Search - Keef Band Hartley :: Time Is Near

Classic from 1970

Nobody | 03/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Unless you're my age and were fairly widely educated about music at the time, you missed this, an album that was as good as many more popular LP's and never got the recognition it deserved.



Keef Hartley was (is) a drummer who was mostly known for being with John Mayall's band at various times, but this album is all about Miller Anderson, a talented singer, guitarist and vocalist that drives this music. Keef Hartley was known as a blues artist, but there's nothing here like that at all. Think Blood Sweat and Tears maybe, but better, less smaltzy, more like ensemble jazz with a rock kick. A big sound, biting guitars and horns, fast driving, propelled by a solid backbone. Miller Anderson's voice will grab you right away.



Anyway, check it out and you'll see what I mean. Skip the first two songs and it makes a great set, but in this CD age the running time will seem short. There are a few songs on NW6 and the first album that can be mixed in to your playlist for this band . . . and that's about it.



The liner notes said that they felt for the band, the time was near. It wasn't, as it turned out, but they left a few minutes of solid music for the ages."

Excellent

William R. Nicholas | Mahwah, NJ USA | 12/22/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These guys were pretty amazing. Keef Hartly band mixed soul and jazz and rock in very inventive ways.



None of this was self-concious or advertized as it may have been with Chicago or post-Al Kooper Blood Sweat and tears. These songs had a rock groove-and a genuinely 60s FM underground bend at that--but the horns played sweet R&B changes over vocals that could rival Otis Redding or Sam and Dave.



This album takes ideas from "pop" and "rock" and "progressive" --back when those labals truely drew lines--and melds them to wonderful musical clay.



Far far far too few people know the Keef Hartly Band, and are truely missing out. I can't speak highly enough of this album or its makers."