Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Coverdale, David
Label: Purple Records
Released: 1977
Running time: 38:18
Rating: 3.5/5
After Deep Purple fell apart in 1976, legendary vocalist David Coverdale set out on a short-lived solo run. Still reeling from the sad end of the hard rock champs, Coverdale soon found a longtime partner in blues rock guitar virtuoso Micky Moody (ex-Juicy Lucy, Snafu), and the two of them cut the singer’s first solo album, titled »White Snake«. Today it’s best known for lending its name to Coverdale’s famous blues/hard rock band Whitesnake, but when it came out it was widely overlooked, and that’s a shame, because it’s packed with plenty of heavy rock gems.
Keeping Coverdale and Moody company on »White Snake« were cult Deep Purple (and later Rainbow) bassist Roger Glover and the superb guest drummer Simon Phillips (Toto). Tim Hinkley kept watch over the Hammond organ and percussion. Glover, the eternal good guy, not only played bass and sang backing vocals but also produced the album, doing his old buddy a double favor.
The album kept a low profile when it came out and only got real attention once Coverdale’s career with Whitesnake truly took off commercially. Riding David’s proverbially great voice, which never runs short of erotic fervor and melancholy, most of the songs stick to well-worn blues/hard rock rhythms, while Moody shines with generous guitar improvisations that were key to building the early Whitesnake sound.
»Lady« is a lively, boogie-driven album opener, with Coverdale’s flirtatious vocal accompanied by seductive female backing vocals and saxophone passages. Lyrics were never David’s strong suit, so it was never unusual that ninety percent of the songs on his albums (especially later with Whitesnake) were about one kind of love affair or another, or just plain erotic adventures. The heart-wrenching ballad »Blindman«, one of the album’s better moments and clearly drawing its spiritual inspiration from the Deep Purple classic »Soldier Of Fortune«, is also about yet another unlucky encounter with a femme fatale, as well as missed opportunities from his youth. Moody’s shattering guitar solo, which even the female backing vocals can’t console, fits David’s gut-wrenching vocal performance and Phillips’ massive drum fills beautifully. Whitesnake later re-recorded »Blindman« for the album »Ready an’ Willing« (1980).
»Goldies Place« is a fairly minimalist blues rocker with a slightly boozy central guitar line and a slowed-down rhythm, thoroughly enriched by the arrival of a cheeky saxophone, female vocalizations and Coverdale’s passionate singing drive. »Whitesnake« is an uncompromising hard rocker, blessed with the bluesy flavor of Moody’s bold guitar passages and yet another thunderous vocal turn from Coverdale. The short guitar improvisation in the middle section is a rather pleasant surprise, even though the song as a whole is no great achievement (the lyrics are on the level of a ten-year-old), considering that it gave its name to David’s legendary band.
»Time On My Side«, sprinkled with a pinch of funk, whose structure and overall atmosphere lean slightly toward some of the Deep Purple creations from the album »Come Taste the Band« (1975), is a much better effort. Here you can clearly hear Moody and Glover lending their voices alongside David’s.
»Peace Lovin’ Man« is a tender pacifist love ballad with gospel touches, thanks to its serene piano, melancholy guitar passages and elegant female vocal harmonies backing Coverdale’s heartbroken vocal. The lively »Sunny Days«, where cowbells and sax bits provide the cheeky spice alongside the determined guitar lines, marks a sudden swing to the “sunny side” as David’s vocal abruptly turns playful again. Moody runs wild once more with a mouthwatering guitar improvisation, while David’s lady friends again lend crucial support to his trademark vocal eroticism.
»Hole In The Sky« is another excellent contemplative ballad, where David, over melancholy piano, turns inward again and takes a closer look at his unhealed heartaches. »Celebration« announces a playful finale with its very name, with David’s boisterous singing backed by lively, almost danceable R&B and funk rhythms, passionate female backing vocals, untamed sax, the shimmering sound of the Hammond organ and hefty guitar passages. This mix makes for a very successful ending to a solo debut that’s very solid in every respect.
»White Snake« was the cornerstone without which Coverdale’s later famous exploits with Whitesnake would never have happened, so it more than deserves a lot more attention today from every fan of quality blues/hard rock. Sadly, some people still confuse it with the first Whitesnake album, mostly because of the title, even though Coverdale recorded another solo album, »Northwinds« (1978), while the famous band was forming, and as a songwriter he took another important step forward from »White Snake« on it.
Lineup
David Coverdale – vocals, piano, percussion
Micky Moody – guitar, percussion, backing vocals
Roger Glover – bass guitar, percussion, backing vocals, production
Simon Phillips – drums, percussion
De Lisle Harper – bass guitar, percussion, backing vocals
Tim Hinkley – organ, percussion, backing vocals
Ron Aspery – saxophone, flute
Liza Strike – backing vocals
Helen Chappelle – backing vocals
Barry St. John – backing vocals
Production
Roger Glover
Tracklist
1. Lady
2. Blindman
3. Goldies Place
4. Whitesnake
5. Time on My Side
6. Peace Lovin’ Man
7. Sunny Days
8. Hole in the Sky
9. Celebration
