Caravan - In The Land Of Grey And Pink

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Deram
Catalog Number: 527001
Format: CD
Total Time: 73:29:00

Caravan's In The Land of Grey and Pink offers light whimsical songs, mixing a variety of instrumentation played with impressive skill. At the same time, the often goofy lyrical content gets to the point of annoying. Those who think progressive rock takes itself too seriously, need only listen to songs like the opening "Golf Girl" to change their opinions.

A keen sense of melody defines the tracks on the disc. The organ playing of Dave Sinclair really stands out. The prominent track for me is "Winter Wine", with its beautiful folk opening, then exploding into an organ driven, uptempo track. Sinclair's distinct English vocal delivery also adds a unique sound to the music. The arrangement is teriffic as everything falls into place, the varying tones used, along with the dynamic changes make this one to listen to over and over again.

A pop flavor runs through "Love To Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly)". The centerpiece of the disc is the 22-plus minute "Nine Feet Underground," where the band have pieced eight separate sections together to form one continuous track. Organ jams lead you into the piece. When the first set of vocals kick in, hints of Traffic are in the air. The track is mostly instrumental, and for me, I cannot get enough of Sinclair's Hammond. The bonus track "Aristocracy" sounds like a Grateful Dead jam, yes I said it. The clean guitar, and subtle lead playing at the end of the song just remind me of that sound. The sound of the disc (it is a Decca remaster) is very clean and clear. I cannot compare it to an original recording, but the sound quality is excellent.

This style will never be a favorite of mine, but Caravan really impresses on all levels. If finely crafted, tuneful, silly songs are your cup of tea, (then you'd better make it three) then join the Caravan.

Originally released in 1971 by Decca.

Tracklisting:
Golf Girl (5:05) / Winter Wine (7:46) / Love to Love You (and Tonight Pigs Will Fly) (3:06) / In The Land of Grey & Pink (4:51) / Nine Feet Underground (22:40) / BONUS TRACKS: I Don't Know Its Name (Alias The Word) (6:12) / Aristocracy (3:42) / It's Likely To Have A Name Next Week (7:48) / Group Girl (5:04) / Dissassociation - 100% Proof (8:35)

Musicians:
Richard Sinclair - bass, acoustic guitar, vocals
Pye Hastings - guitars, vocals
David Sinclair - organ, piano, Mellotron, harmony vocals
Richard Coughlin - drums, percussion
Jimmy Hastings - flute, sax, piccolo
Dave Grinstead - cannon, bell & wind

Discography:
Caravan (1968)
If I Could Do It Again (1970)
In The Land Of Grey And Pink (1971)
Waterloo Lily (1972)
For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night (1973)
Caravan And The New Symphonia (1974)
Live At Fairfields Hall (1974/2002)
Cunning Stunts (1975/2001)
Blind Dog At St Dunstan's (1976)
Better By Far (1977)
The Album (1980)
Show of Our Lives (1981/1998)
Back To Front (1982)
Radio 1 - Live in Concert BBC 1975 (1991)
Live 1990 (1992)
Cool Water (1994)
Battle Of Hastings (1995)
All Over You (1996)
Live: Canterbury Comes To London (1997)
Live In Holland: Back On The Tracks (1998)
Songs For Oblivion Fisherman (1998)
Ether Way (live) (1998)
Surprise Supplies (1999)
All Over You Too (1999)
Headloss (1999)
The HTD Years (2000)
Where But For Caravan Would I? (2000)
Live Tour 1975 (2003) (recorded 12/1975)
The Unauthorised Breakfast Item (2003)
Green Bottles For Marjorie (2004) (recorded 1968-1972)
Here I Am (2006)
Show Of Our Lives: Caravan At The BBC 1968-1975 (2007)
Hunting We Shall Go: Live In 1974 (2009)
The World Is Yours: The Anthology 1968-1976 (2010)
Live At Shepherds Bush Empire (2011)
Recorded Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios, London (CD/DVD) (2012)
Paradise Filter (2013)
The Back Catalogue Songs (2013)
The Decca Years (An Anthology) 1970-1974 (2019)

Live At RoSfest (DVD) (2014)

Genre: Canterbury

Origin UK

Added: May 18th 2002
Reviewer: Eric Porter

Artist website: www.caravan-info.co.uk
Hits: 2801
Language: english