Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Caravan
Label: Decca Records
Released: 1975
Running time: 41:47
Rating: 4.5/5
Around the turn of the seventies, Caravan were hitting their artistic zenith, while their popularity was at its peak in loads of Western and Central European countries, where they had no trouble filling prestigious concert halls. »Cunning Stunts« was the sixth studio album from these one-of-a-kind progressive rock pioneers. In keeping with the tradition of its illustrious predecessors »If I Could Do It All Over Again I Would Do It All Over You« (1970) and »For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night« (1973), it came with a title built on a sexually tantalizing pun. »Cunning Stunts« is a play on »Stunning Cunts«, which means the prog rock champions from Canterbury didn’t let up one bit on dishing out their trademark sexually provocative, and often pitch-black, humor. The album’s original title was supposed to be »Toys in the Attic«, but Aerosmith beat them to it.
»Cunning Stunts« was also their first studio album with bassist/vocalist Mike Wedgwood. He joined around the time of the live album »Live at the Fairfield Halls, 1974« (officially released only in 2002), which was his first recorded document with Caravan. Wedgwood proudly carried on the legacy of bass greats Richard Sinclair and John Perry, and now and then helped guitarist/vocalist and the band’s unofficial boss Pye Hastings with the vocal lines.
»Cunning Stunts« was a successful stylistic continuation of their earlier fusion-flavored adventures, meaning it’s a supremely tasteful collage of hard-hitting rock, jazz, symphonic music and folk, with a slight influence from some of the musical trends of the day, funk above all, so you can even catch a whiff of early disco rhythms in places. And the prog rock super-epic suite is there too. This time it comes as the closing masterpiece »The Dabsong Conshirtoe«, without a doubt the centerpiece of the whole album. It’s split into six strikingly varied and complex sections, where the arranging and technical skills of the Canterbury champions shine in the best possible light, which puts it right up there with their finest prog rock epics.
Besides their outstanding technical chops, Caravan always had a remarkable knack for crafting melodic, symphonically seasoned arrangements, while an indispensable sense of cheeky humor and a distinct streak of positivity made them completely unique among the like-minded bands of the Canterbury family. All these virtues shine in full light already on the opening treat »The Show Of Our Lives«, an outstanding blend of melodic vocal harmonies and ethereal symphonic arrangements, courtesy of the legendary Dave Sinclair. Pye’s lengthy guitar solo, set amid a solemn atmosphere and festive harmonies, further boosted by ringing bells, gives this Caravan classic plenty of depth. »Stuck in a Hole«, yet another specimen of sexually spiced-up cheekiness, is also a Caravan evergreen that long ago became a household favorite, full of rowdy rhythms, with the wild viola of Geoffrey Richardson standing out big time. The vocal harmonies are brilliant once again, while Mr. Sinclair provides a generous dose of keyboard trickery on the mini moog.
On the symphonically crafted love ballad »Lover«, where Wedgwood takes over the vocal baton, you can also feel a breath of glam over the elegant piano arrangements, which, with the arrival of extra keyboards and electric viola, tip into downright orchestral grandeur. Wedgwood’s voice is very similar to Hastings’s, just an octave lower, so it’s sometimes pretty hard to tell them apart. Next comes a direct segue into »No Backstage Pass«, a burlesque allusion to the traumatic consequences of too much fame, and a much more melodramatic number. Pye’s ethereal vocal builds up the serene ambient magic of the intro, while varied symphonic flourishes and Wedgwood’s rattling bass lines accompany it eagerly in the background. A lot of Canterbury and prog fans in general often forget what a superb guitarist Mr. Hastings was (and still is), and on this track another brilliant solo reminds us once again. On the funk-tinged experiment »Welcome the Day«, where Wedgwood once more convincingly takes the lead vocal, they come close to disco rhythms before disco even got really popular.
The reissue of »Cunning Stunts« deserves special attention, as besides an alternate version of »Stuck in a Hole« it adds two very interesting pieces, »Keeping Back My Love« and a superb live rendition of the epic masterpiece »For Richard«, which has been a Caravan live classic since day one. This fusion evergreen was dedicated to original bassist/vocalist Richard Sinclair, Dave’s cousin, who later became famous as a member of Hatfield and the North, Camel and Caravan of Dreams.
For reasons that were never quite explained, »Cunning Stunts« often gets overlooked when people list the best studio achievements of the Canterbury greats. Caravan were still at their artistic peak back then, cementing their position, while plenty of their more popular prog rock peers were slowly starting to slide downhill in artistic and commercial terms. Maybe the presence of ‘more modern’ funk elements is to blame for many prog purists usually keeping their distance from this classic by one of the most versatile, unique and upbeat bands in the history of experimental music. After »Cunning Stunts«, Dave Sinclair left Caravan again and briefly worked with The Polite Force. His replacement was Jan Schelhaas (ex-National Head Band, Gary Moore, later Camel).
Lineup
Pye Hastings – electric and acoustic guitar, vocals
Richard Coughlan – drums
Dave Sinclair – keyboards
Mike Wedgwood – bass guitar, congas, vocals
Geoffery Richardson – viola, electric guitar, concert flute, flute
GUEST MUSICIAN:
Jimmy Hastings – wind arranger, alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet
Production
David Hitchcock
Track list
1. The Show of Our Lives
2. Stuck in a Hole
3. Lover
4. No Backstage Pass
5. Welcome the Day
6. The Dabsong Conshirtoe
a. The Mad Dabsong
b. Ben Karratt Rides Again
c. Pro’s and Con’s
d. Wraiks and Ladders
e. Sneaking Out the Bare Quare
f. All Sorts of Unmentionable Things
7. Fear and Loathing in Tollington Park Rag
