While bassist McCoy is perhaps best known for his work with Gillan and Mammoth, this compilation gives a good overview of all of his work, stretching back to his late 60s start. The likes of Welcome’s Walking Strong (1969) is a rocking big band effort, with McCoy pounding through. Then there’s varying work from the jazz-rockinspired Zzebra, and Quadrant’s psych-funk-rock mix.
The hard rock interest comes in with McCoy’s Big Boss Man, featuring Paul Samson on guitar. There’s also an early version of Samson’s own It’s Not As Easy As It Seems, which is a classic in its own right – as are the Gillan tracks included here (No Easy Way; Are You Sure). Disc Two also contains some classic moments from Atomic Rooster and Joint Forces, and the previously unreleased Hard Times by Torme/McCoy/ Thunderstick.
The set continues in kind, covering Mammoth, Samson and Sun Red Sun, and winding up with Cannonball, from McCoy’s current project GMT. Finally, there’s the enjoyable, if irrelevant, Shaving Cream by The Split Knee Loons. It reminds us that, behind the power, heavy bass, and shaven head, is McCoy’s sense of humour.
