Keef Hartley Band ‎– The Battle Of North West Six VG+/VG

The Battle of North West Six, released in November 1969, is the second album by the Keef Hartley Band. It showcases a blend of blues rock with elements of jazz and big band arrangements, reflecting the group’s evolving sound.

At the time, Hartley’s six-piece band was occasionally performing as The Keef Hartley Big Band, incorporating a brass section, which is evident in several tracks on the album. The lineup features Keef Hartley on drums, Miller Anderson on vocals and guitar, and Gary Thain on bass, alongside contributions from Henry Lowther (trumpet, violin), Jim Jewell (saxophone), and Mick Weaver (organ, piano).

Tracks like “The Dansette Kid / Hartley Jam for Bread” and “Tadpole” highlight the band’s ability to fuse tight blues grooves with improvisational flair. The album also includes Mick Taylor (later of The Rolling Stones) on guitar for “Believe in You”, adding an extra layer of depth to the sound.