Saints & Sinners

Whitesnake | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 19, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Gold Line Sp.
• ASIN: B000000OYN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,099 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered Japanese reissue of the legendary English hair metal group's 1982 album in a miniaturized LP sleeve limited to the initial pressing only, and with the original cover art intact. 1999 reissue. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the early Whitesnake albums - now remastered, July 10, 2009

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Saints & Sinners (Audio CD)

Like many people, I first discovered Whitesnake in 1987 when they released their smash hit self-titled album. Growing up with that album and the band's 1989 follow-up Slip of the Tongue made listening to the band's early works a challenge. It's a challenge that paid off though. I'm not a huge blues rock fan, but something about these early Whitesnake albums really works for me, and I've come to love them (almost) as much as the later albums I grew up with.

Originally released in 1982, Saints & Sinners is the last real "old school" Whitesnake album before the band evolved into their better known "hair metal" phase. At this point the band had pretty well perfected their bluesy, soulful hard rock sound. All they were really missing was a wider audience. They had the technical chops, an amazing vocalist in David Coverdale, and some potential singles in "Here I Go Again" and "Crying in the Rain". Hearing the original versions of these familiar 1987-era hits is a real eye-opener. Unfortunately, when you consider the more popular new wave, arena rock and metal sounds at the time, even an album as impressive as Saints & Sinners sounds out of touch and dated.

Popularity issues aside, Saints & Sinners is a completely infectious blues rock album. Unlike previous albums, the songs on Saints & Sinners are much more up-tempo and generally "rock out" more. This may have been due to the departure of guitarist Bernie Marsden. I love the rockin' "Young Blood" and "Rock `an Roll Angels" is a great old school party rock anthem, but honestly the whole album has a charged, energetic vibe that's impossible to resist.

Saints & Sinners is probably my favorite of the early Whitesnake albums, and one that I'd definitely recommend it to all serious Whitesnake fans, as well as anyone into old school blues-based rock & roll. I'd also recommend it as the perfect starting point for fans of the later Whitesnake albums to start exploring the band's roots.

NOTE: Saints & Sinners was reissued by EMI in 2007. The reissue features digitally remastered sound, expanded liner notes and three bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are a pair of "monitor mix/early vocal" songs ("Young Blood" and "Saints an' Sinners") and an unfinished, previously unreleased song called "Soul Survivor" that's very rough and has no vocal track added. The bonus tracks are interesting enough, but the real reason to buy this import reissue is the digitally remastered sound, which is worlds better than the original release. EMI has been on fire lately with great sounding reissues (see: Blind Guardian, MSG, Scorpions, UFO and Saxon) and the Whitesnake reissues may be the best of the bunch.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm down on love..., September 27, 2010

By 

Mark H. "mrh" (Hanson, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saints & Sinners (Audio CD)

Whitesnake was on a run of accomplished albums in the early `80's which included `Saints & Sinners' from late 1982. The overall quality of the record is even more impressive when one considers that the band was going through some severe turmoil from which they would really never recover in their original form. Bernie Marsden and Mickey Moody both left during various stages of the recording process and would soon leave for good when the LP was completed along with Neil Murray and Ian Paice. Despite that fact Coverdale would soldier on enjoy his greatest commercial success towards the end of the decade. As far as `Saints & Sinners' goes, the record is chock full of songs that epitomize the best of Whitesnake's first era - "Bloody Luxury", "Victim of Love" and "Rough n' Ready". "Here I Go Again" and "Crying in the Rain" also make their original appearances here and while many people prefer these versions, I still like the ones from `Whitesnake' (when I usual prefer the former - see "Fool for Your Loving"...eesh!). Again `Saints' was only a success in Europe and not the USA which is where Coverdale knew the big money would come from. And he was right....

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly rockin' Whitesnake!, May 21, 2003

By 

Dawn Barela (Albuquerque, New Mexico United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Saints & Sinners (Audio CD)

In the mid 80's I went in search of the entire 'Snake back catalog (on vinyl, of course!). When I found this I was happy. I immediately loved it. My favorite track is Here I Go Again. This, to me is the REAL version of the song, with the original lyric; "Like a HOBO, I was born to walk alone." (It was changed to DRIFTER, in 1987.) I LOVE the more bluesy sound of the song. Far superior to the 1987 remake. The same goes for this version of Crying In The Rain. I also love the title track, Bloody Luxury, and Victim Of Love, all of which truly rock! Definitely a classic! I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to hear a truly cohesive band. The guitars of Micky Moody (one of Britains most underrated slide guitarists!) and Mel Galley are great! The rhythm section of Neil Murray on bass, Deep Purple's Ian Paice (drums) and Jon Lord (keyboards) really hold it together.