Keef Hartley Band
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1968) - Peter 'Dino' Dines -- keyboards - Owen Finnegan -- vocals - Keef Hartley -- vocals, drums, percussion - Spit James (aka Ian Cruikshank) -- guitar - Gary Thain (RIP 1975) -- bass, guitar, vocals
line up 2 (1968) - Peter 'Dino' Dines -- keyboards - Keef Hartley -- vocals, drums, percussion NEW- Sam Holland -- vocals (replaced Owen Finnegan) - Spit James (aka Ian Cruikshank) -- guitar - Gary Thain (RIP 1975) -- bass, guitar, vocals
line up 3 (1968-69) NEW - Miller Anderson -- vocals, guitar (replaced Sam Holland) - Peter 'Dino' Dines -- keyboards - Keef Hartley -- vocals, drums, percussion - Spit James (aka Ian Cruikshank) -- guitar - Gary Thain (RIP 1975) -- bass, guitar, vocals
musical backing: - Harry Beckett -- horns - Lyn Dobnson -- horns - Henry Lowther -- horns - Chris Mercer -- horns
line up 4 (1969) - Miller Anderson -- vocals, guitar (replaced Sam Holland) - Keef Hartley (RIP 1975) -- vocals, drums, percussion NEW - Jimmy Jewell -- sax NEW - Henry Lowther -- trumpet, violin - Gary Thain (RIP 1976) -- bass, guitar, vocals line up 5 (1969) - Miller Anderson -- vocals, guitar (replaced Sam Holland) - Keef Hartley (RIP) -- vocals, drums, percussion - Jimmy Jewell -- sax - Henry Lowther -- trumpet, violin - Gary Thain (RIP 1975) -- bass, guitar, vocals NEW - Mick Weaver -- keyboards (replaced Peter 'Dino' Dines
musical backing: - Harry Beckett -- trumpet, flugelhorn - Mike Davis -- trumpet - Lyn Dobnson -- sax, flute - Henry Lowther -- horns - Chris Mercer -- sax - Barbara Thompson -- sax - Ray Waleigh -- flute
line up 6 (1970) - Miller Anderson -- vocals, guitar (replaced Sam Holland) NEW - Dave Caswell -- trumpet - Keef Hartley (RIP) -- vocals, drums, percussion NEW - Lyle Jenkins -- - Henry Lowther -- trumpet, violin - Gary Thain (RIP 1975) -- bass, guitar, vocals - Mick Weaver -- keyboards (replaced Peter 'Dino' Dines
line up 7 (1970) - Miller Anderson -- vocals, guitar (replaced Sam Holland) - Dave Caswell -- trumpet NEW - Peter 'Dino' Dines -- keyboards (replace Mick Weaver) - Keef Hartley (RIP) -- vocals, drums, percussion - Lyle Jenkins -- - Gary Thain (RIP 1975) -- bass, guitar, vocals
supporting musicians (1970) - David Caswell -- flugelhorn, euphonium, trumpet, keyboards - Lyle Jenkins -- sax, flute - Jim Jewell - sax - Henry Lowther -- trumpet, flugelhorn, violin, piano, bass - Del Roll -- percussion - Stweart Wicks -- keyboards
line up 8 (1970) - Miller Anderson -- vocals, guitar (replaced Sam Holland) - Keef Hartley (RIP) -- vocals, drums, percussion - Gary Thain (RIP 1975) -- bass, guitar, vocals NEW - Mick Weaver -- keyboards (replaced Peter 'Dino' Dines
line up 9 (1971) - Johnny Almond -- flute - Miller Anderson -- vocals, guitar - Dave Caswell -- trumpet, flugal horn - Valerie Charrington -- backing vocals - Peter Dines -- keyboards - Keef Hartley -- vocals, drums, percussion - Joe Hiseman -- drums, percussion - Lyle Jenkins -- tenor sax, flute - Joan Knighton -- backing vocals - Gary Thain (RIP 1975) -- bass, guitar, vocals - Ingrid Thomas -- backing vocals - Mick Weaver -- keyboards
