jueves, 12 de mayo de 2022

1973: Caravan y las chicas que crecen rollizas por la noche

Contenido de esta entrada:

Introducción

Historia y grabación

Lanzamiento y recepción

Enlaces, letras y opinión personal


Anterior artículo de Caravan: 1972: Caravan en la taberna de Waterloo Lily

Siguiente artículo de Caravan: 1974: Caravan y la New Symphonia Orchestra




Enlaces interesantes sobre Caravan:


 



En un anterior artículo comentamos el cuarto álbum Waterloo Lily de la banda de rock progresivo Caravan de la zona de Canterbury. Tras la marcha de David Sinclair a Matching Mole y su sustitución por el tecladista Steve Miller (excomponente de Delivery), la banda quedó formada por Steve Miller, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings y Richard Coughlan

Portada del álbum Waterloo Lily

En este artículo continuamos su historia hasta la publicación de su quinto álbum For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night publicado en 1973.


Historia y grabación

Tras el lanzamiento del álbum Waterloo Lily en mayo de 1972 las diferencias musicales habían llegado a un punto crítico, y después de un concierto con Genesis en julio, la banda se separó. Richard Sinclair dijo más tarde: "No funcionó del todo con Steve en la banda porque la música comenzó a ser un poco demasiado suelta para la forma en que Pye y Richard Coughlan tocaban"



Hastings y Coughlan decidieron continuar como Caravan, y el dúo reclutó al violista Geoffrey Richardson, al bajista Stu Evans y al tecladista Derek Austin y realizó una extensa gira. Esta formación no lanzó ninguna grabación. Posteriormente, en 1973 Evans fuera reemplazado por John G. Perry y Dave Sinclair se reincorporó al grupo.

John G. Perry

Con la banda constituida en un quinteto, entraron a grabar el que sería su siguiente álbum en abril de 1973. La grabación tuvo lugar en los Tolling Park Studios con los ingenieros Kevin Fuller y Derek Varnals y en los Chipping Norton Recording Studios con el ingeniero David Grinsted. En los DECCA Studios, West Hampstead, Londres se hicieron unas sobregrabaciones por el ingeniero John Burns asistido por Lindsay Kidd. La remezcla fue hecha en los Tollington Park Studios por el ingeniero Kevin Fuller asistido por David Baker y Alan Leeming y en los AIR studios por el ingeniero John Punter y asistido por Sean Milligan.

Derek Varnals

La introducción del violista Geoff Richardson en la formación fue el catalizador final y más grande en la revolución musical del grupo y con el paso de los años será una de las figuras claves del grupo.

Geoff Richardson

El álbum destaca el genio de composición siempre inspirador de Pye Hastings, un hombre con gran talento para la melodía y letras subidas de tono y está en uno de sus mejores momentos en este disco.


Jimmy Hastings repitió su papel para los arreglos orquestales junto con Martyn Ford y John Bell, mientras que Mike Ratledge de Soft Machine contribuyó con una pieza instrumental, "Backwards" como parte del popurrí del último corte.

Lanzamiento y recepción

El álbum fue lanzado el 5 de octubre de 1973 en el Reino Unido con Deram (el sello de Decca especializado en rock progresivo). No llegó a las listas.

La portada del disco y fotografía es de Mark Lawrence. La portada tuvo su polémica al mostrar una mujer embarazada en la cama. 

Fotografía completa de la portada


El álbum se suministró en una carpeta desplegable. 

Interior de la carpeta del álbum

El álbum se considera una de sus obras más logradas y fue un éxito de crítica. Demostró que el grupo podía sobrevivir a la pérdida del co-vocalista Richard Sinclair

El álbum se publicó en España en 1974 con portada y título diferente (posiblemente problemas con la censura). Un sencillo se publicó también allí usando la misma portada con el tema Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss dividido entre las dos caras del sencillo.

Edición del álbum en España en 1974

Fue publicado en CD por primera vez en 1990. 

El CD fue remasterizado en 2001, con la adición de bonus tracks.


La banda tocó los temas del álbum en directo.


Para el programa BBC In Concert / Live At The Paris Theatre, Londres en 1973


Del álbum Live At The Fairfield Halls / 1974:






Enlaces, letras y opinión personal


Enlace a la lista de reproducción del álbum: Caravan, For girls who grow plump in the night 

Lista de temas

Cara A

1. "Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss" 9:19

2. "Hoedown" 3:20

3. "Surprise, Surprise" 4:07

4. "C'thlu Thlu" 6:15


Cara B

5. "The Dog, The Dog, He's at It Again" 5:58

6. "Be All Right / Chance of a Lifetime" 6:37

7. "L'Auberge du Sanglier / A Hunting We Shall Go / Pengola / Backwards" / A Hunting We Shall Go (reprise)"




CARA 1

A1 Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss

Enlaces







Letras

[Memory Lain, Hugh]

If you get on the road that takes you back
There's a lot of things you ought to know
You're going where I want to be
If you get on the road you've got to take me

Can you see I don't care
For all those things and fancy strings
I just want the chance to try
And find me

I stopped having dreams some time ago
So now it seems I have to show
If there's a chance I've got to find me
Somewhere there's someone who can see

A broken-winged dove
Is all he has to show for love
Oh please help me please
To find me

[Headloss]

Has anybody seen I've got me a dream
Gonna be happy, yeah
Never knew that light could seem so bright
Couldn't you tell me, no?

