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Posts tagged Bernie Marsden
Micky Moody – I Eat Them for Breakfast (2001) (@256)
17 Aug 2010
(Review from Blues Revue)
Micky Moody is a seasoned, and very experienced musician who has been a huge part of the British rock scene for many years, but is still an unknown musician to many.
With his first solo album, Micky Moody might surprise listeners who know him only from his past with Whitesnake by sharp, genre-appropriate playing from ’14-string rag’ (guitar and mandolin) to the via-Freddie King cover of ‘Me and My Guitar’. Nothing earthshaking here but great playing and vocals
His backing band include the usual suspects Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray and Don Airey.
Line-up:
- Micky Moody / Guitar, Dobro, Mandolin, Bass, Vocals
with
- Bernie Marsden / Guitar, Vocals
- Neil Murray / Bass
- Don Airey / Organ, Piano, Keyboards, Wurlitzer
- Robert Hart / Vocals
- Paul Williams / Vocals
- John Lingwood / Drums
- Andy Pyle / Bass
- Henry Spinetti / Bass, Drums
Track List:
01. On Common Ground – 4:48
02. Alimony – 4:51
03. Delta Bluesman – 4:08
04. Mixed-Up Blues – 2:29
05. My Lady Friend – 3:27
06. 14-String Rag – 2:19
07. Me And My Guitar – 3:39
08. Just Leave Me Alone – 3:50
09. Turning Point (Parts 1-5) – 10:09
10. Obsession – 3:16
11. Let This Boy Boogie – 3:41
12. My Word For Trouble (W.O.M.A.N.) – 4:24
13. Journey Home – 2:20
Link in comments.
Tony Ashton & Friends – Live At Abbey Road (2000) (@256)
27 Dec 2009
(Review from allmusic)
Coming together to honour and celebrate the career of Tony Ashton, musical guests from all eras of his work perform a blistering set of classics from Tony Ashton’s career, Whitesnake and Paice-Ashton-Lord.
Sound quality is top notch and energy levels are high. ‘Hey, this is live,’ comments Bernie Marsden after a slightly wobbly break, and this album really is vibrant with real live musical excellence.
The concert begins with the band Mash, followed by Johnny Johnson and Dave Williams. A Hardin and York (Eddie Hardin, Pete York) reunion follows which includes Geoff Whitehorn, Chris Barber, Jaz Lochrie. Zoot Money, and Eddie’s daughter Emma is up next. They are followed by Angel. Wrapping up the first half of the event is a short set of Rock (and Who) classics performed by John Entwistle, Zak Starkey, John Rabbit Bundrick and Gary Nuttall.
The second half opens with Tony Ashton himself, followed by a short acoustic set by Mickey Moody and Bernie Marsden. Afterward, Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Neil Murray and Robert Hart joins them for a short set of Whitesnake songs. The finale is a mini Paice-Ashton-Lord reunion set, which includes Bernie Marsden and Howie Casey.
Line-up:
- Tony Ashton / Keyboards, Vocals
with
- Chris Barber / Trombone
- John “Rabbit” Bundrick / Keyboards
- Howie Casey / Saxophone
- John Entwistle / Bass
- Robert Hart / Vocals
- Jon Lord / Organ, Saxophone
- Bernie Marsden / Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
- Micky Moody / Guitar
- Neil Murray / Bass, Saxophone
- Gary Nuttall / Guitar, Vocals
- Ian Paice / Drums, Saxophone
- Nigel Portman Smith / Bass
- Zak Starkey / Drums
- Geoff Whitehorn / Guitar
- Laurie Wisefield / Guitar
- Pete York / Drums
- Jeanette McKinley / Back Vocals
- Sheila McKinley / Back Vocals
Track List:
01. Introduction – 1:52
02. One Room Country Shack – 8:11
03. Mercy Mercy – 5:07
04. No Money Down – 6:35
05. Shake Rattle and Roll – 3:22
06. Ain’t Gonna Cry No More – 5:04
07. Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues – 4:56
08. Ready An Willing (Sweet Satisfaction) – 4:48
09. Ain’t No Love (In The Heart Of The City) – 7:56
10. Here I Go Again – 5:51
11. Ghost Story – 5:36
12. Sneaky Private Lee – 8:32
13. Resurrection Shuffle – 9:50
Link in comments.
