Keef Hartley is an interesting footnote in rock history.  He became the drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes after their drummer left to join The Beatles.  Oh, Ringo — what a career limiting decision you made there.  Hartley also played with the legendary bluesman John Mayall.

And he played Woodstock, though you’d never know it because his performance wasn’t recorded.

Allegedly Hartley’s manager demanded payment for the privilege of recording his band — something Hendrix or The Who likely would’ve gotten away with, but come on.  Keef Hartley?  At the time the band had one album out, Halfbreed, which didn’t make much of a dent in the U.S.  I can understand why the producers didn’t grant the request.

Managers, always screwing things up.  It’s sad to think that a chunk of music history was lost over a couple of grand.

Anyway, I guess there are a couple of tapes out there from the audience but I haven’t heard them.    Here’s the Keef Hartley Band’s set list:

1. Spanish Fly
2. She’s Gone
3. Too Much Thinkin’
4. Believe In You
5. Rock Me Baby
6. Medley: Sinnin’ For You (intro) /Leaving Trunk/Just to Cry/Sinnin’ For You

Your official Woodstock soundtrack song count to date: 52

Next week: The Incredible String Band

<<<Back to Beginning

<<<Back to John Sebastian

Update: On August 2, 2019, Rhino Records released Woodstock – Back to the Garden: The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive and changed the game forever. With exception to two Hendrix tracks and one Sha Na Na cut, the massive box set contains complete sets from every Woodstock artist—even those long believed lost or never recorded.

Here is The Keef Hartley Band‘s set as it appears on the Back to the Garden archive, including announcements, etc.:

1. Chip Monck – “Please meet Harold at the stand with the blood pills”
2. SPANISH FLY
3. SHE’S GONE
4. TOO MUCH THINKING
5. BELIEVE IN YOU
6. Halfbreed Medley: SINNIN’ FOR YOU>LEAVING TRUNK>JUST TO CRY>SINNIN’ FOR YOU
7. Chip Monck – “Le dernière parte de la stage, immédiatement, s’il vous plait”