Keef Hartley Band

Keef Hartley came to prominence as a member of the British R&B group The Artwoods before joining John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in 1967. He contributed to the album "Crusade" before leaving in 1968 to form the first line-up of his own band. With Gary Thain (bass), Peter Dines (keyboards), Spit James (guitar) and horn section that was a whos who of British jazz (Henry Lowther, Chris Mercer, Lyn Dobson and Harry Beckett), Hartley recorded his first album for Decca's Deram label in March 1969. Now regarded as a classic of the genre, "Halfbreed" is a fine example of the fusion of rock, jazz and blues.

Keef Hartley came to prominence as a member of the British R&B group The Artwoods before joining John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in 1967. He contributed to the album "Crusade" before leaving in 1968 to form the first line-up of his own band. With Gary Thain (bass), Peter Dines (keyboards), Spit James (guitar) and horn section that was a whos who of British jazz (Henry Lowther, Chris Mercer, Lyn Dobson and Harry Beckett), Hartley recorded his first album for Decca's Deram label in March 1969. Now regarded as a classic of the genre, "Halfbreed" is a fine example of the fusion of rock, jazz and blues.

Keef Hartley Band - Live at Aachen Open Air Festival 1970 (2014) {Sireena Records SIR 2124}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 518 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 163 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 16 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1970, 2014 Sireena Records | SIR 2124
Rock / Blues Rock / Jazz Rock / British Blues

Considering this is based on a 40 year old bootleg from an open-air festival, it's amazing that the end product is so good. Yes, there are obvious limitations in the sound quality, with a fair amount of distortion on vocals and brass, but the performance itself is simply stunning. The KHB line-up at the time featured Dave Caswell and Lyle Jenkins, and their contributions are first class throughout.

Keef Hartley Band - Halfbreed (1969) {Esoteric Recordings ECLEC2050 rel 2008}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 300 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 122 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 40 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1969, 2008 Deram / Decca / Esoteric Recordings | ECLEC 2050
Rock / Blues Rock / Jazz Rock / British Blues

This album by the excellent Keef Hartley Band, one the best Blues / Rock / Jazz ensembles ever, founded by drummer Keef Hartley following his stint with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. The band featured a nucleus consisting of singer / guitarist Miller Anderson, guitarist Spit James, keyboardist Peter Dines, bassist Gary Thain and Hartley on drums. In addition a horn section was added to expand the band's sound, which on this album consisted of the best horn players in Britain: trumpeters Henry Lowther and Harry Becket and saxophonists Lynn Dobson and Chris Mercer. Together this nine-piece band had a tremendous power and considering the quality of its members it was simply the best "little Big Band" around at the time.

Various Artists - Woodstock - Back to the Garden: The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive (2019) {38CD Box Set Rhino X3CDWO001}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 11.7 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 5.11 Gb | Artwork (web) | 5% repair rar
© 1969, 2019 Rhino Records | X3CDWO001
Rock / Psychedelic / Acid Rock / Blues Rock / Folk / Rock & Roll

Fifty years after the three-day concert made rock’n’roll history, a gargantuan, 38-disc set attempts to tell the full story of the event for the very first time. The mythological status of 1969’s Woodstock Music and Arts Festival can sometimes feel overpowering. The festival is the ultimate expression of the 1960s. Moments from the three-day concert have crystallized as symbols of the era, with details like Richie Havens’ acoustic prayer for freedom, Roger Daltrey’s fringed leather vest, or Jimi Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner” held up as sacred countercultural relics.

Now, this really is a chunk to bite off and chew. This six-disc overview of the long, winding, and confounding career of Uriah Heep (confounding that Mick Box and Lee Kerslake have managed to keep it afloat for nearly 40 years), is the first box to take into consideration all the permutations this dinosaur juggernaut has been through…