Better by Far
Encyclopedia
Better by Far is a 1977 release by Canterbury scene
rock
band Caravan
. (See 1977 in music
.)
Canterbury Scene
The Canterbury scene is a term used to loosely describe the group of progressive rock, avant-garde and jazz musicians, many of whom were based around the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Caravan
Caravan (band)
Caravan are an English band from the Canterbury area, founded by former Wilde Flowers members David Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Pye Hastings and Richard Coughlan. Caravan rose to success over a period of several years from 1968 onwards into the 1970s as part of the Canterbury scene, blending...
. (See 1977 in music
1977 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1977.-January–February:*January 1 – The Clash headline the gala opening of the London music club, The Roxy....
.)
Side one
- "Feelin' Alright" (Pye HastingsPye HastingsJulian Frederick Gordon 'Pye' Hastings is a British musician. He is the guitarist, vocalist and leader of the Canterbury scene band Caravan and brother of Jimmy Hastings.-References:...
) – 3:31 - "Behind You" (Hastings) – 5:04
- "Better by Far" (Hastings) – 3:27
- "Silver Strings" (Geoff RichardsonGeoff RichardsonPeter Geoffrey Richardson , is a viola player and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work with Caravan, Murray Head and the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.-Career:...
) – 3:58 - "The Last Unicorn" (Richardson) – 5:52
Side two
- "Give Me More" (Hastings) – 4:40
- "Man in a Car" (Jan SchelhaasJan SchelhaasJan Russell Schelhaas is an English musician, mostly known as the keyboard player from the bands Caravan and Camel....
) – 5:43 - "Let It Shine" (Hastings) – 4:27
- "Nightmare" (Hastings) – 6:23
Personnel
- Richard CoughlanRichard CoughlanRichard Coughlan is an English musician, best known as the drummer and percussionist of the Canterbury scene progressive rock band Caravan. He was one of the founding members of Caravan in 1968 and has remained with the band for its over 35-year existence...
– Drums, Percussion - Pye HastingsPye HastingsJulian Frederick Gordon 'Pye' Hastings is a British musician. He is the guitarist, vocalist and leader of the Canterbury scene band Caravan and brother of Jimmy Hastings.-References:...
– Vocals, Guitars - Dek Messecar – Bass, Backing Vocals
- Geoff Richardson – Viola, Guitars, Flute, Sitar, Mandolin, Vocals
- Jan SchelhaasJan SchelhaasJan Russell Schelhaas is an English musician, mostly known as the keyboard player from the bands Caravan and Camel....
– Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Additional musicians
- Vicki BrownVicki Brown (singer)Vicki Brown was an English pop, rock and contemporary classical singer. She is best known for her membership of both The Vernons Girls and The Breakaways, and as one of the UK's most enduring backing vocalists...
– Vocals on "Give Me More" - Fiona Hibbert – Harp on "Man in a Car"
- Tony ViscontiTony ViscontiAnthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
– Recorders on "The Last Unicorn"; Electric double bass on "Man in a Car"
Releases
- 1977 - LP - Arista - 4134
- 1977 - LP - Arista - 1008
- 2005 - CD - Eclectic Discs - 1018
- 2004 - CD - Eclectic Discs - 1018
- 2005 - CD - Eclectic Discs - 230456