1971 UK DERAM KEEF HARTLEY BAND - OVERDOG Power Blues

$

30

1971 BRITISH DERAM ORIGINAL RELEASE!                                        

 COLLECTIBLE POWERFUL BLUES ROCKER CLASSIC!!!                                                                                              

      THE  KEEF HARTLEY BAND

                        OVERDOG

\                                                           BRITISH - DERAM RECORDS -  XZAL 1043

RARE BRITISH 1971 original first pressing vinyl on the famed UK DERAM Records label, in slick gatefold cover.

From the opening wah-wah rhythm guitar of 'You Can Choose' and the thundering attack of Thain and Hartley when the group comes in, it's clear that Overdog is a considerably different beast to The Time Is Near.... While the previous album had an energy of its own, 'You Can Choose' righteously bristles with excitement. While nowhere near the metal-edge of Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Miller adopts a weightier tone and more reckless abandonapproach to soloing.

That doesn't mean that Keef Hartley Band had walked away from its stylistic cross-pollination of blues, jazz, folk and rock. But even the ever-so-slightly rural opening to 'Plain Talkin' is propelled by a more visceral rhythm section, a more assertive solo from Anderson and some fine organ work from now-regular keyboardist Mick Weaver.

There were comparisons, at the time, between Keef Hartley Band and Colosseum, the group spearheaded by drummer Jon Hiseman, who guests on a couple of tracks here. The link is clear when Hartley takes the compositional reins on a couple of tracks, including the Enroute section of the eight-minute 'Theme/Enroute/Theme Reprise' medley, which is a vamp-based jam feature for guest flautist Johnny Almond, whose group Mark-Almond would mine similar turf. He also contributes the Latin jazz-tinged, minor-keyed instrumental vamp 'Imitations From Home' with Hiseman contributing some propulsive conga work.

But these tracks represent the lighter side of Overdog, an overall heavier album. Anderson's title track begins with thundering tom-toms and a bass pulse, over which Anderson delivers some processed guitar before heading into flat-out skonk territory. 'Roundabout' begins with another tom tom-driven beat that features a heavy arrangement that ultimately turns rockier, but never loses sight of the soulful-power component. 

CONDITION: The slick gatefold cover has a very collectible look "EX" (excellent)  strong & solid everywhere clean shape -- small round delete mark at top right, no seam splits, no bends and no writing plus 4-sharp corners.

The vinyl is all glossy clean "EX" (excellent), one label has a sticker removal tear, the grooves play minty clean... TOPS!

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record