Canterburied Sounds

Canterburied Sounds is a series of four CDs of archival Canterbury scene recordings compiled from the private collection of Brian Hopper. The set includes some of the earliest-known recordings of Caravan, Soft Machine, Robert Wyatt, and Wilde Flowers.

Canterburied Sounds
Compilation album by
various
ReleasedJanuary 1998
GenreCanterbury scene
Length4:53:35
LabelVoiceprint Records (VP201-204)

Editions

The first edition in 1998 was released as four separate CDs. In 2013 Voiceprint reissued the four discs in a single boxed set.

Cover

The cover watercolor painting of Canterbury Cathedral is by Leslie Hopper, father of Brian and Hugh Hopper. Other watercolors by Leslie Hopper have been featured on Hugh Hopper’s official website.[1] In 1978 Hugh and his father published a book of his church paintings.[2]

Tracks

The notes are excerpted from extensive comments on each track by Brian Hopper.

Volume 1: Canterburied Sounds

TrackTitleArtistComposerNotesRecording DateLength
1Feelin’, Reelin’, Squealin’CaravanKevin Ayers"Recorded live at The Foundry in Jewry Lane, Canterbury immediately following the Caravan's second LP"196910:19
2MummieRobert Wyatt & Brian HopperRobert Wyatt & Brian Hopper"An improvised duet of guitar & vocals, switching speeds on the tape recorder whilst recording"late 1962/early 19634:31
3Da-Da-Dee/Bolivar BluesMike Ratledge & Robert Wyattunknown/Thelonious Monk“piano & drums duet with some argument on the choice of key”early 196311:56
4OrientasianBrian Hopper & Robert WyattBrian Hopper"duet for my newly-acquired soprano sax and Robert Wyatt on electric guitar"1967/684:03
5You Really Got MeWilde FlowersRay Davies"Early rehearsal of Wilde Flowers with probably the first-ever recording of Kevin Ayers singing"summer 19643:53
6Thinking of You BabyWilde FlowersDave Clark"We had to learn a repertoire of current, popular songs to get local gigs"summer 19645:20
7Man in a Deaf CornerBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper, Mike Ratledge, & Robert WyattBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper, Mike Ratledge, & Robert Wyatt"Part of a long and spontaneous improvisation, with Mike showing a heavy Cecil Taylor influence"late 1962/early 19635:05
8If I Ever Leave YouZobeBrian Hopper“From a live performance by my late sixties/early seventies band Zobe”19706:15
9Stop Me & Play OneRobert Wyatt & unknown guitaristunknown“No-one seems to be able to recall the name of the quirky guitarist — there were SO MANY musicians passing through”1963/19643:45
10Piano Standards 1Mike Ratledgevarious“Few people will have heard Mike play like this, but it does show the all-round musical experience that Mike had absorbed”19643:36
11Belsize ParkedBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper, & Robert WyattBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper, & Robert Wyatt“Wellington House provided the opportunity for us to ‘blow’ for hours and develop a rare musical intimacy”late 1963/early 19649:19
12SummertimeCaravanGeorge Gershwin & Ira Gershwin“Another ‘live at the Foundry’ gig with a number that was an early Caravan showcase”19697:16

Volume 2: All Roads Lead Back to Canterbury

TrackTitleArtistComposerNotesRecording DateLength
1CarazobeCaravan & ZobeJohn Larner, Pye Hastings & Brian Hopper"Pye suggested several members of Zobe join in on an extended blow during a joint gig in East Kent"197016:19
2Instant PussyRobert WyattRobert Wyatt“Robert described this as his answer to Leonard Cohen!"19693:16
3Esther’s Nose JobSoft MachineMike Ratledge"Demo tape provided to me so I could work out the sax lines for Volume Two"January 19699:33
4MoorishRobert Wyatt & Brian HopperRobert Wyatt & Brian Hopper"A semi-improvised piece with an Iberian feel, with Robert switching between piano, cornet and finally guitar"late 1962/early 19638:33
5SummertimeMike Ratledge & Robert WyattGeorge Gershwin & Ira Gershwin"Another of several versions in my archive tapes"early 19634:24
6Indian Rope ManZobeRichie Havens"The band had to rehearse a selection of covers to provide sufficient variety for live gigs — which were few and far between"19704:36
7Drum SoloRobert WyattRobert Wyatt"Robert working out some interesting drum patterns — even at this comparatively early stage his drumming technique was impressive"probably 19631:39
8Mirror For The DayPye HastingsPye Hastings“Pye working out the orchestral string arrangements for Mirror For The Day19731:26
9Love Song with CelloRobert Wyatt plus othersRobert Wyatt“Robert showing his seemingly endless versatility with an excursion on cello coupled with vocalisations”1963/19644:18
10As I Feel I DieCaravanPye Hastings, Dave Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, & Richard Coughlan“Another track from the Foundry gig in Canterbury19694:45
11Where But For Caravan Would ICaravanBrian Hopper & Pye Hastings“A song adapted from one of my early compositions entitled How Many Tears196911:59

