Caravan - The Show of our Lives: BBC Recordings 1968-1975

Classic Canterbury tales from the BBC

Caravan’s renaissance and continued relevance should surprise no one. They remain a unique, special band whose intelligent, piquant blend of rock and jazz just gets better with age. One after another now, the reissues come. This one, like its music, is a little bit cheeky, containing nothing we’ve not heard before on previous comps. It’s such a good package from what should be considered their glory days, however, that no one’s really arguing. Completists may quibble about the lack of material from the Radio 1 concerts in Paris (1973 and 1975), as the former was broadcast complete on 6 Music earlier in the year, but this is really a best of from the BBC and all its picks are bang on. The stand out is an exuberant If I Could Do It All Over Again I Would Do It All Over You, recorded for TOTP in 1970. The Mellotron solo at the end of the extended Love To Love You also has them at their idiosyncratic best. Caravan warrant this kind of attention and the calibre of much of this makes the quality control level abundantly clear. Good sleevenotes from one-time manager Mark Powell and nice archive photos make this trip with Auntie completely worthwhile.

Decca | 5301443

Reviewed by Jan Zarebski
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