Caravan - Live at The Fairfield Halls, 1974 (2002)

Artista: Caravan

Álbum: Live at The Fairfield Halls, 1974
Año: 2002
Género: Rock progresivo / Canterbury Scene
Duración: 1:19:53
Nacionalidad: Inglaterra

Lista de Temas:
1. Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss
2. Virgin on the Ridiculous
3. Be Alright / Chance of a Lifetime
4. The Love in Your Eye
5. L'Auberge du Sanglier / A Hunting We Shall Go / Pengola / Backwards / A Hunting We Shall Go (Reprise)
6. The Dog, the Dog, He's at It Again
7. For Richard
8. Hoedown

Alineación:
- Pye Hastings / Guitarra, voz
- David Sinclair / Órgano, minimoog
- Geoffrey Richardson / Viola eléctrica, guitarra, glockenspiel
- Mike Wedgwoog / Bajo, congas, voz
- Richard Coughlan / Batería

“Si te gusta Caravan, ni lo dudes. Busca esta sobresaliente grabación”
(Mellotron Storm, reviewer de Progarchives)

Live at The Fairfield Halls es un registro en vivo de la alineación de Caravan en lo que podría considerarse uno de sus mejores momentos, en la época de lanzamiento de Caravan & The New Symphonia (también en vivo pero con orquesta). Originalmente el disco aparece como The Best of Caravan Live, en 1980, pero su relanzamiento remasterizado de 2002, que es el comentamos aquí, hace honor al lugar donde se registraron (impecablemente, vale decir) los temas que conforman este doble LP, el 1° de septiembre de 1974.

El disco incluye materiales que habían sido interpretados y grabados en Caravan & The New Symphonia, además de varios temas de For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, y el tema que se convertiría en cerrador de sus conciertos en adelante, “For Richard”, aparecido originalmente en If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You. Dado que ya se han comentado estos discos en el blog cabezón, no los voy a entretener más con floro (luego los anónimos se ofenden por tener que escrolear tanto para llegar al link ¡já!), solamente insistir en que se trata de un estupendo registro en vivo de la banda, que nos la presenta tal como debe haberse sentido estar en un concierto de Caravan a mediados de los 70, un momento estelar. La banda ya había pasado por el impasse de la partida de Dave Sinclair, que se había ido a tocar con el genio Robert Wyatt en lo que sería Matching Mole y por el interludio de Waterloo Lily, que no alcanzó a consolidarse y terminó con la salida del tecladista que sustituyó a D. Sinclair, Steve Miller, y de uno de los miembros fundadores, Richard Sinclair. Bajo el liderazgo de Pye Hastings la banda tuvo diversos cambios de integrantes durante 1973 hasta que Dave Sinclair regresó después de un tiempo con Hatfield And The North, y se incorporó Mike Wedgwood (quien venía de tocar con Curved Air, una banda a la que habría que dedicarle un festival cabezón) y el virtuoso violista Geoff Richardson, cuyo instrumento destaca en el solo de con el que se sustituye el saxo de Jimmy Hastings que originalmente sonaba en “For Richard”, convirtiendo esta versión en un tema casi totalmente nuevo comparado con el original.

Las notas del disco explican que durante esa época (1973-1974) Caravan se quejaba de que su manager Terry King no estaba consiguiendo buenos resultados, así que aunque aún se encotraban bajo contrato con él, buscaron a Miles Copeland, manager de bandas exitosas como Wishbone Ash, Renaissance y Curved Air, quien efectivamente logró agilizar muchas cosas. Mientras tanto, los conciertos que King había preparado en Inglaterra se fueron suspendiendo, quedando solo dos fechas bajo su administración; una de ellas es la que aquí presentamos en The Fairfield Halls, la cual se grabó pensando en proveer de material a las estaciones de radio de Norteamérica para la gira que pronto realizarían por Canadá y los EEUU gracias a Copeland. En 1976, de las latas de esa grabación se eligió “For Richard” para la compilación Canterbury Tales, y en 1980, Terry King usó el material del concierto para sacar la versión The Best of Caravan Live en Francia, Alemania y Benelux, donde circuló durante tres años y dejó de estar disponible.

