In the Land of Grey and Pink

• Artist: Caravan
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1971
• Total Time: 43:18
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

In the Land of Grey and Pink is considered by many to be a pinnacle release from Caravan. The album contains an undeniable and decidedly European sense of humor and charm. In addition, this would mark the end of the band's premiere lineup. Co-founder David Sinclair would leave Caravan to form Matching Mole with Soft Machine drummer and vocalist Robert Wyatt in August of 1971. As a group effort, In the Land of Grey and Pink displays all the ethereal brilliance Caravan created on their previous pair of 12" outings. Their blending of jazz and folk instrumentation and improvisational styles hints at Traffic and Family, as displayed on "Winter Wine," as well as the organ and sax driven instrumental introduction to "Nine Feet Underground." These contrast the decidedly aggressive sounds concurrent with albums from King Crimson or Soft Machine. In fact, beginning with the album's title, there seems to be pastoral qualities and motifs throughout. Another reason enthusiasts rank this album among their favorites is the group dynamic which has rarely sounded more singular or cohesive. David Sinclair's lyrics are of particular note, especially the middle-earth imagery used on "Winter Wine" or the enduring whimsy of "Golf Girl." The remastered version of this album includes previously unissued demos/alternate versions of both tracks under the titles: "It's Likely to Have a Name Next Week" and "Group Girl," respectively. The remastered disc also includes "I Don't Know Its Name (Alias the Word)" and "Aristocracy," two pieces that were completed, but shelved in deference to the time limitations imposed during the days of wine and vinyl. The latter composition would be reworked and released on Caravan's next album, Waterloo Lily. The 12-page liner notes booklet includes expanded graphics, memorabilia, and an essay penned specifically for the reissue. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Golf Girl	Richard Coughlan, Jimmy Hastings, Pye Hastings, Dave Sinclair	Caravan	(5:01)
Winter Wine	Richard Coughlan, Pye Hastings, Dave Sinclair, Jimmy Hastings	Caravan	(7:36)
Love to Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly)	Pye Hastings, Jimmy Hastings, Richard Coughlan, Dave Sinclair	Caravan	(3:04)
In the Land of Grey and Pink	Jimmy Hastings, Dave Sinclair, Richard Coughlan, Pye Hastings, Richard Sinclair	Caravan	(5:00)
Nine Feet Undergroud: Nigel Blows a Tune/Love's a Friend/Make It 76/Dan	Richard Coughlan, Jimmy Hastings, Pye Hastings, Dave Sinclair	Caravan	(22:44)
I Don't Know It's Name (Alias the Word) [#][*]	Richard Coughlan, Jimmy Hastings, Dave Sinclair, Pye Hastings, Richard Sinclair	Caravan	(6:10)
Aristocracy [#][*]	Dave Sinclair, Jimmy Hastings, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings, Richard Coughlan	Caravan	(3:43)
It's Likely to Have a Name Next Week/Winter Wine [#][*][Instrumental]	Pye Hastings, Dave Sinclair, Richard Coughlan, Richard Sinclair, Jimmy Hastings	Caravan	(7:48)
Group Girl [First Version][#][*]	Dave Sinclair, Richard Coughlan, Pye Hastings, Jimmy Hastings, Richard Sinclair	Caravan	(5:03)
Dissassociation/100% Proog [New Mix][*]	Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings, Dave Sinclair, Richard Coughlan, Jimmy Hastings	Caravan	(8:32)

Credits

Richard Sinclair (Vocals), Richard Coughlan (Percussion), Richard Sinclair (Guitar), Dave Grinsted (Wind), Dave Grinsted (Remixing), Peter Rynston (Remixing), John Tracy (Liner Notes), Dave Sinclair (Keyboards), Richard Sinclair (Guitar (Bass)), Pye Hastings (Group Member), Phil Smee (CD Package Design), Mark Powell (Tape Research), Richard Sinclair (Group Member), Andy Street (Project Coordinator), Richard Sinclair (Guitar (Acoustic)), Julian Gordon Hastings (Mixing), Alan Harris (Assistant Engineer), Pye Hastings (Vocals), John Tracy (Co-Coordinator), David Grinsted (Wind), David Grinsted (Engineer), Richard Coughlan (Drums), Pye Hastings (Guitar (Electric)), Phil Smee (Packaging), Mark Powell (Liner Notes), Jimmy Hastings (Sax (Tenor)), Dave Sinclair (Organ), Anthony Hawkins (Mastering), Richard Sinclair (Bass), Mark Powell (Compilation), Terry King (Producer), Derek Varnals (Overdub Engineer), Jimmy Hastings (Piccolo), David Grinsted (Bells), Dave Sinclair (Group Member), Richard Coughlan (Group Member), Dave Grinsted (Overdub Engineer), Dave Sinclair (Harpsichord), John Tracy (Research), David Hitchcock (Producer), Dave Sinclair (Vocal Harmony), Peter Rynston (Engineer), Dave Sinclair (Mellotron), Dave Grinsted (Overdubs), Dave Grinsted (Bells), Derek Varnals (Engineer), Jimmy Hastings (Group Member), Paschal Byrne (Remastering), Pye Hastings (Guitar), John Punter (Engineer), David Baker (Assistant Engineer), Dave Grinsted (?), John Punter (Rhythm Engineer), Jimmy Hastings (Saxophone), Richard Bennett Zeff (Cover Photo), Dave Grinsted (Engineer), Caravan (Producer), David Grinsted (Percussion), Dave Sinclair (Piano), Jimmy Hastings (Wind), Jimmy Hastings (Flute), Pye Hastings (Guitar (Acoustic))

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)