Relating Caravan’s tendency towards puns to that of Monty Python struck a chord with me. In addition to “If I Could Do It All Over Again I’d Do It All Over You”, there was also “For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night” and “Cunning Stunts”.
At last, a clear explanation of what this “Canterbury” music is and who played it . It is definitely more about the music and not the geography. My favourite to emerge out of it are Hatfield and the North. I also like the notion that it led to the outstanding music of The Divine Comedy- a brilliant catalogue and both bands music are gifts to my ears and mind. A great video yet again.
Hi, Barry. When my daughter bought her old man a new record player for Christmas I vowed to listen to all the music I missed as an adolescent and teenager in the 1970s. Top of the list was the Canterbury Scene. Caravan, Soft Machine and Camel became quick favorites. As always, you've shown me there's still more to learn and listen too.
2022 has led me on the Canterbury trail more than ever! Been a prog fan for over 30 years and after arriving late I’ve had 10 glorious years of all things Camel, so I’ve kept digging and got to the Caravan box set, and now just spent a little extra to get both Hatfield & the North cds that were delivered yesterday for my birthday. This vid fits my life perfectly today, thank you sir!
Great video. Thanks. Loved Gong and Caravan back in the day - beautiful stuff - heady days of trips to Avebury and Stonehenge and so much dope smoked... oh dear....
A discussion of Canterbury music should mention Barbara Gaskin and Spirogyra. The band produced 3 albums of psychedelic folk, of which the third, Bells, Boots and Shambles, is probably the best. Barbara worked with Hatfield as one of the Northettes. She and her life partner Dave Stewart are perhaps best known for their early-'80s whimsical pop covers, particularly the #1 UK hit single It's my Party.
Whilst I agree with the acknowledgement of the unique and iconic Spyragya they in my opinion are not generally considered part of the Canterbury Scene not sound . Spyagyra were a folk - sike band and owned nothing to the most evident jazz influences clearly heard with Soft Machine, Hatfields, Health etc Yes my understanding is that Wilde Flowers played popular R n B and soul songs of the time
Barbara herself said, "Caravan and Spirogyra were very different musically. At that time there was no such thing as the generic Canterbury scene - there were just bands in Canterbury.” I mentioned her mainly because of the association with Dave Stewart (Egg, Hatfield etc), and particularly because their pop covers are an interesting coda to the Canterbury story.
Excellent! Loved every minute of this quick tour of the Canterbury scene. Growing up in the seventies as a meat & two veg rock & roller, I missed most of these bands the first time round. But how wonderful to catch up with Soft Machine, Caravan & Kevin Ayers in later life, and Robert Wyatt, whose version of Shipbuilding never fails to move me to tears.
Thank you for this excellent review, but surely one does need to bring in Steve Hillage, with the Khan, "Space Shanty" album made in 1972 with Dave Stewart from Egg, in an overview of the Canterbury scene?
I've always been a fan of the Canterbury Sound, but it was great to hear the history of it, explained so succinctly. Intelligent, informative and with your wonderful sense of (British) humor, this was one of my favorite episodes. You are definitely the right man for the job when it comes to a "themed" topic such as this one. I would love to hear a part two, taking us from 1975 onward. a side note....these musicians jumped around from one band to another, (which I always knew, but not to this extent), you could have subtitled this episode "Canterbury Musical Chairs" !! Cheers ! 💥
Camel keyboardist Peter Bardens had heard the use of organ that David Sinclair had developed. There's no doubt on that point. Later Camel recruited Dave for their 1979 tour as a second key player before that band split . A shame they didn't record any album together. Two masters.
Caravan was my introduction to the Canterbury scene, 1974. I saw the " Cunning Stunts" line up who opened for Wishbone Ash, November, 1974 at the Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Pa ( Philadelphia)... Years later, Aug 1996, I visited Canterbury in Kent as a visitor... Now, Canterbury catherdral - 1500 years in 1997- yeah nice, but I wanted to meet Pye Hastings! I did find him. We stopped by for talk and tea! Pye was so much fun to hang out with!