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- Miller Anderson (solo efforts) - The Artwoods (Keef Hartley) - The British Blues Quartet (Miller Anderson) - Michael Chapman Band (Keef Hartley) - Chicken Shack (Keef Hartley) - Colosseum (Joe Hiseman) - Dog Soldier (Mick Anderson and Keef Hartley) - The Dukes (Miller Anderson) - Hanson (Junior Kerr aka Junior Hanson) - Hemlock (Miller Anderson, Peter Dines, Chris Mercer, and Mick Weaver) - The Ice Blue (Keef Hartley) - The Henry Lowther Band (Henry Lowther) - Bob Marley and the Wailers (Junior Kerr aka Junior Marvin) - John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (Keef Hartley) - Savoy Brown (Miller Anderson) - The Secrets (Gary Thain) - Freddie Starr and the Midnighters (Keef Hartley) - Rory Storm and the Hurricanes (Keef Hartley) - The Strangers (Gary Thain) - T. Rex (Peter Dines) - The Thunderbeats (Keef Hartley) - Uriah Heep (Gary Thain) - The Wailers (Junior Kerr aka Junior Marvin) - Wynder K. Frog (Mick Weaver)
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Genre: blues-rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Halfbreed Company: Deram Catalog: DES 18024 Year: 1969 Country/State: Preston, Lancashire UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve; minor hissing Available: 1 Catalog ID: 6322 Price: $35.00
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Drummer Keef Hartley replaced Aynsley Dunbar in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (about half of the United Kingdom seemingly having played for Mayall at one time or another). After a two year stint with Mayall Hartley was either fired, or (depending on which story you subscribe to), Mayall suggested Hartley consider starting his own band. Either way, 1968 saw Hartley forming the cleverly-titled Keef Hartley Band. Recruiting keyboardist Peter 'Dino' Dines, singer Owen Finnegan, guitarist Spit James (aka Ian Cruikshank) and bassist Gary Thain, the group was quickly signed by Deram.
Produced by Neil Slaven and reportedly recorded in just three days, 1969's "Halfbreed" was originally recorded with Owen Finnegan handling lead vocals, but Hartley and Deram executives were apparently unhappy with the results. Sam Holland was briefly brought in as a replacement, but the tracks were eventually re-recorded with Miller Anderson handling vocals. While I've never heard the Finnegan original (there's supposedly a bootleg version available), the decision to use Anderson sure seemed like the right move given the man had a voice that was literally born to sing the blues ... So if you read some of the reviews, this one stands as one of the holy grails of 1960s English blues-rock. I'm not sure I'd go that far in my praise. Musically the album served to underscore Hartley's obvious devotion to the genre, though that devotion wasn't nearly as slavish as John Mayall and some of the competition. Unlike those other acts, the ever eccentric Harley (yes he apparently really did dress up in native Indian gear), was willing to include a variety of non-blues efforts in the repertoire and that gave the album a slightly more diverse and enjoyable feel. There was no way you were going to hear a commercial tune like 'Just To Cry' or an out-and-out rocker like their cover of B.B. King's 'Think It Over' on a John Mayall album !!! The playing was uniformly strong, with Mayall's former horn section (Harry Beckett , Lyn Dobnson, Henry Lowther, and Chris Mercer) adding some nice support throughout the collection.
