Richard Sinclair

A great bassist and one of the most wonderful voices of english prog and jazz.

Being a key figure and vocalist in Cantebury bands like Caravan, Hatfield and the North (as well as Camel, National Health, Wilde Flowers) and playing bass on Robert Wyatt's masterpiece Rock Bottom should secure his legendary status atleast within the prog community.

I've noticed lately that my two other favorites Robert Wyatt as well as Peter Hammill seems to be getting some well deserved acknowledgement even in the more classic rock oriented press.

Richard Sinclair is often forgotten even in this forum in polls and discussions about who's the best vocalist etc. So lets talk about him.

To start off, here's three of my favorites, from very different parts of his career:

Caravan: As I Feel I Die - Classic Cantebury from their second album. Great song, sung by Pye Hastings. Listen to the subtle bassline.

Hatfield and the North: Halfway Beetween Heaven and Earth - Bonus song on The Rotter's Club CD. Sinclair's voice is funny and melancholic at the same time. Maybe the best example of his vocal virtouosity. Stream it here on this site.

Camel: Summer Lightning - From '78. Not a popular song at all here I know, almost disco or Steely Dan sounding. But I love the vocals and the long guitarsolo.

I hope this unsung hero is doing well, and having a nice life somewhere.  

 
  



Edited by Rocktopus - April 26 2006 at 16:51

I agree, beautifull voice, very emotional. My favourite is And I Wish I Were Stoned by Caravan.

He's a pretty good songwriter as well - he contributed quite a lot to In The Land Of Grey and Pink, after Pye Hastings had written the b*** of the first two Caravan albums, and also wrote a few little Canterbury gems for Hatfield and the North. Somewhat underrated, if we're still allowed to use the term on here.

I like him very much. Nice voice and nice bass playing. I love Caravan and Camel.

He's still going, I saw him with Hatfield and the North last year and he was outstanding.  I got to meet him after the show as well and speak to him (as well as get my CD signed), he's a cool guy and so is his wife, who was running the merchandise stand.

Another legend, I am so glad I got the chance to see and meet him.  A great concert too and Halfway Between Heaven and Earth was a great performance (it, at the time, being one of the few Hatfields tunes I knew).  He said he almost did a Caravan song, but Phil Miller apparently didn't know it, now that's hard to believe!

And I Wish I was Stoned  and Winter Wine is also great. I could have picked almost any song from 'If I Could..' or 'Grey and Pink'.

To Caravan classics but Hatfield and the North (not counting Wyatt's Rock Bottom) is my favorite Sinclair band. Share it is the funniest albumopener I've heard.

I think the term underrated must be allowed in this case, because that is exactly what he is. There is a thread here called 'What is so good about The Rotter's Club?'. Well I think its full of intersting musical ideas, humour and melancholy, wonderful singing and playing, great melodies, its original and genre defining. Its also a complex listening pleasure that takes time to get into. And when you get into it there's always something new to discover, which means you never have to grow tired of it. 

I guess I think he should be a too well known and respected legend for fans to even have the guts to walk up to him and have a chat, Geck0.

Great to see another fan of Secret Chiefs 3 here as well, Tenth Chaffinch. Book of Horizons is my (one of my few) prog album favorite from the last couple of years.

Has anyone heard The Wilde Flowers? They sure have an interesting line up.


Edited by Rocktopus - April 27 2006 at 04:34

Dirk wrote: Richard Sinclair is one of the very best singers i know of in Prog .

Indeed, a very soft, gentle and pleasant voice.
The english hippie dandy!

    

Trendkill_md wrote: I agree, beautifull voice, very emotional. My favourite is And I Wish I Were Stoned by Caravan.

Got to agree with all the sentiments here!

I love his singing. His voice is the voice of british humor. And his bass playing is great. Especially on aristocracy.