Music Thread.....Caravan

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 1:08 pm

Been listening a lot lately to the downloaded digital remasters of my old Caravan albums. Saw them about 4 times back in the 70s (actually even better live than studio) and have become addicted to them again. The best of the old Canterbury scene bands, amazing musicians, playing music that could move from rockin out to dreamlike in one piece of music. Also for a 'prog' band they had a tremendous sense of humour. Plenty of whimsy in their lyrics and great album titles (If I Could Do It All Over Again I'd Do It All Over You/For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night and the fabulously titled Cunning Stunts). In just two 'songs', For Richard and Nine Feet Underground, they could fill a set that most modern bands would be proud of.

Anybody else got memories of this great band (that still gig occasinally).

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 2:26 pm

Unfortunately,I doubt you getting too many replies on the thread HB. Caravan were one of the best and most progressive bands to emerge out of the late 60's. I've been fortunate to see them on a number of occasions. The last being around 5 years ago at the Lowry. The main musical influence these days appears to be Geoff Richardson along with founder member Pye Hastings. However, I preferred the band in the days that were driven by Dave Sinclair's keyboard playing. I used to think of them as a more commercial Soft Machine. Think they came from the same area. You've ascribed to some of their finest work HB, but my particular favourite album is In the Land of the Grey and Pink. Still sounds as fresh to me today as it did the best part of half a century ago.

biggles · Post by **biggles** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:11 pm

caravan, camel and soft machine - great prog bands from way back. haven't listened to their stuff for years - 'til just now.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:38 pm

ashtonlongsider wrote:Unfortunately,I doubt you getting too many replies on the thread HB. Caravan were one of the best and most progressive bands to emerge out of the late 60's. I've been fortunate to see them on a number of occasions. The last being around 5 years ago at the Lowry. The main musical influence these days appears to be Geoff Richardson along with founder member Pye Hastings. However, I preferred the band in the days that were driven by Dave Sinclair's keyboard playing. I used to think of them as a more commercial Soft Machine. Think they came from the same area. You've ascribed to some of their finest work HB, but my particular favourite album is In the Land of the Grey and Pink. Still sounds as fresh to me today as it did the best part of half a century ago.

In the Land of Grey and Pink is probably (in my opinion) one of the greatest albums of all time and certainly a benchmark for prog and I agree that Dave Sinclair (and cousin Richard on bass and vocals) was the best line up. However the best I saw them was in Manchester (sadly I can't remember which theatre but it might have been the Opera House) on the Cunning Stunts tour. The live rendition of the Dabsong Conshirtoe is still one of the most exciting and moving performances I have ever witnessed.
Sadly drummer Richard Coughlan died a few years back, he was the back bone of the band and probably one of the most underated drummers ever.
Don't know if you've ever heard it (I hadn't until fairly recently) but catch a listen to Live at the Fairfield Halls from about '74, captures them brilliantly and Richardsons viola work is stunning on there.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:47 pm

biggles wrote:caravan, camel and soft machine - great prog bands from way back. haven't listened to their stuff for years - 'til just now.

Hope I've renewed the interest. Anyone who loves good music should listen to Nine Feet Underground, For Richard, Virgin on the Ridiculous, the Love in Your Eye and the Dabsong Conshirtoe. Those five pieces would make up a full and utterly brilliant gig.

Soft Machine were part of the Canterbury scene as well. They were initially far more experimental than most bands then developed into an out and out jazz band. I never saw them but owned their first 4/5 albums at one time (when they still had Kevin Ayers and Robert Wyatt on the first two).

I saw Camel at the Free Trade Hall back then and they were superb.

SalisburyClaret · Post by **SalisburyClaret** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:48 pm

Brilliant band - thanks for bringing them back to mind - I’m off to the CD rack

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:59 pm

SalisburyClaret wrote:Brilliant band - thanks for bringing them back to mind - I’m off to the CD rack

Funny how you don't listen to something for years then someone mentions it and bang - your back there. Enjoy and let me know if it still sounds as fresh. I've been listening to remastered downloads so the sound is amazing.

