CARAVAN "IF I COULD DO IT AGAIN.." LP DECCA 1970 EX/EX

	£		68
	$		90

Artist: Caravan

Title: If I could do it all over again, I’d do it all over you

Label / Cat: Decca SKL 5052 ( UK Original) Stereo

Year: 1970

Vinyl Condition: EX+

Sleeve Condition: EX

Listed here is a album by Caravan titled If I could do it all over again, I’d do it all over you.  This is a UK 1st Pressing on Decca SKL-R 5052.  

Matrix numbers are;  ZAL-9752-P-2W   /    ZAL-9753-P-4W

Both sides of the album are in EX+ condition.  Very minor/light background noise/static, but this is only noticeable between the tracks and on the run-ins, and even then its very hard to hear.  NO scratches or hairline scratches.  NO skips, Jumps or Pops.    

The laminated sleeve is in EX- condition.  There is NO ring wear, NO marks, NO pen names, NO spine wear, NO edge wear, NO creasing. The only fault if that there is a slight crease at the top right of front sleeve (see photo). 

Original Inner - Good condition.  Discoloured, with corner creases and tear at the top. Still has original poly inner

Labels in EX+ condition, NO spindle marks.

Studio Album, released in 1970

Track Listings

1. If I could do it all over again, I'd do it all over you (3:07)
2. And I wish I were stoned - Don't worry (8:21)
3. As I feel I die (5:17)
4. With an ear to the ground you can make it / Martinian / Only cox / Reprise (9:56)
5. Hello Hello (3:46)
6. Asforteri 25 (1:21)
7. Can't be long now / Françoise / For Richard / Warlock (14:18)
8. Limits (1:34)

Total Time: 47:40

Bonus tracks on remaster (2001):
9. A Day In The Life Of Maurice Haylett (5:40)
10. Why? (And I Wish I Were Stoned) (4:22)
11. Clipping The 8th (Hello Hello) (3:13)
12. As I Feel I Die (4:39)

Line-up/Musicians

- Richard Coughlan / drums, congas, bongos, maracas, finger cymbals
- Pye Hastings / vocals, guitars, claves
- David Sinclair / keyboards
- Richard Sinclair / vocals, bass, tambourine
+ Brother James / sax and flute

ProgArchives Review 1

 Caravan’s second album signals the band’s moment of plain maturity just achieved. Destined to become an undisputed classic of Canterbury prog, “If I Could…” stands out as an album that comprises an excellent material craftily performed: the pristine melodic sense that made Caravan the most accessible Canterbury act is refurbished with inventively superlative arrangements all throughout the album’s repertoire. Before I go on, let me state that this my all-time fave Caravan recording. The funny title track kicks off the album, as an exercise in jazz-pop in a 7/8 pattern: a proper sense of joy that does not anticipate the density of the following numbers – ‘And I Wish I Were Stoned’ and ‘As I Feel I Die’ are both constructed under the logic of an initial serene introspective section and a groovier, jazzier second section that releases some kind of emotional explosion that seemed to be kept off during the serene part. None of these explosive passages are metallic or incendiary: the explosion is more focused on enthusiasm, humor and jazz-rock textures than on anger. This same pattern is reiterated in ‘With an Ear to the Ground You Can Make It’, only in this particular case the density is developed into a more eerie level: definitely, one of the highlights of an album full of so very good songs. After all this display of structural complexity the poppy tune ‘Hello Hello’ is welcome as resource of relief and refreshing fun by the listener: its catchy melodic line is wisely portrayed on a 7/4 pattern. It won’t be long before ‘For Richard’ - the prototypical Caravan song - hits the listener’s heart and takes it by storm with its successive captivating motifs, fluidly linked together in a majestic amalgam. This is just as epic as Canterbury - a non-symphonic prog trend per se - could ever be!! ‘For Richard’ is preceded and followed by brief pieces: ‘Asforteri’ is a weird tribal sequence that actually might have been developed as an interesting longer track in a parallel prog universe, while the closure ‘Limits’ is a delicious bossanova oriented ballad that soon fades out as the sun in a springtime sunset. Well, enough for the album’s official repertoire. Now, although a whole is more than a mere sum of its parts, I feel it would be unfair of me not to mention that each individual member’s amazing musicianship is responsible for the amazing brightness that is comprised in “If I Could…” – Richard Sinclair’s bass playing is both intricate and immaculate, clearly featured without having to steal the limelight; Coughlan exhibits his percussive mastery with a touch of distinction; and David Sinclair is an exquisite maestro who makes his organ and piano parts shine strongly with a sense of delicateness. If only guitarist/vocalist Pye Hastings had been confident enough to play more solos..., but around there always was Pye’s brother Jimmy, ready to guest with an extra horn or flute solo. It’s a masterpiece!!

