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DEEP PURPLE – Burn
Deep Purple – Burn [30th Anniversary Edition - Remastered] (2005, Warner Bros. Records/Rhino Records/Purple Records)
Original Release: 1974, Warner Bros. Records
1. “Burn” … 6:00
2. “Might Just Take Your Life” … 4:36
3. “Lay Down, Stay Down” …4:15
4. “Sail Away” … 5:48
5. “You Fool No One” … 4:47
6. “What’s Goin’ on Here” … 4:55
7. “Mistreated” … 7:25
8. “”A” 200″ … 3:51
BONUS TRACKS
9. “Coronarias Redig” [2004 Remix] … 5:30
10. “Burn” [2004 Remix] … 6:00
11. “Mistreated” [2004 Remix] … 7:28
12. “You Fool No One” [2004 Remix] … 4:57
13. “Sail Away” [2004 Remix] … 5:37
Band:
David Coverdale – Lead Vocals
Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
Glenn Hughes – Bass, Lead Vocals
Ian Paice – Drums
Jon Lord – Keyboards
Producer: Deep Purple
Years ago, during a Columbia House or BMG Music binge, I ordered Deep Purple’s Perfect Strangers and then I never bothered with another Purple album. I wasn’t overly impressed by the album at the time and I’ve always had this hang-up on Deep Purple that they were “too 70s” and too heavy on keyboards and organs and that’s just not my style of rock.
Well, years later I decided to give the band a chance again by picking up Burn featuring the Deep Purple debut of two of my favorite rock vocalists – David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes. It didn’t hurt that I found this anniversary edition online, brand new, for only six bucks and some change.
Again, everything about this album screams 1970s. The keyboards, the album cover, the funky & bluesy bass lines. I should really hate this album but somehow, I like it. I don’t love it, but I like it a lot and its a real treat listening to Coverdale and Hughes share lead vocals. Coverdale didn’t play any instruments in the band, so I’ve always wondered how he felt about sharing vocals with a band member who is playing an instrument as well. Just seems like a weird deal to me, but it was the 70s after all!
This album began the end of Ritchie Blackmore’s involvement in the band he co-found as he hated the bluesy and funky direction Hughes and Coverdale were taking the group in. I will say this, this album features some GREAT performances by Coverdale. Just listen to “Mistreated”.
The remixes I guess are nice if you have a really good ear or sound system for that type of stuff. I don’t have either, but I appreciate the effort put into this package to make it something special. “Coronarias Redig” was a B-side and is a pretty cool funky jam. There’s a very comprehensive booklet as well that’s full pictures and talks about the history about the band during this time frame. I love it when reissues include retrospectives like that. It oughta be a law.
Highlights: “Burn”, “Might Just Take Your Life”, “Sail Away”, “You Fool No One”, “Mistreated”, “Coronarias Redig”
WHITESNAKE – Slip of the Tongue
Whitesnake – Slip of the Tongue (1989, Geffen Records)
1. “Slip of the Tongue” … 5:20
2. “Cheap an’ Nasty” … 3:28
3. “Fool for Your Loving” … 4:11
4. “Now You’re Gone” … 4:12
5. “Kittens Got Claws” … 5:02
6. “Wings of the Storm” … 5:01
7. “The Deeper the Love” … 4:22
8. “Judgment Day” … 5:16
9. “Slow Poke Music” … 3:59
10. “Sailing Ships” … 6:02
Band:
David Coverdale – Vocals
Steve Vai – Guitar
Adrian Vandenberg – Guitar
Rudy Sarzo – Bass
Tommy Aldridge – Drums
Producer: Mike Clink & Keith Olsen
Holy cow, what a line-up David gathered for this release! Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai (David Lee Roth), Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot) and Tommy Aldridge (Ozzy, Black Oak Arkansas, Pat Travers Band). I left out guitarist Adrian Vandenberg because while he was still technically a member of the band, a wrist injury prevented him from taking part in the recording sessions (the liner notes mention this while still crediting him and Vai). Vai had replaced Vivian Campbell, who was fired in 1988 for a “negative attitude”, but I think Vivian made out okay finding a home with Def Leppard in 1992.
I’m not sure how much touring Vandenberg was able to for this album, but I was thinking Vai and Vandenberg would’ve made for an awesome guitar duo… Until while doing research for this album I read Vandenberg didn’t appreciate Steve’s flashy style, which he feels damaged this album.
I’ve wanted this one on CD for years, but kept putting it off because I know it by heart as I had the cassette for a long time. I know there’s remastered/20th Anniversary/DVD edition but why pay $20 for that when I can just get the original for $6? I don’t need any fancy fixin’s! The album isn’t that good.
But I will say this, I’m probably a bit more positive on this one than most people. It’s the culmination of the band’s pop metal years with the bluesy hard rock now totally stripped away but there’s still some good songs here. Tongue-in-cheek numbers like “Slip of the Tongue”, “Cheap An’ Nasty” and “Slow Poke Music” are classic Coverdale, in my opinion. It is really the ballads like “Now You’re Gone” and “Sailing Ships” that hike up the pop-metallic cheese level. Guilty pleasures for sure.
“Fool For Your Loving” is yet another old Whitesnake song David dusted off. The original song appeared on 1980′s Ready an’ Willing.
Not the first Whitesnake one should own, but I recommend it for anyone who is a fan of Slide It In and their 1987 self-titled release.