It's that deep English romanticism that I love about that Canterbury sound Barry. It seems to yearn for an idyllic past. It's all there in those beautifully mannered Kevin Ayers albums and Caravan's In the Land of Grey and Pink. A great antidote to the heavy sounds of the late '60s. A splendid introduction good sir...
Always a treat when you make a new video. When you mentioned the Gong "Trilogy" I was thinking: Why not do a piece on the great Steve Hillage? His musical journey is interesting and unusual. From Canterbury to making an album that "made" The Orb and beyond...
I was buying these records stateside as they were appearing, and being the studious liner-notes reader that I was (having graduated from 45 rpm record-label squinter) I noticed the curious incest among the personnel of various projects.... and Loved it all! Was just in a vinyl record shop locally tonight and happened upon Caravan's "For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night" ($20.... there was also a MacDonald & Giles on Island records for $70, but that's another tale.) So I had to come home & hear "Memory Lane, Hugh"... and that gave me the happy accident of discovering this exploration of that scene... from a decidedly first-hand perspective, it appears. A cunning stunt indeed. 😐
Going down the Canterbury scene rabbit hole influenced my music fandom in a massive way. I love nearly everything that came out of it. In my opinion, it planted the seeds of underground and alternative music. The musicians just did what they wanted while continuously inventing new dimensions of sound and creating blueprints for pop, rock, prog, punk and psychedelic.
They sure planted some of the seeds, but there are a lot of different strains. The most important influence on the underground scenes (punk, ‘alternative rock’, and so on) is surely The Velvet Underground. Canterbury’s most important seeds must have been those picked up by Henry Cow, some of the most innovative and influential avant-rockers to walk the earth.
Excellent video! I did not know much about this genre before I watched this. I really enjoyed it and I will explore it more. Thanks for cluing me into this new realm
After years of loving Caravan and Soft Machine, I finally discovered (last year) Egg/Khan/Hatfield/National Health. Dave Sinclair and Mont Campbell can do no wrong
Lose the Dead shirt and exchange with an Egg shirt ;) ...Nice video....cheers. One detail/correction: Richard Sinclair was in Hatfield, not cousin Dave.
Hatfield and the North and National Health were extraordinary live with a wonderful improvisational feel - excellent bands but basically the same guys with sometimes rotating lineups of the same personnel - for instance Bruford was in National Health but live Pip Pyle more associated with the Hatfields would sit in. The core of Pip, Richard Sinclair, Phil Miller and the amazing Dave Stewart never disappointed.
Thank you, sir. I enjoyed that. One small correction, if I may (as no one else has had the temerity): Uriel released an album under the name Arzachel (not Archazel).
@@classicalbum A little factoid that I have just discovered, if you are interested:- Uriel re-united to produce their sole album in June 1969, a one-off psychedelic project under an assumed name, Arzachel, (named after a crater on the moon, itself named after a medieval Spanish astronomer). Thus sprach Wikipedia.
I have essentaly first half of a a live recording of caravan recorded at the Record Plant Sausalito ca.. 19 74 ..Approx 30 -5 minutes by bus from where in marin I live!
Great video. I didn't know that much about this subject, but have listened to a lot of it over the years. There was some beautiful stuff done by these bands. My favourite participant was Richard Sinclair. My least favourite aspect was the humour.
Just a slight adjustment to your quickfire history of Hatfield and the North. Dave Sinclair was never a member to my knowledge but his cousin Richard (Sinclair) was. He was an integral part of the band providing both bass guitar and effects as well as lead vocals. He also contributed to the song writing. Also, the suggestion that Henry Cow is a "Canterbury band" isn't so far off the mark, as there have been contributions to Hatfield in recordings by at least a member or members if memory serves me correctly. Certainly, John Greaves joined National Health for their second album, Of Queues and Cures. Greaves being the bassist of the Henry Cow band. Otherwise, thanks for the video. 👌
Actually Dave Sinclair was in Hatfield briefly in 1972 when they first formed. There was some rare footage on TH-cam of them playing together. He decided to join Matching Mole instead and then Dave Stewart from Egg joined and the rest is history.
