Caravan - a short biography

Caravan, a short biography

Caravan was formed in Canterbury, England in 1968 by Pye Hastings (guitar/ vocals), Dave Sinclair (keyboards), Richard Sinclair (bass/vocals) and Richard Coughlan (drums).

The four had previously played at various times with a local band, The Wilde Flowers, which also featured Kevin Ayers and future Soft Machine members Robert Wyatt and Hugh Hopper.

Caravan was the first UK act to sign with American label MGM/ Verve and their debut album, entitled ‘Caravan’ was released late in 1968. It was favourably received by the critics and the debut single, Place of My Own was described as having a ‘gripping compulsion’ with ‘scintillating organ work’. John Peel played the album regularly on his radio show ‘Top Gear’.

Caravan have produced 15 studio albums including ‘In the Land of Grey and Pink’ , ‘For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night’ , possibly the two most famous Caravan albums, including a PW personal favourite; Blind Dogs at St. Dunstans’ and the recent (2021) critically acclaimed ‘It’s None of Your Business’.

Caravan was an integral part of the early Canterbury progressive rock scene and are famous for epic tracks such as ‘For Richard’ (If I Could Do It All Over Again), ‘Golf Girl’, ‘Winter Wine’ and ‘Nine ft Underground’. (In the Land of Grey & Pink). ‘The Love In Your Eye’ (Waterloo Lily), ‘Memory Lain Hugh’ , Head loss’ (For Girls). The band mix viola , keyboards (and sax) with rock and (on Waterloo Lily in particular) jazz riffs with a heady mix of typically British humour.

Caravan have always been and continue to be an exciting live act, I’ve seen the band numerous times over the years, starting with a free gig in Hyde Park in 1975 where they were on the same bill as Don McLean.

PW (with help from) The Official Caravan website - Caravan-Info.co.uk

STUDIO ALBUMS

· Caravan (1969)

· If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You (1970)

· In the Land of Grey and Pink (1971)

· Waterloo Lily (1972)

· For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night (1973)

· Cunning Stunts (1975)

· Blind Dog at St. Dunstans (1976)

· Better by Far (1977)

· The Album (1980)

· Back to Front (1982)

· Cool Water (1994)

· The Battle of Hastings (1995)

· The Unauthorized Breakfast Item (2003)

· Paradise Filter (2013)

· It’s None of Your Business (2021)