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Cherry Red [Release date : 31/05/24]
CD1: 1985: McCoy : Hard Thinking (incorporates 1982 EP)
CD2: 1998: McCoy : Brainstorm
CD3: 1977: McCoy : Live 1977
The real (John) McCoy, bass player extraordinaire, was as much known for his fearsome, bald headed, bearded appearance (not forgetting the dark glasses) as he was for his skill as a musician/writer/producer.
He’s probably best known for forming Gillan, the band, with ex Deep Purple front man, Ian Gillan.
And perhaps least known for his work behind the scenes, in writing and producing music that appeared on TV programmes like “The Bill”, “Band Of Gold” and “Space 1999”.
Gillan broke up acrimoniously after 4 years, with McCoy going on to form McCoy the band (and ultimately, Mammoth), dedicating one of the songs from their debut, ‘Because You Lied’, to Gillan. Say no more.
An EP and two albums followed, with studio musicians ranging from Paul Samson and Bernie Torme, to Al (Belladonna) Romano and Mike (From The Fire) Sciotto.
The 1982 EP has been packaged with 1985’s Hard Thinking album as one CD, with the McCoy name.
The second studio album, Brainstorm, forms CD2. It began life as a Mammoth recording, but became a McCoy release. As is the way in the music industry, it didn’t see the light of day until the nineties.
Cranking the machine back to the seventies, between bands, McCoy made a connection with Paul Samson and drummer, Roger Hunt. This like minded power trio created an impressive set of live material, most of which was cowritten by McCoy and Samson. It’s captured onstage at the Target, Reading - Live 1977 - with the songs ultimately forming the foundation of of Samson’s debut album, Survivors, produced by McCoy.
This rare live set is preserved on CD3.
It’s fleshed out by fiery covers of Jimmy Reed’s ‘Big Boss Man’ and ZZ Top’s ‘Nasty Dogs…’ which were an indicator of where this trio got their inspiration.
The Hard Thinking collection is kicked off by a seven and half minute cover version of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Oh Well’, lit up by blasts of awesome Torme axework. It’s condensed to a powerfully compact two and a half minute single edit later on the CD.
The commercial hard rock sound of ‘Night Lights’ and ‘Temporary Threshold Shift’ would have seen the band go toe to toe with UFO, but didn’t get the push or the airtime.
Brainstorm’s standouts, the rousing, tongue in cheek, cattle driving ‘Heavy Metal Cowboys’ and the US AOR influenced hard rock of ‘On And On’ both witness the band’s versatility, it’s ability to switch roles in the blink of an eye.
But yet again, it was a familiar story.
McCoy the band’s lack of recognition once again proved the arbitrary nature of the music biz. ****
Review by Brian McGowan
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