Blog Archives
Who Cares (Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi & Friends) – Out Of My Mind / Holy Water
Who Cares (Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi & Friends) – Out Of My Mind / Holy Water (2011, earMUSIC/Eagle Rock Records)
1. “Out of My Mind” … 5:19
2. “Holy Water” … 7:00
Band:
Ian Gillan – Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitar
Linde Lindstrom – Guitar
Jason Newsted – Bass
Nicko McBrain – Drums
Jon Lord – Keyboards
How’s THIS for a super group: Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, Iron Maiden’s Nick McBrain, ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, ex-Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord and HIM’s Linde Lindstrom! Well, um, nothing against Lindstrom but, wow, he feels a bit out of place doesn’t he? I think his connection is he’s either dating or married to Iommi’s daughter.
Who Cares was initially a project put together by Gillan & Iommi to help benefit the rebuilding of a music school in Armenia but there was always the vague promise that Gillan & Iommi would continue to work together on some new material. I imagine with a reunited Black Sabbath that won’t be happening… ever (Sabbath will probably take up the next few years and these guys are old enough already). Shame. I’d much rather hear a Iommi & Gillan record (Geezer can tag along too) than a new Sabbath album with Ozzy.
Initially released as a digital single, the album has been made available on 7″ vinyl (limited to only 1,000 copies) and as a deluxe CD single featuring a video clip and a 30 minute documentary.
Despite being a one-off super-group that implied Tony & Ian might continue to work together, Who Cares went a bit under the radar, I think. Yes, it was done for charity so it’s not like there was any huge label or promotion backing this but given the talent involved I would have expected more buzz from the rock/metal community. The songs are just phenomenal and while I haven’t heard any of Gillan’s recent work with Deep Purple, the guy can still sing and scream like a rock ‘n’ roll god (even if his voice is a tad bit weathered, but at 66 years old, I’ll give him a break).
“Out of My Mind” is just plain heavy. Not Born Again heavy, but still heavy nonetheless, stomping along and sounding Black Sabbath & Deep Purple put in a blender: Iommi pulling out a great riff and solo, Gillan singing with venom and Jon Lord doing what he does best. Musically, it’s really not too far off from what we might’ve heard from Heaven & Hell.
“Holy Water” is a bit more majestic in scope with a taste of the Middle East. I’m not all that well-versed on Deep Purple with Steve Morse but from what I have heard, this sounds like the type of song you might hear from them as Jon Lord’s keyboard factors heavily into this track and Gillan is a bit more subdued.
Who Cares was put together for a great cause and features great music so it’s definitely worth buying. It also shows us what a great pairing Gillan & Iommi can still be and hopefully we can get some more music of out this duo in the future.
WHITESNAKE – Trouble
Whitesnake – Trouble (1978, Geffen Records)
1. “Take Me With You” … 4:44
2. “Love to Keep You Warm” .. .3:43
3. “Lie Down (A Modern Love Song)” … 3:14
4. “Day Tripper” … 3:47
5. “Nighthawk (Vampire Blues)” … 3:40
6. “The Time is Right for Love” … 3:27
7. “Trouble” … 4:48
8. “Belgian Tom’s Hat Trick” … 3:25)
9. “Free Flight” … 4:05
10. “Don’t Mess with Me” … 3:18
Band:
David Coverdale – Vocals
Micky Moody – Guitar
Bernie Marsden – Guitar, Vocals (“Free Flight”)
Neil Murray – Bass
Dave Dowle – Drums
Jon Lord – Keyboards
Producer: Martin Birch
Though it isn’t the first album to bare to Whitesnake name, Trouble is the first full-fledged group effort because Snakebite (released earlier in the same year) featured a handful of David Coverdale solo material that was recorded before Whitesnake was formed.
It’s amazing how well put together the sound and direction of this band was right out of the gate. Trouble sets the tone for the rest of the group’s blues-rock era. But could we really expect anything less given the talent involved? Coverdale delivers his typically wonderful vocal performance throughout (though he would get even better on later albums), Jon Lord’s keys dance delicately and enhance the songs instead of bogging them down and the guitar duo of Moody & Marsden is quickly becoming one of my favorites and has convinced me I really need to buy those Company of Snakes albums. Neil Murray also puts in a fine performance as does drummer Dave Dowle.
There’s a number of notable songs on this release, even if upon first listen, none really stuck out to me. The band takes The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” and gave it a blues-rock feel to pretty cool effect. Dig that voice box! “Belgian Tom’s Hat Trick” is an awesome instrumental and no offense to Mr. Coverdale, but it’s one of the best songs on the album. Then there’s “Free Flight” which features the vocal talents of Bernie Marsden. Again, it may be missing Coverdale but it’s a great number.
Now that I’ve heard this album about eight or nine times all the way through, I enjoy all the songs to one degree or another. There’s no immediate “hit” but this is great 1970s hard rockin’ blues.
Picked this one up used on Amazon.com for only a few bucks.
