Review Summary: One of the best examples of the Canterbury style.
“If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You” is the second studio album of Caravan that was released in 1970. The line up on the album is Pye Hastings, David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair and Richard Coughlan. The album had also the participation of Jimmy Hastings.
Caravan is an English progressive rock band from Canterbury formed in 1968. For many aficionados of the creative progressive rock music that surfaced in the heady days of the 70’s, the bands that surfaced from the English provincial city of Canterbury produced some of the best and most consistently interesting progressive rock music of that period. Of the all bands that emerged from the Canterbury scene, none was quite so original and as enduring as Caravan was. Caravan was founded by the former Wilde Flowers’ members David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings and Richard Coughlan in 1968. Caravan grew out of the breakup of the Wilde Flowers, a also Canterbury based group formed in 1964 as an R&B based outfit with a jazzy edge. The band was originally based in Whitstable, Kent, a place near Canterbury, but soon they relocated to London due to their musical career. They were a leading exponent of the Canterbury sound.
Caravan followed up their eponymous debut studio album with the cryptically titled “If I Could Do It All Over Again I'd Do It All Over You”. Caravan’s self-titled debut album had held some promise but was only their second work that brought a much more assured and distinctive sound. We can even say that it was only with their sophomore effort that Caravan founded their classic music style. “If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You” contains significant progressions over the first album. These include the intricacy with which compositions are sculpted around some of the finest instrumental improvisations in the British rock at the time. Indeed, this album perfectly bridges that awkward gap between psych and prog. This is really the album where the band had found their ultimate style. Jazz, pop, rock and classical music melted together in the usual prog way but far less pretentious than many other progressive rock bands. The classic Caravan sound was characterised by the vocals of Hastings and Richard, twisted and fuzzed organ, very typical for many of the Canterbury bands, and there was usually some wind instruments too, mostly flute and sax.
“If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You” has eight tracks. The title track is a fast humorous piece. Its charm is mainly due to the vocal contrast of the two singers. It’s a fine opener with an organ solo in the middle. “And I Wish I Were Stoned – Don’t Worry” starts off with the 60’s pop style, which was seen on Caravan’s debut. The first half is kept at a slow pace, then it gets faster and Hastings lays down a short solo. The guitar doesn’t play a big role in the earlier sound of the band. “As I Feel Die” is in the same vein of their previous album. It begins slowly and melancholic, then it goes abruptly into a brisk part with some beautiful organ work. “With An Ear To The Ground You Can Make It/Martinian/Only Cox/Reprise” is the first suite of the album. It shows a slightly jazzy style sometimes interspersed with folky accents. This should also characterize the two great following studio works, “In The Land Of Grey And Pink” and “Waterloo Lily”. The long flowing instrumental parts, where sometimes of organ, sometimes of saxophone or flute steps into the foreground, without pronounced solos. The singing is used sparingly but effectively. “Hello Hello” is a simple song but pretty good. It’s a perfect example of how Caravan was able to write shorter and accessible prog songs. “Asforteri 25” is a short sweet song with great vocals from Hastings and Richard. It leads the way for the next track. “Can’t Be Long Now/Françoise/For Richard/Warlock” is the second suite of the alnum. It’s not just the highlight of the album but one of their best pieces. After a gentle lyrical upbeat with a beautiful flute and nice vocals by Hastings, follows a long instrumental part. Organ, saxophone and flute entwine repetidly. Each instrument comes to the fore for a short time to be replaced by another. The bass guitar and drums provide a solid rhythmic foundation. “Limits” is a short lighter piece, in which Hastings once again shines on flute. It’s a nice and beautiful closing track to the album.
Conclusion: This is a great album, a true masterpiece. It shows the intricacy with which Caravan’s compositions are sculpted around some of the finest instrumental improvisations in British rock at the time, or arguably since. Caravan’s uncanny ability to create a montage that effortlessly maneuvers through acoustic folk and electric progressive rock is really impressive, indeed. It’s epic, but never pretentious, psychedelic but never adrift, jazzy but never impenetrable. It has a lightness of touch and a complex magic the band never repeated. This is the first great highlight in the creation of Caravan and for those who are interested in the Canterbury sound, it’s absolutely indispensable and for everyone else who loves great music, it’s strongly recommended, especially for the lovers of the classic prog scene of the early 70’s.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
