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?
I was watching Tim’s Vinyl Confessions a few week’s back and they were going through their Whitesnake vinyl and one of the guys had a Japanese Edition of Whitesnake’s ‘Live at Hammersmith’ and I don’t think I had seen it before. So, after the show ended, I went to Discogs and bought it from someone in Japan. I received a week later…yes, only a week from Japan. Heck, I can’t get things from the next town over that fast. And it lived up to expectations and then some. I mean just look at the cover with the deep rich green snake and the back cover is just as cool. This might be my favorite Whitesnake cover ever! It is so awesome.
‘Live at Hammersmith’ was recorded on November 23, 1978 at The Hammersmith Odeon in London. The album was only released in Japan back in November 1980 as a single disc vinyl. I say single disc vinyl, because this album is actually the 2nd LP on the 2LP edition of ‘Live…in the Heart of the City’. I don’t have the two LP version of that album. I have the single version which is the 1st LP which was recored in 1980 on June 23/24 at The Hammersmith Odeon in London as well. You can read that review at the links at the bottom of the page.
After David Coverdale finished recording his last solo album, ‘Northwinds’, he found that his touring band was already trying out new songs and ‘Northwinds’ hadn’t even come out yet. The album finally came out in March of 1978, but by this time, David had already figured that his current touring line-up was already a band and needed to record its own album, which it did in March and April of 1978. By June 1978, the band released a four song E.P. titled ‘Snakebite’. It was listed as David Coverdale’s Whitesnake and it was the start of something amazing.
By September 1978, the album was released as an 8 song double E.P.. That is the copy I have and I will be reviewing. If I ever find an original ‘Snakebite’, you can bet your ass I will be grabbing it.
The 8 song double E.P. has the 4 original songs plus it steals 4 tracks from David’s last solo album ‘Northwinds’. It took the 4 best and now we have a pretty smokin’ album.
Since this was now a band, let’s see who was in it at this time.
David Coverdale – vocals
Micky Moody – guitar
Bernie Marsden – guitar
Neil Murray – bass guitar
Dave Dowle – drums
Pete Solley – keyboards
Yes, it is a quite a lethal combo on guitars with Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden. That double guitar work is what makes Whitesnake so incredible. This line-up changes again for the next album, but by only one person and that person makes a huge difference. That is a little teaser on what is to come with the next review.
The insert I have for the vinyl sleeve is still in tact and has the lyrics to all the songs and writing credits. And I think my album might have been a promo or on a cut-out sell as the bottom right corner has a nice slice out of it.
Okay, enough chit chat, let’s get to the heart of the matter…the music.
SIDE ONE:
The first song is “Come On” written by David Coverdale and Bernie Marsden and right away you can hear how big the guitar sound is. The song is a pure rock song with a great groove and a blistering solo. A great opener and I love the fact that David has two Deep Purple references in the song…“Soldier of Fortune” and “Gypsy”.
Then we get into the Coverdale penned “Bloody Mary” which opens with a piano and Pete slamming the keys. Jump up and dance and feel the music. It is pure joy and magic and two songs in and I am already loving every minute of it.
David goes back to his blues roots as he covers Bobby Bland’s “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City” written by Michael Price and Dan Wise. This love song is down and dirty, a blues rock song slowed down into a beautiful ballad. Oh, and the solo…wow! It fit the song so well and pulled out even more emotion. Not even an original, this song is a signature Whitesnake classic as they are still known to pull this one out and play it live.
The last song from the original E.P. is “Steal Away”. The writing credits on this one are for everyone in the band which is nice to see. The opening riff on the slide guitar is nothing short of spectacular. The song is gritty and a dirty and I love the blues rock feel. David’s vocals are spot on and for me this is my highlight on the whole album.
SIDE TWO:
Side two has 4 songs from ‘Northwinds’ as I mentioned earlier. The first one up is “Keep on Giving Me Love”. It has a funkalicious guitar riff by Moody that could have come from Glenn Hughes playbook. “Keep on Giving Me Love” has a great groove and is a rocking opening track and excites me as what is to come. Coverdale’s vocals have an edginess to it and Moody rips through a nice solo.
“Queen of Hearts” is full of pianos and there is a nice bass thump before the song slams into gear and really gets going. A groovy and bluesy song that becomes a banging good time.
“Only My Soul” is a fantastic rock ballad with a great soulful feel to it in the guitars playing. This has Whitesnake all over it. Alan Spenner, on bass, lays down a nice groove with the keyboards playing along with it during the musical interlude before David comes back and brings it home.
The final track is the most rocking song, “Breakdown”. It is pure Whitesnake. Moody & Coverdale hit it out of the park with this one and they rock it out like nothing else. The song is about the downfall of Deep Purple. The 4 songs pulled off ‘Northwinds’ were the most rocking tracks and 3 of the 4 were written by Moody and Coverdale. When he writes with the guitarists, we tend to get the most kick ass tracks.
Track Listing:
Come On – Keeper
Bloody Mary – Keeper
Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City – Keeper
Steal Away – Keeper
Keep On Giving Me Love – Keeper
Queen of Hearts – Keeper
Only My Soul – Keeper
Breakdown – Keeper
Track score is easily a 100% with 8 out of 8 tracks being keepers. As far as the albums overall score, I will break it down in to two scores. As a 4 song E.P., this is easily a 5 out of 5 Stars as those 4 songs on Side One are spectacular. What a slamming introduction to the band. Now, as an 8 song double E.P., I will ding it a little as I think only two of the extra 4 songs are Whitesnake contenders and the other two are just good songs, but not necessarily Whitesnake material. For that, I give the version I have a 4.5 out of 5.0 Stars which is still pretty freaking great!! This is a an absolute must have for any Whitesnake fan.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 