McCoy - Live 1977 (2023)

The trio that was McCoy featured bassist/vocalist John McCoy, who would go on to Gillan, and another hard rock warrior in Paul Samson, later of Samson. Rounding out the lineup on this July 16, 1977, recording was drummer Roger Hunt. It's journeyman hard rock, not as metal-based or bombastic as much of the product associated with the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal." Actually, it's rather closer to ho-hum bar band rock than hard rock (or certainly metal), and the kind of music you'd be about as likely to hear on bottom-of-the-bill or pub bands in 1997 as you would in 1977. That's not a compliment, but it's not the worst slag that could be offered either. There are slightly more harmonies and slower passages than you might expect from such an act. The fidelity isn't so hot, not of usual official release standard, more like a middle-of-the-pack live 1977 bootleg. It's hard to reckon exactly who would be awaiting this disc eagerly, other than guys who need absolutely everything with a Deep Purple connection.

Review by Richie Unterberger