alternate between Hastings and Sinclair, most of the song is in 11/8, and the styles alternate between folkish acoustic guitar reverie, and heavy jazz-tinged heavy rock sections with prominent organ. Good debut - New Gibraltar Encyclopedia Of Progressive Rock
This disc features Caravan's self-titled debut LP. Ironically, this particular release is also the final entry in the band's massive tape vault excavation and reissue project. For their first album, Caravan is surprisingly strong. While steeped in the same British psychedelia that informed bands such as Love Children, Pink Floyd, and Tomorrow, Caravan relates a freedom of spirit and mischief along the lines of Giles, Giles & Fripp or Gong. The band's roots can be traced to a British blue-eyed soul combo called the Wilde Flowers. Among the luminaries to have passed through this Caravan precursor were Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, and Hugh Hopper and Brian Hopper, pre-Soft Machine, naturally. By the spring of 1968, Caravan had settled nicely into a quartet consisting of Pye Hastings (guitar/bass/vocals), Richard Coughlan (drums), David Sinclair (organ/vocals), and Richard Sinclair (bass/guitar/vocals). Inspired by the notoriety and acclaim that Soft Machine encountered during the burgeoning days of London's underground scene, Caravan began a residency at the Middle Earth club. Additionally, the band was shopping a homemade demo tape around to local record companies. Before long, entrepreneur Tony Cox worked out a deal for them to record on the newly founded U.K. division of the Verve label. Caravan's self-titled debut is equally as inventive and infinitely more subtle than the Soft Machine's Volume One or Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Two of the album's best tunes — the ethereal "Place of My Own" was backed with the dreamlike "Magic Man" — were issued as the band's first single. Those tracks accurately exemplify the subtle complexities that Caravan would hone to great effect on later recordings. The same can also be said for album cuts such as "Love Song With Flute" and the extended nine-minute "Where but for Caravan Would I?" The latter title aptly exemplifies Caravan's decidedly less than turgid attitude toward themselves — a refreshing contrast from the temperamental and serious Art School approach adopted by Pink Floyd and the Moody Blues. The mono and stereo mixes of the long-player are striking in their disparities. The stereo mix is at times opaque and virtually swallows the vocals most specifically on the tracks "Policeman" and "Grandma's Lawn." Otherwise, there are numerous additional nuances that discern the two. The single version of "Hello Hello" is also included as a bonus. This track was the follow-up 45 to "Place of My Own" and would appear in a slightly different form on their next LP, If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You. Potential consumers should note that the sound quality on this package is indescribably better than the HTD Records 1996 CD pressing. - Review by Lindsay Planer, AMG
Mono Album
1. Place of My Own - 4:01
2. Ride - 3:42
3. Policeman - 2:44
4. Love Song with Flute - 4:10
5. Cecil Rons - 4:07
6. Magic Man - 4:03
7. Grandma's Lawn - 3:25
8. Where but for Caravan would I? - 9:01
Stereo Album
9. Place of My Own - 4:01
10. Ride - 3:42
11. Policeman - 2:44
12. Love Song with Flute - 4:10
13. Cecil Rons - 4:07
14. Magic Man - 4:03
15. Grandma's Lawn - 3:25
16. Where but For Caravan would I? - 9:01
BONUS TRACK
17. Hello Hello (single version) - 3:12
Pye Hastings - guitar, bass guitar, singing
Richard Coughlan - drums
David Sinclair - organ, singing
Richard Sinclair - bass guitar, guitar, singing
Jimmy Hastings - flute solo on 'Love Song with Flute'
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