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

A fantastic Caravan album that is one of the best Canterbury albums of 1970. The music is inventive and there are enormous amounts of virtuosos musicianship throughout. The highlights are in abundance and have impacted the band for years, still remaining in recent concert set lists. This is vibrant music with an uplifting bright feel. The musicians are tight and the songs are infectious, and it all feel very progressive with creative time sig structures and some of the best lyrics the band have generated.

Of course with Caravan there is always a feeling of whimsy in the lyrics and themes and all is performed with a sense of fun. The band have so much fun that the listener is also able to enjoy the experience.

The title track is a classic, "If I could do it all over again, I'd do it all over you" and only has a running time of about 3 minutes. The more lengthy And I wish I were stoned - Don't worry, clocking 8 minutes 21, is definitely an ear opener with some innovative instrumentals from the talented guitarist extraordinare Pye Hastings and David Sinclair on keys. As with all classic Caravan albums this one has the obligatory medley of songs jammed onto one track such as With an ear to the ground you can make it / Martinian / Only cox / Reprise, almost 10 minutes o prog bliss. But the real piece de resistance is the treasure all caravan fans adore, Can't be long now / Françoise / For Richard / Warlock, a 14 minute maelstrom of catchy choruses and mind blowing keyboards.

That is enough to warrant a 4 star rating and I would suggest all Canterbury fans obtain this master work as soon as they can.