La edición europea de The Best of Caravan Live en 1980 es medio piratoide; su existencia se debe a la letra pequeña de un contrato según el cual King conservaría el manejo de los derechos de Caravan en esos cinco países europeos (Francia, Alemania, Bélgica, Luxemburgo y Holanda) aun después de que dejara de representar a la banda. Pero una carátula poco provocadora y el cliché “lo mejor de” como título hicieron que pasara desapercibida para los fans de Caravan, hasta que se empezó a correr la voz de que se trataba de un estupendo concierto en vivo en un momento central de la banda y se convirtió en uno de esos discos buscadísimos e inencontrables.

Las cintas del concierto en Fairfield Halls aparecieron en el proceso de reedición y remasterización digital de la discografía de Caravan en 2001 y el disco es relanzado, completo (The Best... no lo presentaba completo), con un bonito dibujo de carátula que recupera un elemento visual que ya estaba ahí desde 1968 en el disco debut, el desierto y el camello (cualquier parentesco con Camel NO es mera coincidencia).

En Allmusic, sobre The Best of Caravan Live:

By all outward appearances, The Best of Caravan Live seems to fit the description and packaging of a budget release. Indeed, this is what all but the most inquisitive enthusiasts must surely have thought when passing up the French two-LP set in 1980. In actuality, the music contained within these grooves is a performance by Caravan from the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, September 1, 1974. The band used this gig to prepare for their inaugural North American tour. Additionally, the performance was documented in hopes of using the best bits as a promotional tool for their upcoming shows. However, the tapes remained dormant for nearly two years. Then in 1976, the epic "For Richard" was judiciously extracted and subsequently included as an unreleased bonus on the double LP Canterbury Tales retrospective. In 1980, the European-only Kingdom label released an edited and reconfigured version under the name The Best of Caravan Live to little or no fanfare -- which is unfortunate, as it contains some of the band's finest live work. Enthusiasts who favor the edgier For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night era of Caravan should be additionally encouraged, as they re-create most of the album. The show commences with the "Memory Lain, Hugh" and "Headloss" suite. Caravan's performance here firmly ascends to levels that the studio version never achieves, as the band attacks and wraps themselves around the music. Especially notable is the contribution of Geoffrey Richardson's electric viola, as he deftly maneuvers between augmenting the band's vintage sound without ever overpowering it. Caravan's most recent release concurrent to this gig would have been the equally impressive concert set Caravan & the New Symphonia. "Virgin on the Ridiculous" was one of two tracks to make its debut on that release and is featured here in a striking quintet setting that equals the power of the New Symphonia version. This reading is leaner, revealing the band's conversational way of jamming and improvisation. It is no contest as to why "For Richard" was used on the Canterbury Tales compilation. The moody and emotive arrangement takes on several distinct personae throughout. In 2000, the entire "classic" Caravan catalog was researched, remastered, and subsequently reissued. During the exhaustive search that ensued, master tapes for this complete performance were recovered. After a thorough sonic scrubbing, Live at the Fairfield Halls, 1974 was released in March 2002. Not only is the sound undeniably better, but also the concert is re-created in its entirety -- restoring "Chance of a Lifetime" (which is listed on the LP jacket, however, edited from the disc) -- and placing "Hoedown" back in the encore spot.