Imagine me today
Thought they'd come to take me away, me away?
After all you choose, you've got win or lose
Whether to find me

I've got my pipe and I've got my song
And I've got love to keep me happy
(He's got love)
It's no surprise I've got bleary eyes
But it's all that I have and it's all that I want

Many years ago, I thought whenever it shows
Gonna be ready, yeah
Suddenly within my head beginnin' to spin
Gave it upon me

Had to be that way
At least that's what they taught me to say, me to say
If ever I get out, I'm gonna be makin' a shout
Gonna be happy

I've got my coat and I've got my comb
I'll be far gone, come tomorrow
(He'll be far away)
The moon comes out, I'll try to stare him out
And I'll dance to the light if he's chasing me home

I've got my pipe and I've got my song
And I've got love to keep me happy
(He's got love)
It's no surprise I've got bleary eyes
But it's all that I have and it's all that I want

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Canción rockera con cambios de ritmo propios del rock progresivo.

Videos





A2 Hoedown

Enlaces





Letras

Got a gig I'd like you to know, we're leaving here tonight
We're going just to sing our song and everything's all right
And we'll be missing you but that's for me to care
Gotta go, better tell you now, 'cause something's in the air
Don't care if I do it or die, that don't mean a thing
Yes indeed that's all we need – so everybody, sing!

Count it out, but into yourself, love that's the thing
It's there just if you don't know, it makes your body sing
I'm talkin' about me, myself, and all the world around
Wanna see you take you by the hand and do some mess around
Don't have to know, don't have to know, lovin' takes you back
Gets about and I wanna shout, so everybody sing!

We'll get you, we'll get you everyday
Get you, we'll get you every way
Get you, when night-time comes along
Get you, we'll get you with our song

Mi opinión sobre la canción: 

Tema alegre con buen ritmo.



A3 Surprise, Surprise

Enlaces





Letras

After all this time it's got no better
And the words just seem to pass me by
So I think of you in the morning
Singing a song to fill my eyes

Here I go
Can you sing along?

Stopped to say hello
Something overcame me
Didn't want to go and pass you by
Looked at me so fair
Saw the sun upon you
Blow and slip through your hands

Summer stole away
All the breath within me
Leavin' me gaspin' for some air
Have so much to say
Hardly seem to matter
You were more than some one day

Didn't we believe we were so?
Didn't we believe we were something?
Didn't we believe we were more?
So much more than words can say
Suddenly sunshine, sudden love

When the years are gone
And we live on memories
Will you still remember me that way?
Like I do you too
No matter where I could be
Something's going to steal away

Didn't we believe we were so?
Didn't we believe we were something?
Didn't we believe we were more?
So much more than I don't know
Suddenly sunshine, sudden love

Didn't want to go
Didn't want to leave you
Something pulling me back hurt me so
Wakin' up I found feet upon the pillow
Head and shoulders on the ground

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Canción más lenta con ciertos aires folk.




A4 C'thlu Thlu

Enlaces






Letras

From the forest down below
Came a voice that cried "no"
Something seemed nearly dead
Making me feel so cold
Even the trees seemed to fear
There was something unreal
Couldn't see very far
And the sky had gone dark

So we ran, yeah, as fast as we can
Only thought to get away
On and on we didn't know where we'd gone
If it was night or day
"Come back", I can hear a voice call
I can feel it pulling me down
In my head it felt like something had said
You better slow down
But I tried so hard not to make a sound
Feeling better I turned round
And coming up behind me I could see...