"Halfbreed" track listing: 1.) Sacked (Introducing Hearts and Flowers)' (instrumental) (arranged by Keef Hartley) - 0:40 If you weren't in on the plotline, 'Sacked (Introducing Hearts and Flowers)' probably left you wondering what was going on ... Opening up with a phone call you got to listen in on a brief conversation where former boss John Mayall fired Hartley. It was obviously staged, but was still kind of creepy. rating: ** stars 2.) Confusion Theme (instrumental) (Keef Hartley - Ian Cruikshank) - 1:05 Luckily, the follow-on instrumental 'Hearts and Flowers' picked up the energy level with some tasty Miller Anderson guitar and a vaguely Eastern sounding instrumental passage. rating: *** stars 3.) The Halfbreed (instrumental) (Keef Hartley - Peter Dines - Ian Cruikshank) - 6:07 That was quickly followed by the album's most rock-oriented performance. Basically an extended jam, 'Confusion Theme / The Halfbreed' showcased some blazing Miller and James lead guitar (I think Miller handled the leadoff section while James' performance came at the end of the track), along with some of Hartley's impeccable drums, Thain's tasty B-3 Hammond, and some surprisingly impressive horns. Normally a jam like this wouldn't have made much of an impression on me, but this was quite good. rating: **** stars 4.) Born to Die (Peter Dines - Keef Hartley - Gary Thain - Hewitson) - 9:58 Showcasing Miller Anderson on lead vocals, 'Born To Die' found Hartley and company diving headlong into standard Chicago electric blues. Their affection for the genre was obvious, but musically the results weren't particularly interesting with James' solos stealing the spotlight. rating: *** stars 3.) Sinnin' for You (Keef Hartley - Peter Dines - Hewitson - Owen Finnegan) - 5:51 A more up tempo take on the blues (complete with a punchy horn arrangement), the rollicking 'Sinnin' for You' actually packed quite a wallop. Anderson and James were spotlighted throughout. rating: *** stars
(side 2) 1.) Leavin' Trunk (Sleepy John Estes) - 5:55 The band's cover of Sleepy John Estes 'Leavin' Trunk' was probably my favorite performance on the album. Miller's vocals sounded possessed and his blazing guitar duel with James was worth the price of admission by itself. Best described as blues for people who don't like the blues ... rating: **** stars 2.) Just To Cry (Henry Lowther - Owen Finnegan) - 6:20 Kicked along by some nice Gary Thain bass and James' spidery lead guitar, 'Just To Cry' was the album's most commercial offering. A very haunting performance that is hard to shake out of your head. rating: **** stars 3.) Too Much Thinking (Owen Finnegan - Peter Dines - Gary Thain) - 5:30 'Too Much Thinking' found the band returning to a blues motif. The song wasn't particularly original or enticing, but Anderson's amazing vocals largely made up for those shortcomings. rating: *** stars 4.) Think It Over (B.B. King) - 4:59 One of the best B.B. King covers ever recorded - Spit James' Hendrix-styled wah wah guitar simply makes this track unforgettable. rating: **** stars 5.) Too Much To Take (Speech) - 0:32 'Too Much To Take' seemingly ends with Hartley firing Mayall ... ah revenge is sometimes worth waiting for. rating: ** stars
full LP cover
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Genre: blues-rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: The Battle of North West Six Company: Deram Catalog: DES 18035 Year: 1969 Country/State: Preston, Lancashire UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/ VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 301 Price: $20.00
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The debut LP offered up a decent enough slice of
blues-rock and to be truthful, I wasn't expecting much more from 1969's
"The Battle of North West Six".
Judging by the liner notes and performance credits (former lead guitarist
Spit Jones showed up on a number of the tracks),, the album seemingly
featured quite a bit of material previously recorded and shelved ('The
Dansette Kid Hartley Jam for Bread', 'Don't Be Afraid', and 'Not
Foolish, Not Wise'). That wasn't necessarily a bad thing since
the album had a far more diverse sound that the debut, including several
tracks that featured commercial radio potential - check out the ballad
'Don't Give Up' and the closer 'Believe In You'. And here's the funny
thing about the album - namesake Hartley was largely relegated to the
background. Yeah, his playing was never less than professional
(coupled with Gary Thain's excellent bass), but with the exception of a
brief solo on
'Not Foolish, Not Wise' and a
couple of brief breaks on
'Don't Give Up', there were no spotlight grabbing solos, or needless
displays of exotic percussive instruments. Kudos to Hartley for
putting the spotlight on the band. Was
it as good as "Halfbreed"? Nope, but still worth looking for
since you can still find copies at a reasonable price.
