Cunning Stunts (Caravan album)

Last updated

Cunning Stunts
Caravan - Cunning Stunts.jpg
Studio album by
Released25 July 1975
RecordedSeptember 1974 – May 1975
StudioTollington Park Studios, London
Genre Progressive rock, Canterbury scene
Length41:47
Label Decca
Producer David Hitchcock
Caravan chronology
Caravan and the New Symphonia
(1974)
Cunning Stunts
(1975)
Blind Dog at St. Dunstans
(1976)

Cunning Stunts is the sixth studio album by the progressive rock band Caravan, released in 1975. It was their first album with the bass guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Mike Wedgwood. The title of the album is a spoonerism for "Stunning Cunts", which is typical of their cheeky use of language. Three previous Caravan albums with titles that are also sexual plays on words[ citation needed ] are If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You (1970), In the Land of Grey and Pink (1971) and For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night (1973).

Contents

Background and recording

For a stretch of several days David Hitchcock was simultaneously producing Cunning Stunts and Renaissance's Scheherazade and Other Stories , so that he would have to work on Cunning Stunts at Tollington Park Studios during the day and on Scheherazade and Other Stories at Abbey Road Studios at night, an arrangement which Hitchcock felt negatively impacted both albums. [1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

AllMusic described it as "a solid, varied, and interesting album with plenty of character." [2]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Show of Our Lives"John Murphy, Dave Sinclair 5:47
2."Stuck in a Hole"Pye Hastings3:09
3."Lover"Mike Wedgwood5:06
4."No Backstage Pass"Pye Hastings4:34
5."Welcome the Day"Mike Wedgwood4:01
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Dabsong Conshirtoe"
a.  "The Mad Dabsong" (2:15)
b.  "Ben Karratt Rides Again" (2:42)
c.  "Pro's and Con's" (2:29)
d.  "Wraiks and Ladders" (0:58)
e.  "Sneaking out the Bare Quare" (4:25)
f.  "All Sorts of Unmentionable Things" (5:11)
John Murphy, Dave Sinclair 18:00
2."Fear and Loathing in Tollington Park Rag"Geoffrey Richardson1:10
Bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
8."Stuck in a Hole" (single version)Pye Hastings3:10
9."Keeping Back My Love"Pye Hastings5:14
10."For Richard" (Live at the Fairfield Halls, 1974) Richard Coughlan, Hastings, Sinclair, Richard Sinclair 18:34

Personnel

Caravan in 1974. From left to right: Hastings, Richardson, Wedgwood, Coughlan, Sinclair. Caravan, 1974.jpg
Caravan in 1974. From left to right: Hastings, Richardson, Wedgwood, Coughlan, Sinclair.
Caravan [3]
Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1975)Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC) [4] 50
US Billboard 200 [5] 124

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caravan (band)</span> English band from the Canterbury area

Caravan are an English rock band from the Canterbury area, founded by former Wilde Flowers members David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings, and Richard Coughlan in 1968. The band have never achieved the great commercial success that was widely predicted for them at the beginning of their career, but are nevertheless considered a key part of the Canterbury scene of progressive rock acts, blending psychedelic rock, jazz, and classical influences to create a distinctive sound.

<i>Rain Dances</i> 1977 studio album by Camel

Rain Dances is the fifth studio album by English progressive rock band Camel. It was released in 1977 on Gama Records/Decca Records, and brought a major change to the band's lineup, by replacing bassist Doug Ferguson with ex-Caravan member Richard Sinclair and by adding saxophonist Mel Collins, formerly of King Crimson.

<i>In the Land of Grey and Pink</i> 1971 studio album by Caravan

In the Land of Grey and Pink is the third album by English progressive rock band Caravan, released in April 1971 on Deram Records. It was produced by David Hitchcock and was the last album to feature the original lineup of Richard Coughlan, Pye Hastings, Richard Sinclair and Dave Sinclair until 1982's Back to Front.

James Brian Gordon Hastings was a British musician associated with the Canterbury scene who played saxophones, flute and clarinet.

<i>Waterloo Lily</i> 1972 studio album by Caravan

Waterloo Lily is the fourth album by Caravan, released in 1972 on the Deram label.

<i>For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night</i> 1973 studio album by Caravan

For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night is the fifth studio album released by the Canterbury scene band Caravan. Richard Sinclair and Steve Miller left the band prior to the recording of this album. They were replaced by John G. Perry and the returning Dave Sinclair. Viola player Geoff Richardson was added to the band.

