Whitesnake, 1987

• Author:      Whitesnake

  Released:   1987

Genre:        Hard rock, Heavy Metal

Producer:   Mike Stone & Keith Olsen

Rating:       ******* (7 out of 10)

Personnel:                                      

Guitar - John Sykes                                                          
Bass - Neil Murray                                   
Drums - Aynsley Dunbar
Keys - Don Airey and Bill Cuomo   
Vocals - David Coverdale                 

List of Songs

1. Crying in the Rain          2. Bad Boys          3. Still of the Night           4. Here I Go Again '87
5. Give Me All Your Love 6. Is This Love      7. Children of the Night    8. Straight for the Heart
9. Don't Turn Away

1987 witnessed a lot of events, affairs and episodes. Ronald Reagan underwent prostate surgery, Metal Gear was released in Japan, Great Storm of 1987 hit Great Britain, John Paul II issued the encyclical Sollicitudo rei socialis and Whitesnake released their self-titled album. This is the point of the review where the band Whitesnake may be used properly as a synonym (or a nickname) for Mr. Medicine Man alias Love Man alias Love Hunter alias David Coverdale (ex- Deep Purple vocalist). David Coverdale established his band in 1978, as Deep Purple split up in 1975/1976 and new career pathway must have been chosen. Up to 1985 Whitesnake had released six less or more successful albums charting on US and UK lists and selling in millions of copies having proved that the beau and the crew made their livings pretty up. However, blues-rock fundaments were being slowly lost and Whitesnake raced like mad towards commercial breakthrough and to win the first prize on the scene of rock. The year 1987 was about to belong to them.

And this is when Whitesnake ‘87 appeared and true revolution sparked off. Stricken relations between the chief and ex-Rainbow and Jeff Beck Group drummer Cozy Powell led to Powell disbanding. Similar tensions were perceptible also between Coverdale and his lead guitarist John Sykes (Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy) who had enough the tyranny of the singer. One could think that such unfortunate circumstances do not foster the collaboration among band members, but a willing to become giants of the scene is stronger. And it worked. Released in April 1987 Serpens Albus (as it was named in Japan) turned out to be the band’s greatest masterpiece in terms of charts positions and copies sold. On this album, everything works perfectly – from the very first to the very last song. Even saying nothing of tracks order in several different editions for North America, Europe and Japan and different titles, ingenuity and quality of the material covered with shadows everything else.

Nine songs (or eleven if to include bonus tracks) are loud, rabid heavy rockers with creaky and crunchy guitars dashing and trotting with immense speed. Starting from opus magnus and opener Still of The Night, with Led Zeppelin – esque main riff hitting a listener between their eyes and first astir of true Love Hunter’s lines, and ending up with Children of The Night with virtuosic soloing and fleshy rhythmic session that turn all knobs 361 degrees. Coverdale – Sykes duo proved their ingenuity and writing talents, recording songs that start and end with finest details attached. Medicine Man dusted two tracks from his previous albums, Crying In The Rain (from Saints & Sinners) and their biggest commercial hit, Here I Go Again, written primarily by Coverdale and Bernie Marsden (he left the band in 1982) for Saints & Sinners album. ’87 version sounds too polished and smoothed, covered by redundant layers of ornaments that makes it untrue and inaccurate, being too close to pop-rock gender. Similar, though slightly variant way was chosen for Billboard number 2 hit Is This Love, sang by Coverdale in tender, but moderate style preserving some kind of conservatism in his singing. Drums direct bluesy, even souly rhythm, changing it somewhat throughout the song, laying foundation for swaying guitar work supported by melancholic keyboards. May this not mislead you; gems like Children Of The Night with fretful strings and characteristic hoops of Coverdale or Give Me All Your Love with restrained, but ringing melodies and masculine lyrics (I’ll rock you in the morning/And Roll you in the night, Give me all your loving tonight) – they  rock the ground. Everything works, from the beginning to the last tune.

If Coverdale’s ship wanted to reach mainland of fame and recognition, they succeeded in full dimension. It was not blues-rock band anymore, providing mid-paced, insightfully playing around the strings songs. Since 1987 Whitesnake became a band chucking out furious riffs and even more nasty lyrics, changing style and showing up on the party right in time. This album shakes the earth, and having Bob Rock as a producer by their side, the same guy who produced Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet one year earlier, the fact of smoothed and commercial ingredient included in a couple of songs should be surprise no more.