"The Battle of North West Six" track listing" 1.) The Dansette Kid Hartley Jam for Bread (instrumental) (Hewitson - Spit James - Keef Hartley - Gary Thain) - 3:58 rating: *** stars The opening instrumental suite put the spotlight on guitarist Spit Jones who turned in a killer lead guitar that managed to blow way the BS&T-styled horn charts. Surprisingly effective way to open the album. According to the liner notes: "Basically a rhythmic tune featuring Spit Jones. Credit must go to Mick Weaver and Gary Thain for a basic arrangement and also to Henry's brass arrangement." 2.) Don't Give Up (Hewitson - Spit James - Keef Hartley - Gary Thain) - 4:07 rating: **** stars I've never associated these guys with sensitive ballads, which certainly made 'Me and My Woman' a major surprise. Seriously, who would have expected to hear them churning out a pretty, slightly jazzy-tinged, but highly commercial ballad? I'm not saving it was a great performance - Anderson seemed uncomfortable in the high key, but boy was it ever different. Here's what the liner notes said: "A good example of the other side of Miller's voice. This was to have been a short track, but Henry and Harry Beckett played such well integrated solos on the fadeout that it was quite naturally became a feature for flugelhorn." 3.) Me and My Woman (Barge) - 4:24 rating: *** stars Showcasing Miller's voice in a far more comfortable, growling pitch, 'Me and My Woman' brought the band back to hard--core blues territory. "The brings back memories (?) from y days as a Bluesbreaker. It features Miller on vocal and lead guitar. A nice, heavy arrangement by Henry, high notes by courtesy of Mike Davis." 4.) Hickory (instrumental) (Hewitson - Spit James - Keef Hartley - Gary Thain) - 2:45 rating: ** stars Another surprise - 'Hickory' was an almost cocktail jazzy instrumental. Kind of Herbie Mann-ish. Something you might have heard on your parents hi-fi if you're now in your 50s. "A flute instrumental written about a horse of the same name. main themes and improvisation by Ray Rarleigh; counter melody by Lynn Dobson and Barbara Thompson. A musical Breathing space between the last number and 'Don't Be Afraid'." 5.) Don't Be Afraid (Hewitson - Spit James - Keef Hartley - Peter 'Dino' Dines - Gary Thain) - 4:25 rating: **** stars Easily the album's highlight, 'Don't Be Afraid' aptly demonstrated Hartley and company could handle a conventional blues-rocker without any sweat. Once again the spotlight was on Miller who turned in a great vocal and Skip Jones who contributed the album's best guitar solo). Also kudos to Gary Thain for the underlying bass line. "A tune from the early days of the band with a solo by Spit Jones."
(side 2) 1.) Not Foolish, Not Wise (Hewitson - Spit James - Keef Hartley - Gary Thain) - 3:56 rating: ** stars This could have been a killer track, but quickly degenerated into a faceless mix of hard and horn rock. "This is an "on-stage" number enhanced by the added power of a big band. It features Jim Jewell on sax. Drums by Gretsch." 2.) Waiting Around (Hewitson - Keef Hartley - Gary Thain) - 2:29 "This along with 'Don't Give Up' and 'Believe In You' shows the maturity and originality of the band's present compositions." I'd actually agree with that description. 'Waiting Around' was probably the album's best pop tune with a surprisingly catchy and effective Motown feel ... seriously !1 rating: **** stars 3.) Tadpole (instrumental) (Hewitson - Keef Hartley - Gary Thain) - 7:00 rating: ** stars A conventional slice of 12 bar blues, this in-studio instrumental jam session went on way too long. Yeah, you got to hear Mick Weaver, Jim Jewell, and Spit James solo, but so what ... rating: ** stars "After several attempts to record the basic track for "Poor Mable" we laid back on a 12 bar for about half an hour. The section contained here features Mick Weaver and Jim [Jewell]." 4.) Poor Mabel (You're Just Like Me) (Hewitson - Skip James - Keef Hartley - Gary Thain) - 3:08 rating: ** stars Country jam ? Spit James slide guitar was nice, but otherwise this really wasn't necessary. "Basically tongue-in-cheek, but listen to the words." 5.) Believe In You (Hewitson - Keef Hartley - Gary Thain) - 5:23 rating: **** stars The album's prettiest song, 'Believe In You' sported a wonderful melody; Miller's nicest vocal, and some horn charts that didn't distract from the song, rather enhanced the overall impact. "At this point the band personnel changed. With the now fill time participation of Henry and Jim, we recorded 'Believe In You'. This number marks an important step forward for the band as it is now. No extra instruments were added, except for Mick Taylor's guitar in the middle and end passages, and Henry's violin solo. Everyone in the band felt strongly that this number gives an excellent indication of things to come."
