TRACKLIST
1 Hoedown (4:08)
2 Very Smelly Grubby Little Oik (3:28)
3 Bobbing Wide (3:01)
4 The Dog, The Dog, He's At It Again (6:01)
5 Stuck In A Hole (3:57)
6 Ride (7:27)
7 Nightmare (7:00)
8 Cthlu Thlu (7:03)
9 Bobbing Wide - Reprise (4:22)
Richard Goughlan (drums, percussion)
Pye Hastings (vocals, guitars, bass on track 8)
Geoffrey Richardson (viola,cello)
Dave Sinclair (keyboards)
Jim Leverton (bass on tracks 1-5,7,9)
Doug Boyle (lead guitar)
Jimmy Hastings (sax,flute,clarinet)
Julian Gordon Hastings (drum programming)
Hugh Hopper (bass on track 6)
year/format/label/cat/country
1999/CD/HTD Records/HTDCD102/UK
2000/CD/Transatlantic Records/TRACD325/UK
2000/CD/Castle Music/CMAR609/US
This is the second volume that the '90s reformation of Caravan has issued containing overhauled renditions of their most beloved material. As with the incipient volume All Over You, enthusiasts and purists alike will inevitably have differing opinions on their favorite music being presented in a sonically modern context. Fortunately, these tracks are rendered more often successfully than not. In contrast to the personnel on All Over You, this release features the '90s touring ensemble, adding noted sidemen Doug Boyle on lead guitar and bassist/vocalist Jim Leverton. Boyle's credentials include a high profile stint with Robert Plant's mid- to late-'80s solo band. Leverton has performed in seminal incarnations of Juicy Lucy, Fat Mattress, and Savoy Brown. Both display a tremendous grasp of Caravan's often quirky arrangements and peculiar performance styles. Their considerable skills may be a contributing factor to explaining why the modernization of the arrangements on this volume is nowhere nearly as jarring as it was on All Over You. ""Ride," chronologically the oldest track on this set, was originally issued in 1968 on Caravan's eponymously titled debut. Here it has been reworked in an Eastern-flavored acoustic motif that enhances the percussive nature of the original track. "The Dog the Dog He's at It Again" and "C'thlu Thlu" -- both from the ground- and genre-breaking For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night album -- are arguably the highlights of All Over You, Too. Boyle's raw and aggressive guitar licks update Caravan's sound without unwittingly becoming a parody akin to Spinal Tap. Also worthy of mention are the inclusion of a few oft overlooked mid-'70s tracks, most notably "Bobbing Wide" and "A Very Smelly Grubby Little Oik" from the 1976 Blind Dog at St. Dunstans long-player, as well as "Nightmare" from Better by Far. These compositions were wisely resurrected and benefit greatly from this new infusion of energy and talent.
Lindsay Planer (ALLMUSIC)
Re-Worked Gems
This is a curious little CD. Instead of putting out an album of new material, the late 90's version of Caravan decided to go back and re-record new studio versions of 9 previously released songs. At the time the band consisted of Pye Hastings, Doug Boyle, Jim Leverton, Geoffery Richardson, Dave Sinclair, and Richard Coughlan. Hugh Hopper also appears on one track. I don't really have any other information on this album as to why they decided to do it or what the circumstances were. I really like this album. Not being familiar with most of the studio versions I have nothing to compare it with, so most of it is new to me. Of the songs I do know "Very Smelly Oik...", "Stuck In A Hole", I like the new versions. There are some great jams on this record with "The Dog, He's At It Again", "Ride" and "Nightmare" standing out. Caravan even tries its hand a metal with "Ctulu Thlu" with though heavier than anything I have heard them do before, really works well. Bottom line......I like this a lot.