Volume 3: A Kinship of Sounds

TrackTitleArtistComposerNotesRecording DateLength
1Slow Walkin’ TalkRobert Wyatt & Jimi HendrixBrian Hopper“Robert was laying down demo tracks of organ, drum and vocal when Jimi wandering in and suggested doing the bass on Noel’s bass”October 19683:02
2FreneticaMike Ratledge & Robert WyattMike Ratledge & Robert Wyatt“A largely improvised piece in which Robert supplies plenty of drive”1963/19644:21
3Idle ChatMike Ratledge & Robert Wyattn.a.“The tape remained running while Robert expounded enthusiastically about the style of the drummer of Peter Jay & the Jaywalkers, a popular group of the sixties”1963/19641:32
43/4 Blues Thing in FMike Ratledge & Robert WyattMike Ratledge & Robert Wyatt“This is the number resulting from the previous deliberation”1963/19644:17
5More Idle ChatZoben.a.“Another time when the tape was left running”summer 19703:48
6The Pieman ComethZobeBrian Hopper“Written at the end of the Wilde Flowers era, although never performed by them”summer 19706:02
7Liu-BaRobert Wyatt, Brian Hopper, Hugh Hopper plus unknown guitaristBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper & Robert Wyatt“Another session with the unknown guitarist, although there are suggestions it could be Daevid Allen19638:36
8Kansas City/Rip It UpBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper & Pete LawsonJerry Leiber and Mike Stoller/Richard Penniman“These represent the earliest recordings on Canterburied Sounds — Hugh had only just purchased his first bass”19622:25
9That’s Alright MamaBrian Hopper & Hugh HopperArthur Crudup“This is about the only recording of just Hugh and myself playing and singing together”19622:13
10Tanglewood TailsBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper & Robert WyattBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper & Robert Wyatt“One of the more musically successful trio encounters — Robert is the drummer I always have a memory of”196316:02
11The Big Show/Central Park West/SongsZobeBrian Hopper/John Coltrane/Brian Hopper“Another rehearsal track, unfortunately one of the last made by the band”197016:43
12If I Could Do It All Over Again I’d Do It All Over YouCaravanPye Hastings, Richard Coughlan, Dave Sinclair & Richard Sinclair“Yet another track from the Foundry gig, probably their most well-known number”19694:09

Volume 4: Canterbury Pre-Soft, Pre-Wild

TrackTitleArtistComposerNotesRecording DateLength
1Slow Walkin’ TalkZobeBrian Hopper“Another version from a Zobe rehearsal”19705:43
2Some-of-the-TimeMike Ratledge, Brian Hopper, Robert Wyatt & unknown guitarist Mike Ratledge, Brian Hopper & Robert Wyatt“Thinly-veiled variations on Gershwin’s Summertime (again!)”1963/196414:45
3GhostsRobert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge & unknown guitaristAlbert Ayler“More wild flourish from Mike in the Cecil Taylor mould”1963/19645:23
4With an Ear to the Ground You Can Make ItCaravanPye Hastings, Richard Coughlan, Dave Sinclair & Richard Sinclair“Because they have not had sufficient time to rehearse it we are treated to a unique arrangement”19698:48
5Dalmore RodeBrian Hopper & Robert WyattBrian Hopper & Robert Wyatt“Robert is heard extending even further the sonic capabilities of the cello”1963/19647:56
6Piano Standards 2Mike Ratledgevarious“Opening with a few Thelonious Monk tinged phrases, this is the second selection of piano standards”19643:13
7Johnny B. GoodeWilde FlowersChuck Berry“We leaned heavily on the Chuck Berry catalogue to boost our early repertoire”19643:10
8CecilianBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper, Mike Ratledge & Robert WyattBrian Hopper, Hugh Hopper, Mike Ratledge & Robert Wyatt“Mike in his most intense Cecil Taylor style, with Hugh in his first recorded bass solo!”late 196212:00
9Austin CambridgeCaravanDerek Austin“The first recorded example of Geoff Richardson on viola”late 197213:45

References

  1. http://www.hugh-hopper.com/
  2. H.C. & L.T. Hopper: Thirty Kent Churches, ISBN 0-9506394-0-0 – Great Stour Publications – limited edition 750 cop. – calligraphy and map: Leon Olin and Sylvia Gansford
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