A hunting we shall go (Caravan) (LP 2159 - 2162)

Caravan  For Girls Who Grow Plump In the Night (CD, Decca Records, 1973) ****  

Caravan  Live at The Fairfield Halls, 1974 (CD, Decca Records, 2002) ****  

Caravan  Cunning Stunts (CD, Decca Records, 1973) ****  

Caravan  All Over You...Too (CD, HGT Records, 1999) ***  

Genre: Prog rock

Places I remember: Fopp; HMV; Fives

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: For Richard (Live at The Fairfield Halls, 1974)

Gear costume: L'Auberge Du Sanglier/ A Hunting We Shall Go/ Pengota/ Backwards/ A Hunting We Shall Go (reprise) (For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night); Stuck In A Hole (Cunning Stunts)

Active compensatory factors: Now this is what a true progressive rock band should sound like!

That the band whose first album was in 1969 is still going strong in the 2020's and that the quality is still first class is quite extraordinary. But that's the case for Caravan. True legends.

These albums from their seventies to nineties are stunning in their consistency.

Plump in the Night and Cunning Stunts show the band exploring new sounds with purpose. This is via delivering short concise songs or lengthy song suites with wig outs aplenty (as featured above).

The live album and bonus tracks on these CDs show a band firing on all cylinders in that context. The live versions of For Richard are unbelievably intense, but they can change mood completely and continue the sound from In The Land Of Grey and Pink (that 5 star album was reviewed earlier).

All Over You...Too is a compilation of the nineties version of Caravan reworking some favourites to excellent effect.

Where do they all belong? 2021's effort - It's None Of Your Business was reviewed here.