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Greg Koch—Blues—Create Records

This is Milwaukee guitarist Greg Koch’s first album on

Devon Alman’s Create Records label and features live
performances with minimal studio overdubs.

We begin with two previously unreleased tracks – the
blasting ‘Can’t Lose What You Never Had’ with Jimmy
Hall on harp and also the Memphis Horns, followed by
Muddy Waters’ ‘Can’t Be Satisfied’ where Greg shares

guitar and vocals with Larry McCray.

We then get two Freddie King instrumentals ‘The Stumble’ and ‘Steppin’ Out’, as well

as two extended nine-minute versions of ‘Stormy Monday’ and Hendrix’s ‘Red House’.
These are followed by two Koch instrumentals ‘The Damn Thing’ and ‘The Ripper’,
with the first being jazzy and the second funky. Although Greg served his time in the

bands of Milwaukee harp players Jim Liban and Steve Cohen his later solo work has
veered more towards jazz – similar to Jeff Beck’s later work - and as such may appeal
to guitarists more that general listeners.

Graham Harrison

John Hammond—You’re Doin’ Fine—Owsley Stan-

ley Foundation

This 3CD set (including a 60-page booklet of notes and
photos) was recorded live at San Francisco’s Boarding

House club over two nights in June1973 and contains
45 tracks featuring the then 31-year old John on vocals,
guitar and harmonica playing classic blues by Robert

Johnson, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Elmore
James etc. John is just as adept at doing country blues
as in the six Robert Johnson songs as 50’s Chicago

blues like Billy Boy Arnold’s ‘Wish You Would’ and Sony Boy Williamson’s ‘Help Me’
and Owsley Stanley’s recordings perfectly capture the atmosphere of the nights.

I’m not a big John Hammond fan but I have seen him live and he is a very entertaining
and accomplished performer however, with his limited instrumentation and material
I thought that 45 tracks (including a couple of repeat tracks from the two nights) was

just a bit too much. I would have thought that one CD with say 20 of the standout
tracks would have been a better option but obviously for hardened Hammond fans
this 3CD collection will be welcomed.

Graham Harrison