Search - 25 Years of Experimental Studi :: The Album

Caravan's last decent studio album

kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 01/04/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Released in 1980, this was Caravan's nineth studio album. It was 43 minutes long. The original CD was released in 1990 and the sound quality was fair, with poor dynamic range. So, a remastered version would be welcomed. The LP and original CD were never released in the US.



This is a remastered version, with 2 additional tracks. Total time is now up to 53 minutes. If also has a different cover from the LP and original CD. I have to admit that I only have the original version, so I haven't heard this new version and can't comment on the sound quality and bonus tracks.



Coming out in 1980, this was released when progressive rock was all but dead. Like most albums released by progressive rock groups at the time, there is very little of the progressive elements left in the songs.



But, the songs are still fairly good, for the most part. There are some nice songs with a funky/raggae twing (Clear Blue Sky and Bright Shiny Day). And there is slightly soulful Piano Player, which is one of the better pure songs ever done by Caravan.



The group at this time is Pye Hastings, David Sinclair, Geof Richardson, Richard Coughlan and some bass player.



As will be the case in the future, all the good songs were written by Sinclair or Richardson and the bad ones come from Hastings. The only exception is Heartbreaker, which is one of the last very good songs Hastings has wrote.



Note that some songs on this album and the next album, Back to Front were combined and released as Canterbury Collection."