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Genre: blues-rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: The Time Is Near Company: Deram Catalog: SML 1072 Year: 1970 Country/State: Preston, Lancashire UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: UK pressing Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2469 Price: $50.00
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Co-produced by Nick Slaven and Keef Hartley,
1970's "The Time Is Near" probably isn't the Hartley
album most folks would jump into a fire to save from their vinyl
collection. That said, it's the Keef Hartley album that's consistently
grown on me over the years. A big part of your reaction to the album
is going to depend on how you feel about early-'70s horn rock. If you
liked bands like Blood, Sweat & Tear, Chase, Chicago, etc., there's a
good chance you were going to enjoy Miller Anderson penned tunes like
'Morning Rain', 'The
Time Is Near' and 'You Can't Take It with You'.
If you were a fan of Harltey's bluesier catalog, well then this set was
likely to be problematic for you. To be honest, Anderson provided most
of the album highlights. In addition to writing six of the seven
songs, he had a great, soul-tinged voice and while he may not have been the
flashiest lead guitarist out there, his work was always concise and
tasteful. Check out his work on the closer 'Change'. Shame he
wasn't given more of an opportunity to showcase his chops.
"The Time Is Near" track listing: 1.) Morning Rain (Miller Anderson) - 3:00 rating: **** stars The backward tape percussion sounds gave the opening of 'Morning Rain' an unexpected lysergic flavor, but it was only a momentary distraction. When the song kicked into gear, Anderson trotted out a nice, melodic blues-rock tune that's always reminded me a bit of a horn-powered Bad Company. One of the group's most commercial efforts and a nice way to start the album off. 2.) From the Window (Miller Anderson) - 3:28 rating: *** stars Keef Hartley and company at their most soulful. Yeah, the BS&T horn charts were an acquired taste, but Anderson sounded great. 3.) The Time Is Near (Miller Anderson) - 10:09 rating: **** stars if someone had ever asked me if I would enjoy a ten minute slice of horn rock, I would have simply laughed. 'Course that was before I heard the title track to this album. To my ears the song had more in common with early Chicago, or BS&T than blues rock, but that's just my opinion. Anderson never sounded as good on vocals and starting around the three minute mark, his guitar solo was simply magnificent. Stretching out over ten minutes it was clearly a bit too long with the Latin-styled horn arrangement quickly wearing out its welcome. Still, it was a great tune.
(side 2) 1.) You Can't Take It with You (Miller Anderson) - 7:19 rating: **** stars Another tune with a BS&T/Chicago flavor ... So if you liked early-'70s horn rock this was probably was going to strike a positive chord. While I'm not a big fan of the genre, 'You Can't Take It with You ' had a nice, pounding melody and Anderson sounded great on the tune. Lyle Jenkins extended sax solo was a bit too jazzy for my plebian tastes, but so what ... 2.) Premonition (instrumental) (Dave Caswell) - 4:24 rating: *** stars Opening up with some excellent Gary Thain bass moves, 'Premonition' was the album's lone instrumental. The focus was clearly no writer Dave Caswell's horns, but the track had kind of a nice jazz-soul vibe. Reminds me of The Ramsey Lewis Quartet. 3.) Another Time, Another Place (Miller Anderson) - 2:35 rating: **** stars Talk about a surprise - Anderson turning out a stunning, acoustic country-tinged number. One of the prettiest things they ever recorded. Shame it wasn't longer. 4.) Change (Miller Anderson) - 4:00 rating: **** stars As mentioned, Anderson's never been given his due as a guitarist. Anyone who doubts his chops should check out his work on the bluesy-rocker 'Change'. Nice way to close the album.
