Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Artists - A to K»Artists - C
    Artists - C Music - 1970s 3 Mins Read

    Caravan

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    One of the seminal British ‘head’ bands of the 70s, Caravan hailed from the Kent cathedral town of Canterbury and would eventually clock up a 35-year career.

    Guitarist/singer Pye Hastings met drummer Richard Coughlan in the mid-60s and both played in aspiring pop group, Wilde Flowers. The band was something of a training camp for Canterbury bands, and also included future Caravan members Richard Sinclair and his cousin, David, plus Soft Machine‘s Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers.

    Hastings, Coughlan and the Sinclairs formed Caravan Mk I in 1968, landing a deal with MGM’s Verve Forecast imprint after Island’s Chris Blackwell turned them down. Already penniless they wrote songs while living in tents pitched outside Graveney Village Hall.

    Meeting roughly where English psychedelic whimsy collided with the era’s more progressive tendencies – keyboard solos and tricky time signatures a speciality – Caravan were never a commercial threat.

    Yet, more playful than such contemporaries as Soft Machine they carved out their own niche, even notching up near-hit in 1970 with If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You.

    Caravan’s third album, In The Land Of Grey and Pink (1971), found a perfect balance between folksy blue-sky pop and their desire to strike out down twisty lanes of jazz improvisation.

    caravan_04Dave Sinclair’s Hammond and amplified Mellotrons were the star turn, especially on the freewheeling Winter Wine, but the medley Nine Feet Underground – all 22 minutes of it! – was British prog rock at its blowsy, summery zenith.

    By 1972 Hastings and Coughlan were the sole remaining survivors of the original line-up. They recruited new musicians and soldiered on under the aegis of manager Miles Copeland.

    For Girl’s Who Grow Plump In The Night (1973) showcased new viola player Geoff Richardson and found David Sinclair back on the payroll. The LP contained some of Hastings’ best work.

    In the same year, conductor Martyn Ford paired Caravan with the New Symphonia Orchestra for a live album. John Peel once ventured that merging rock and classical music was like “grafting a tomato onto the back of a hair brush”, but A Mirror For The Day and Virgin On The Ridiculous proved otherwise . . .

    In the end, too many line-up changes, poor management and – inevitably – punk pretty much sealed their fate. The members of Caravan disappeared to become pub landlords, haulage contractors, driving instructors and jobbing muso’s.

    35th Anniversary reunion concerts in 2003 proved they were not forgotten. Drummer and founding member Richard Coughlan passed away in 2014, aged 66.

    Pye Hastings 
    Vocals, guitar
    Jimmy Hastings 

    Flute
    David Sinclair 

    Keyboards
    Richard Sinclair 

    Bass, vocals
    Richard Coughlan 

    Drums
    Steve Miller 

    Keyboards
    Phil Miller 

    Guitar
    Lol Coxhill 

    Saxophone
    John Perry 

    Guitar
    Geoff Richardson 

    Viola, violin
    Rupert Hine 

    Synthesizer

    Related Posts

    • Jonesy
      Jonesy
      Canterbury brothers Trevor and John Evan-Jones started playing music together at a very early age, and when their family emigrated…
    • Skrewdriver
      Skrewdriver
      Skrewdriver were formed in Blackpool in 1976 by Ian Stuart Donaldson after he saw The Sex Pistols in Manchester. The band later…
    • Boys, The
      Boys, The
      Emerging alongside the first wave of British punk bands, The Boys were always more than three-chord wonders. The band was…
    • Spirit
      Spirit
      California's eclectic Spirit blended hard rock and jazz with elements of blues, country and folk to produce a series of…
    • Tuff Darts
      Tuff Darts
      Tuff Darts were among the first of the New York punk/new wave bands to make their mark. Playing tough-minded rock with…
    • Club Ska
      Club Ska
      Formed in January 1986 by four former members of The Allniters and led by Jamaican vocalist Patou ("Pat") Powell, Club…
    • Swell Maps
      Swell Maps
      Adrian Nicholas Godfrey was born on 19 July 1956. He and his younger brother Kevin began playing in a variety…
    • Doll By Doll
      Doll By Doll
      Even by the standards of London punk in the mid-70s, Doll By Doll were a uniquely abrasive band - feared, loathed,…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleCaptain Matchbox Whoopee Band
    Next Article Cardigans, The

    Comments are closed.

    A Labour of Love

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small – to help me with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Fritz The Cat (1972)
      There was a time when the very idea of sex and violence in a […]
    • Rookies, The
      1 9 7 2 – 1 9 7 6 (USA) 92 x episodes In contrast to […]
    • Comedy Playhouse
      1 9 6 1 – 1 9 7 5 (UK) 127 x 30 minute episodes This BBC […]
    • Ace
      If the real secret of success in Rock & Roll lies in […]
    • Goldie & The Gingerbreads
      Formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 1963, Goldie and The […]
    • Allisons, The
      Like The Walker Brothers (who were neither brothers nor Walkers) […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65006801 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Terry Hall: Coventry scooter ride-out pays tribute to singer

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Hundreds of people ride through Coventry on what would have been the singer's 64th birthday.
    4 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/the-whos-roger-daltrey-thinks-theres-no-point-releasing-an-album-18434779/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Who's Roger Daltrey thinks there's 'no point' releasing another album

    metro.co.uk

    Bad luck.
    5 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64963359 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Sir Michael Caine's first Rolls Royce sells at Duxford for £120K

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The Italian Job actor hired a chauffeur to drive the 1968 Silver Shadow, with its doors still intact.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64900348 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mystic Meg: Astrologer dies aged 80

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV star, whose real name was Margaret Lake, was a well-known TV figure in the 1990s.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Do you think she know it eas going to happen

    PlayTalk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay

    Talk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Guitarist Gary Rossington had survived a 1977 air crash that killed several of his bandmates.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    What a talented man. Lucky enough to see original band in concert. BRILLIANT.

    Rest in peace Dickie Davies. An absolute giant of British sports broadcasting.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dickie Davies, World of Sport presenter, dies at 94

    www.theguardian.com

    The broadcaster became something of a cult figure after fronting the ITV show for 20 years
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Yes, one of the great presenters. R.I.P.

    For fans of the radio series Round The Horne (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty close to the edge, even by modern standards. Bona! 

https://open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA

    For fans of the radio series "Round The Horne" (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty "close to the edge", even by modern standards. Bona!

    open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    For those interested, the complete “Jules and Sandy” is available on Audible…

    Bona to vada your jolly old eek. Lovely riah....

    RIP the beautiful Stella Stevens, who has died at the age of 84.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Stella Stevens: Nutty Professor and Poseidon Adventure star dies at 84

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The co-star of Elvis Presley also worked in TV on series such as Murder She Wrote and Magnum, P.I.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends. 

If they only knew what lay ahead . . .

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends.

    If they only knew what lay ahead . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 18
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    I always hated the Beatles, and as it happens I still do.

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Bubblegum music Canada Civil rights Cold War Computer games Crime Disc Jockeys Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Folk rock Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen James Bond JFK Kraütrock Labels Madchester Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave New Zealand Nixon Northern Soul NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Reggae Rolling Stones Scotland Ska Ska revival Skiffle Soul music Space Race Sport Surf music Video games Vietnam war
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.