ProgArchives Review 2

 David Sinclair's keyboards do it for me. Sure, Banks, Wakeman and Emerson are the ones you'll probably pick as the top three players in the field, but for me Sinclair is king. At times, his keyboard sounds like a fuzzed out guitar, (the title track, "And I Wish I Were Stoned/Don't Worry" Hello Hello", etc.) His keyboards are so unique I can't think of another player who sounds like him. But enough gushing on Sinclair. This album begins a run of four must have albums for the fan of canterbury and I'd say this one would be a good start for anyone who would like to explore the scene for the first time. Every song is unmistakably English, with phenomenal musicanship, wonderful singing, very, very clever lyrics that are at times funny and a sound that is wholly original, (I can't think of one band that even tries to sound like them and pull it off credibly). This album contains three out and out classics, "As I Feel I Die" with Pye Hasting's delicate vocals, Richard Sinclair's subtle bass line just under the surface that comes out three minutes in and just WOWS me and then that keyboard fuzzing out over the bass jamming, UTTERLY FANTASTIC!!!, "With An Ear To The Ground You Can Make It" starts out with a catchy refrain, but then gallops into a perfect little ditty with neat keyboards, tempo changes then segways into my favorite fuzzed out Sinclair keyboard solo, ahhh...absolute heaven, god almighty it is just perfect, then to make things even more incredible a beautiful flute playing just over Pye's precious singing, one of the greatest unsung songs ever!, then the classic "For Richard", which is probably the most known song by the band, 14 minutes of jamming Jazz/Canterbury that has to be heard. As you probably figured, I like this record. It's definately an album of it's time, which might turn some people off, but if you can look past that and just immerse yourself inside the music, I'm sure you'll come out thinking it's wonderful, whimsical, clever, but very challenging. A true classic and only their second album, more wonderment lay ahead!

ProgArchives Review 3

In a way, this is an even better effort than the band's most celebrated work, its follow-up "In the Land of Grey and Pink". However, unlike the latter, it's less immediate and more of a steady grower. Then, when it's truly and well grown on you, you'll be hopelessly addicted. The remastered version (featuring the stunning, unreleased "A Day in the Life of Maurice Haylett") sounds as fresh as it had been recorded last year and not almost 36 years ago. This is prog at its best, impeccably sung and played, complex and challenging, yet at the same time witty and light- hearted, without the pretentiousness typical of some of the better-known bands.

The best way to listen to this album is to put on your headphones and wallow in the beautiful vocal harmonies, intricate bass lines and magnificent keyboard work. The opening title-track is an infectious, '60s-style ditty sung by both vocalists, the deeper-voiced Richard Sinclair repeating the line "Who do you think you are?" while the higher, graceful voice of guitarist Pye Hastings sings the verse. Most of the following tracks, though varying in length, are structured as mini-suites, with at least two movements (and accordingly long titles, which I will never be able to remember in spite of my passably good memory). "And I Wish I Were Stoned" starts off as a wistful melody, then becomes increasingly brisk and jazzy. "As I Feel I Die", one of the highpoints of the album, has much the same structure, with a slow intro featuring great vocals from Hastings (who is not my favourite Caravan vocalist, though I have to give him his due), then culminating in a rousing instrumental duel between the two Sinclair cousins, Dave's incendiary keyboards and Richard's complex, fluid bass. "With an Ear to the Ground", the second longest track on the album, sees more spectacular work from David S. (a keyboard unsung hero if ever there was one), backed by one of the tightest rythm sections ever.

"Hello Hello" is a lesson in how to write a song that's both hummable and intelligent, with the added bonus of one of the strangest percussive accompaniments ever (eat your heart out, Jamie Muir!), a pair of hedge clippers wielded by none other than Richard Sinclair himself, who also sings lead vocals. In fact, if I were to name one flaw of this otherwise flawless album, is that Sinclair sings too little... There are two versions of this song on the remastered CD, and on the second (an unreleased demo version) Richard's vocals are so forceful and intense that I get even stronger shivers down my spine than usual. The short, delightful "Asforteri" leads the way for the album's pièce de resistance, the 14-minute-plus "For Richard" (which of the two, I wonder?), where David S. gives a stunning demonstration of his impressive skills as an organ player, while Richard S. (while unfortunately remaining silent) provides a solid yet intricate rythmic background. The track ends with a rare, short yet tasteful guitar solo by Pye Hastings - an unlikely guitar hero, perhaps, but an excellent player indeed.

What else can I say? An utterly magnificent album by one of the truly great bands, too often forgotten in "best of" polls. Go and get it - you won't regret it for a minute.

Need I say more?  This is one of THE groundbreaking Canterbury LP's of all time!!!  1st Pressing, VERY RARE!! Don't miss out.