IN THE LAND OF GREY AND PINK

busy schedule and the ever increasing popularity of Caravan did not deter them from adding to their repertoire. In the Land of Grey and Pink is Caravan at their peak, producing a cocktail of simple northern-English pop and complex progressive rock.

Richard Sinclair's "Golf Girl" hits you with its catchy tune and baffling lyrics, but the real treat comes from his second song "Winter Wine". A song of fairy tales and dreams it initially went under the working title of "It's likely to have a name next week" and was also without lyrics for a long time, the vocal melody being hummed by Richard.

"We tended to come up with the music first and the lyrics were usually the last thing to be finished," explains Pye. "I think that "Winter Wine" is probably the finest song Richard Sinclair has ever written."

Pye's own contribution was through "Love to Love You", after having written most of the material in the previous albums he only wrote the one song on In the Land of Grey and Pink, which could be considered a Caravan version of a pop single. Pye's brother Jimmy is again brilliant with the flute and a piccolo solo in Golf Girl.

"In the Land of Grey and Pink" is my favourite and most enduring song by Caravan. including a bubble blowing solo by Richard. It has become a song to sing along to after a good night out with friends and without a doubt the mysterious, mischievous and upbeat sound that you expect of Caravan.

The 22 minute side-two opus that is Nine Feet Underground was recorded in five distinct sections and skilfully edited by David Hitchcock and Dave Grinsted. Considered a successor to "For Richard" (If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You), the bizarre names given to each movement such as "Dance of the Seven Paper Hankies" and "Hold Grandad By The Nose" added to the albums mystique.

In the Land of Grey and Pink being polished off by a Tolkien-esque illustration by Anne-Marie Anderson as the album art and the CD containing 5 bonus tracks, including the first version of "Golf Girl" and two previously unreleased tracks this is a must have. I'd recommend anyone such a Canterbury classic from what at the time was an underrated album from an underrated band. Caravan!