Caravan of Dreams (band)
Encyclopedia
Caravan of Dreams were a British progressive rock
band from the Canterbury scene
. Led by Richard Sinclair
, it evolved from the short-lived Going Going.
(bass), both mainstays of the Canterbury scene, had played together in the Wilde Flowers
25 years previously. They were re-united in a band with Mark Hewins
(guitar-synth), Andy Ward (drums, with whom Sinclair had played in Camel
) and Vince Clarke (percussion, from the late 1970s RSVP line-up with Sinclair). (Sinclair has said that they almost persuaded fellow former Wilde Flowers
member Kevin Ayers
to join too, "but he was busy with recording work."http://calyx.club.fr/bands/obscure.html)
Billed as Hugh Hopper & Friends, the band debuted at the Canterbury festival on 10 June 1990. Three further shows follow in October/November (with Clarke only playing the first). The name Going Going was chosen as they were supporting (an off-shoot of) Gong
, thus "Going, Going... Gong" as a pun on the phrase "going, going, gone".
The set list for the later shows was:
reunion in 1990, which inspired him to form a new band to play his material with two fellow members of Going Going. Caravan of Dreams was launched in 1991 as a trio with Sinclair (bass, vocals), Hewins (guitar) and Ward (drums). They played live twice that year.
Hewins left the band, busy with other projects, and Sinclair and Ward were joined by Rick Biddulph (a former roadie for Sinclair's earlier band Hatfield and the North
) on bass, with Sinclair switching to guitar. Based around these three, the band continued until 1993, often joined by former Caravan members Dave Sinclair
and Jimmy Hastings
. An example set list from 27 April 1993 (with just R. Sinclair, Biddulph and Ward) is: "In The Land Of Grey And Pink", "Only The Brave/Plan It Earth", "Share It", "Videos", "Heather", "Keep On Caring", "Emily", "Felafel Shuffle", "Going for a Song", "Back to Front", "Cruising", "Halfway Between Heaven and Earth", "It Didn't Matter Anyway", "Golf Girl".
On their first album, Caravan of Dreams (1992), the band consisted of Richard Sinclair (guitar, vocals, bass on studio tracks), Dave Sinclair (keyboards), Jimmy Hastings (flute, saxophone), Andy Ward (drums), Rick Biddulph (live bass), Michael Heupel (flute) and Alan Clarke (harmonica). A double live album followed: An Evening Of Magic (1993), recorded in Italy.
Latterly in 1993, Sinclair moved on to his RSVP album project and the band broke up. Ward and Biddulph went on to join the Camel
and Caravan spin-off Mirage
.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from the Canterbury scene
Canterbury Scene
The Canterbury scene is a term used to loosely describe the group of progressive rock, avant-garde and jazz musicians, many of whom were based around the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
. Led by Richard Sinclair
Richard Sinclair
Richard S. Sinclair is a progressive rock bassist, guitarist and vocalist who has been a member of several bands of the Canterbury scene.-Biography:...
, it evolved from the short-lived Going Going.
Going Going
Sinclair (vocals, bass) and Hugh HopperHugh Hopper
Hugh Colin Hopper was a progressive rock and jazz fusion bass guitarist. He was a prominent member of the Canterbury scene, as a member of Soft Machine and various other related bands.-Early career:...
(bass), both mainstays of the Canterbury scene, had played together in the Wilde Flowers
Wilde Flowers
The Wilde Flowers were a popular music group based in the vicinity of Canterbury, England. The group was active between 1964 and 1967 but never released any records during its existence; however it led to the formation of two other groups that became well-known and influential: Soft Machine and...
25 years previously. They were re-united in a band with Mark Hewins
Mark Hewins
Mark Hewins is a British jazz guitarist known particularly for his connections to the Canterbury scene.Hewins' professional career as a guitarist began in 1970 with the London band Mother Sun...
(guitar-synth), Andy Ward (drums, with whom Sinclair had played in Camel
Camel (band)
Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important group in the Canterbury scene, they have been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation.-1970s:...
) and Vince Clarke (percussion, from the late 1970s RSVP line-up with Sinclair). (Sinclair has said that they almost persuaded fellow former Wilde Flowers
Wilde Flowers
The Wilde Flowers were a popular music group based in the vicinity of Canterbury, England. The group was active between 1964 and 1967 but never released any records during its existence; however it led to the formation of two other groups that became well-known and influential: Soft Machine and...
member Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement...
to join too, "but he was busy with recording work."http://calyx.club.fr/bands/obscure.html)
Billed as Hugh Hopper & Friends, the band debuted at the Canterbury festival on 10 June 1990. Three further shows follow in October/November (with Clarke only playing the first). The name Going Going was chosen as they were supporting (an off-shoot of) Gong
Gong (band)
Gong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...
, thus "Going, Going... Gong" as a pun on the phrase "going, going, gone".
The set list for the later shows was:
- "Where But For Caravan Would I"
- "In The Land Of Grey And Pink"
- "Keep On Caring"
- "Led It Lay" (a Hewins instrumental)
- "We Did It Again"
- "Miniluv"
- "Going For A Song"
- "Hope For Happiness"
Caravan of Dreams
Sinclair had also joined a CaravanCaravan (band)
Caravan are an English band from the Canterbury area, founded by former Wilde Flowers members David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings and Richard Coughlan. Caravan rose to success over a period of several years from 1968 onwards into the 1970s as part of the Canterbury scene, blending...
reunion in 1990, which inspired him to form a new band to play his material with two fellow members of Going Going. Caravan of Dreams was launched in 1991 as a trio with Sinclair (bass, vocals), Hewins (guitar) and Ward (drums). They played live twice that year.
Hewins left the band, busy with other projects, and Sinclair and Ward were joined by Rick Biddulph (a former roadie for Sinclair's earlier band Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North
Hatfield and the North were an experimental Canterbury scene rock band that lasted from October 1972 to June 1975, with some reunions thereafter.-Career:...
) on bass, with Sinclair switching to guitar. Based around these three, the band continued until 1993, often joined by former Caravan members Dave Sinclair
Dave Sinclair
David Sinclair , is a keyboardist who has been part of the progressive rock Canterbury Scene...
and Jimmy Hastings
Jimmy Hastings
James Brian Gordon 'Jimmy' Hastings , is a British professional musician associated with the Canterbury scene....
. An example set list from 27 April 1993 (with just R. Sinclair, Biddulph and Ward) is: "In The Land Of Grey And Pink", "Only The Brave/Plan It Earth", "Share It", "Videos", "Heather", "Keep On Caring", "Emily", "Felafel Shuffle", "Going for a Song", "Back to Front", "Cruising", "Halfway Between Heaven and Earth", "It Didn't Matter Anyway", "Golf Girl".
On their first album, Caravan of Dreams (1992), the band consisted of Richard Sinclair (guitar, vocals, bass on studio tracks), Dave Sinclair (keyboards), Jimmy Hastings (flute, saxophone), Andy Ward (drums), Rick Biddulph (live bass), Michael Heupel (flute) and Alan Clarke (harmonica). A double live album followed: An Evening Of Magic (1993), recorded in Italy.
Latterly in 1993, Sinclair moved on to his RSVP album project and the band broke up. Ward and Biddulph went on to join the Camel
Camel (band)
Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important group in the Canterbury scene, they have been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation.-1970s:...
and Caravan spin-off Mirage
Mirage (band)
Mirage were a progressive rock offshoot from Camel in the 1990s.The band was formed by drummer Andy Ward and keyboardist Peter Bardens, both former members of Camel, having last been together in the band in 1977. Also in the original line-up were guitarist Steve Adams and bassist Rick Biddulph...
.