Remember to have a listen to the awesome Winter Wine:

Life's too short to be sad,
Wishing things you'll never have,
You're better off not dreaming of the things to come,
Dreams are always ending far too soon.

Sounds of a distant melody,
Once played, lost from memory,
Funny how it's clearer now you're close to me,
We'll be together all the time.

Enjoy.

biggles · Post by **biggles** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:02 pm

houseboy - yeah, thanks for that. listening to them all on Youtube and Spotify, probably on my smart TV later, too [who'd a thought it?]

chekhov · Post by **chekhov** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:08 pm

No wish to hijack this thread but when I read the subject I thought of this, one of my favourite performances of all time by the legend that is Van Morrison:
https://youtu.be/44wDwMQVqCc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:09 pm

biggles wrote:houseboy - yeah, thanks for that. listening to them all on Youtube and Spotify, probably on my smart TV later, too [who'd a thought it?]

Good music never dies, it just kinda goes into hibernation for a while till someone wakes it up.

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:50 pm

Great post, houseboy. Great music, Caravan.

Caravan topped the bill for a uni end of year event I put on in 1974. "For Girls that grow plump" hit the top 20 album charts in the run up to our event. I think that was the highest Caravan ever got in the charts..... Probably my favourite of all their albums for this reason, it was hardly off my turntable (and the LP is still in my now very limited LP collection), and then repeated with cassette and then CD (and now MP3).

Think the last time I saw them live was on Tottenham Court Road (near Centre Point, London), one of the last gigs at a the venue (and I've now forgotten the name). I'd love to do it all over again.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:54 pm

chekhov wrote:No wish to hijack this thread but when I read the subject I thought of this, one of my favourite performances of all time by the legend that is Van Morrison:
https://youtu.be/44wDwMQVqCc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Van the Man mate. Awesome.

Claretforshaw · Post by **Claretforshaw** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:59 pm

I once saw Soft Machine at a small venue in Canterbury Kent around 1968, I think a couple of members of the band went to my old school as I recall the Headmaster played their first single "Love makes sweet music" in assembly...a bit weird! I think Caravan had Canterbury connections too. As a 15 year old in 1966 I also remember seeing a very young Pink Floyd at Canterbury Tech College, with their "psychedelic" stage backdrop comprising running ink (!) and bubbles, a bit different to the light show a few years later when I saw them from the gallery at the Albert Hall, costing about 5 shillings....happy days.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:59 pm

Paul Waine wrote:Great post, houseboy. Great music, Caravan.

Caravan topped the bill for a uni end of year event I put on in 1974. "For Girls that grow plump" hit the top 20 album charts in the run up to our event. I think that was the highest Caravan ever got in the charts..... Probably my favourite of all their albums for this reason, it was hardly off my turntable (and the LP is still in my now very limited LP collection), and then repeated with cassette and then CD (and now MP3).

Think the last time I saw them live was on Tottenham Court Road (near Centre Point, London), one of the last gigs at a the venue (and I've now forgotten the name). I'd love to do it all over again.

That album starts off with the amazing Memory Lain/Headloss. I think it's probably in my top 3 of theirs. What uni was it, I saw them at at least one uni gig back then but almost certainly Manchester.

LeadBelly · Post by **LeadBelly** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 5:09 pm

I'll join the other oldies commenting.
Back in uni days, I had a couple of mates who were into them and I heard the first couple of albums quite a lot back then (in the days before personal music players, the communal record player was a good way of hearing other music). I quite liked their stuff but never enough to be dragged along to any gigs so I never saw them.
I got "In the Land of Grey & Pink" and "For Girls who Grow Plump in the Night" relatively recently when remastered cds came out & enjoyed listening to those again.
As already mentioned: some great album titles and track titles.

