Search - Caravan :: Live at the Fairfield Halls

Caravan In Its Heyday

Todd Hawley | San Francisco CA | 01/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Caravan was likely the most creative band to come out of the Canterbury UK music scene in the 1960s and 70's. I've been a fan of them for more years than I want to think about. I recently found out about this live performance and grabbed it when I had the chance. I was not disappointed, in fact I was amazed by this high energy performance. Recorded in 1974 (not too long after Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night was released), right before a North America tour, this concert captures Caravan at their best. From the opening notes of Memory Lain, Hugh/Headloss through Hoedown this CD is a work of joy. And the interaction between the band and the audience is also quite fun, especially on the encore song, Hoedown.



I'd forgotten for example what a great great song Virgin On the Ridiculous was (played it a handful of times when I was a college radio DJ long ago). And I discovered The Love In Your Eye (an awesome 15 minute long piece). The eight or nine minute A Hunting We Shall go (featuring 3 or 4 minutes of Dave Sinclair's haunting organ) is exquisite. And of course Caravan's opus on this live CD is For Richard. Another beautiful long song, of course Caravan was known for quite a few long songs in their heyday (Nine Feet Underground comes to mind among others).



This concert was originally recorded with the intent of providing US radio stations with live Caravan in conjunction with their 1974 US tour. However, only some of it saw the light of day until this 2002 release.



If you're a Caravan fan (or even if you're not and want to know what "all the fuss is about,"), buy this CD if you haven't already. It captures Caravan at their peak."