WCSX Classic Cuts : Caravan
WCSX Classic Cuts
Van Morrison: “Caravan”
The Hook: Cut live in the studio in just a few takes.
Album: Moondance
Year: 1970
Writer: Van Morrison
Stats: Never released as a single, the song became a staple of progressive FM and Classic Rock radio. The Moondance album peaked at number-29 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Background: Gary Mallaber — who played on several of Van’s recordings, as well as albums by Steve Miller, Eddie Money and Bruce Springsteen — was the drummer on “Caravan.” He recalls the sessions for the song.
Gary Mallaber, who played drums on Van Morrison’s Moondance album, on how they recorded “Caravan.” OC:…a performance. :20
“’Caravan’ was cut live. And the drum beat and all the stuff that went along with it was pretty obvious. We did that in about 3 or 4 takes. Horns were going on live. Everything was happening at the same time, except the background parts had to be overdubbed. We did those later. But it was a performance. Everything on Moondance was a performance.”
