IF I COULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, I'D DO IT ALL OVER YOU

I had long been into 70s rock music and prog rock when I listened to this album for the first time. It remains one of the biggest shock I ever had. At the time, I could not imagine an album from an obscure band could rival with the classic album of King Crimson or Yes. How wrong could I be ! This is one of my top ten favourite rock album, and one of my top 3 prog rock album. Definitely Caravan's best, although the first and Land of Grey and Pink also have their merits. There are several distinctive features in this album. Firstly, it sounds like a single musical piece, and not like a series of song. It is not only that they are woven together, or that a theme echoes in several songs, it is just that you never can say where a song ends or when it begins, with plentiful of rythm and instrumental variations. Surprise is indeed another notable feature of this album. You must have listened to the album a few dozen times before you can predict what's gonna happen. Melody is striking too. Unlike many prog rock achievements, If I could do it... always remains close to pop music. It even sounds cheerful at times. Finally, lightness is the reason why this album is a step ahead of the prog rock bunch. It is never aggressive, or heavy, and yet full of energy (lightness in itself is not a quality, but it is strikingly scarce in prog rock). If your CD shelf is at least 4 inches wide, If I Could Do it... ought to be in it !