by Alexandra Mrozowska
– Senior Columnist —
Perhaps the most unique thing about Whitesnake is that this four- or five-piece band is in fact a one man’s band in many respects and that the frequent personal changes within their line-up are nothing surprising. Whitesnake is then a band of many incarnations and many faces, and there are staunch followers of every – from their blues rock beginnings in the late ‘70s to the recent line-up that toured the world in support of 2011 Forevermore album. There was something truly special, however, about the ‘83/’84 era line-up of Whitesnake as it’s the one that featured the unforgettable Cozy Powell (Rainbow, MSG, Black Sabbath etc.) on drums, Neil Murray (Black Sabbath, Gary Moore) on bass and the impressive John Sykes on lead guitar alongside the ever-charismatic David Coverdale. It’s also the one that’s finally immortalized on the new release in Whitesnake’s discography, entitled Live In ’84 – Back To The Bone. Due to be released in November 2014 by Frontiers Records in CD and DVD format, Live In ’84 – Back To The Bone is a fascinating journey thirty years back, back to the days before the success of 1987 and Slip Of A Tongue that transformed Whitesnake into the first league of rock giants and largely contributed to their now-legendary status.
It stops being 2014 as you give this album a spin – the music transforms you right into the heart of Japan, to the Super Rock festival in 1984. The audience start to roar. They roar louder and louder and the well-known, old feeling of excitement appears, a blissful illusion you’re participating in the legendary gig too… And when David Coverdale’s trademark scream “Are ya ready…?” pierces the air, you’re eager to respond you are and do it at the top of your lungs – even though you’re just sitting at home with your headphones on, about thirty years after the concert was held… There go the classics of the Slide It In Era – starting with “Gambler” and “Guilty Of Love”. The latter featuring the master of ceremonies playing with the audience as well as making his infamous bananas-related comments when referring to the 1984 album’s title… Well, if you ever saw Whitesnake live, you have experienced yourself that the band’s front-man is famous for his gold-mouthed antics, haven’t you…? Next is a splendid rendition of “Love Ain’t No Stranger” followed by pure hard rock madness of “Slow An’ Easy” and “Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues,” both much feistier in their live versions and a mind-blowing showcase of John Sykes’ shredding talents.
“Ready An’ Willing” in its concert version makes you want to get up and dance even with your slippers and a worn-out college t-shirt on, leaving you no doubt about the entire band being at the top of their abilities back in 1984. It precedes a two-minute long piece every guitar aficionado will relish in – Sykes’ sublime and wistful guitar solo that smoothly morphs into the pounding rhythm of “Crying In The Rain”. And as for the latter, even the fans of 1987 version must admit there is some indefinable charm in the raw, bluesy original, especially when played live. Having therefore reached a bit back – to 1982 album Saints And Sinners – Coverdale goes even further in his retrospective journey. And it’s no wonder the screams of fans become almost deafening at this point, as the singer goes “I have often told you stories about the way, I lived the life of a drifter waiting for a day…” in his trademark soulful manner (and almost a’capella!). The Mark III-era Deep Purple classic of the 1974 Stormbringer album is a favorite of many a Whitesnake fan and is always anticipated in the set. It’s only a shame is that the cut of “Soldier Of Fortune” that’s included here is not a full two-verse version of the song.
Next are another versions of Whitesnake classics recorded sometime during Slide It In tour. All of them were featured in the Japan set previously included on the album, making it twice as hard to choose between the two different versions of “Ready An’ Willing” or “Slow An’ Easy” as there are different charms and flavors to all of them. However, perhaps these repetitions were not the best idea at all, as the majority of listeners wouldn’t feel offended if there was a live recording of “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” or some other Snake classic to finish the album with instead.
There’s also a couple of “in memoriam” bonuses on the album – a medley of the four standard tracks of the era (“Gambler,” “Guilty Of Love,” “Love Ain’t No Stranger” and “Ready An’ Willing”). These are pretty special treat for every fan of early Whitesnake line-up, being the recordings of the last concert the late Hammond master Jon Lord played with Coverdale’s band (“Måndagsbörsen” Swedish TV show, April 1984).
Apart from the obvious aspects of enjoyable listening and high quality of digitally enhanced recordings, Live In ’84 – Back To The Bone is back-to-basics, retrospective release that Whitesnake should have already released a long time ago, as it portrays the era that was a breakthrough for Coverdale and his band in many respects. First of all, it was Slide It In that got off the bluesy track of the first Whitesnake recordings, gravitating towards commercial side of rock that will reach its peak on glam metal-oriented, multiplatinum 1987 (a.k.a. Whitesnake). It’s also all about the extraordinary line-up Whitesnake had at the time – from the late genius-behind-the-kit Cozy Powell to the aforementioned Lord or the brilliant John Sykes. All these being facts, no listener can escape the feeling the star that shines the brightest on Live In ’84 – Back To The Bone is Whitesnake’s singer extraordinaire anyway. Love him or loathe him, this band was always about David Coverdale’s mighty voice, trademark microphone twirling and onstage charisma. Back in 1984, he had it all – and the newest Whitesnake release is a clear proof of this fact.
Genre: Hard Rock
Band:
David Coverdale – lead vocals
John Sykes – guitar
Neil Murray – bass guitar
Cozy Powell – drums
Jon Lord – keyboards/Hammond organ (tracks 13, 14, 15, 16)
Track List:
1. Gambler
2. Guilty Of Love
3. Love Ain’t No Stranger
4. Slow An’ Easy
5. Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues
6. Ready An’ Willing
7. Guitar Solo
8. Crying In The Rain
9. Soldier Of Fortune
10. Love Ain’t No Stranger
11. Ready An’ Willing
12. Slow An’ Easy
Bonus Tracks – Jon Lord’s final performance with Whitesnake (medley)
13. Gambler (featuring Jon Lord)
14. Guilty Of Love (featuring Jon Lord)
15. Love Ain’t No Stranger (featuring Jon Lord)
16. Ready An’ Willing (featuring Jon Lord)
Label: Frontiers Records
Website: http://whitesnake.com/
Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10
