Keef Hartley Band – Sinnin’ For You : The Albums 1969-1973 (7CD Box Set)
The Keef Hartley Band never really reached the heights (although they had their moments – Woodstock being one), but many of an age will recall their late 60s and early 70s brand of rock, jazz and blues.
However, half a century on, via Cherry Red Records/ Esoteric Recordings all-encompassing collection of the band’s six albums (plus Keef Hartley’s debut solo album), how does their fusion fare?
The answer is, even though it’s unarguably of its Afghan coats & patchouli oil time, pretty darn well.
Halfbreed, the band’s 1969 debut album, opens with the self-effacing humour of drummer & band leader Keef Hartley being 'Sacked' via phone by John Mayall (Hartley joined the Bluesbreakers in 1967 only to be dismissed the next year, when he formed his own band).
The sacking segues into rhythm 'n' bluesy prog instrumentals 'Confusion Theme' and 'The Halfbreed' before the blues come calling on the ten-minute 'Born to Die.'
Throughout the debut are liberal doses of brass and organ parts (the guitar and Hammond solos remind of contemporaries Atomic Rooster) and fine performances by the horns and the core band of Hartley, vocalist & guitarist Miller Anderson, guitarist "Spit James" (aka Ian Cruickshank), keys player Peter Dines (who left after the debut) and a young Gary Thain, later to become part of the classic Uriah Heep line-up.
Stand-out tracks include the horn blowing rhythm and blues of 'Sinnin’ for You' and psychedelic blues number 'Think it Over.'
Second album The Battle of North West Six, also released in 1969, is much more expansive.
Such diversity within the song structures leads, on occasion, to commercial appeal and pop territory ('Don’t Give Up' and 'Believe in You' are strong examples).
There’s also a touch of funk added to the jazz-blues template and signs that Gary Thain is finding his true voice with more adventurous bass lines.
The second album disc includes four rare live tracks as bonuses but their audio quality, while still very listenable, is indicative of the antiquity of the recordings.
1970’s The Time is Near, with Miller Anderson now primary songwriter and the only guitarist, shows further signs of progress in terms of horn arrangements, soul-infusion and production values/ techniques.
The almost keyboard-less album also sees the adoption of some prog-rock tropes, including arrangement shifts and song-length – the horns-funky (with mid-song jazz excursion) 'You Can’t Take it With You' and the soul-blues fusion title track are, respectively, seven and ten minutes long cases in point.
1971’s Overdog, with Mick Weaver now on keys, is a rock album with soul & funk influences, as heard on jaunty opening brace 'You Can Choose' and 'Plain Talkin’.'
Overdog also includes two of the band’s best tracks – 'Theme Song/Enroute' (with Johnny Almond on flute and Jon Hiseman guesting alongside Keef Hartley on drums) and 'Roundabout' (no, not that one).
The latter features a guest return for Peter Dines while Gary Thain shows off his chops on a jazz-funk interlude, including some high register playing.
There’s also the inclusion of another four live tracks, plus the two-part 'Roundabout' single.
Little Big Band is the Keef Hartley (bigger) Band as recorded live at the Marquee Club on June 13th & 14th 1971.
Featuring songs from the first three albums (including four from Halfbreed, segued as the twenty-one minute 'Legoverture'), Little Big Band is a vibrant, club gig snapshot of the Keef Hartley Band in full brass blowin’ flight (live recording limitations of the time compress the ten-piece horn section somewhat, but a couple of horn flubs prove it’s 100% live).
With Miller Anderson having left to pursue a solo career Seventy Second Brave, released in 1972, features Junior Kerr on guitar & vocals and Pete Wingfield on keys.
The album takes a funkier and more commercial approach, with Gary Thain now developing his "wandering bass" style (as evidenced on opening number 'Heartbreakin’ Woman').
There are also elements that remind of Zappa, with improved use of brass sections in the arrangements.
The piano & horns backed blues 'Hard Pill to Swallow' and the funky fun of 'Don’t Sign It' are highlights, while the inclusion of early, live-in-the-studio versions of four of the tracks will appeal to the completists.
The final disc/ album in this collection is Keef Hartley’s solo offering from 1973, Lancashire Hustler.
The assembled personnel include featured vocalist Jess Roden (who turns in a good performance) and members of the band Vinegar Joe, whom Hartley had been working with (Robert Palmer and Elkie Brooks provide backing vocals; Vinegar Joe guitarist Pete Gage arranged orchestration on two tracks).
Whilst there are stylistic similarities to the albums by the Keef Hartley Band, half of the album carries a more laid-back, soul-feel, which works well.
Lancashire Hustler is bookended by two covers – spacey rock ballad 'Circles' (a Vinegar Joe song penned by Robert Palmer) and a six-minute version of Sly & The Family Stone hit 'Dance to the Music.'
Sinnin’ For You is a good-value package (7 remastered albums, 15 bonus tracks, 48-page illustrated booklet) that definitively covers a prolific five-year period in the career of the late Keef Hartley.