Steven Sly 24.11.2006 5/5 (AMAZON)
Released in 2000, this is a studio reworking of many old Caravan songs. It is about 48 minutes long and the sound quality is excellent. When I bought this I did not have high hopes. I thought it was a live album and the track listing was not that impressive. It is mostly a collection of songs from Girls Who Go Plump through Blind Dog and not the best songs from those albums. Many of the late 1990s live albums (like Live at the Astoria) had not been that good. But, they really put new life into these songs. The are played with a new energy. There are some great guitar solos and keyboards. I don't know how this was recorded, but it almost sounds like a "live in the studio" album. I think that Cunning Stunts was the last great Caravan album, but the follow up, Blind Dog, was not bad. Then came a bunch of bad albums with Pye Hastings doing most of the song writing. The exception was The Album, which featured songs by Dave Sinclair, Geoffrey Richardson and Jan Schelhaas whitch were all very good. There had been some good and some bad live albums put out since 1980s. This album rates up there with the best of Caravan.
VINE VOICE 15.01.2012 5/5 (AMAZON)
All over you .. Part 2. This is re-visiting the next period (Girls , Stunts era) and this actually is more interesting than the previous one which had more difficulties honouring the tracks from the first three albums. A reworking of Thlu in this album helped me appreciate the original one better. Oik is actually from the Dunstan album.
Sean Trane 02.02.2004 3/5 (PROGARCHIVES)
The real Kings of Canterbury (nah not Soft Machine) take another trip down memory lane and revisit earlier songs. From Girls: Hoedown, Cthu thlu, The Dog's at it again From Cunning Stunts: Stuck in a Hole From Bling Dog at St Dunstans: A very smelly, grubby litle oik From Better BY Far: Nightmare Well I'll happily be in a minority of one with this one: i think this album is absolutely great fun. it's hard not to smile at the exuberance and Caravan are one of my favourite prog bands (although I've hardly reviewed any of their albums yet). This absolutely the wrong one with which to start. Having said that .... Very Smelly Grubby Little Oik is a merry upbeat humorous track. Infectious. I've played it at parties, in between modern numbers: it always gets a great reaction. A nice cathcy guitar riff and with Jim Leverton and Richard Coughlan the rhythm is mesmeric. Bobbing Wide is a real mood change, as the band switch to a more sophisticated sound. The Dog brings us back to the classic Canterbury sound. Pye Hastings' charactersitic restrained understated vocal is the antithesis of the flash front man. Doug Boyle really adds dome spice to this track for the heavier proggers but this is and remains firmly within the Canterbury Scene. I think the stand out factor about this album is the new dynamic that Doug Boyle brings to the equation. It has been a revelation to me. hear it in this album and watch the DVDs: incredible - it just really works. I suppose it helps that he has obviously had a vulcan mind meld with Geoffrey Richardson. Here you have a genuinely grat prog band with a bona fide lead guitarist in a combination that is greater than the sum of its parts (unlike the awesome Trevor Rabin & Yes partnership).
obiter 03.10.2007 4/5 (PROGARCHIVES)
Caravan's "All Over You...Too" is the second reunited return to their beloved songs from the early 70s. The guitar work is heavier and more up to date but the same Caravan spirit is here in all the tracks, I adore this version of 'Cthlu Thlu' which is much darker than the original and has an incredible time sig change and killer riff. The nasty laugh at the end augments the portentous impending doomy atmosphere. There are some incredible moments on this album. Hoedown and Very Smelly Grubby Little Oik sound terrific with the heavier guitars, Hastings vocals are fabulous. The dog the dog he's at it again is an excellent version of the classic. Stuck in a hole has a great lead break and very powerful guitar work. Doug Boyle is a key factor to the heavier sound and it is a welcome change darkening the music that is usually lighter and giving it a razor's edge to make these versions some of the best the band have played, 'Cthlu Thlu' is masterful and one of the best Caravan songs. Nightmare is a well executed throwback to the classic version and it ends with a reprise of Bobbing wide (Reprise). I was surprised and delighted at the dynamic enthusiasm and vibrant energy of the band even in their twilight years. They still inject humour and potent instrumental breaks in the songs making them one of the genuine survivors of the 70s Canterbury prog movement.
AtomicCrimsonRush 07.06.2010 3/5 (PROGARCHIVES)