Thank you very much, i am a great fan of you, and your choices, making your channel a big adventure . Cant wait to see part 2. But i am patiënt Good luck, but more important, Keep goin on! we will be keep on watching! your channel a big adventure. i cant wait to see part 2. In love with all those bands and artists. But i am patiënt. you do this all on yer own? Good luck, but more important, keep goin on
Nope. I’ve never seen it referred to as such, and it doesn’t fit with the characteristics. You might as well call it krautrock, and you would be less wrong.
Man this was your very best yet.Impeccable and illuminating content from the best reviewer on the web.
Love your tea! My morning cuppa
Relating Caravan’s tendency towards puns to that of Monty Python struck a chord with me. In addition to “If I Could Do It All Over Again I’d Do It All Over You”, there was also “For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night” and “Cunning Stunts”.
At last, a clear explanation of what this “Canterbury” music is and who played it . It is definitely more about the music and not the geography. My favourite to emerge out of it are Hatfield and the North. I also like the notion that it led to the outstanding music of The Divine Comedy- a brilliant catalogue and both bands music are gifts to my ears and mind. A great video yet again.
Hi, Barry. When my daughter bought her old man a new record player for Christmas I vowed to listen to all the music I missed as an adolescent and teenager in the 1970s. Top of the list was the Canterbury Scene. Caravan, Soft Machine and Camel became quick favorites. As always, you've shown me there's still more to learn and listen too.
2022 has led me on the Canterbury trail more than ever! Been a prog fan for over 30 years and after arriving late I’ve had 10 glorious years of all things Camel, so I’ve kept digging and got to the Caravan box set, and now just spent a little extra to get both Hatfield & the North cds that were delivered yesterday for my birthday. This vid fits my life perfectly today, thank you sir!
Theres & excellient Bootleg recording of The north Recorded in january of 73 Paris,highly recommened!
Great video. Thanks. Loved Gong and Caravan back in the day - beautiful stuff - heady days of trips to Avebury and Stonehenge and so much dope smoked... oh dear....
A discussion of Canterbury music should mention Barbara Gaskin and Spirogyra. The band produced 3 albums of psychedelic folk, of which the third, Bells, Boots and Shambles, is probably the best. Barbara worked with Hatfield as one of the Northettes. She and her life partner Dave Stewart are perhaps best known for their early-'80s whimsical pop covers, particularly the #1 UK hit single It's my Party.
Whilst I agree with the acknowledgement of the unique and iconic Spyragya they in my opinion are not generally considered part of the Canterbury Scene not sound .
Spyagyra were a folk - sike band and owned nothing to the most evident jazz influences clearly heard with Soft Machine, Hatfields, Health etc
Yes my understanding is that Wilde Flowers played popular R n B and soul songs of the time
Barbara herself said, "Caravan and Spirogyra were very different musically. At that time there was no such thing as the generic Canterbury scene - there were just bands in Canterbury.” I mentioned her mainly because of the association with Dave Stewart (Egg, Hatfield etc), and particularly because their pop covers are an interesting coda to the Canterbury story.
"Egg split- or should I say, scrambled."
Made me laugh :P
Excellent! Loved every minute of this quick tour of the Canterbury scene. Growing up in the seventies as a meat & two veg rock & roller, I missed most of these bands the first time round. But how wonderful to catch up with Soft Machine, Caravan & Kevin Ayers in later life, and Robert Wyatt, whose version of Shipbuilding never fails to move me to tears.
Thanks for watching
Thank you for this excellent review, but surely one does need to bring in Steve Hillage, with the Khan, "Space Shanty" album made in 1972 with Dave Stewart from Egg, in an overview of the Canterbury scene?
I've always been a fan of the Canterbury Sound, but it was great to hear the history of it, explained so succinctly.
Intelligent, informative and with your wonderful sense of (British) humor, this was one of my favorite episodes.
You are definitely the right man for the job when it comes to a "themed" topic such as this one.
I would love to hear a part two, taking us from 1975 onward.
a side note....these musicians jumped around from one band to another, (which I always knew, but not to this extent), you could have subtitled this episode "Canterbury Musical Chairs" !!
