Caravan

Formed in Canterbury, England in 1968, Caravan evolved from the Wilde Flowers, a seminal local attraction which had included Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers and Hugh Hopper, each later of the Soft Machine. Pye Hastings (b. 21 January 1947, Tominavoulin, Bamffshire, Scotland; guitar/vocals), David Sinclair (b. 24 November 1947, Herne Bay, Kent, England; keyboards), Richard Sinclair (b. 6 June 1948, Canterbury, Kent, England; bass/vocals) and Richard Coughlan (b. 2 September 1947, Herne Bay, Kent, England; drums) forged the original Caravan line-up whose gift for melody and imaginative improvisation was made apparent on an excellent debut album. The haunting Place Of My Own and Love Song With Flute were particularly impressive and set the tone for much of the quartet's early work. IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I'D DO IT ALL OVER YOU continued their blend of wistfulness and the avant garde, but it was not until IN THE LAND OF GREY AND PINK that the quartet achieved due commercial plaudits. Its extended title track contrasted the quirky economy of Golf Girl and the set remains, for many, Caravan's finest album. Dave Sinclair then joined Matching Mole, but the unit was reshaped around Steve Miller, formerly of Delivery, for WATERLOO LILY. However, a period of frantic activity saw Richard Sinclair leave for Hatfield And The North, before the prodigal David returned to augment a line-up of Hastings, Coughlan, John Perry (b. 19 January 1947, Auburn, New York, USA; guitar) and Geoff Richardson (b. 15 July 1950, Hinckley, Leicestershire, England; viola/violin). An ensuing rigorous touring schedule was punctuated by FOR GIRLS WHO GO PLUMP IN THE NIGHT and SYMPHONIA, but further personnel changes undermined the group's early charm. Although CUNNING STUNTS provided a surprise US chart entry, Caravan were blighted by their concern for technical perfection. Although increasingly confined to a post-progressive rock backwater inhabited by fellow distinctly-English acts National Health and Anthony Phillips, the irrepressible Hastings continued to lead the group into the '80s. The original quartet was reunited for BACK TO FRONT, Caravan's last new recording to date, although live appearances have since been made. A flurry of activity in 1991 saw Caravan performing once more, with the addition of Richard Sinclair's amalgamation of former Caravan and Camel members undertaking a series of low-key London club dates under the name of Caravan Of Dreams.