Although they are intricately entwined into the DNA of that sub-genre of progressive music known as the Canterbury scene, there’s nevertheless always been something of the “bridesmaid but never the bride” syndrome about Caravan.
Quite why this should be is slightly baffling given that their sound has always been on the light and accessible end of the progressive rock spectrum. Their straightforward songs and bright, unfussy noodling was the sunshine to the oft-dark complexities of their close Canterbury cousins, Soft Machine.
Whereas the Softs veered far from their shared pop roots, ploughing an acerbic, often ground-breaking furrow into improvisation, jazz-rock fusion and beyond, Caravan pretty much bumbled along on their old straight track in a benign, slightly sleepy but agreeable manner.
This handsomely appointed four-CD box set, whilst being skimpy on unreleased or rare material (only boasting a couple of previously-unreleased extras), offers a pleasantly winding stroll through their classic period, from which 1971’s In The Land of Grey and Pink remains their most enduring work.
All but one of its original studio tracks are presented here; filled with flutes, fuzz-pedalled organ and dreamy vocals about girls, freedom, and finding yourself, these agreeable, sun-dappled pastoral tunes are as English as Elgar.
Gracefully structured long-form suites were essential ingredients in the Caravan brew, but whilst Nine Feet Underground (1971), Nothing At All (1972) Memory Lain (1973) and several other notable epics all clocked up the minutes, these were genteel, subtle undertakings rather than vulgar exhibitions of technique.
Though they recruited a dedicated following it was never wide or deep enough to deliver them real commercial success. It always seemed that Caravan were only ever one album away cracking the market, but much to the frustration of the band and its supporters that happy event always eluded them.
At a time when bands like ELP seemed hell-bent on world domination via bombastic rock symphonics, Caravan generally opted for a kinder, whimsical non-competitive mode of expression when soloing, and perhaps it was precisely the lack of extrovert showmanship that prevented them from attracting wider attention.
Yet, as this set demonstrates, given that they sound a good deal less-arch and cliche-free than many of their more illustrious and feted contemporaries, this was probably a good thing. A worthy introduction to a likeable but often unfairly neglected English institution.




Tracklist:



01 Place Of My Own
02 Magic Man
03 Love Song With Flute
04 Grandma's Lawn
05 Cecil Rons
06 Where But For Caravan Would I?
07 A Day In The Life Of Maurice Haylett
08 If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You
09 Clipping The Eighth ('Hello, Hello') (Demo )
10 And I Wish I Were Stoned / Don't Worry
11 Asforteri
12 Can't Be Long Now - Francoise - For Richard - Warlock
13 With An Ear To The Ground You Can Make It - Martinian - Only Cox - Reprise



01 Golf Girl
02 In The Land Of Grey And Pink
03 Nine Feet Underground
04 Winter Wine
05 I Don't Know It's Name (Alias 'The Word')
06 Love To Love You
07 Feelin', Reelin', Squealin'
08 The Love In Your Eye (Previously Unreleased)
09 The World Is Yours
10 Aristocracy



01 Waterloo Lily
02 Any Advance On Carpet? (Incorporating 'Bossa Nochance') (Previously Unreleased)
03 C'Thlu Thulu
04 Memory Lain Hugh - Headloss
05 The Dog, The Dog, He's At It Again
06 L'Auberge Du Sanglier - A Hunting We Shall Go
07 A Mirror For The Day
08 For Richard
09 Virgin On The Ridiculous



01 Be Alright - Chance Of A Lifetime
02 The Show Of Our Lives
03 Keeping Back My Love
04 No Backstage Pass
05 Stuck In A Hole
06 The Love In Your Eye
07 The Dabsong Conshirtoe
08 Here Am I
09 A Very Smell, Grubby Oik - Bobbing Wide
10 All The Way