Bernie Marsden – Look At Me Now (1981) (@256)
10 Jun 2008
(Review from purplerecords.net)
By 1981 three quarters of Whitesnake’s material was emanating from guitarist Bernie Marsden, and in the same year he finally managed to find time to record his second solo album.
Aside from Marsden on guitar and vocals, fellow Whitesnake members Ian Paice, Neil Murray and Jon Lord were the backbone of the band for the sessions, with Simon Phillips depping as the second drummer (Marsden even persuaded Micheal Schenker to come in and supply hand-claps to the end of one song!).
The album isn’t much different in style, it is the pretty ho-hum bluesy hard rock, we’ve come to know Marsden for.
There were plans for some live shows but Whitesnake were so busy these couldn’t be sorted out. Marsden did manage to get the musicians together again in August 1981 for a radio session, two of them are included in this edition of the album as bonus tracks.
Line-up:
- Bernie Marsden / Lead Vocals, Guitars
with
- Neil Murray / Bass
- Jon Lord / Keyboards
- John Cook / Keyboards
- Don Airey / Keyboards
- Ian Paice / Drums
- Simon Philips / Drums
- Cozy Powell / Drums
Track List:
01. Look At Me Now – 3:58
02. So Far Away – 3:39
03. Who’s Fooling Who – 3:54
04. Shakey Ground – 4:04
05. Behind your Dark Eyes – 4:42
06. Bylbos Shack Pt 1 & 2 – 4:03
07. Thunder & Lightning – 4:21
08. Can You Do It? (Rock City Blues) – 4:18
09. After All the Madness – 4:04
10. Always Love You So (Bonus B-Side) – 3:41
11. Look At Me Now (Bonus Radio Live) – 4:21
12. Bylbos Shack (Bonus Radio Live) – 4:36
Link in comments.
Company of Snakes – Burst the Bubble (2002) (@256)
06 Jun 2008
(Review from amazon, metal-temple.com)
“Burst The Bubble”, made up of new studio material, picks up where early Whitesnake left off. With their timeless hard rock Made in Britain that is based on blues, boogie and traditional rock influences, “Company Of Snakes” reduce possible arguments about trends and fashions to absurdity, while proving that there will always be an audience for their brand of classic rock.
Songs like the opener ‘Labour of Love’, the melodic ‘Sacrificial Feeling’, ‘Little Miss Happiness’ with its good-time rock’n'roll attitude, ‘Back To The Blues’ (which really doesn’t require further explanation), or the ballad ‘Those Days’ bear the unmistakable mark of the Moody and Marsden. Stefan Berggren stands out with his bluesy, clear timbre. Berggren’s voice and vocal style follow in the footsteps of David Coverdale or Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company).
Other standouts include “Ride Ride Ride (Run, Run, Run)”, an amazingly catchy song that makes you keep tapping your foot no matter how hard you try to stop and “Can’t Go Back” which creates such a great atmosphere that imposes to be listened while you drink bourbon, smoking heavy cigarettes.
After the release of this album, Stefan Berggren left and the band slowly evolved into M3 with the incorporation of new vocalist(s).
Line-up:
* Neil Murray – bass
* Micky Moody – guitar, back vocals
* Bernie Marsden – guitar
* Don Airey – keyboards
* Stefan Berggren – vocals
* John Lingwood – drums
Track List:
01. Ayresome Park
02. Labour Of Love
03. Ride Ride Ride (Run, Run, Run)
04. Burst The Bubble
05. Sacrificial Feelings
06. What Love Can Do
07. Little Miss Happiness
08. Hurricane
09. Kinda Wish You Would
10. Days To Remember
11. Back To The Blues
12. All Dressed Up
13. Can’t Go Back
14. She
15. Ayresome Park – Reprise
Links in comments.
Company of Snakes – Here They Go Again (Live 2000) (@320)
05 Jun 2008
(Review from amazon, allmusic)
Neil Murray (another ex-Whitesnake of the classic line-up) and seasoned keyboardist Don Airey joined in the “Snakes”. After several vocalist changes, the band settled for Stefan Berggren evolving into the “Company of Snakes”. The band cut a live album culled from concerts between August and September, 2000.
