One of the wonderful B.B.C.
in concert series released from the dusty
vaults of the Government run British Broadcasting
Corporation. The band is introduced by
D.J. Pete Drummond sounding very serious
whilst extolling the virtues of these
fine musicians. You must remember that
this was March of 1975 when progressive
rock was in its heyday all trying to look
deadly serious whilst wearing kaftans,
beads, and 30 inch bell bottom hipsters.
No wonder twelve months later Johnny Rotten
and Punk Rock come along to breath some
fresh life and fun back into Rock ‘n’
Roll.
But does the music of Caravan stand the
test of time after 26 years? Surprisingly,
yes very well indeed.
Back in the late sixties “The Wilde Flowers”,
the senior rock band of Kent, garden county
of England, split in two, spawning “Caravan”
and “Soft Machine”. Caravan helped create
a musical style that has become known
as the Canterbury sound, a name that has
stuck to this sub genre of progressive
rock ever since. Surrealist lyrics, humour,
and a rock style that incorporated elements
of Procul Harum, Jethro Tull and Pink
Floyd. The Canterbury sound was a jazzy-classical-folk-ish
sound that was still very unique.
Caravan were definitely one of the founding
progressive rock bands having already
recorded seven albums by the time they
went into record this concert at the London
Paris Theatre.
By then the 3 original members of David
Sinclair, Pye Hastings, and Richard Couglan,
had added Geoff Richardson on violin and
replaced David Sinclair’s cousin, Richard
Sinclair with Mike Wedgewood on bass,
who came in from “Curved Air”.
There are only 4 songs on this hour long
concert, 3 of them clocking in just under
the 20 minute mark before the final rave
up of the short and sweet audience fave
rave, “Hoedown” from Caravan’s fifth album
“For girls who grow plump in the night”.
The original album sleeve, depicting a
naked pregnant women, was vetoed by record
label Decca, but a compromise was reached
and the women appeared wearing a night
dress. Ho-Hum such are the politics of
mid seventies rock. “For Richard” comes
from Caravan’s 2nd album “If I could do
it again I’d do it all over you” which
appeared way back in September of 1970.
Regarded by many fans as their best work
it became a perennial favorite in the
live set.
As you can see there were some marvelous
titles from Caravans history none better
than the trickly titled “Cunning Stunts”
from which the other two musical pieces
on this album come from.
This album is a fine showcase for the
rich musical talents of a band whose unique
contribution to pop music history is unlikely
to be forgotten.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