Cheers ! 💥
Richard Sinclair went on to go join Camel, and I think they were a good addition to the band. Rain Dances and Breathless are both fantastic albums.
Some even adds Camel to the Cantenbury Tree, i dunno (however great they are)
Both are great and I would say, thanx to Sinclair addition they contain more Canterbury sound ingridient than Caravan at this point :)
Yes quite a CV - Camel, Caravan and best of all, Hatfield and the North.
Camel keyboardist Peter Bardens had heard the use of organ that David Sinclair had developed. There's no doubt on that point. Later Camel recruited Dave for their 1979 tour as a second key player before that band split . A shame they didn't record any album together. Two masters.
Caramel?
Caravan was my introduction to the Canterbury scene, 1974. I saw the " Cunning Stunts" line up who opened for Wishbone Ash, November, 1974 at the Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Pa ( Philadelphia)...
Years later, Aug 1996, I visited Canterbury in Kent as a visitor... Now, Canterbury catherdral - 1500 years in 1997- yeah nice, but I wanted to meet Pye Hastings! I did find him.
We stopped by for talk and tea! Pye was so much fun to hang out with!
It's that deep English romanticism that I love about that Canterbury sound Barry. It seems to yearn for an idyllic past. It's all there in those beautifully mannered Kevin Ayers albums and Caravan's In the Land of Grey and Pink. A great antidote to the heavy sounds of the late '60s. A splendid introduction good sir...
Always a treat when you make a new video. When you mentioned the Gong "Trilogy" I was thinking: Why not do a piece on the great Steve Hillage? His musical journey is interesting and unusual. From Canterbury to making an album that "made" The Orb and beyond...
Very good and concise overview of the scene that was Canterbury.
I was buying these records stateside as they were appearing, and being the studious liner-notes reader that I was (having graduated from 45 rpm record-label squinter) I noticed the curious incest among the personnel of various projects.... and Loved it all!
Was just in a vinyl record shop locally tonight and happened upon Caravan's "For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night" ($20.... there was also a MacDonald & Giles on Island records for $70, but that's another tale.)
So I had to come home & hear "Memory Lane, Hugh"... and that gave me the happy accident of discovering this exploration of that scene... from a decidedly first-hand perspective, it appears.
A cunning stunt indeed.
😐
I like the introduction to these bands. Interesting to hear about how some of these bands got started. Would love to see more of these.
Fish Rising by Steve Hillage one of my favorite albums! Also Khan-Space Shanty
I could listen to you reading my shopping list 😊
Love that!
That’s a very fine overview with interesting details. Great job.
" Egg split up, or maybe Scrambled!!"
LOL
Going down the Canterbury scene rabbit hole influenced my music fandom in a massive way. I love nearly everything that came out of it. In my opinion, it planted the seeds of underground and alternative music. The musicians just did what they wanted while continuously inventing new dimensions of sound and creating blueprints for pop, rock, prog, punk and psychedelic.
They sure planted some of the seeds, but there are a lot of different strains. The most important influence on the underground scenes (punk, ‘alternative rock’, and so on) is surely The Velvet Underground. Canterbury’s most important seeds must have been those picked up by Henry Cow, some of the most innovative and influential avant-rockers to walk the earth.
Great synopsis of a avenue of prog that is sadly too often overlooked. Your diligence is greatly appreciated.
Excellent video! I did not know much about this genre before I watched this. I really enjoyed it and I will explore it more. Thanks for cluing me into this new realm
Glad you enjoyed it!
I remember days after school at Richards place on Roper rd. Heather would sing and i just wish i were there again.
After years of loving Caravan and Soft Machine, I finally discovered (last year) Egg/Khan/Hatfield/National Health. Dave Sinclair and Mont Campbell can do no wrong
Great reminder, great music and artists
Thanks for this! I am currently on a Canterbury deep dive. This is great information!
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent stuff.
I'd love to see you do a ranking of your favorite records from this scene
A musical example is worth a thousand words.