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Genre: blues-rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Overdog Company: Deram Catalog: DES 18057 Year: 1970 Country/State: Preston, Lancashire UK Grade (cover/record): VG/ VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve; split top seam Available: 1 Catalog ID: 445 Price: $10.00
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Say what you will, but Keef Hartley has frequently been willing to try out different genres and that willingness to stretch out was seldom as obvious as on 1971's "Overdog". Co-produced by Hartley and Nick Slaven, anyone who bought this album expecting to hear another set of English blues-rock was probably going to be at least mildly disappointed by the collection. And that wasn'tt meant as a criticism since straight-ahead hard rock tunes like the opener 'You Can Choose' and 'Plain Talkin'' were surprisingly strong and impressive. That said, the album's not-so-secret creative weapon was Miller Anderson who in addition to writing most of the material, handled vocals, and lead guitar. I imagine longtime fans may not have been thrilled by the changes, but to my ears this was one of the band's most accomplished and enjoyable albums. Kudos to Anderson for pushing Hartley and company into a more commercial stance.
"Ovedog" track listing: 1.) You Can Choose (Miller Anderson) - 5:28 Opening
up with some blazing Anderson wah wah guitar (he turned in killer solo about
two minutes into the song), 'You Can Choose' was one of the most mainstream
and commercial rockers Hartley ever recorded. As much as I loved the
blues-rock material, this is even better. rating:
**** stars Geez,
it took a little time to get acclimated to the thought of Keef and company
playing Southern rock ... but once you got your arms around it, 'Plain
Talkin'' was one of the album highlights. Great FM-ready melody
and some nice Anderson lead guitar. Kudos to keyboardist Mick
Weaver on this one as well. rating:
**** stars Kicked along by some wonderful Anderson acoustic guitar and Johnny Almond's tasteful flute, 'Theme Song' was one of the prettiest songs Hartley company ever recorded. It's also a great track to appreciate what a nice voice Anderson had. Gritty, but quite melodic ... rating: **** stars 4.) En Route (Keef Hartley - Gary Thain) Around the two minute mark the song switched directions and tempo, opening up into a flute-powered, up-tempo jazz--rock jam that gave keyboardist Mick Weaver and others a chance to stretch out. rating: *** stars 5.) Theme Song Reprise (Miller Anderson) - At roughly the 7:30 mark the song returned to the original ballad. rating: *** stars
(side 2) 1.) Overdog (Miller Anderson) - 4:20 rating: **** stars Courtesy
of Anderson's guitar, the title track opened up with a distinctive
psychedelic feel before
mutating into a funky FM jam that spotlighted Weaver's keyboards and
some of Anderson's most melodic lead guitar. Only complaint on this
one was the abrupt ending ... it literally just hits a brick
wall. Showcasing the band's horn line-up, the opening instrumental section of 'Roundabout' sounded out of place on the collection (probably explained by the fact it was recorded in 1970 prior to the rest of the album). The song then shifted gears between soulful vocal sections and some hardcore jazzy instrumental moves. To my ears its always sounded like two distinct tunes that were somewhat haphazardly stitched together. I wasn't impressed, but Deram tapped it as a UK single.
- 1971's
'Roundabout' b/w 'Roundabout II' (Deram catalog number DM 316)
3.) Imitations From Home (instrumental) (Keef Hartley) - 3:34 rating: *** stars Even
though it was clearly a throwaway jam, centered around Weaver's electric
piano, 'Imitations
From Home' managed to carve out a nice little jazz-rock groove. A wonderful slice of early-'70s country-rock, this was the kind of tune Delaney and Bonnie would have killed to get their hands on. Highly melodic and exceptionally commercial, it's hard to believe this one didn't provide the band with a mega-seller.