On this crisp sounding double live album, the group performs almost exclusively material that they wrote with Whitesnake, and it sincerely smokes. Although they do not have vocalist David Coverdale in the lineup, Stefan Bergren amply handles the vocal chores. There’s room for a couple of new songs, though, as well as a great rendition of Rainbow’s “Since You Been Gone”.
“Here They Go Again” provides a great opportunity to enjoy once more the “old” Whitesnake songs, but it isn’t just for Whitesnake nostalgics – this fine live album should appeal to all fans of hard, bluesy, guitar-heavy rock n’ roll.
Line-up:
* Neil Murray – bass
* Micky Moody – guitar, back vocals
* Bernie Marsden – guitar
* Don Airey – keyboards
* Stefan Berggren – vocals
* John Lingwood – drums
Track List:
CD1
01. Come On – 4:25
02. Walking in the Shadow of the Blues – 5:01
03. Trouble – 6:30
04. Kinda Wish You Would – 5:55
05. Rough An’ Ready – 3:24
06. Don’t Break My Heart Again – 6:35
07. Moody’s Blues – 4:01
08. Slow An’ Easy – 6:57
09. Sweet Talker – 5:06
10. Ready An’ Willing – 6:32
CD2
01. Would I Lie to You – 4:32
02. Ain’t Gonna Cry No More – 7:08
03. Silver on Her Person – 5:00
04. Lovehunter – 5:14
05. Is This Love – 5:42
06. Since You Been Gone – 3:39
07. Here I Go Again – 9:27
08. Wine Women An’ Song – 6:42
09. Fool for Your Loving – 5:07
Links in comments.
Snakes – Live in Europe (1998) (@320)
04 Jun 2008
The band released a live opus, comprising Whitesnake songs following their studio album.
It’s always nice to hear the classic-era Whitesnake songs all over again, with Jorn Lande this time. He certainly can hit high notes like a young Coverdale.
Line-up:
- Jorn Lande / vocals
- Micky Moody / guitar
- Bernie Marsden / guitar
- Sid Ringsby / bass
- Willy Bendickson / drums
Track List:
01. Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues
02. Sweet Talker
03. Trouble
04. Slow An’ Easy
05. Don’t Break My Heart Again
06. Ready An’ Willing
07. Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City
08. Rough An’ Ready
09. Fool For Your Loving
10. Wine, Women And Song
11. Here I Go Again
Links in comments.
Snakes – Once Bitten (1998) (@256)
02 Jun 2008
(Review from rockdetector.com, theboysareback.se, amazon)
After David Coverdale sacked them from Whitesnake, ending the band’s classic sound, Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden didn’t want to give up on their unique chemistry. With different Coverdale-like sounding vocalists and band-mates, they led on a fork of Whitesnake under different monikers.
This incarnation of the duo, “Snakes” performed numerous club shows playing exclusively Whitesnake material. The guitar pairing had initially been working up a proposed band titled “Saints and Sinners” with erstwhile Whitesnake refugees bassist Neil Murray and Cozy Powell plus American vocalist John West. Powell’s own solo album with West put an end to this venture.
For the August 1998 ‘Once Bitten’ album, three Norwegians, including ex-Vagabond vocalist Jorn Lande were drafted. The outcome is strong bluesy rock songs with truckloads of feeling — an early Whitesnake-sounding album. Jorn Lande is extremely “Coverdale-like” and the songwriting and production is very good. It’s like “Slide It In” and “Lovehunter” melted into one incredible opus.
Definitely a great fix for Whitesnake fans and a surprising delight for Jorn Lande fans.
Line-up:
- Jorn Lande / vocals
- Micky Moody / guitar
- Bernie Marsden / guitar
- Sid Ringsby / bass
- Willy Bendickson / drums
Track List:
01. Labour Of Love
02. Can’t Go Back
03. What Love Can Do
04. Real Faith
05. The Dancer (The Liar)
06. Gonna Find The Sun
07. Little Miss Happiness
08. Bring Yo’ Good Self Home
09. Showdown
10. Sacrificial Feelings
11. Tough Love
12. All Dressed Up (Bonus Track)
13. September Tears (Bonus Track)
Link in comments.
Whitesnake – Saints and Sinners (1982) (@256)
15 May 2008
(Review from allmusic, hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com)
David Coverdale returned to music the next year, reforming Whitesnake and the band rushed to studio for their next album.
