The Time Is Near - KEEF HARTLEY BAND***

Morning Rain/From The Window/The Time Is Near/You Can't Take It With You/Premonition/Another Time Another Place/Change

The cover suggests that The Time Is Near might be an American release. In fact Keef Hartley was British and served for a time as drummer with blues legend John Mayall. This album was noted for its heavy use of horns. (US:191 UK:41)

“A nice blues album with a little jazz thing going on. Well written tunes with interesting vocals and nice guitar. Of course the drummer is excellent. The only drawback is those horns.”

“The Keef Hartley Band’s third album was particularly heavy on the horns. They are featured on most songs, some of which turn into extended pieces. Using heavy blues guitar leads and a soulful voice, Miller Anderson keeps the brass in check. The songs have good melody and sound better with repeated plays. If you like to mix horns with your blues then this would be a good choice.”

“One band that fell into a hole of neglect and subsequently obscurity (unfairly) was The Keef Hartley Band. They really had a whole lot going for them musically, starting with the dynamic drumming of Keef Hartley himself. Next, they had a talented vocalist/guitarist in Miller Anderson, who was also a very adept lyricist, writing six of the seven songs on this album.”

“One of the elements that separated them from many other bands of the era was an astoundingly good jazz horn section which put them, superficially at least, in the same category as Chicago or Blood, Sweat & Tears. However, the Hartley Band's horn section was much more jazz oriented and full of skilled soloists.”

“These songs had a rock groove and a genuinely 60s FM underground sound, but the horns played sweet R & B changes over vocals that could rival Otis Redding or Sam and Dave.”

“Songs like Morning Rain, the splendid title track (which really should have been a hit) and You Can't Take It With You are so hook laden, and groove with such a distinct original sound that once they get stuck in your head you'd swear you have heard them on the radio. There is no reason why other songs made it big in 1970 and these worthy gems were brushed aside. Just the fickle finger of fate.”