Like shadows in the trees
They came creeping unknown
Keeping close through the ground
I can feel them tramp on
Saw the music they knew
We were somewhere close by
They began to crowd us in
Sinkin' deeper in pain


Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Extraña pero excelente canción



CARA 2


B1 The Dog, The Dog, He's at It Again
Enlaces






Letras

Lonely girl, would you like a sweet to eat?
I've got someone that I'd like you to hold
And my brother will tell you that it's good for your cold
So there, surely there is nothing wrong
Take my hand and we'll try to make a stand
For all censorship, decency, all night long

You're naive if you really do believe
That the world is so full of sin
Never look back on the things that you lack
When you're in
My mother said that I should stay out of bed
But I know that I like it in there
Legs and thighs, hellos and goodbyes
It's all there
Oh...
Oh...
Oh my, oh

Suck a sugar dandy rock and roll
Lick a licking lozenge cures the soul

Here is my cure for colds, and here is my cure for measles
When you've tried those if you've invented your toes
Well you're surely in luck, you'll get a stunning good show
So if you come with me, we'll try to clean the inside out
This filthy old world is such a beautiful girl
And you must have a sweet, I'm sure it's good for your feet

You're naive if you really do believe
That the world is so full of sin
Never look back on the things that you lack
When you're in
My mother said that I should stay out of bed
But I know that I like it in there
Legs and thighs, hellos and goodbyes
It's all there
Oh...

Medicine gone
It's coming on strong
It's coming on and on and on and on
Medicine gone
It's coming on strong
It's coming on and on and on and on
Oh...
Oh my, oh

Lonely girl, would you like a sweet to eat?
I've got someone that I'd like you to hold
And my brother will tell you that it's good for your cold
So there, surely there is nothing wrong
Take my hand and we'll try to make a stand
For all censorship, decency, all night long

You're naive if you really do believe
That the world is so full of sin
Never look back on the things that you lack
When you're in
My mother said that I should stay out of bed
But I know that I like it in there
Legs and thighs, hellos and goodbyes
It's all there
Oh
Medicine gone
It's coming on strong
It's coming on and on and on and on
Medicine gone
It's coming on strong
It's coming on and on and on and on

Mi opinión sobre la canción:

Canción simpática con melodía pegadiza.

Videos

Video del programa Whistle Test de la BBC:



En la sala Bataclan de Paris para el programa Pop 2 de la televisión francesa en diciembre de 1973:


B2 Be All Right / Chance of a Lifetime

Enlaces

Be Alright / Chance Of A Lifetime

CARAVAN - Be All Right / Chance Of A Lifetime

Caravan - Be alright / Chance of a lifetime

Caravan - Be All Right / Chance of a Lifetime

Letras

Think of the days, in so many ways we used to talk
And how we would love to sing
Would you think twice of all the things nice your memory holds
And that's what your love could bring
But it's all right now, it's all right now

Don't think of me as something to see
I only have sunshine and love to bring

Somehow I feel there's something unreal
About the way money means everything
That'll be the fall of all of the worlds you love
Mummy, I said that thing
But it's all right now, be all right now

Don't think of me as something to see
I only have sunshine and love to bring

Think of the days in so many ways we used to talk
And how we would love to sing
Would you think of twice of all the things nice your memory holds
And that's what your love could bring
But it's all right now, it's all right now

[Chance of a Lifetime]

Think on the sunshine
Don't throw away
Chance of a lifetime to come
In a world that's not grey
You'll see there's diamonds in the skies
And a rainbow 'round your shoulder for all time
Think on the sunshine in your mind

Time has no meaning
There's a year in a day
And all the people you see
Will smile if you stay
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you
Worry and you'd all be in there trying too
See, there's no love lost in your mind

Look for the sunrise
It will shine upon you
It's always there in your mind
I'm searching there too
Don't live the life they want you to
Figure your own and then go see it through
Mind it's your mind, it's your mind


Mi opinión sobre la canción:

La primera parte es rockera con un buen solo de guitarra, la segunda es una bonita balada con un buen solo de saxo


B3 L'Auberge du Sanglier / A Hunting We Shall Go / Pengola / Backwards / A Hunting We Shall Go (reprise)

Enlaces





Letras

Instrumental




Mi opinión personal sobre el álbum:

Se alejan del jazz, siendo más rockeros, aunque mantiene su parte melódica al estilo Canterbury.

Créditos

Pye Hastings – Voz y guitarras.

Geoff Richardson – Viola

David Sinclair  – órgano, piano, piano eléctrico, sintetitzador Davoli, sintetizador A.R.P.

Richard Coughlan - batería, percusión

John G. Perry – bajo eléctrico, voz, percusión

Richard Coughlan

Personal adicional

Rupert Hine – sintetizador A.R.P.  (1, 2 & 6)

Frank Ricotti – congas (2, 3, 5, 7)

Jimmy Hastings – flauta (1)

Paul Buckmaster – chelo eléctrico (7)

Tony Coe – clarinete, saxo tenor (1)

Pete King – flauta, saxo alto (1)

Harry Klein – clarinete, saxo barítono (1)

Henry Lowther – trompeta (1)

Jill Pryor – voz (5)

Chris Pyne – trombón (1)

Barry Robinson – piccolo (1)

Tom Whittle – clarinete, saxo tenor (1)

Producción

David Hitchcock – producción

Arreglos orquestales de John Bell, Martyn Ford, Dirigida por Martyn Ford



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