<i>If I Could Do It All Over Again, Id Do It All Over You</i> 1970 studio album by Caravan

If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You is the second album by Canterbury scene band Caravan, released in September 1970. The album is representative of the Canterbury scene genre, featuring representative organ solos and melodic vocals typical of the band's style. The album was released on Decca Records, as was the title track as a single release.

<i>Caravan</i> (Caravan album) 1969 music album by Caravan

Caravan is the debut album by the British Canterbury scene and progressive rock band Caravan. It was released by Verve Forecast in January 1969 and was the group's only album for the label.

<i>Scheherazade and Other Stories</i> 1975 studio album by Renaissance

Scheherazade and Other Stories is the sixth studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance, released in 1975. Some critics consider it their best album, although others prefer earlier albums. This is the first album in which Renaissance did not use quotes from actual classical pieces and the first not to feature any songwriting credits from the original members. Contrary to popular belief, "Song of Scheherazade" is not based on Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, but does have a brief recurring motif that alludes to that work.

<i>Blind Dog at St. Dunstans</i> 1976 studio album by Caravan

Blind Dog at St. Dunstans is the seventh studio album by Canterbury Scene rock band Caravan. It was released in 1976.

<i>Surprise Supplies</i> 1999 live album by Caravan

In 1976, Caravan played concerts to support the release of their latest album Blind Dog at St. Dunstans (1976). A recording of the show at the New Victoria Theatre in London on 4 May 1976 was released as Surprise Supplies featuring songs from Blind Dog at St. Dunstans plus "Love in Your Eye" from the 1972 album Waterloo Lily.

<i>Another Time, Another Place</i> (Bryan Ferry album) 1974 studio album by Bryan Ferry

Another Time, Another Place was Bryan Ferry's second studio album as a solo artist. The album reached #4 in the UK charts in 1974.

<i>Live at the Fairfield Halls, 1974</i> 2002 live album by Caravan

Live at the Fairfield Halls, 1974 is a live album by Caravan. It remained unreleased in the UK until 2002, though most of the set was issued as a double vinyl LP in France and Germany called The Best of Caravan "Live" in 1980. This issue is now very rare and was only available for 3 years. This live set happened to be the first time Mike Wedgwood had played bass for the band.

<i>The Show of Our Lives – Caravan at the BBC 1968–1975</i> 2007 live album by Caravan

The Show of Our Lives – Caravan at the BBC 1968–1975 is a double album of tracks recorded for the BBC in the period 1968–1975, for John Peel's Top Gear, amongst others by the British Canterbury scene progressive rock band Caravan.

<i>BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert</i> (Caravan album) 1991 live album by Caravan

BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert is the 1991 album released by Caravan. It was recorded live on 21 March 1975 at the Paris Theatre, London.

<i>The Battle of Hastings</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Caravan

The Battle of Hastings is the twelfth album by the British Canterbury scene progressive rock band Caravan, released in 1995.

<i>Live: Canterbury Comes to London</i> 1999 live album by Caravan

Canterbury Comes to London: Live from Astoria is a live album by the progressive rock band Caravan from 17 September 1997 at The Astoria, London, being released 20 April 1999.

<i>Ether Way</i> 1998 live album by Caravan

Ether Way: BBC Sessions 1975-77 is a live album by the progressive rock band Caravan released 1998.

Dave Hitchcock is an English former record producer working with such bands as Genesis, Caravan, Camel, Curved Air and Renaissance.

<i>New Vintage</i> (Maynard Ferguson album) 1977 studio album by Maynard Ferguson

New Vintage is the tenth studio album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, released in 1977 on Columbia Records. The title is likely an allusion to new recordings of two 'vintage' titles included in the track list. "Maria" was first recorded on Maynard '62, and "Airegin" was first recorded in 1964 for the album Color Him Wild. The front cover plays on this theme, presenting a trumpet in an ice bucket in place of a bottle of champagne, while on the back cover, the cork is seen popping out of the trumpet's bell.

References

  1. Dome, Malcolm (2021). Scheherazade and Other (Booklet). Renaissance. Cherry Red Records Ltd. p. 10.
  2. 1 2 Planer, Lindsay. Cunning Stunts at AllMusic
  3. Caravan, Cunning Stunts (1975), vinyl LP cover notes
  4. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  5. "Caravan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2023.