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Genre: blues-rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Seventy Second Brave Company: Deram Catalog: DES 18065 Year: 1972 Country/State: Preston, Lancashire UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: cut lower right corner; original inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4740 Price: $25.00 Cost: $66.00
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1972's self-produced "Seventy Second Brave" marked Hartley's first release after splitting with the rest of The Keef Hartley Band, including longtime lead singer/guitarist Miller Anderson. Luckily Hartley found a capable replacement line-up, including singer/guitarist Junior Kerr. With songwriting chores spread across four members of the new band, the predominant sound remained horn-powered blues-rock, though with tracks such as 'Hard Pill To Swallow', 'Don't You Be Long'' and 'Always Thinking of You' displayed a surprisingly commercial (and occasionally funky) edge. Elsewhere, the growling vocal on 'Don't Sign It' found Hartley reminded me a bit of Tony Joe White's blue-eyed soul moves. Pulling out another damning taped phone conversation to underscore his views on the music business and contracts was a questionable decision. You had to wonder why Hartley thought such a move was a career enhancing decision. I'm guessing that Deram management may have thought otherwise. Perhaps a bit more diverse than his first five studio sets, there wasn't anything particularly groundbreaking here, but the nine tracks provided a steady and enjoyable set heavy on early-1970s English blues-rock.
"Seventy Second Brave" track listing: 1.) Heartbreakin’ Woman (Junior Kerr) - 4:18 rating; *** stars A nifty Junior Kerr guitar riff and the BS&T-styled horns gave 'Heartbreakin' Woman' an unexpected funky edge. That was further underscored by Kerr's grizzly voice (though I missed Miller Anderson). Lyrically it wasn't anything to brag about, but the track had a high foot tapping quotient. 2.) Marin County (Chris Mercer) - 3:55 rating: *** stars 'Marin County' offered up a more pedestrian slice of blues-rock with Kerr, Pete Wingfield and several band members given solo shots. Gary Thain's end-of-song guitar solo was mesmerizing. 3.) Hard Pill To Swallow (Pete Wingfield) - 5:40 rating: **** stars Keyboardist Wingfield's lone songwriting contribution, 'Hard Pill To Swallow' was a pretty blues ballad that actually had a bit of commercial potential. Nick Newell's sax solo was merely icing on the cake. 4.) Don’t You Be Long (Junior Kerr) - 5:16 rating: **** stars Side one's hardest rocking performance, 'Don't You Be Long' had a strong rock melody and nice treated lead guitar. The vocals have always reminded me of something off of a Jack Bruce album. The second half of the tune found the band locking into a funky little riff which gave the horns a chance to stretch out a bit.
(side 2) 1.) Nicturns (istrumental) (Crowe) - 3:02 rating: ** stars Showcasing an extended Newell flute solo, the instrumental 'Nicturn' left me wondering if I had mistakenly put on a Moody Blues album. Pretty, but inconsequential. 2.) Don’t Sign It (Chris Mercer) - 4:24 rating: *** stars Sounding like Tony Joe White, the growling 'Don't Sign It' was a not-so-subtle swipe at the music business. Including another taped phone conversation between Hartley and a business manager just underscored what a dirty business it was. 3.) Always Thinking Of You (Crowe - Junior Kerr) - 4:37 rating: *** stars Opening with a tasty Gary Thain bass line 'Always Thinking Of You' introduced a funky soul flavor to the mix. 4.) You Say You’re Together Now (Gary Thain) - 3:42 rating: *** stars Written and sung by the late Gary Thain, 'You Say You’re Together Now' offered up a stark, but lovely acoustic ballad. In light of Thain's December 1975 death due to a heroin overdose the song has a dark, thought provoking feel. 5.) What It Is (instumental) (Crowe - Junior Kerr) - 1:19 The instrumental 'What It Is' ended the album with a short, big-band arrangement. Uptempo and bouncy, you had to wonder why it was such a short composition.
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