Take Five: Caravan Classics

During the so-called British Invasion (“beat era” if you’re British), countless musical acts from Great Britain made inroads into the musical marketplace of the United states. Led by the Beatles, many of those artists established long and successful careers beyond the shores of their native UK, And that trend continued long past the ‘60s, well into the eras of progressive and hard rock and beyond.

But even against that backdrop, there were several groups of great merit who – for whatever reasons – never quite broke through in the States. And one of the best among those was Caravan. Launched in 1968 and part of what was known as the “Canterbury Scene,” Caravan made ambitious music with a decidedly melodic character. But despite the quality of their music, Caravan never scored a hit single in the U.S., and only one of their albums even managed to make it onto the Billboard 200. 1975’s Cunning Stunts climbed to a disappointing No. 152, and the band’s masterwork, 1971’s In the Land of Grey and Pink didn’t chart in the U.S. at all.

But Caravan persisted, making their brand of supremely tuneful progressive rock for a core audience of dedicated fans. Led by founding guitarist/vocalist Pye Hastings and featuring multi-instrumentalist Geoffrey Richardson (on board since 1973), Caravan’s latest release is 2021’s It’s None of Your Business; in 2026 the group continues to perform.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary in April of Caravan’s 7th studio album Blind Dog at St. Dunstans, here are five must-hear tracks from one of progressive rock’s most unjustly overlooked bands.

“Nine Feet Underground” from In the Land of Grey and Pink (1971)
Considered by serious fans as Caravan’s signature tune, the epic “Nine Feet Underground” explores a dizzying array of musical textures over the course of its 22-plus minute runtime. But even with its progressive and arty character – supported by top-notch instrumental work from every member of the group – the song features strong, memorable melodies at its core. Soon after its release, “Nine Feet Underground” became a centerpiece of Caravan’s live set; it remains in the group’s repertoire to this day, some 55 years after its debut.

“Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss” from For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night (1973)
Caravan’s penchant for wordplay figured into countless songs and album titles, and “Memory Lain, Hugh / Headloss” is no exception. A standout track from the band’s critically-acclaimed fifth studio LP, the track has also featured prominently on several live releases from the group, including 1974’s Caravan and the New Symphonia and Recorded Live in Concert at Metropolis Studios, London from 2012. The live version here is from the New Symphonia album.

“The Show of Our Lives” from Cunning Stunts (1975)
The punningly-titled Cunning Stunts features several tracks that would quickly take their place as Caravan fan favorites. Co-written by the band’s masterful keyboardist Dave Sinclair, “The Show of Our Lives” would find its title repurposed for a superb 2007 release that brought together highlights from many of Caravan’s performances for BBC Radio, all recorded between 1968 and 1975.

“A Very Smelly, Grubby Little Oik” from Blind Dog at St. Dunstans (1976)
Most every Caravan album can be counted upon to include at least one track – and often several – featuring a playful and idiosyncratic song title. For the band’s 1976 album, “A Very Smelly, Grubby Little Oik” fills that role. A catchy and upbeat pop tune with a knotty guitar riff, the tune features Pye Hastings’ cheery vocals and some propulsive work from the rest of the band.

“Liar” from The Battle of Hastings (1995)
Caravan enjoyed their commercial apex in the early and middle 1970s. But even with significant personnel changes the Canterbury group has endured, continuing to turn out appealing music (if on an infrequent basis). A highlight of the band’s 1990s output is “Liar,” a standout track from the band’s The Battle of Hastings. The song showcases Caravan’s signature musical textures while sprinkling the arrangement with a handful of period flourishes that mark it as a product of the ‘90s.