Frontiers/BAM
DAVID COVERDALE´S WHITESNAKE, further introduction is probably superfluous but here I go (again). After leaving DEEP PURPLE mark IV David decided to move while the irons´s still hot and started a solo band The White Snake Band. Before releasing “Trouble” as WHITESNAKE the young band first displayed themselves with an EP called “Snakebite”. Some line-up changes later the glory years was soon to come with bluesy albums like “Trouble”, “Lovehunter”, Ready ´an Willing”, “Come ´an Get It” and “Saints and Sinners”. Up until then the classic line up of David, guitarists Micky Moody (SNAFU etc) and Bernie Marsden, bass legend Neil Murray, plus former DEEP PURPLE compatriots Jon Lord, keyboards and Ian Paice, drums. 1983 signaled changes with “Slide It in”, as Tom Galley, guitars, Colin Hodgkinson, bass, and soon ex THIN LIZZY and TYGERS OF PAN TANG guitarist John Sykes made up the numbers. Soon Jon Lord also left to reform DEEP PURPLE and Richard Bailey replaced him. In 1987 David returned with a new band, reinventing his creation as a hair metal band. As all musicians were fired eventually the new line-up consisted of well-travelled personnel; guitarists Adrian Vandenberg and Steve Vai (!), bass man Rudy Sarzo and drummer Tommy Aldridge. This is where this story takes place, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Donnington!
“Are you ready!?”. David sounds fine in opener and recent title track “Slip of the Tongue”. “Slide It In” follows suite, and the audience goes crazy. It´s the right song, but it sounds a tad overblown to me. There is a solid collection of hair metal, or audience friendly oldies on offer. The halcyon days of old are off David´s horizon by now. Major league happenings like “Is This Love”, “the perennial “Crying in the Rain”, “Fool for Your Loving”, ”Here I Go Again” and (since 1978) the fortunate cover of BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND´s “Ain´t No Love in the Heart of the City” are penalty shots. The signature ending of “Still of the Night” is a party starter on its own. But the selection of guitar masturbation clips like Vandenberg´s “Adagio for Strato” and “Flying Dutchman Boogie” plus Vai´s equally self-indulging “For the Love of God” and “The Audience Is Listening” are all very dubious inclusions. The watery lows of neon yellow trifles like “Kitten´s Got Claws”, “Cheap an Nasty” and “Bad Boys” will most likely not feature on the bands farewell tour, whenever that may be. There are both highlights and flat belly landings on offer here. For those who indulge in guitar focus this is a field day. For those who miss the old WHITESNAKE´s solid blues beat, this is off the peak. I never really liked the cross-dressing band myself…
Track List
CD1
Slip of the Tongue
Slide It In
Judgement Day
Slow an Easy
Kitten´s Got Claws
Adagio for Strato
Flying Dutchman Boogie
Is This Love
CD2
Fool for Your Loving
For the Love of God
The Audience Is Listening
Here I Go Again
Bad Boys
Ain´t No Love in the Heart of the City
Still of the Night
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