Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Whitesnake
Label: EMI Records
Released: 1979
Running time: 41:25
Rating: 4/5
»Lovehunter« was the second studio outing from British hard rock legends Whitesnake, and it marked the next logical evolutionary, sonic step up from its quality predecessor, the debut »Trouble« (1978). Its eye-catching cover, painted by artist and illustrator Chris Achilleos, shows the ultimate fantasy of snake-charming frontman and band boss David Coverdale: a naked woman riding a giant white snake. It stirred up no small amount of controversy on release, and for a band that just sniggered happily along, it meant some very welcome publicity. As a curiosity, the original »Lovehunter« painting was stolen back in 1980, while the legendary keyboardist Jon Lord used a similar concept for the cover of his second solo album »Sarabande« (1976).
After »Trouble«, Mr. Coverdale managed to keep the same lineup, something he wouldn’t be all that good at in the future, and he was richly rewarded for it. Whitesnake were even more inspired songwriting-wise on »Lovehunter« than on its predecessor, and the individual members, above all the two guitar virtuosos Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden, built a truly enviable chemistry between them. Production duties went once again to old studio tomcat Martin Birch, with whom Coverdale and Lord had already worked back in the Deep Purple days. Compared to »Trouble«, »Lovehunter« had a somewhat more polished sound, with most of the songs noticeably influenced by the slowly emerging AOR production of the late seventies/early eighties.
The album opens with Whitesnake’s very first single, »Long Way From Home«, which on the strength of its triumphant, epic-nostalgic chorus became one of their best-loved evergreens right on release, even though it sold poorly and never reached the high chart spot it deserved at the time. Because AOR champions Foreigner had already put out a song with a similar title, »Long, Long Way From Home«, in 1977, Coverdale and his buddies had to drop an extra ‘long’ from the title, which still pops up in the victorious chorus anyway.
Funny enough, the B-side picked for »Long Way From Home« was the passionate blues rocker »Walking in the Shadow of the Blues«, which in sheer popularity even outdid its A-side ‘travel companion’, something that rarely happens. The shimmering sound of Lord’s Hammond organ, full-bodied guitar passages and a swaggering chorus under passionate vocal patronage, which for once has lyrics about David’s love of music, i.e. the blues, instead of women, were the main ingredients of the recipe that turned this ambitious effort into an unforgettable classic.
The nostalgic r’n’b ballad »Help Me Thro’ the Day« is a touching cover of the original by American blues, r’n’b and country musician Leon Russell, where Whitesnake, thanks to weeping guitar passages, melancholic synth curtains and David’s heart-wrenching singing, once again prove themselves astonishing masters of musical subtlety. The level of arranging sophistication is truly enviable, and these days a lot of people forget that Whitesnake were anything but your average blues/hard rock band. »Medicine Man«, on the other hand, is a far more traditionalist blues/hard rocker that, with the scorching, inventive guitar phrases of both guitarists and Lord’s organ wizardry, even smells a little of Deep Purple, while Coverdale’s untamed vocal would love to play doctor with his female patients. »You ‘n’ Me« is a rather minimalist but punchy blues rocker, laid over groaning boogie rhythms driven by Lord’s piano and burning guitar phrases along the Moody-Marsden axis, backing David’s unbridled vocal snarling. A touch of subtlety in the middle of a pretty ‘dirtily’ spiced atmosphere comes courtesy of the traditionally excellent backing vocal lines.
Whitesnake don’t let up on the hard-hitting stuff for an inch on »Lovehunter«, and »Mean Business« is no exception, a embodiment of uncompromising hard rock thanks to sawing guitar passages, massive drum fills from Dave Dowle and snarling bass lines courtesy of the ever-impressive Neil Murray, while Lord’s organ solo adds even more spice to a heated mood where Coverdale’s emotionally explosive singing is once again the key factor. On the sexually supercharged energy catalyst »Love Hunter«, Coverdale, true to the album cover, pours all his erotic fantasies into his passionate vocal through the lyrics, with his instrumentally well-tuned buddies keeping him company, sparing no sharpened guitar passages or mighty organ capers.
On »Outlaw«, a happy hybrid of blues rock and AOR, Coverdale hands the mic to Bernie Marsden, who pulls off his unusual assignment with total confidence over epic guitar harmonies and witty organ variations, as he had already proven on the »Trouble« track »Free Fall«. The multi-voiced chorus is melodically rock-elegant and lovely, and even has some hit potential. »Rock ‘n’ Roll Women«, where Coverdale confesses his soft spot for rock chicks of all kinds, even if they’re just ‘groupies’, sounds far more traditionally bluesy, with minor, dance-salted rock’n’ roll rhythmic touches, which makes it the least interesting track on »Lovehunter«. The short but sweet closing evergreen »We Wish You Well« is a gorgeous ballad with elegant piano arrangements, melancholic guitar passages and epic vocal harmonies.
On »Lovehunter«, the passionate Coverdale lived out a hefty chunk of his musical-erotic fantasies through a run of excellent songwriting achievements, best reflected by the controversial, now long-legendary cover, which also debuted the famous Whitesnake logo, used right up to the end of the commercially not overly successful, but all the more heartfelt and sincere blues rock era. Dave Dowle, who always saw himself as a stopgap drummer, had his days numbered after the release of »Lovehunter«, as he was replaced behind the kit by the legendary Ian Paice, and so for a while Whitesnake counted no fewer than three former Deep Purple members.
Lineup
David Coverdale – vocals
Micky Moody – guitar
Bernie Marsden – guitar, vocals on “Outlaw”
Jon Lord – keyboardsNeil Murray – bass guitar
Dave Dowle – drums
Production
Martin Birch
Track list
1. Long Way from Home
2. Walking in the Shadow of the Blues
3. Help Me Thro’ the Day
4. Medicine Man
5. You ‘n’ Me
6. Mean Business
7. Love Hunter
8. Outlaw
9. Rock ‘n’ Roll Women
10. We Wish You Well
