Whitesnake - Snakebite (1978) {1988 Geffen} **[RE-UP]**

You gotta give David Coverdale some kind of credit for name-dropping two of his old Deep Purple classics right there in the first song on this album, "Come On".
"I'm just a SOLDIER OF FORTUNE,
Must be the GYPSY in me…"
Maybe David just wanted to remind people who he was, that this was not some "new" band, but in fact featured the talents of Deep Purple's old lead singer. Either way, it's a very solid outing despite the fact that it was patched together from various players and recording sessions.
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Songs 1-4 (or "side one" if you remember the days of vinyl) featured his new band which he dubbed Whitesnake, named after a post-Purple solo album that he had done. Purple producer Martin Birch ensured a solid sound, and Coverdale & Co. provided four solid tunes. The aforementioned "Come On" sounds like latter Purple and features three players who would stay through most of Whitesnake's history: Neil Murray (bass), Bernie Marsden (guitar) and Mickey Moody (guitar). Track two, "Bloody Mary" is driven by a boogie piano, one of the best songs on the album. Then Coverdale gets bluesy. "Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City", previously a hit for Bobby "Blue" Bland, ended becoming Whitesnake's live centerpiece. "Steal Away" ends this side with some slide guitar courtesy of Moody, and some very very bad synth tom drums by Dave Dowle.
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Tracks 5-8, or "side two", featured some miscellaneous Coverdale solo material produced by ex-Purple bassist Roger Glover. Although Mickey Moody plays on these songs, all the other players are just studio musicians. Unfortunately, these songs show a distinct lack of direction. "Keep On Giving Me Love" was funky, like the kind of stuff Glenn Hughes was always trying to push on Deep Purple, but with a sub-par riff. Although it boasted a killer pre-chorus, the rest of the song is pretty stock. In fact the only standout song on this side would be "Only My Soul". Coverdale has often done these incredible soul-searching pieces, such as Purple's "Soldier Of Fortune", and Whitesnake's later "Sailing Ships". This time out we're treated to some very appropriate violin, and Glover on synth.
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The CD itself includes lyrics, liner notes, and photos. Coverdale himself provided a brief blurb about the material at the start of the booklet.
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Although David Coverdale was still searching for direction after leaving Purple, the Snakebite album is an enjoyable (albeit brief) listen from front to back. Some material really showed what David was capable of, and he certainly would deliver in full in the future. Whitesnake diehards should not do without Snakebite, as it provides in interesting set of snapshots of what Coverdale was up to in between his bouts of fame and glory.