Highlights: “Slip of the Tongue”, “Cheap an’ Nasty”, “Fool for Your Loving”, “Now You’re Gone”, “The Deeper the Love”, “Judgment Day”
WHITESNAKE – Saints & Sinners
Whitesnake – Saints & Sinners (1982, Geffen Records)
1. “Young Blood” … 3:30
2. “Rough an’ Ready” … 2:50
3. “Bloody Luxury” … 3:24
4. “Victim of Love” … 3:34
5. “Crying in the Rain” … 5:58
6. “Here I Go Again” … 5:08
7. “Love an’ Affection” … 3:08
8. “Rock an’ Roll Angels” … 4:07
9. “Dancing Girls” … 3:09
10. “Saints an’ Sinners” … 4:22
Band:
David Coverdale – Lead Vocals, Piano, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Bernie Marsden – Guitar
Mel Galley – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Mick Moody – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Neil Murray – Bass
Ian Paice – Drums
Jon Lord – Keyboards
Produced by: Martin Birch
Phenomenal release and I’m ashamed it took me so long to own it (though I still think Good to Be Bad is my favorite ‘snake album). Coverdale has always used blues in the band’s music, even into their pop metal era, but man, this is some great bluesy hard rock. And check out Jon Lord on keyboard! I’ve grown to appreciate Deep Purple and their heavy use of the keyboard more over the years, so it’s actually nice to hear it featured prominently here as well. This would be the last Whitesnake album to feature both of Coverdale’s ex-Deep Purple bandmates Ian Paice and Jon Lord (though Lord would continue in the band until ’84).
I’ve never had a problem with the pop-metal version of Whitesnake (though I think Slip of the Tongue was a bit too slick for its own good) and I’ve never had a problem with the bluesier early years either, but you can’t deny the greatness of the old bluesier sound when hearing Saints & Sinners. As great as Coverdale’s voice is, it’s nice to hear him scaling back on the high pitch wailing he used so much on 1987′s Whitesnake and 1989′s Slip of the Tongue.
Of course, it’s no secret “Crying in the Rain” and “Here I Go Again” debuted on this album before getting a pop metal makeover in 1987. This version of “Crying in the Rain” is far and away the better version, it’s full of soul. As for “Here I Go Again”, it’s a nice (original) take on the song, but I prefer the bombastic version the band would later record.
My favorite track is “Dancing Girls”. The riff is great and the chorus is catchy as heck. This should be played right alongside “Girls Girls Girls” in every strip club in America.
I’ve noticed some discrepancies in regards to the contributions of Bernie Marsden and Mel Galley on this album. Most sources I’ve seen say one or the other played guitar (some say Galley only provided backing vocals), but until I get a confirmation either way, I’ll credit both on guitar and as members of the band.
Highlights: “Young Blood”, “Crying in the Rain”, “Here I Go Again”, “Love an’ Affection”, “Rock an ‘Roll Angels”, “Dancing Girls”, “Saints an’ Sinners”
WHITESNAKE – Good to Be Bad
Whitesnake – Good to Be Bad [United States/Canada Limited Edition] (2008, SPV/Steamhammer Records)
Track Listing:
1. “Best Years” – 5:15
2. “Can You Hear the Wind Blow” – 5:04
3. “Call on Me” – 5:02
4. “All I Want All I Need” – 5:41
5. “Good to Be Bad” – 5:14
6. “All for Love” – 5:13
7. “Summer Rain” – 6:11
8. “Lay Down Your Love” – 6:01
9. “A Fool in Love” – 5:50
10. “Got What You Need” – 4:16
11. “‘Til the End of Time” – 5:35
BONUS CD:
1. “Burn/Stormbringer” [Live] – 8:38
2. “Give Me All Your Love Tonight” [Live] – 4:27
3. “Walking in the Shadow…” [Live] – 5:10
4. “The Deeper the Love” [Live] – 4:31
5. “Ready & Willing” [Live] – 5:41
6. “Don’t Break My Heart Again” [Live] – 6:08
7. “Take Me with You [Live] – 10:22
8. “Ready to Rock” [Enhanced Video]
Band:
David Coverdale – Vocals
Doug Aldrich – Guitar
Reb Beach – Guitar
Uriah Duffy – Bass
Timothy Drury – Keyboards
Chris Frazier – Drums
This is absolutely an OUTSTANDING release. After hearing the studio cuts from 2006′s Live: In the Shadow of the Blues, I knew any upcoming Whitesnake release was going to be fantastic and David Coverdale certainly didn’t disappoint me with this release. The album has debuted in somewhere in the 60s on the Billboard charts, but apparently is tearing it up on the European charts. Good for them, this is one of top WS releases and deserves the success.
Coverdale’s voice is amazing still and the songs are just plain heavy and catchy. If you’re wanting classic Whitesnake– here it is in 2008. Coverdale doesn’t try modernize the band, Whitesnake still sounds Whitesnake, which is refreshing amongst the current crop of rock music.
The playing here is great as well and just plain powerful. This labum is meant to be played LOUD. Dave’s always done a great job of bringing top musicians into the group and he’s done it again. The songs and band are inspired and at the top of their game. The guitars sound great thanks to the talents of veteran rockers Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach.
Tis is easily one of the best releases of the year, if not THE best, and one of the best Whitesnake albums. If I had a complaint, it would only be that I’m disappointed none of the studio songs from Live: In the Shadow of Blues make it onto this release. I was really hoping at least “Ready to Rock” would make it.
Initial pressings are “Limited Editions”, with Europe having their own and then US/Canada getting one. The US/Canada release features 7 songs from Live: In the Shadow of Blues (all of which are great) along with the “enhanced video” for ”Ready to Rock” (Which makes it even more frustrating the actual song didn’t show up here!). The live cuts are simply awesome, the band and Coverdale are incredibly energetic.
Can anyone top this release in 2008?
Highlights: The whole album. Both discs. Okay, you want a serious answer? The creme de la creme? “Best Years”, “Can You Hear the Wind Blow”, “Call On Me”, “All I Want All I Need”, “All For Love”, “Lay Down Your Love”
