Back in 2011, Whitesnake released a box set called ‘Box ‘O’ Snakes (The Sunburst Years 1978-1982)’. It was a massive 9 CDs, 1 DVD and a 7″ Single of ‘Snakebite’. And if you missed it, like me, you would have to pay the late tax which means you’d be paying a pretty penny to get it now. Probably over $200 with shipping if you were lucky. Luckily, in 2013, they re-released it and called it ‘Little Box ‘O’ Snakes’. This time around there are only 8 CDs, no DVD and no 7″. You also miss out on an extra live show. But you do get a lot of stuff.

As David Coverdale doesn’t own the rights to these albums from the Sunburst Years, we won’t be seeing those massively incredible Deluxe Box Sets he has been doing from ‘Slide it In’ and forward. For now, this will do. I already have all of these on vinyl, but I didn’t have the CDs so this was a cheap easy way to get them all in one bunch. I think I paid around $30 for the set. Much better than the $200 for the original set. For now, this will do. 

The set comes in a sturdy card board box and each CD is housed in a cardboard sleeve similar to a vinyl album cover. No CD cases to house them. There is also a booklet accompanying the set. All-in-all, you get 8 albums which includes the first E.P., 5 Studio albums and 2 live albums. A ton of music to get through and an incredible line-up of songs and bandmates.

David Coverdale coming off of Deep Purple put together a stellar band with the likes of Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden on guitars and what a duo that would be. You also get a rhythm section like no other with Neil Murray on bass and Dave Dowle on drums for the first few albums then the incomparable Ian Paice thereafter. If that wasn’t enough, you had Jon Lord on keyboards/organ. What a beast he was and I don’t think there was anyone his equal at that time. Now, what’s in the box?

‘SNAKEBITE E.P’ (1978)

What a killer set of four songs to introduce Whitesnake. David had finished up his ‘Northwind’ solo album, but the band was already working on new songs and instead of continuing as a solo artist, David dived in to Whitesnake and gave us a set of songs that would introduce the band to the world. David had no idea how his life would change…even though it would still take years to get to the top. Easily a 5.0 out of 5.0 Stars.

‘TROUBLE’ (1978)

The guitar playing is sensational on this album, but the guitar sound was lacking a little punch in sonics.  Also, there are no real stand out tracks that I would consider Whitesnake classics, although, there are some contenders.  For those couple reasons, I am giving it a 3.5 out of 5.0 Stars.  This an awesome first step for the band and a sign of great things to come, but I really liked the ‘Snakebite’ EP a lot better as it was more blues tinged then this album was.  Still this is a solid release and a must have in the collection, I just think they do much better in the coming years. This was also the introduction of Jon Lord to the band.

‘LIVE AT HAMMERSMITH’ (1978)

This show is fantastic even if it is only 6 tracks. It is old school Whitesnake when they were more a blues rock band then what came in the late 80’s (which wasn’t bad either. The guitar work of Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden were unmatched at the time and you throw in Jon Lord’s keyboard playing you get quite the powerhouse band. No one can touch Lord’s playing. And then Coverdale’s vocals were so fresh, yet gritty and bluesy and worked perfectly for this style. This is a showcase of greatness. My Overall Score is 5.0 out of 5.0 Stars.

‘LOVEHUNTER’ (1979)

I do find some of the songs a little dated and although there are some essential and classic Whitesnake songs on this album (“Long Way From Home”, “Walking in the Shadow of the Blues”, “Lovehunter” and “Help Me Thro’ the Day”) most are not. On the bright side, David really is starting to come in to his own as he delivers the lyrics with more control and bravado and he really believes what he is singing.  His confidence grows with each passing song and album.  The song is a step up from ‘Trouble’ as there were really no essential Whitesnake songs for me, if only slightly.  And if they keep getting better than the best is yet to come.  I will give this one a 3.75 out of 5.0 Stars.

‘READY AN’ WILLING’ (1980)

The songs are the strongest yet of the Whitesnake albums so far.  There are some Essential Whitesnake songs on here, more so than the others and this album gets better with every listen.  The album was missing some dual guitar solos with Marsden and Moody which I think adds to the songs.  The album was also lacking a Bernie Marsden lead vocal song…okay, it really isn’t missing that I guess.  Overall, this is a killer album and I will rate it a 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars.  As much as I love it, there are some I like better but this is near the top.

‘LIVE…IN THE HEART OF THE CITY’ (1980)

It is a great live set that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Short and sweet and captures some great moments.  The band was really cooking at this time and they boiled over some fine work with this release.  The first of many live albums I have bought of Whitesnake and this one started it off right. I will give it a 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars mainly for not giving me the whole show.  This one is a must grab if you find it out in the wild.  Don’t let it slip past you.