I don't own the copyright to the musical samples
Lose the Dead shirt and exchange with an Egg shirt ;) ...Nice video....cheers.
One detail/correction: Richard Sinclair was in Hatfield, not cousin Dave.
Barry, the Manor studio was in Shipton-on-Cherwell in Oxfordshire.
Ahhh, ok.
Hatfield and the North and National Health were extraordinary live with a wonderful improvisational feel - excellent bands but basically the same guys with sometimes rotating lineups of the same personnel - for instance Bruford was in National Health but live Pip Pyle more associated with the Hatfields would sit in. The core of Pip, Richard Sinclair, Phil Miller and the amazing Dave Stewart never disappointed.
Thank you, sir. I enjoyed that. One small correction, if I may (as no one else has had the temerity): Uriel released an album under the name Arzachel (not Archazel).
Thanks. And thank you for watching
@@classicalbum A little factoid that I have just discovered, if you are interested:-
Uriel re-united to produce their sole album in June 1969, a one-off psychedelic project under an assumed name, Arzachel, (named after a crater on the moon, itself named after a medieval Spanish astronomer).
Thus sprach Wikipedia.
my mates Dad remembers dancing to the Wilde Flowers in 1965 (perhaps, his memory is a bit hazy)
Good one thanks love early softs and kevin ayers
This is a very good video. Thank you!
You're very welcome! Please consider subscribing
@@classicalbum sure thing! you got more videos on the Canterbury scene?
I have essentaly first half of a a live recording of caravan recorded at the Record Plant Sausalito ca.. 19 74 ..Approx 30 -5 minutes by bus from where in marin I live!
Great video. I didn't know that much about this subject, but have listened to a lot of it over the years. There was some beautiful stuff done by these bands.
My favourite participant was Richard Sinclair.
My least favourite aspect was the humour.
Great overview. Thinking of follow up videos?
Not so sure
@@classicalbum There are a few 'top tens' to go at here Barry if you fancied it...
Just a slight adjustment to your quickfire history of Hatfield and the North. Dave Sinclair was never a member to my knowledge but his cousin Richard (Sinclair) was. He was an integral part of the band providing both bass guitar and effects as well as lead vocals. He also contributed to the song writing.
Also, the suggestion that Henry Cow is a "Canterbury band" isn't so far off the mark, as there have been contributions to Hatfield in recordings by at least a member or members if memory serves me correctly. Certainly, John Greaves joined National Health for their second album, Of Queues and Cures. Greaves being the bassist of the Henry Cow band.
Otherwise, thanks for the video. 👌
Actually Dave Sinclair was in Hatfield briefly in 1972 when they first formed. There was some rare footage on TH-cam of them playing together. He decided to join Matching Mole instead and then Dave Stewart from Egg joined and the rest is history.
@@slickjames2541 Oh fair enough. I didn't know that. Cheers 👌
Hillage not mentioned.... Urial, Gong, etc. There is a case for Mike Oldfield - fringes mixed with Hillage, Stewart, Etc. Try Don Alfonso!
Thank you very much, i am a great fan of you, and your choices, making
your channel a big adventure . Cant wait to see part 2. But i am patiënt
Good luck, but more important, Keep goin on! we will be keep on watching!
your channel a big adventure. i cant wait to see part 2. In love with all
those bands and artists. But i am patiënt. you do this all on yer own?
Good luck, but more important, keep goin on
Thank you very much!
When comes part 2?
I feel a bit rough at the moment, I need to get back to filming next week
I have a question: I heard that Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is Canterbury, is it true !!!
Nope. I’ve never seen it referred to as such, and it doesn’t fit with the characteristics. You might as well call it krautrock, and you would be less wrong.
I think some of that early Floyd comes from the same well, even if it's not Canterbury. The Wind in the Willows reference certainly is.
They were from Cambridge; you might be thinking of that.
Great video but shouldn't it be 'Canterbury'?
Egg
HENRY COW?
Hmmmm.
dude just shut up, I love prog rock in my own terms and I love EGG, N H, H & The North etc etc
Did I force you to watch my video? So, go away and stop being a utter turd.