Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whitesnake on top of their game, July 27, 2003
This classic album was recorded seven years before Whitesnake broke through in America, having changed their sound from hard, bluesy rock n' roll to big-haired pop metal, so the version of "Fool For Your Loving" that kicks off "Ready An' Willing" is the original gritty rocker, not the slick, keyboard-laden and slightly evil one from the 1989 MTV video.
Back in 1980 original Whitesnake guitarists Bernie Marsden and Mick Moody played big, bluesy guitar riffs and short, sparse solos, Coverdale didn't yet bleach his hair, and the music was raw and powerful, more Deep Purple than poodle-pop.
"Ready an' Willing" goes from highlight to highlight:
"Fool For Your Loving", the hard-rocking "Sweet Talker", the superbly groovy "Ready An' Willing", the dirty, swaggering blues-rock of "Love Man", and the ballads "Carry Your Load", the Zeppelin-like "Blindman" and the acoustic "Ain't Gonna Cry No More". And one of the band's unknown gems is also here, the funky, piano-driven R&B of "Black And Blue" which can only be found on this album.
It's not great art, sure, but it's really great fun, and there is certainly no need to program anything out here. To me "Ready An' Willing" is Whitesnake's strongest studio album by far, and it's also the last one with the original line-up of Moody, Marsden, Murray, and former Purple members Lord and Paice intact. Never again did the Snake make an album of such consistently entertaining songs.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitive Blues Rock, December 15, 2002
The cast of this CD is the true blue whitesnake. I can't think of a more defining release of the 1000+ rock releases, I have heard that defines the term "Blues Rock". This is top of the line Rock Blues. Great melodies, perfected instrumentation and Coverdale at peak performance. Don't delay if you don't have this recording in your rock collection.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Old Snake delivers their definitive album!, July 2, 1999
By A Customer
The other reviewers got it right. This album is the most mature and confident of the old Snake. After all, a band with Coverdale, Lord, Paice (all three ex-Purple) plus Moody,Marsden and Murray, all of them writing good and honest rock music, such a band could do no wrong.It is interesting that this album was a hit in the UK and Europe, but was virtually ignored in the US. Probably America's rockers were only paying attention to more flamboyant bands like Van Halen, who admittedly played a more modern style. Whitesnake was carrying the tradition of British hard rock. Like Bad Company, the material consisted of cocky rock 'n'roll and careful arranged and passionate sung ballads. They never forgot the blues influences and, with the proper care to avoid comparisons to disco, they played one or another funkier tune. The album begins with lots of energy: "Fool for your loving", the first hit single, is catchy; "Sweet Talker" ("The bitch is in heat/ So you'd better run")and "Ready and Willing" are perhaps Coverdale and the boys at their best in cock rock. The blatant sexual content of the songs might prevent the critics from taking them seriously, but in the context of hard rock, that's allright. After all, if "I'm gonna give you every inch of my love" is a classic line from one of the most respected bands in rock history, then I can dig the mucho macho attitude of the old Snake. "Love Man" (in a 12-bar blues format), "Black and Blue" (piano-driven mid-tempo rock 'n' roll) and "She's a Woman" (fast and loud with releasing screaming) keep the hormones flowing. But there was also a more sensitive side of the Snake. "Carry your load" is an endearing song. The epic suffering of "Blindman" is impressive, although I prefer the original version from the 1976 David's solo album. And "Ain't Gonna Cry No More" is the highlight. Everything's right in this song: the acoustic beginning, the sound of Lord's synth, the superb vocals and when the whole band enters, it is just a thrill. No virtuoso heavy rock, for sure, but there are the right doses of emotion, talent and genuine affection for rock music. Recommended, of course. Why didn't I give 5 stars? Even recognising the value of READY AND WILLING, I still prefer TROUBLE and COME AND GET IT. But if you want to have only one old Snake album, READY AND WILLING is probably the most essential studio work. But don't forget LIVE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY, that contains the best of READY... and more in amazing energetic renditions.
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