Despite the monstrous sound and attitude, Whitesnake still had to make do with home grown success during 1982. It wasn’t until 1984’s ‘Slide It In’ and the arrival of John Sykes that Coverdale and co finally cracked the US market.
Written by: Dangerzone
ARTIST: Whitesnake
ALBUM: Saints And Sinners
LABEL: Liberty/Sunburst/EMI
SERIAL: LBG 30354
YEAR: 1982
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: David Coverdale – vocals * Micky Moody – guitars * Mel Galley – guitars * Colin Hodgkinson – bass * Cozy Powell – drums * John Lord – keyboards
TRACK LISTING: 01 Young Blood * 02 Rough An’ Ready * 03 Bloody Luxury * 04 Victim Of Love * 05 Crying In The Rain * 06 Here I Go Again * 07 Love An’ Affection * 08 Rock And Roll Angels * 09 Dancing Girls * 10 Saints An’ Sinners
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
By 1982 Whitesnake were regular chart contenders in Britain. 1981’s ‘Come An’ Get It’ reaching no 2 and allowing the band to headline Donington Monsters Of Rock in 82. David Coverdale had assumed the role of rock and roll romeo, with his classic sex ridden lyrics becoming Whitesnake’s trademark.
Despite the success Bernie Marsden left the band to form S.O.S which in turn morphed into Alaska and was replaced by Mel Galley. Colin Hodgkinson also took the place of Neil Murray, while Cozy Powell took the drumming stool vacated by Ian Paice.
With this album Coverdale sought to crack the American charts. Instead he would have to settle for a top ten placing in Britain, US success proving elusive.
The Songs
Whitesnake had left behind much of the earlier blues influenced material and had settled into a powerful British hard rock sound, more in tune with Coverdale’s old muckers Deep Purple.
This album is remembered for the first appearances of ‘Crying In The Rain’ and ‘Here I Go Again’ before they were reworked for the ‘1987’ album and became monster hits. As crude as they are here, they still sound a little out of sorts in the presence of eight raucous tear-ups.
Coverdale has said he wrote them about his deteriorating marriage at the time, which can explain the barrage of raunchy fare like ‘Dancing Girls’ and ‘Love And Affection’.
The riffs are fierce throughout and the rhythm section has enough crunch to equal that of AC/DC. It’s straight ahead rock and roll, perhaps Whitesnake’s most blatant to that point.
Lord provides plenty of inspired organ solo’s, and with Coverdale’s deep throated sex appeal, living proof of their timeless class and Deep Purple‘s enduring legacy.
With titles like ‘Youngblood’, Rough And Ready’ and ‘Rock And Roll Angels’ you know what to expect and get: hard, fast and brazen r ‘n’ r.
In Summary
Despite the monstrous sound and attitude, Whitesnake still had to make do with home grown success during 1982. It wasn’t until 1984’s ‘Slide It In’ and the arrival of John Sykes that Coverdale and co finally cracked the US market.
Sadly they recorded a US version of ‘Slide It In’ for that audience alone, which had none of the raw appeal of the British original. The rest is history of course.
In retrospect ‘Saints’ was the last of the old Whitesnake sound, before it was given the slick American touch, which I have no problem with. It just can’t compete with the bluster of the old style.
‘Saints’ has been lost in the shuffle for a while now, but to remind yourself what a lad Coverdale once was – and how heavy he could get, this is a profound statement.
Whitesnake on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
