To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the release of Caravan’s In The Land Of Grey And Pink, Universal have announced a special three-disc, deluxe edition of the album.
The original multi-track session and album masters have been revisited by Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree and Blackfield) who has prepared new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes.
Like Soft Machine, Caravan was born out of Canterbury based band Wilde Flowers, a group subject to many line-up changes. At various times the outfit featured Kevin Ayers (guitar), Richard Sinclair (guitar), Robert Wyatt (drums), and Hugh Hopper (bass). The band was augmented in 1965 when Hopper invited trainee dental technician and drummer Richard Coughlan to replace Robert Wyatt, who had chosen to sing rather than play drums. Shortly afterwards a new guitarist was also recruited, Pye Hastings, born in Banffshire, Scotland (but living in Canterbury since the age of twelve).
By 1968, changing their name to Caravan, the classic first line-up comprised Pye Hastings, guitar and vocals; Richard Sinclair, bass guitar and vocals; Dave Sinclair, keyboards; and Richard Coughlan, drums.
After signing to the American label Verve just before its UK demiise, Caravan soon found a new home, signing to Decca Records and recording their second album in September 1969. The irreverently titled If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You was released a year later.
By then, Caravan had already written the new material that would make up the bulk of their next vinyl outing. In the Land of Grey and Pink was the result - arguably, their finest hour.
In The Land Of Grey And Pink has remained on catalogue since its 1971 release and is Caravan’s biggest selling album. It’s splendid fusion of folk, jazz and rock - tinged with the band’s humour - created an album that is still highly regarded.
