Live UK Tour '75

This vintage performance is particularly noteworthy for Caravan enthusiasts due to the unique personnel featuring an early appearance by keyboardist Jan Schelhaas, who replaced co-founder David Sinclair after the recording of Cunning Stunts (1975), but prior to the band's support tour in the fall and winter of 1975. The show contained here took place December 5th, 1975, at Nottingham Polytechnic for the expressed purpose of a radio broadcast in support of the album. As such, the set fittingly commences with a spot-on reading of the LP's opener, "The Show of Our Lives." Matching the attendees audible enthusiasm, Caravan give the mid-tempo rocker a thorough and energetic workout, despite a moment or two of questionable vocal intonations from Pye Hastings. His guitar craft, however, is nothing short of stellar. The well-defined mix on this CD accentuates his electric fretwork as he dances behind the solid rhythm section of Mike Wedgewood (bass) and Richard Coughlan (drums). Live UK Tour 1975 (2003) also includes a healthy sampling of earlier material, most notably a full-throttle throw-down on the medley of "Memory Lain, Hugh" and "Headloss," as well as the equally inspired coupling of "Be Alright Now" and "Chance Of A Lifetime," all of which were derived from the excellent For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night (1973) studio platter. Caravan reach slightly further back for a sinuous reading of "The Love in Your Eye" from Waterloo Lily (1972), and all the way to If I Could Do It All Over Again I'd Do It All Over You (1970) for a driving and well jammed out version of the typical Caravan show closer, "For Richard." The single CD is accompanied by an eight-page liner booklet with a biographical essay and previously unpublished photographs. While the ultimate live Caravan release remains Live at the Fairfield Halls, 1974 (2002), both hardcore collectors and curious listeners are particularly well-served by Live UK Tour 1975.