Lindsay Planer

En Allmusic sobre Live at The Fairfield Halls:

Documented during an era in which U.K. performances by Caravan were few and far between, Live at the Fairfield Halls 1974 is a brilliantly remastered and likewise complete presentation of a concert held just prior to their inaugural tour of North America. Although Caravan had been subjected to several key personnel and managerial alterations in the preceding months, once they hit the stage they shed any behind-the-scenes acrimony and were transformed into a stunning synergy of progressive and symphonic rock. This warm-up show took place on September 1, 1974, at Fairfield Hall in Croydon and was initially documented as a possible promotional tool for their upcoming stateside appearances. The tapes remained on deposit, seemingly forgotten, at the Decca studios storage facility in West Hampstead, U.K., until the stunning 19-minute "For Richard" was resurrected for inclusion on the two-LP Canterbury Tales compilation in 1976. Then, in 1980, the French budget label Kingdom Records issued a double album under the title The Best of Caravan Live. All but the most keen-eyed and -eared enthusiasts passed the set up as a poorly assembled hits package. It was, however, this show sans "Chance of a Lifetime" -- which the band rarely ever performed. Then as mysteriously as it appeared it was deleted and remains out of print. On this release, the sound has been sonically scrubbed and is now presented faithful to the original presentation. Enthusiasts who prefer the band's lineup and subsequent edgier tone, circa For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, will be doubly thrilled with this release as they re-create most of the album. Additionally, they wrap themselves around the crushing "Memory Lain, Hugh"/"Headloss" opener. Perhaps foreshadowing how powerful this rendition will be, the evening's proceedings fade in to the hovering resonation of Geoffrey Richardson's electric viola as he fiddles underneath the band's introduction. Caravan's most recent release concurrent to this performance is the equally impressive Caravan & the New Symphonia. From that disc comes "Virgin on the Ridiculous" -- performed here by just the quintet. Although composed for the incorporation of an orchestra, this rendition is leaner and displays the band's almost conversational way of jamming and improvising. The transition into the "Be Alright Now" suite is seamless, and, under the thunder sticks of Richard Coughlan (drums), the band is propelled into one of the only live versions of the medley to have been professionally documented. With a well-deserved nod to the "New Symphonia," Live at the Fairfield Halls 1974 will perhaps become the quintessential live Caravan release. The sound is crisp and the stereo image is direct and very warm. This disc is highly recommended for newly found fans as well as the more seasoned consumer.

Linsday Planer 

En Progarchives sobre The Best of Caravan Live:

All the classic early Caravan tracks are present, including "For Richard", "The love in your eye", "A hunting we shall go" etc. The recording quality is good, and the performance accomplished. For me though, there's nothing here which isn't as good if not better on the original studio albums. If you're a fan of Caravan, this is probably worth having otherwise stick to the studio albums. For a unique Caravan live experience, I would recommend the "New Symphonia" album, which sees many of the tracks orchestrated.

While this specific album was only ever released in France, it has more recently been made generally available under the title "Live at Fairfield Halls", on which the tracks have been re-sequenced into the correct running order as originally performed, and the song "Chance of a lifetime" appended to "Be alright".

Easy Livin

En Progarchives sobre Live at The Fairfield Halls:

If LIVE AT FAIRFIELD HALLS had been freely and universally available long before 2002 (when it finally appeared complete, in CD-format) it would probably be considered one of the great 1970s live albums. It contains eighty minutes of music which sound less messy than YESSONGS, less sterile than SECONDS OUT and less routine than BURSTING OUT. But let me be careful. I don't want to annoy people. My main purpose is to explain to you how adorable this album sounds!

First of all, FAIRFIELD HALLS reveals Caravan at the absolute height of their powers. The album simply rocks, and the band play much better than on the NEW SINFONIA album. The concert recorded was apparently Mike Wedgwood's first appearance with Caravan, but you could never tell. Wedgwood's bass has a nice fat sound, his playing is incredibly tight, and with veteran Richard Coughlan he makes one hell of a rhythm section.

