For My Sunday Song #207, we are tackling an early career defining song for Whitesnake called “Walking in the Shadow of the Blues”.  The song was written by David Coverdale and Bernie Marsden and is off the 1979 album, ‘Lovehunter’ and although the album did better than the debut, it still didn’t light the world on fire.  But looking back on the band’s early albums, this was the one where they started finding themselves and they grew from there.

Over on Loudersound.com, an article on Whitesnake by Geoff Barton, quotes David Coverdale on the song and he stated the following:

“That song really summed up my musical approach of the time,” Coverdale says. “It was very much my feeling, my perspective and probably my life’s philosophy back then. The lyric more or less wrote itself. It was very free-flowing, very autobiographical. It was just waiting to be written. Bernie and I put the music together very quickly. It was obviously meant to be as a song. I’m very proud of that one.”

“Walking in the Shadow of the Blues” tells the story of a man who never fit in and was the black sheep of his family.  He wanted to live his own life and do what he wanted even if his parents didn’t want him to do it. He packs his bags and his guitar and heads out on his own to pursue that dream which I would say he succeeded.

The song opens with Jon Lord on keyboards and David Doyle on drums along with a great guitar riffs.  It is a pure  blues track and this one is a little more bluesy than the rest of the ‘Lovehunter’ album.  Lord’s playing is always a standout for, but it is Bernie Marsden that delivers a blistering solo that took this song to the next level.  You can’t discount David Coverdale’s crooning as it is up there with the best of them.  His voice is suited for the blues with just enough edge and grit to convey the feel of the blues.

Check out the song below and let me know what you think. I think it is one of their best songs from their early career and pretty high up there for David’s Career.  Definitely my favorite with Bernie and David writing together.  Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Sunday!

“Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues”