Plump In The Night, Caravan

Caravan – For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night

Artist: Caravan

Title: For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night

Album Type: Fifth Studio Album

Original Release Date: October 1973

Label: Deram Records

Genre: Progressive Rock / Canterbury Scene

Background & Production For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night is widely considered one of the finest achievements of the Canterbury Scene. Following the departure of keyboardist Steve Miller, founding member Pye Hastings revitalized the band by recruiting a new lineup, including viola player Geoffrey Richardson. This shift in instrumentation moved the band away from the jazz-heavy influence of their previous record and back toward a melodic, symphonic, and whimsically British style of progressive rock. Recorded at legendary studios including Tollington Park and Decca Studios, the album features a lush, orchestral production that set a new standard for the genre.

Musical Composition & Style The album perfectly balances complex, multi-part suites with catchy, accessible melodies and the band’s signature sense of humor.

• The Orchestral Epic: The closing track, L'Auberge du Sanglier / A Hunting We Shall Go / Backwards, is a masterful medley featuring a full orchestral arrangement. It showcases the band’s ability to transition from heavy rock riffs to delicate, classical-inflected passages.

• The Viola Factor: Geoffrey Richardson’s viola replaced the traditional lead flute or second guitar, giving tracks like Memory Lain, Hugh / Jointed Few a unique, folk-prog texture that became a hallmark of the Caravan sound.

• Sophisticated Songwriting: The Dog, The Dog, He's At It Again is a classic example of Pye Hastings’ songwriting—combining a playful, slightly cheeky lyric with intricate organ work and a driving rhythmic pulse.

• Canterbury Fusion: The album maintains the "Englishness" of the Canterbury sound—eccentric, pastoral, and technically virtuosic without ever becoming overbearing or self-serious.

Legacy & Collector Notes For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night is a cornerstone of any progressive rock collection. It is often cited alongside In the Land of Grey and Pink as the band’s definitive work. For vinyl collectors, the original Deram pressings (with the "Brown/White" label in the UK or the "Red" label in other territories) are highly prized for their deep, warm soundstage. The surreal and provocative cover art remains one of the most recognizable images of the 70s prog era. It is an essential inventory item for Shopify stores focusing on British Prog, the Canterbury Scene, or high-fidelity 70s rock.

• Keywords: Caravan, For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night, Progressive Rock, Canterbury Scene, 1973 Vinyl, Deram Records, Pye Hastings, Symphonic Rock, British Prog.

• Collection Ideas: Canterbury Scene Essentials, 70s Progressive Rock Masterpieces, Orchestral Rock Classics, British Eccentricity.

• Related Artists: Soft Machine, Camel, Hatfield and the North, Gong, Genesis.

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve