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:

 

Introducción

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.

Bonus Tracks

8 Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss (U.S. Mix) 9:18

9 No! ("Be Alright") / Waffle ("Chance Of A Lifetime") 5:10

10 He Who Smelt It Dealt It ("Memory Lain, Hugh") 4:43

11 Surprise, Surprise 3:15

12 Derek's Long Thing 11:00

La banda tocó los temas del álbum en directo.

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

Caravan - Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss (Live 1973)

Del álbum Live At The Fairfield Halls / 1974:

Caravan ► Memory Lain, Hugh & Headloss Live at the Fairfield Halls 1974 [HQ Audio]

Caravan- The Dog, The Dog, He's at it Again (Live from 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

CARAVAN:MEMORY LAIN-HUGH/HEADLOSS

Caravan - Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss

Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss

Caravan - Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss

CARAVAN-Memory Lane, Hugh/Headloss (vinyl version)

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

Caravan - Memory Lain Hugh / Headloss - Live in London 2003 - YouTube

Caravan - Memory Lain, Hugh/Headloss - Shepherds Bush Empire - 08/10/2011 - YouTube

A2 Hoedown

Enlaces

Caravan - Hoedown

Hoedown

Caravan - Hoedown

Hoedown

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

Caravan - Surprise, surprise

Surprise, Surprise

Caravan - Surprise, Surprise

Caravan - Surprise, Surprise

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

Caravan - C'Thlu Thlu

Caravan - C'thlu Thlu

C'thlu Thlu

Caravan - C'thlu Thlu

CARAVAN-C'thlu Thlu (vinyl)

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

Caravan - The Dog, The Dog, He's At It Again

The Dog, The Dog, He's At It Again

Caravan - The dog, the dog, he's at it again

Caravan - The Dog, The Dog, He's at It Again

The Dog, The Dog, He's At It Again

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:

Caravan - the dog the dog he's at it again Whistle Test - YouTube

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

Caravan • The Dog, The Dog He's At It Again [POP 2 - December, 1973] - YouTube

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

Caravan L'auberge du Sanglier A hunting we shall go Pengola Backwards A hunting we shall go reprise

L'Auberge Du Sanglier / A Hunting We Shall Go / Pengola / Backwards / A Hunting We Shall Go -...

Caravan - L' Auberge du Sanglier

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

Letras

Instrumental

Mi opinión sobre la canción: 

Bonita suite progresiva.

Videos

CARAVAN - L'AUBERGE DU SANGLIER (suite) - live, Bataclan, 1973 - "Remastered" by Rafael Progressivo - YouTube

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