Whitesnake (album)

Did You Know?

• The supporting tour for Slide It In ended in January 1985 with two shows at Rock in Rio in Brazil, after which drummer Cozy Powell left the group.
• Coverdale worked with Canadian graphic artist Hugh Syme on the album's logo and cover, creating a Celtic runic-style amulet representing the Sun, Moon, and fertility.
• Geffen Records executives asked Coverdale to continue working with guitarist John Sykes after Coverdale considered folding the band.

Songwriting and production

Coverdale sought a leaner, more electrifying sound for the band, describing the shift as an Americanization that came from synchronized elements rather than following trends. He later noted that embracing a fashion presentation for the first time disappointed some longtime fans. In spring 1985, Coverdale and guitarist John Sykes went to Le Rayol in southern France to write material, with bassist Neil Murray contributing to arrangements. Two major hits emerged: 'Still of the Night', based on an old demo by Coverdale and Ritchie Blackmore, and 'Is This Love', originally written for Tina Turner. The atmospheric cello riff in 'Still of the Night' came from Coverdale experimenting with synthesizer sounds on 'Looking for Love'. The trio then moved to Los Angeles, hired drummer Aynsley Dunbar, and in September 1985 began recording basic tracks at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver. Sykes sought a specific guitar sound, which he achieved with engineer Bob Rock, who had worked on Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet. Coverdale recalled great creative potential with Sykes but described their personalities as a crash collision. Production was delayed when Coverdale developed a serious sinus infection in spring 1986, requiring surgery and a six-month rehabilitation with no guarantee his voice would recover. The album also ran over budget in April 1986, leading to stopped wages for other band members; Sykes remained to work on guitar parts, while Murray and Dunbar were encouraged to find other work.

Release and promotion

For the album's tour and videos, Coverdale assembled a new lineup: lead guitarist Adrian Vandenberg, rhythm guitarist Vivian Campbell, bassist Rudy Sarzo, and drummer Tommy Aldridge. This group, called 'The Vid Kids' by Coverdale, appeared in music videos for 'Still of the Night', 'Is This Love', 'Here I Go Again', and 'Give Me All Your Love', the first three featuring Coverdale's partner Tawny Kitaen. The album was titled Whitesnake in the US and Canada, released on 16 March 1987 by Geffen Records, though some sources including Coverdale cite 23 March or 7 April. In Europe, it was called 1987, released on 30 March through EMI with a different track order and two extra songs: 'Looking for Love' and 'You're Gonna Break My Heart Again'. Coverdale considered 'Looking for Love' one of his best collaborations with Sykes, but it was omitted from the North American version due to producer John Kalodner's preference for 'Children of the Night' and vinyl time constraints. In Japan, the album was titled Serpens Albus with the North American tracklist, released on 22 April by CBS/Sony. Australia released it as 1987 with the North American order on vinyl and European order on CD. Bulgaria's version used a modified European order without 'You're Gonna Break My Heart Again' and replaced 'Here I Go Again '87' with the radio mix.

Touring

The new lineup began an extensive tour on 20 June 1987 at the sold-out Texxas Jam festival before over 80,000 people, concluding on 15 August 1988 at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. The tour covered the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan. During the first part, Whitesnake opened for Mötley Crüe on their Girls, Girls, Girls Tour, achieving good box-office success. The only live audio and video from this tour appears on the 30th anniversary edition of the album, released in 2017, which includes a twelve-track CD titled 'Snakeskin Boots (Live on Tour 1987–88)' and a DVD featuring performances of 'Crying in the Rain' and 'Still of the Night'.

Reception

The album received generally positive reviews. Music journalist Mick Wall called it not just the best Whitesnake album but one of the best rock albums of its era, noting that 'Here I Go Again' became a signature tune with a 'My Way'-type lyrical ingredient. J. D. Considine of Rolling Stone wrote that while the album lacked originality, borrowing from Led Zeppelin, Scorpions, and Foreigner, Coverdale and Sykes understood the structure and drama of the Led Zeppelin sound, creating a convincing simulacrum. AllMusic's Steve Huey and Bradley Torreano gave both North American and European versions 4.5 out of 5 stars, describing the album as a collection of loud, polished hard rockers with strong pop hooks, though they considered the European version superior due to better track flow and the inclusion of 'Looking for Love'. Robert Christgau gave a negative review, stating the album's appeal lay in total predictability. In 2006, Classic Rock ranked it 96th among the 100 Greatest British Rock Albums Ever. Martin Popoff listed it 116th in The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time in 2010. Rolling Stone placed it 12th on its 2019 list of the 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time. The album's US success boosted its predecessor Slide It In from Gold to double Platinum status. Whitesnake received a nomination for Best British Group at the 1988 Brit Awards and a nomination for Favorite Pop/Rock Album at the American Music Awards of 1988.