Secondly, although the album features neither the vaudeville "Golf Girl" nor the band's best-known epic, "Nine Feet Underground", most other essential Caravan tracks are here, and they receive performances of the utmost warmth. I'll be the first to admit that, as a vocalist, Pye Hastings has his limitations (his singing never goes beyond mezzoforte), but what a range of lovely melodies does he get to sing, and how well does his fragile voice suit them! "Virgin on the ridiculous", "The love in your eye" and, of course, the immortal "For Richard" all sound delightful.

Caravan is often considered the most conservative Canterbury band, because their compositions are more straightforward and less intricate than those by Hatfield and the North or Henry Cow. You will 'get' them from the first time, and they never grate on the ear. FAIRFIELD HALLS contains lots of solos, and while many of them are similarly structured (starting off peacefully and gradually getting more intense), none of them fail to satisfy. David Sinclair proves himself to be one of prog's greatest organists and Pye Hastings (whose clear sound I love) does a superb job on electric guitar. But the concert's true hero is undoubtedly viola player Geoffrey Richardson, who underscores each sung melody with the most delicate arrangements, and who also builds up one instrumental climax after another. I adore Richardson's warm timbre, and I'm convinced he is one of Caravan's greatest assets. The only thing I regret about FAIRFIELD HALLS is the lack of a guest spots for flautist Jimmy Hastings. With one or two appearances by him this album would have been perfect.

Fuxi

This album was recorded at Fairfields Halls in 1974 just before CARAVAN embarked on their first tour of the USA. "For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night" was their latest studio album at this time and 5 of the 8 tracks are from that record. Great cover art by the way. The electric viola of Geoff Richardson really adds to their sound here.This recording really surprised me, it's almost a five star for me. The only negative for me is the final track "Hoedown" which I was never a big fan of anyway, but during this version it's taken up more with audience participation then the music itself. The rest is about as perfect as it could be.

"Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss" is such an incredible track with the persistant bass, viola and charming vocals. Organ before 2 1/2 minutes with some excellent drumming 4 minutes in as viola rips it up. It changes after 5 minutes to the more uptempo second section. "Virgin On The Ridiculous" was never released on a studio album. Viola and drums to open before it settles with vocals. I can't stop smiling. It kicks in before 3 minutes with drums leading the way as viola and organ keep pace. "Be Alright / Chance Of A Lifetime" has a melancholic flavour to it and I love it. The guitar is great a minute in when the vocals stop. Vocals return as drums and viola continue to be relentless. The second part comes in before 2 1/2 minutes and is slower but still sad. Beautiful.

"Love In Your Eye" is from "Waterloo Lily". This is such a moving track. Nice rhythm 2 1/2 minutes in. Viola joins in then organ. Great section. Excellent guitar before 4 1/2 minutes. A calm with viola after 6 minutes. It picks back up with viola leading the way. The organ before 10 minutes is incredible.The guitar is back before 12 1/2 minutes ripping it up with the viola as the bass throbs. Just an amazing 15 1/2 minute version of this song. "L'Auberge Du Sanglier / A Hunting We Will Go / Pengola / Backwards / A Hunting We Shall Go (Reprise)" kicks in around a minute with viola and drums leading the way. The guitar before 2 1/2 minutes lights it up. It changes before 4 1/2 minutes as it calms right down and organ takes over. The tempo picks back up 8 minutes in to end it. I should mention that the original "Backwards" section was composed by Mike Ratledge, and the "Pengola" section was written by John G.Perry.

"The Dog, The Dog, He's At It Again" is opened with a funny story about how that song came about. This might be my favourite track on here. The vocals are so wimsical and the lyrics so humerous. The music is infectious too. Deep bass lines on this one. Organ before 2 1/2 minutes. Lots of viola throughout. "For Richard" was written by David Sinclair about his brother. It's from the "If I Could Do It All Over Again I'd Do It All Over You". This version is a monster at over 16 minutes in length ! The song starts to build after 4 minutes until we get this fantastic instrumental with killer guitar, viola and organ after 15 minutes.

If you like CARAVAN don't even hesitate, track this outstanding recording down.

Mellotron Storm