Customer Reviews

White Snake

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Made in UK in 2000, Serial# 5075-2, Playing Time 48:10

This is DC's first solo album, originally released back in 1976, after the break-up of DEEP PURPLE's Mark IV formation.

The album contains quite an eclectic collection of material, plus 2 bonus tracks that are the "1st take" of songs featured on the album.

Coverdale's got a distinctive voice, and a very bluesy way of singing. Interesting to note that the album was produced by Roger Glover, bassist for Deep Purple Mark II, considering he and David never played in PURPLE together, even though DC collaborated on Glover's "The Butterfly Ball" album.

The music on the CD ranges greatly in styles, including female back-up singers and horn arrangements. Quite a step away from DP's genre. Though the performances are "adequate", I find the arrangements rather bland, and some melodies (Lady, Blindman) are much stronger than others (Goldies Place, Peace Lovin' Man). The bonus tracks consist of the 1st take of 2 songs on the album, and include guitar cues, band warm-ups, and very basic arrangements, almost like a run-through of the songs just to get the "feel" for it.

This album (as well as it's follow-up) is for the true fan: it shows DC's versatility in interpretation, but seems to have been made quickly and on a low budget.

David Coverdale's first effort after Deep Purple reveals his affection for Blues, Rythm and Blues, ballads and Hard Rock.
Some songs might take a while to be completly accepted such as Goldies Place or Peace lovin' man, true r'n'b/soul tracks, others like Whitesnake or Lady could have been recorded during the Stormbringer sessions.
Two major and irresistable ballads- Blindman and Hole in the sky-contrast with the fun-spirited Celebration or Time on My side.All that together forms a cool steady very optimistic album.
Extra bonus: Simon Philips on the drums and Roger Glover at the production.Slowly the snake is crawling...beware of the Snakebite!

I heard this on vinyl when it was released in the middle of last century (1977). I liked it then, and I like it now. For me, "Blindman" is the stand-out 'track'. That song was re-released as a Whitesnake song on "Ready and Willing", but it was tweaked a little and is subtly different from the original. The album is a mixture of upbeat rock songs (eg White Snake and Celebration) and DC being mellow (eg Blindman and Hole in the Sky). Each one is good honest performance.

The only downside for me on this album is that Mickey Moody played guitar - I'm not a fan of MM's tinny 'tone' (I trust that guitar aficionados will forgive a layperson's attempt at describing the sound). He's not a Blackmore, Page or an Aldrich.

This album is special. This is DC's first post-purple release; it is, I believe, for Coverdale or Deep Purple fanatics and fans of Moody/Marsden era Whitesnake. By no means is this David's finest moment, but it has a concealed rawness and deep feeling buried beneath the sessions variety musicianship and relatively polished production quality that makes this collection above average. It's DC cutting loose and getting a feel for NOT being in an internationally renown, celebrity, rock group & having to it on his own. David teams up with a pre-Purple friend named Micky Moody (with whom he'll be working for the next several years in Whitesnake) doling out some pretty spectacular classic rock with Roger Glover turning the knobs in the booth. The album highlight here for me has got to be the early version of "Blind Man" which DC & Co. re-record some years later; it's more than interesting to hear this version, it's awesome.

Despite weak production efforts, this album made clear that David had the capacity to go on his own after Deep Purple. It has the bluesy feel all over it, it has master drummer Simon Phillips, along with Micky Moody, which would follow DAvid for a long period of time. I enjoy the album, even considering its flaws.

Well, 3.5 stars might be more accurate.
For those who associate David Coverdale with hard rock and metal, this album will be a bit of a surprise (although the direction Deep Purple was headed when he joined should certainly give an indication). Most of this stuff would not sound out-of-place during the credits of a 70's black sitcom! It's very dated, funk-and-soul influenced stuff - only occasionally drifting into a rock direction. That said, it's kind of cool! Coverdale has a fantastic voice, and he and the band do a fine job of this style of music. If you dig black-American-music-based 70's soft rock, I think you'd enjoy this.