Halfbreed (album) explained

Halfbreed
Type:	Album
Artist:	Keef Hartley Band
Cover:	KHBHalfbreed.jpg
Released:	March 1969 (UK) / May 1969 (US/Canada)^[1]
Recorded:	7, 9, 10 & 13 October, 11–12 December 1968
Studio:	Decca Studio No. 1, West Hampstead, London
Genre:	Blues rock
Length:	46:57
Label:	Deram
Producer:	Neil Slaven
Next Title:	The Battle of North West Six
Next Year:	1969

Halfbreed is the debut album by the Keef Hartley Band. The band was formed when Keef Hartley left John Mayall's band after touring and playing on seven albums (some issued later), including being the only performer besides Mayall on The Blues Alone. Halfbreed includes two spoken passages featuring Mayall, as well as several notable British jazz-rock players.

It was voted number 3 in the All-Time 50 Long Forgotten Gems from Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.^[2]

Track listing

1969 LP

Deram SML 1037 (UK), DES 18024 (US)

1. "Sacked (Introducing Hearts and Flowers)" (Arranged by Keef Hartley) – 0:40
2. "Confusion Theme" (Hartley, Ian Cruikshank) – 1:05
3. "The Halfbreed" (Hartley, Peter Dines, Cruikshank) – 6:07
4. "Born to Die" (Dines, Hartley, Gary Thain, Fiona Hewitson) – 9:58
5. "Sinnin' For You" (Hartley, Dines, Hewitson, Owen Finnegan) – 5:51
6. "Leavin' Trunk" (Sleepy John Estes) – 5:55
7. "Just to Cry" (Henry Lowther, Finnegan) – 6:20
8. "Too Much Thinking" (Finnegan, Dines, Thain) – 5:30
9. "Think it Over" (B.B. King) – 4:59
10. "Too Much to Take (Speech)" – 0:32

1995 CD reissue

One Way Records OW 30332

1. "Sacked (Introducing Hearts and Flowers)"
2. "Confusion Theme"
3. "Halfbreed"
4. "Born to Die"
5. "Sinnin' for you"
6. "Leavin' Trunk"
7. "Just to Cry"
8. "Too Much Thinking"
9. "Leave it 'til the Morning"
10. "Think it Over"
11. "Too Much to Take"

Personnel

The Keef Hartley Band

• Miller Anderson – vocals, guitar
• Peter Dines – organ, harpsichord
• "Spit James" (real name: Ian Cruickshank) – guitar
• Gary Thain – bass guitar
• Keef Hartley – drums
• Henry Lowther – trumpet, violin, brass arrangements
• Harry Beckett – trumpet
• Lyn Dobson – tenor saxophone, flute
• Chris Mercer – tenor saxophone
• John Mayall – voice on "Sacked" and "Too Much to Take"

Technical

• Neil Slaven – producer
• Derek Varnals – recording engineer
• Adrian Martins – assistant engineer
• Bob Baker – front cover photography
• Richard Sacks – inside sleeve photography

Notes and References

1. Album Reviews . Melody Maker. March 22, 1969 . 19 . 15 September 2021.
2. Book: All Time Top 1000 Albums. Colin Larkin. Colin Larkin (writer). Virgin Books. 2000. 3rd. 0-7535-0493-6. 27.