We continue our look at the music of 50 years ago….
Those of a certain age remember the wonder of Woodstock. Even if you weren’t there you know about the rain & mud…about the massive crowds and traffic jams…and the list of acts that reads like a who’s who of 60’s rock. The Dead & The Airplane, Hendrix & The Who, CSNY, Sly Stone and CCR, Santana and the Keef Hartley band…..wait…who??
Yes, the Keef Hartley Band played Woodstock although you might not have known it because their set never appeared on the LPs or the movie of the event.
I’m betting that most of you reading this have never heard the LP “Overdog”from the band that came out in 1971. Maybe my old college music director at 90FM, Jerry Gavin, who I believe has this on regular rotation in his man cave down in New Berlin.
I’ll admit I had never heard this until I spun it yesterday and I’m pissed that I had never listened to this before. It’s really good!
Keith (pronounced Keef) Hartley was a drummer that played for many English bands in the 60’s. He replaced Ringo Starr in Rory & The Hurricaines…he played in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Mick Taylor and John McVie. Mayall told him to form his own band and he did. It was an amalgamation of styles. Rock, Blues, Jazz all thread through the music. It starts with Hartley’s beat and the supple bass work of Gary Thain (who would soon join Uriah Heep). Some excellent keyboard work from Mick Weaver and what really makes it stand out is the guitar work of Miller Anderson. Anderson was a journeyman session player and wrote much of the LP plus he sang the couple of tunes that have vocals. Add in some horns and a great flute solo from Johnny Almond one one of the cuts and you have a tasty stew of music that really defies pigeon-holing.
Here is an example of them playing live in 1970
And here is the 1971 LP from the band. If you haven’t heard it before…enjoy discovering the Keef Hartley Band!
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