Customer Reviews

Whitesnake

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Can vintage pop metal from the 1980s be taken seriously by adults? Sometimes, yes. Case in point: Whitesnake's eponymous 1987 album, which catapulted them to international success and made them one of the top bands of the late eighties.

This album is the result of the songwriting collaboration between singer David Coverdale and guitarist John Sykes, and it has everything one could ask of good pop music: melody, wit, energy, and immaculate production. Coverdale is in very fine voice, and Sykes' guitar playing--well, it simply must be heard to be believed. This man is a virtuoso's virtuoso; his fingerwork alone is worth most guitarists' tapping. One scintillating solo follows another, but the fireworks are always in the service of the songwriting, which is largely first-rate.

Unfortunately, David Coverdale's personality is not one that cultivates collaborative bliss. By the time this album was released, Sykes had been fired and the Whitesnake lineup was completely transformed. Indeed, the big hit off this album, "Here I Go Again," was a recycled 'Snake song from the 1982, and featured a solo from Sykes' replacement, Dutch guitarist Adrian Vandenberg (and a fine solo it is). That said, this is still very much Sykes' album, and an enormous accomplishment at that.

Who knows what heights Whitesnake would have reached had Sykes stayed and continued to write with Coverdale. The band's follow-up, "Slip of the Tongue" (1990), was relatively lackluster, despite some good tracks, and they never again reached the level of this album. Oh, well--at least this still makes good listening. Even for people who are now older and wiser.

This album was among "the best of the best" of all the great hard rock albums that came out in 1987. The combination of classic and melodic hard rock make this an all time mainstream rock masterpiece.

"Still Of The Night" is, beyond a doubt, one of the best hard rocking tracks of all time. Clocking in at just over 6:30, this song just doesn't let up! Begins and ends heavy with a slight slowdown in the middle for dramatic effect. Obviously the two huge radio hits "Here I Go Again" and "Is This Love" are fantastic--the epitome of a time when pop radio was listenable. "Give Me All Your Love" is an underrated track--I particularly love the exploding drums at the end of the track. "Cryin' In The Rain" and "Children Of The Night" both are great heavy rockers, and "Don't Turn Away" is an excellent anthem to end the album.

Quite simply, there is not a bad track here. Nearly 15 years after its release, this album is just as rocking and enjoyable to me today as it was when it came out. Absolutely an essential purchase for fans of '80s melodic hard rock.

You must hear this record. John Sykes is one of the greatest guitarists of all time - I am not joking. He writes killer songs and the solos are outstanding. He has created a musical masterpiece with this release. His songwriting skills shine and in particular his arrangements of the songs are brilliant. These songs are destined to be played forever. You will not be musically complete until you hear this stuff.

If you love rock music you should buy this album.

The songs on it are musically superb and John Sykes really shines on this album. Some of the songs are a little bit cheesy at times but not to the extent that would spoil the album. 'Children of the night', 'Heat of the night' and 'bad boys' are all great rock songs. Although I'm very fussy when it comes to ballads (I always either really like them or totally ignore them) I think that 'Cryin' in the rain' is one of the best ballads ever written, having said that I don't like 'is this love' at all.

This album is a favourite of mine and I would reccomend it to anyone.

Oh yeah, while I've possibly got the attention of a few Whitesnake fans. Is it me or is David Coverdale's speaking (Not singing) voice very similar to Roger Moore's (a past James Bond)?. David Coverdale, the next James Bond? Far fetched and somewhat surreal but it would be cool!

It's 1987 and Whitesnake throws in guitarist John Sykes. He was from the band Thin Lizzy. "The Boys Are Back In Town" was one of Thin Lizzy's biggest hits. If you noticed, Thin Lizzy didn't have alot of huge guitar solos with John Sykes. So, how will he fit into Whitesnake then? In the song "Straight To The Heart" a very fast guitar solo is present, and it shocked me. This song mos def rubbed off me alot, because of the guitar solo. It's so incredibly fast. I'm sure this also shocked Whitesnake lovers. Also, a new version of "Here I Go Again" came out. It wasn't so "churchy" as some of my friends say. This album has everything, and after this album was thrown out there, John Sykes left the band.

