Dave Sinclair
Encyclopedia
David Sinclair (born 24 November 1947 in Herne Bay
, Kent
, England
), is a keyboardist
(organ, pianos, synthesizer) who has been part of the progressive rock
Canterbury Scene
. He became famous with the band
Caravan
and was the author of some of their classic tracks: "For Richard", "Nine Feet Underground", "The Dabsong Conshirtoe", "Proper Job/Back To Front".
, he founded Caravan
in 1968 with his cousin Richard Sinclair
(bass/vocals), Pye Hastings
(guitar/vocals), and Richard Coughlan
(drums) and has been in and out of that band for 35 years (so far 1968-71, 1973–75, 1979–82, 1990–2002). On Caravan's first three albums, he developed his organ playing enormously until their famous album In the Land of Grey and Pink
(1971). "Calyx, The Canterbury Website" even calls him "master of the typical Canterbury organ sound/playing" see
In between his Caravan episodes he was a member of Matching Mole
(1971–72), Hatfield and the North
(1972–73), Polite Force
(1976–77), and Camel
(1978, for the tour of the album Breathless
).
Lately he has been engaged in a solo career, including concerts in Japan and two solo albums, Full Circle and Into the Sun (both 2003). A 30th anniversary re-release of his Moon Over Man album featuring vocalist Tim Lynk (demos for an unreleased solo album recorded 1976-77, originally issued on CD by Voiceprint in 1993) appeared in 2006 (including improved sound and bonus tracks), although this is due to be superseded by a further enhanced release of the same material. Two solo albums, PianoWorks1 - Frozen In Time and Stream (featuring several distinguished guest artists) are due for release early in 2011.
Herne Bay, Kent
Herne Bay is a seaside town in Kent, South East England, with a population of 35,188. On the south coast of the Thames Estuary, it is north of Canterbury and east of Whitstable. It neighbours the ancient villages of Herne and Reculver and is part of the City of Canterbury local government district...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), is a keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
(organ, pianos, synthesizer) who has been part of the progressive rock
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...
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...
. He became famous with the band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Caravan
Caravan (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...
and was the author of some of their classic tracks: "For Richard", "Nine Feet Underground", "The Dabsong Conshirtoe", "Proper Job/Back To Front".
Biography
Having started his musical career 1966-67 with the Wilde FlowersWilde 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...
, he founded Caravan
Caravan (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...
in 1968 with his cousin 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:...
(bass/vocals), Pye Hastings
Pye Hastings
Julian Frederick Gordon 'Pye' Hastings is a British musician. He is the guitarist, vocalist and leader of the Canterbury scene band Caravan and brother of Jimmy Hastings.-References:...
(guitar/vocals), and Richard Coughlan
Richard Coughlan
Richard Coughlan is an English musician, best known as the drummer and percussionist of the Canterbury scene progressive rock band Caravan. He was one of the founding members of Caravan in 1968 and has remained with the band for its over 35-year existence...
(drums) and has been in and out of that band for 35 years (so far 1968-71, 1973–75, 1979–82, 1990–2002). On Caravan's first three albums, he developed his organ playing enormously until their famous album In the Land of Grey and Pink
In the Land of Grey and Pink
-Side Two:The following bonus tracks were included on the 2001 remastered edition of CD:* Remastered by Paschal ByrneTrack list and timings from the 1971 London LP :-Side One:-Side Two:-Personnel:* Pye Hastings – guitars and vocals...
(1971). "Calyx, The Canterbury Website" even calls him "master of the typical Canterbury organ sound/playing" see
In between his Caravan episodes he was a member of Matching Mole
Matching Mole
Matching Mole was a short-lived UK progressive rock band from the Canterbury scene best known for the song "O Caroline". Robert Wyatt formed the band in October 1971 after he left Soft Machine and recorded his first solo album The End of an Ear...
(1971–72), 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:...
(1972–73), Polite Force
The Polite Force (band)
The Polite Force was a British progressive rock / jazz fusion musical group, active from 1976 to 1978 in the Canterbury scene.The band was formed by Mark Hewins , Max Metto , Graham Flight and Vince Clarke after about two years of recording sessions for an album by long time Caravan keyboardist...