‘COME AN’ GET IT’ (1981)

The three songs starting out Side Two really came close to killing this album for me.  However, the remaining songs are all pretty killer and did salvage the score.  It will get a 3.5 out of 5.0 Stars which is pretty good, but it won’t land it in as a favorite with that score.  I can’t say enough how much those songs hurt the overall enjoyment of the album.  Still though, you need this one because I can see why this is a favorite of a lot of people because there is some choice stuff here.  I might prefer to listen to this on CD merely to make skipping easier…hard to do on my vinyl with lifting the needle and placing it further down the songs.

‘SAINTS & SINNERS’ (1982)

 Only a couple of songs I would totally skip over, but the rest are pretty solid.  So much so that overall the album gets a 4.25 out 5.0 Stars. A strong performance and some memorable, classic Whitesnake tracks.  The first side of the album is top-notch and the second side has 3 stellar song that push this over the top.  Even though the band was falling apart, I feel they still captured a little magic on the album. One of my favorites so far…not the best, but it is pretty high on the list. My favorite is the next album…that isn’t in this box set…sorry.

CD BOOKLET

The set also includes a booklet that includes song credits for each album as well as all the lyrics to the studio albums (not the E.P. or the live albums). A nice addition to the set since each CD doesn’t have any liner notes or lyrics included.

And there you have it. The ‘Little Box ‘O’ Snakes’ Box Set. This is a no brainer as it is an inexpensive way to get the entire Sunburst Years in one set at a reasonable price. Eventually I want to get the Box ‘O’ Snakes so I can get the extra live set and the DVD plus a 7″ of Snakebite would be cool. For now, this will do just fine. My Overall Score is a 4.0 Out of 5.0 Stars only because there are no extras with this set. I’m not a massive fan of the vinyl replica cardboard sleeves, I prefer a CD case of some kind for better protection. But that is being picky, I know. Still a great set though.

The David Coverdale Series:

1. Deep Purple – Burn
2. Deep Purple – Stormbringer
3. Deep Purple – Come Taste the Band
4. Deep Purple – Made in Europe
5. David Coverdale – Whitesnake
6. Deep Purple – Last Concert in Japan
7. David Coverdale – Northwinds
8. David Coverdale’s Whitesnake – Snakebite
9. Whitesnake – Trouble
10. Whitesnake – Lovehunter
11. Whitesnake – Ready an’ Willing
12. Whitesnake – “Fool For Your Loving” 7″ Single (Bonus Review)
13. Whitesnake – Live at Hammersmith
14. Whitesnake – Live…in the Heart of the City
15. Whitesnake – Come An’ Get it
16. Deep Purple – Live in London
17. Whitesnake – Saints & Sinners
18. Whitesnake – Slide It In
19. Whitesnake – “Give Me More Time” 12″ Single (Bonus Review)
20. Whitesnake – ‘The Best of Whitesnake (Bonus Review – 1982 release)
21. Whitesnake – Whitesnake (1987)
22. Whitesnake – “Is This Love” 12″ Promo (Bonus Review)
23. Whitesnake – ‘Best’ (Greece Version)
24. Whitesnake – Slip of the Tongue
25. David Coverdale – “The Last Note of Freedom” – Single Review
26. Coverdale/Page – Coverdale/Page
27. Coverdale/Page – “Take Me For A Little While 12” Single (Bonus Review)
28. David Coverdale & Whitesnake – Restless Heart
29. Whitesnake – Starkers in Tokyo
30. David Coverdale – Into the Night
31. Whitesnake – Live…In the Still of the Night (DVD)
32. Whitesnake – Live…In the Shadow of the Blues
33. Whitesnake – Good To Be Bad
34. Whitesnake – Forevermore
35. Whitesnake – Live at Donington 1990: Monsters of Rock
36. Whitesnake – The Purple Album
37. Whitesnake – The Purple Tour (Live)
38. Whitesnake – Flesh & Blood
39. Whitesnake – The Rock Album
40. Whitesnake – Love Songs
41. Whitesnake – The Blues Album
42. Whitesnake – The Albums Ranked Worst to First
43. David Coverdale – The Albums Ranked Worst to First

Other David Coverdale Albums reviewed – (Box Sets and Bootlegs):

1. Whitesnake – 1987 (30th Anniversary Edition) – Box Set
2. Whitesnake – Slide It In (35th Anniversary Edition) – Box Set
3. Whitesnake – Unzipped – Box Set
4. Whitesnake – Slip of the Tongue (30th Anniversary Edition) – Box Set
5. Whitesnake (Snake) – Still of the Night Live in Battle Creek, Mich. July 26, 1987 (Bootleg)
6. Whitesnake – Restless Heart (25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) – Box Set
7. Whitesnake – Still…Good to Be Bad (15th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) – Box Set
8. Whitesnake – Little Box ‘O’ Snakes (The Sunburst Years 1978-1982) – Box Set (2013)