So, 1989 comes around, just about to crack into 1990. Whitesnake has a crazy guitarist named Steve Vai. He was in David Lee Roth's band, and was taught guitar by Joe Satriani who are 4 years apart. Steve Vai mos def does a great job.

Basically, Whitesnake's self-titled debut was a huge hit, just like Boston's self-titled debut. But, it wasn't a debut. So, you need to go out and get it if you love classic rock/hair metal. What a surprise John Sykes was.

If you're looking for an album, from the 80's, that drives full throttle on all cylinders and in your face, look no further....you've found that album here....Whitesnake's self titled album! It opens with Crying In The Rain....a guitar blazing rocker which became a modest hit for Whitesnake. Song #3, Still Of The Night....an operatic rock song which charted well, and received round-the-clock air play on MTV in 1987! Song #4, a Whitesnake classic....Here I Go Again, displays David Coverdale's unique gritty vocals and great songwriting skills backed by smooth keyboards/synthesizers, driving bass and drum playing....Ansley Dunbar is one hell of a drummer....his skills are featured well on this album! Song #6, Is This Love, their power-ballad hit....it's played daily over KOIT 96.5 FM's airwaves, here in the Bay Area! I never grow tired of hearing this monster of a love song! The other songs on this album wouldn't be considered filler, to me. They are all unique in their own way....Children Of The Night would definitely have to be their most hardest rock song....crank up your stereo for this one!!!! Most remembered about Whitesnake's videos, from this album, is the heavenly body of Tawny Kitaen shown doing a summersault over Coverdale's car in a very thin, white silk dress(in Here I Go Again)....yeah baby!!!! Do yourself a favor by breaking out the plastic and ordering this CD, today! You'll thank yourself, soon after!

The last time I listened to this album was in 1989 and I liked it...a lot. When I played it for the first time in ten years, it could still send a shiver down my spine. From the opening words from 'Crying In The Rain' to the outro for 'Don't Walk Away' I was in raptures. And my favorite song 'Still Of The Night' - which I compare to a mini rock opera - well, no words can describe what that song does to me except to say that I love that song so much.

Although the look of the band (big hair etc) hasn't really stood the test of time, the music certainly has. If you want an in-your-face band with great guitar sound then this is the ideal album for you.

First there was Deep Purple's "The House of Blue Light" from January 1987, and then, "Whitesnake" [the album] from March 1987. Whitesnake's turned out to be the more popular album, maybe the most popular album of the year because of it's commercial appeal, and the music videos that helped to sell it, but make no mistake it's a really good album. But Deep Purple's was even better in my opinion, a far less commercial rock album who's videos were unfortunately banned by MTV, which helped keep it out of the Billboard top 20.

Finally, I'm so tired of reading about the Whitesnake songs from this album being Led Zeppelin rip offs. Coverdale has already confirmed that a lot of the riffs come from Deep Purple rehearsal tapes back in the mid seventies when Coverdale was their lead singer. These riffs are "borrowed" from Ritchie Blackmore, not Jimmy Page. Case closed!

I advise getting both of these great rock albums of 1987:
*Whitesnake - Whitesnake
*Deep Purple - The House of Blue Light

This album stays one of my all time top 10. Excitement is understatement to describe this album. If you like Whitesnake's Greatest Hits, maybe this is your second pick for exploring great rock kingdom created by David Coverdale and John Sykes.

Crying In The Rain is good opening track sure to blow you away. Still Of The Night is one of my #1 favorite rock tracks of Whitesnake. You know Is This Love or Here I Go Again because it became huge hit worldwide. Straight From Your Heart and Don't Turn Away are excellent tracks and my favorites.

If you are classic rock fans, it is the album you should never miss.

This is a good album. When I first saw the video for "Still of the Night" back in 1987 I was really impressed with the song. John Sykes delivers some great guitar solos and riffs on this release. I like the way he starts off most of the songs with the guitar. Good songs include "Don't Turn Away" and "Is if Love." The musicians and David Coverdale did a good job with the songs and the production is also good. John Sykes worked wonders on this album, and there's no double he was the driving source of its success. Sykes is truly original and has a sound all his own. Good album.