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 5:25 pm

Claretforshaw wrote:I once saw Soft Machine at a small venue in Canterbury Kent around 1968, I think a couple of members of the band went to my old school as I recall the Headmaster played their first single "Love makes sweet music" in assembly...a bit weird! I think Caravan had Canterbury connections too. As a 15 year old in 1966 I also remember seeing a very young Pink Floyd at Canterbury Tech College, with their "psychedelic" stage backdrop comprising running ink (!) and bubbles, a bit different to the light show a few years later when I saw them from the gallery at the Albert Hall, costing about 5 shillings....happy days.

Hi Claretforshaw, yes, Caravan are from Canterbury. I have a couple of good friends from Canterbury, possibly 3 or 4 years younger than you. They are one of my first introductions to Caravan.

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 5:29 pm

houseboy wrote:That album starts off with the amazing Memory Lain/Headloss. I think it's probably in my top 3 of theirs. What uni was it, I saw them at at least one uni gig back then but almost certainly Manchester.

Uni was "down south." I'd have loved to have been involved in the gigs at Manchester or Leeds, I think they had "real scale" student uni events. Mine was much smaller scale.

biggles · Post by **biggles** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 5:58 pm

just listening to a band called 'the vintage caravan'. hadn't previously heard of them; they're pretty good. can hear Caravan etc in there.

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Sat Jan 19, 2019 9:41 am

houseboy wrote:In the Land of Grey and Pink is probably (in my opinion) one of the greatest albums of all time and certainly a benchmark for prog and I agree that Dave Sinclair (and cousin Richard on bass and vocals) was the best line up. However the best I saw them was in Manchester (sadly I can't remember which theatre but it might have been the Opera House) on the Cunning Stunts tour. The live rendition of the Dabsong Conshirtoe is still one of the most exciting and moving performances I have ever witnessed.
Sadly drummer Richard Coughlan died a few years back, he was the back bone of the band and probably one of the most underated drummers ever.
Don't know if you've ever heard it (I hadn't until fairly recently) but catch a listen to Live at the Fairfield Halls from about '74, captures them brilliantly and Richardsons viola work is stunning on there.

.

Yes HB, I have heard the FH concert and it's as you describe 'stunning'. You got me thinking of the venue for the 75 or 76 CS tour. You may very well be right about the Opera House but I have a vague recollection for Free Trade Hall.

Talking of the Free Trade hall, one of my fondest music memories of the day was watching Procol Harum one Saturday night there. After it had finished my mate said asked if I fancied nipping up to Manchester Student Uni to see Caravan. So off we went, arriving half way through For Richard. A brilliant night and thanks for the thread and bringing back such memories.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:15 am

ashtonlongsider wrote:.

Yes HB, I have heard the FH concert and it's as you describe 'stunning'. You got me thinking of the venue for the 75 or 76 CS tour. You may very well be right about the Opera House but I have a vague recollection for Free Trade Hall.

Talking of the Free Trade hall, one of my fondest music memories of the day was watching Procol Harum one Saturday night there. After it had finished my mate said asked if I fancied nipping up to Manchester Student Uni to see Caravan. So off we went, arriving half way through For Richard. A brilliant night and thanks for the thread and bringing back such memories.

Thinking back I'm pretty sure it was the Opera House. I did see them at the FTH but I'm certain that was another time. Anyway thanks for the replies and I hope it's brought some fond memories back for some.
I love the music threads because they tend to be civil and friendly (unlike the dreaded Brexit or even (heaven forfend) the football threads (ha ha). Look forward to the next one. I'm gonna try to find a really obscure one next time and see if anyone remembers them.

Hendrickxz · Post by **Hendrickxz** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:26 am

Soft Machine, or what passes for Soft Machine nowadays, were on at Hebdne Bridge Trades Club nobbut a few weeks ago.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:43 am

Hendrickxz wrote:Soft Machine, or what passes for Soft Machine nowadays, were on at Hebdne Bridge Trades Club nobbut a few weeks ago.

Really? I didn't know they were still around. So many line up changes they make Hawkwind look stable. Not sure how many of the originals are still alive. Ayers's gone, as has Daevid Allen (later of Gong fame). Hugh Hopper is no longer with us. Dean and Ratledge are now well into their 70's.

Just checked and the 4 now performing as Soft Machine are 4 members from the 70's (not bad really) but none of the originals.

Hendrickxz · Post by **Hendrickxz** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:52 am

They have been on at the Trades a couple of times over the last five or six years. A nighe outfit for a niche venue. They get some interesting stuff on for the size and location of the club.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:14 am

I've heard some good stuff about that place and it seems they get some half decent old bands on.

LS7 · Post by **LS7** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 8:04 pm

2 of the members left to form Creme Brûlée

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 8:15 pm

For me, The Trades and The Brudenell (Leeds) are the best music venues in the north. Both are 'social clubs' and are owned by their members.

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:09 pm

[quote="houseboy"] However the best I saw them was in Manchester (sadly I can't remember which theatre but it might have been the Opera House) on the Cunning Stunts tour. The live rendition of the Dabsong Conshirtoe is still one of the most exciting and moving performances I have ever witnessed.

Hi Houseboy. I've been in touch with a mate who I used to attend all the concerts with. Sad as it was, he's kept all the ticket stubs. Caravan played the Palace Theatre on 16.3.75 with Renaissance. That was pre Cunning Stunts as the album was released on 25.7.75. The gig to promote the CS tour was at Free Trade Hall on 2.12.75.

LeadBelly · Post by **LeadBelly** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:22 pm

Sad as it was, he's kept all the ticket stubs.

I started keeping tickets from gigs c 20 years ago (having not done so for 25+ years prior) but that's falling by the wayside now as more & more gigs are e-tickets only. Really regrettable IMO that you pay a few quid "booking fee" to be sent an e-ticket which you have to run off at your own cost/keep on your phone.
It's good about once per year to have a nostalgia hour and look through your old gig/sports tickets and recall some of the events you enjoyed. I sometimes come across tickets for events (gigs or footy/crkt/rugby games) that I have nil recollection of though!

longhair · Post by **longhair** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:17 am

Off topic but off to see gong in may in leeds and the steve hillage band playing 70s albums in manchester in june

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 9:47 am

[quote="ashtonlongsider"][/quote]
Now that is interesting. I was definitely at the Palace one as I saw Renaissance supporting them (I remember Annie Haslam making a joke about coming from Notlob). I was probably at the FTH as well as I saw them about 4 times and 3 times in fairly quick succession. Now I am wondering if they previewed Dabsong at the Palace. The reason I ask is that I saw loads of gigs at the FTH and I am pretty certain it wasn't there I saw them perform that. However time clouds things over and I could easily be wrong.
As an aside I was so impressed with Renaissance that night I went and bought their album they were promoting at the time (A Turn of the Cards). Fabulous album and Annie has such a greast voice. It was around that time they had a hit single with Northern Lights I think.
As far a the 'sad' thing about the ticket stubs, I still have a load of concert programmes stashed in the loft somewhere, which inlcude (among many) Pink Floyd at Earls Court - circa '74, Lynrd Skynrd at the FTH, Floyd at Knebworth and the Kinks at Salford Uni (I think).

Thanks for that info though, it brings fond memories back.
Oh FFS I wish I was young again.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:05 am

longhair wrote:Off topic but off to see gong in may in leeds and the steve hillage band playing 70s albums in manchester in june

Yeah yeah yeah. Saw Gong loads of times back in the Radio Gnome Trilogy days, Daevid Allen (actually not far off topic as he was connected with the Canterbury scene via early Soft Machine) was WEIRD but possibly a minor genius. Radio Gnome was, if you took the right substances, a sort of religion to us at the time and Steve 'Hillside Village' was god. The characters on the albums came alive on stage and the band all had weird nicknames (Hi T Moonweed, Babyloni Yoni, Bloomdido Bad de Grass etc.). The final album in the trilogy, You, was just sublime. The last time I saw them was after they brought out Shamal, a jazz rock album without Steve Hillage or Daevid Allen, which was good but not really Gong.

Music Thread.....Caravan

Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan

Re: Music Thread.....Caravan