If only it also came with the previously mentioned Afghan coat and patchouli oil.
Nelson McFarlane & Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
However, half a century on, via Cherry Red Records/ Esoteric Recordings all-encompassing collection of the band’s six albums (plus Keef Hartley’s debut solo album), how does their fusion fare?
The answer is, even though it’s unarguably of its Afghan coats & patchouli oil time, pretty darn well.
Halfbreed, the band’s 1969 debut album, opens with the self-effacing humour of drummer & band leader Keef Hartley being 'Sacked' via phone by John Mayall (Hartley joined the Bluesbreakers in 1967 only to be dismissed the next year, when he formed his own band).
The sacking segues into rhythm 'n' bluesy prog instrumentals 'Confusion Theme' and 'The Halfbreed' before the blues come calling on the ten-minute 'Born to Die.'
Throughout the debut are liberal doses of brass and organ parts (the guitar and Hammond solos remind of contemporaries Atomic Rooster) and fine performances by the horns and the core band of Hartley, vocalist & guitarist Miller Anderson, guitarist "Spit James" (aka Ian Cruickshank), keys player Peter Dines (who left after the debut) and a young Gary Thain, later to become part of the classic Uriah Heep line-up.
Stand-out tracks include the horn blowing rhythm and blues of 'Sinnin’ for You' and psychedelic blues number 'Think it Over.'
Second album The Battle of North West Six, also released in 1969, is much more expansive.
Such diversity within the song structures leads, on occasion, to commercial appeal and pop territory ('Don’t Give Up' and 'Believe in You' are strong examples).
There’s also a touch of funk added to the jazz-blues template and signs that Gary Thain is finding his true voice with more adventurous bass lines.
The second album disc includes four rare live tracks as bonuses but their audio quality, while still very listenable, is indicative of the antiquity of the recordings.
1970’s The Time is Near, with Miller Anderson now primary songwriter and the only guitarist, shows further signs of progress in terms of horn arrangements, soul-infusion and production values/ techniques.
The almost keyboard-less album also sees the adoption of some prog-rock tropes, including arrangement shifts and song-length – the horns-funky (with mid-song jazz excursion) 'You Can’t Take it With You' and the soul-blues fusion title track are, respectively, seven and ten minutes long cases in point.
1971’s Overdog, with Mick Weaver now on keys, is a rock album with soul & funk influences, as heard on jaunty opening brace 'You Can Choose' and 'Plain Talkin’.'
Overdog also includes two of the band’s best tracks – 'Theme Song/Enroute' (with Johnny Almond on flute and Jon Hiseman guesting alongside Keef Hartley on drums) and 'Roundabout' (no, not that one).
The latter features a guest return for Peter Dines while Gary Thain shows off his chops on a jazz-funk interlude, including some high register playing.
There’s also the inclusion of another four live tracks, plus the two-part 'Roundabout' single.
Little Big Band is the Keef Hartley (bigger) Band as recorded live at the Marquee Club on June 13th & 14th 1971.
Featuring songs from the first three albums (including four from Halfbreed, segued as the twenty-one minute 'Legoverture'), Little Big Band is a vibrant, club gig snapshot of the Keef Hartley Band in full brass blowin’ flight (live recording limitations of the time compress the ten-piece horn section somewhat, but a couple of horn flubs prove it’s 100% live).
With Miller Anderson having left to pursue a solo career Seventy Second Brave, released in 1972, features Junior Kerr on guitar & vocals and Pete Wingfield on keys.
The album takes a funkier and more commercial approach, with Gary Thain now developing his "wandering bass" style (as evidenced on opening number 'Heartbreakin’ Woman').
There are also elements that remind of Zappa, with improved use of brass sections in the arrangements.
The piano & horns backed blues 'Hard Pill to Swallow' and the funky fun of 'Don’t Sign It' are highlights, while the inclusion of early, live-in-the-studio versions of four of the tracks will appeal to the completists.
The final disc/ album in this collection is Keef Hartley’s solo offering from 1973, Lancashire Hustler.
The assembled personnel include featured vocalist Jess Roden (who turns in a good performance) and members of the band Vinegar Joe, whom Hartley had been working with (Robert Palmer and Elkie Brooks provide backing vocals; Vinegar Joe guitarist Pete Gage arranged orchestration on two tracks).
Whilst there are stylistic similarities to the albums by the Keef Hartley Band, half of the album carries a more laid-back, soul-feel, which works well.
Lancashire Hustler is bookended by two covers – spacey rock ballad 'Circles' (a Vinegar Joe song penned by Robert Palmer) and a six-minute version of Sly & The Family Stone hit 'Dance to the Music.'
Sinnin’ For You is a good-value package (7 remastered albums, 15 bonus tracks, 48-page illustrated booklet) that definitively covers a prolific five-year period in the career of the late Keef Hartley.
If only it also came with the previously mentioned Afghan coat and patchouli oil.
Nelson McFarlane & Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