(1976–77), and 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:...
(1978, for the tour of the album Breathless
Breathless (Camel album)
Breathless is the 6th studio album by the English progressive rock band Camel, released in 1978. It is the last album to feature the group's original keyboardist Peter Bardens, who left the group before the tour for the album...
).
Lately he has been engaged in a solo career, including concerts in Japan and two solo albums, Full Circle and Into the Sun (both 2003). A 30th anniversary re-release of his Moon Over Man album featuring vocalist Tim Lynk (demos for an unreleased solo album recorded 1976-77, originally issued on CD by Voiceprint in 1993) appeared in 2006 (including improved sound and bonus tracks), although this is due to be superseded by a further enhanced release of the same material. Two solo albums, PianoWorks1 - Frozen In Time and Stream (featuring several distinguished guest artists) are due for release early in 2011.
Discography
- 1968 - Caravan / Caravan (Verve VLP 6011 now released on HTD Records as HTDCD 65)
- 1970 - Caravan / If I Could Do It All Over Again I'd Do It All Over You (Decca SKL-R 5052)
- 1971 - Caravan / In the Land of Grey and PinkIn the Land of Grey and Pink-Side Two:The following bonus tracks were included on the 2001 remastered edition of CD:* Remastered by Paschal ByrneTrack list and timings from the 1971 London LP :-Side One:-Side Two:-Personnel:* Pye Hastings – guitars and vocals...
(Deram SDL-R 1) - 1971 - Robert Wyatt / The End of an EarThe End of an EarThe End of an Ear is the debut solo album by Soft Machine's Robert Wyatt.-Background:It was recorded in August 1970, while on a leave of absence from Soft Machine . Containing mostly free jazz and experimental music, with no lyrics , it is an unusual album...
(CBS 64189) - 1972 - Matching Mole / Matching MoleMatching Mole (album)Matching Mole is the eponymous debut album from the English Canterbury Scene progressive rock band Matching Mole.-Track listing:*All Songs Copyright MCPS Music.#"O Caroline" – 5:05#"Instant Pussy" – 2:59...
(CBS 64850) - 1973 - Caravan / For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night (Deram SKL-R 12)
- 1974 - Caravan / Caravan And The New Symphonia (Decca SKL-R 1110)
- 1975 - Caravan / Cunning Stunts (Deram SKL-R 5210)
- 1980 - Caravan / The Album (Kingdom KVL 9003)
- 1980 - Caravan / The Best of Caravan Live (Kingdom 426002)
- 1982 - Caravan / Back to Front (Kingdom KVL 5011)
- 1993 - Caravan / Live (Demon Code90 NINETY 2 )
- 1993 - Dave Sinclair / Moon Over Man (Voiceprint VP119CD)
- 1992 - Richard Sinclair's Caravan of Dreams / Same (HTD CD7)
- 1993 - Richard Sinclair's Caravan of Dreams / An Evening of Magic (HTD CD 17)
- 1995 - Caravan / The Battle Of Hastings (HTD Records HTDCD 41)
- 1996 - Caravan / All Over You (HTD Records HTDCD 57)
- 1997 - Caravan / Live From The Astoria (HTD Records HTDCD 79)
- 1997 - Polite Force / Canterbury Knights (Voiceprint VP187)
- 1998 - Caravan / Back On The Tracks (CoCaCamp act001)
- 1999 - Caravan / All Over You Too (HTD Records HTDCD 102)
- 2003 - Dave Sinclair / Full Circle (DSincs-Music 001)
- 2003 - Dave Sinclair / Into the Sun (DSincs-Music 002)
- 2004 - Caravan / The Unauthorised Breakfast Item (on 2 tracks) (Eclectic Discs ECL 1001)
- 2010 - Dave Sinclair / Pianoworks I - Frozen In Time (CRSCNT 001)
- 2011 - Dave Sinclair / Stream (CRSCNT 002)