Highlights: “Take Me With You”, “Day Tripper”, “Trouble”, “Belgian Tom’s Hat Trick”, “Free Flight”, “Don’t Mess With Me”
WHITESNAKE – Slide It In
Whitesnake – Slide It In (1984, Geffen Records)
1. “Slide It In” … 3:20
2. “Slow an’ Easy” … 6:08
3. “Love Ain’t No Stranger” … 4:18
4. “All or Nothing” … 3:40
5. “Gambler” … 3:58
6. “Guilty of Love” … 3:24
7. “Hungry for Love” … 3:28
8. “Give Me More Time” … 3:42
9. “Spit It Out” … 4:26
10. “Standing in the Shadow” … 3:42
Band:
David Coverdale – Vocals
Mel Galley – Guitar, Backing Vocals
John Sykes – Guitar
Neil Murray – Bass
Cozy Powell – Drums
Jon Lord – Keyboards
Producer: Martin Birch
Slide It In is supposedly Whitesnake’s U.S. debut. I say “supposedly” because by 1984, they had already released six studio albums and one live album and while most of those came out under the EMI label in Europe, they were also released on Geffen which was the band’s U.S. label at the time. So either those albums were released alongside the European versions or Geffen dumped a lot of Whitesnake albums onto the American public in the mid to late ’80s!
Nonetheless, the U.S. version of Slide It In is mixed quite differently than the European version (that mix was criticized upon release in the UK). I have not heard that version but from what I’ve read about it, in the U.S. mix the keyboards and bass were lowered and the guitars and drums were put more up front at Geffen’s request. Also, by the time the album was to be released in the U.S., guitarist Mick Moody and bassist Colin Hodgkinson had left the band and their parts were re-recorded by John Sykes and the returning Neil Murray.
Anyway, this album starts the band’s commercial rise in the United States and maybe what old school Whitesnake fans would say is their musical decline. In my opinion, Slide It In is a fantastic album that acts as a bridge between the band’s early ’80s blues-based hard rock and their late ’80s commercial pop-metal sound. “Slide It In”, “Slow an’ Easy” and “Love Ain’t No Stranger” are a lethal three song line-up. Many albums have a great opening one-two punch but a one-two-three punch ?! Classic Whitesnake songs that are three of my all-time faves from the band.
How about these lyrics? Prime Coverdale. What did you think “Slide It In” and “Slow an’ Easy” would be about? What about “Spit It Out”? It’s obvious what he’s talking about there: “you took my love in the palm of your hand an’ showed me what a woman could do…” It’s awesome and I say that with no sense of irony. I love it.
By the way, check out this Whitesnake line-up. Coverdale has always done a great job of keeping Whitesnake stocked with top players. Sometimes I think Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Deep Purple and Rainbow had some type of musician exchange going. Maybe they held drafts every year.
Slide it in slow an’ easy then spit it out if you don’t like it!
Highlights: “Slide It In”, “Slow an’ Easy”, “Love Ain’t No Stranger”, “Gambler”, “Spit It Out”
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 – 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”
DEEP PURPLE – Perfect Strangers
Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers [Remastered] (1999, Mercury Records)
Original Release: 1984, Mercury Records
1.”Knocking at Your Back Door” … 7:04
2.”Under the Gun” … 4:38
3.”Nobody’s Home” … 3:59
4.”Mean Streak” … 4:21
5.”Perfect Strangers” … 5:28
6.”A Gypsy’s Kiss” … 5:12
7.”Wasted Sunsets” … 3:55
8.”Hungry Daze” … 4:58
9.”Not Responsible” … 4:47
BONUS TRACK
10.”Son of Alerik” … 10:07
Band:
Ian Gillan – Vocals
Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
Roger Glover – Bass
Jon Lord – Organ, Keyboards
Ian Paice – Drums
Produced by: Deep Purple
I bought this album close to 10 years ago basically just for “Knocking at Your Back Door”. I ended up liking “Perfect Strangers” as well, but quickly disregarded the rest of the album. It was nothing more to me than bad 70s keyboard/organ heavy rock. That was then, this is now and this album rocks!
I’ve become much more easy going when it comes to 70s hard rock/metal acts like Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple (all three of these bands kinda ran in the same circles, didn’t they). After initially passing this album off as an oddity for something released during the 80s, I can now appreciate the “classic” sound Deep Purple brought to this comeback release. In striving to to match their “classic” sound, Deep Purple ended up putting out something in 1984 that didn’t really sound like anything else going on at the time and as much as I love the 80s, that’s really cool of them and it payed off in a big way.
This would be the popular “Mark II” line up of the band making the comeback. Deep Purple hadn’t released an album since 1975 and the Mark II grouping hadn’t released one since 1973. The reunion was a success with the album reaching #6 on the Billboard charts and the subsequent tour selling out. The album went on to go platinum in the States and double platinum in the UK.
The 1999 remastered version features the instrumental bonus track “Son of Alerik” which previously had only been released as a B-side to the “Perfect Strangers” single.
Highlights: “Knocking at Your Back Door”, “Under the Gun”, “Mean Streak”, “Perfect Strangers”, “A Gypsy’s Kiss”, “Wasted Sunsets”, “Hungry Daze”, “Not Responsible”