Their 1982 album, “Saints and Sinners” features a blend of solid instrumentation: great dual guitar lines, solid backline, and Lord’s organ all blended with Coverdale’s gritty vocals. Rowdy bursts of bluesy aggression are all over the album like in “Rough an’ Ready”, “Bloody Luxury” and the downright nasty “Young Blood.” David Coverdale also reached new heights with the astounding heavy blues of “Crying in the Rain” and the timeless power ballad “Here I Go Again”. More boogie woogie rock comes out on “Love An’ Affection” and “Rock An’ Roll Angels” with the piano prominent again in both songs.
This proved to be the last album of the “classic” line-up as Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray and Ian Paice left. Whitesnake’s line-up never stabilized ever since.
Line-up:
* David Coverdale – lead vocals
* Bernie Marsden – guitars
* Mel Galley – guitars
* Micky Moody – guitars, backing vocals
* Jon Lord – keyboards
* Neil Murray – bass
* Ian Paice – drums
Track List:
01. Young Blood – 3:30
02. Rough An’ Ready – 2:52
03. Bloody Luxury – 3:23
04. Victim Of Love – 3:33
05. Crying In The Rain – 5:59
06. Here I Go Again – 5:08
07. Love An’ Affection – 3:09
08. Rock An’ Roll Angels – 4:07
09. Dancing Girls – 3:10
10. Saints An’ Sinners – 4:23
Link in comments.
Whitesnake – Come an Get It (1981) (@256)
14 May 2008
(Review from amazon)
Confident from the success of ‘Ready An’ Willing’, Whitesnake went into the studio, effortlessly knocking out vintage blues rock.
There are many highlights including ‘Child Of Babylon’, an epic song showing off Coverdale at his best, the grooving title track and the monolithic anthem ‘Don’t Break My Heart Again’ with its nod towards a more pop metal direction. The fun blues boogie numbers ‘Would I Lie To You’ and “Wine, Women An’ Song” were brilliantly humorous and even more fun when played live! ‘Till The Day I Die’ features a superb vocal performance from Coverdale.
As on their previous album, the Purple duo Jon Lord and Ian Paice, turns in solid professional performances. Also of note is the typically old-school guitar work from Moody/Marsden throughout the album, especially on the song ‘Hit An’ Run’ which given a bit more development in the chorus department could have been a classic. Neil Murray’s bubbling basslines can also be heard throughout to great effect.
After the release of this album, Coverdale took time off to look after his sick daughter. He decided to temporarily break up the band.
Line-up:
* David Coverdale – vocals
* Micky Moody – guitar
* Bernie Marsden – guitar
* Jon Lord – keyboards
* Neil Murray – bass guitar
* Ian Paice – drums
Track List:
01. Come An’ Get It – 3:57
02. Hot Stuff – 3:22
03. Don’t Break My Heart Again – 4:01
04. Lonely Days, Lonely Nights – 4:14
05. Wine, Women An’ Song – 3:43
06. Child Of Babylon – 4:50
07. Would I Lie To You – 4:30
08. Girl – 3:54
09. Hit An’ Run – 3:21
10. Till The Day I Die – 4:27
Link in comments.
Whitesnake – Trouble (1978) (@256)
13 May 2008
(Review from rockages, wikipedia)
Keyboardist Jon Lord (of Deep Purple) joined the band and Whitesnake’s first full-length studio album, “Trouble” came out in fall 1978. It is a blues rock/R&B styled album with some Led Zeppelin and Free influences. Coverdale steered away from any Deep Purple connotations during this time period.
Swirling effects then that scratchy guitar intro mark the opener “Take Me With You”. Slightly softer edged but not dissimilar to “Burn” in many ways its a decent heavy rock song. “Love To Keep You Warm” has much more in common with the funk tinged Deep Purple of “Come Taste The Band” vintage and despite being a plodding mid-tempo love song has a warm feel and is quite listenable. “Lie Down” however is a blues rock monster following much the same design as “Come On” off the Snakebite EP. A regular early live favourite that bounds along underscored by some great piano and topped off by an understated Micky Moody solo. With the cover of “Day Tripper” they take the unusual step of considerably reworking a Beatles classic. Turning into a slow-burner of a blues number with Coverdale producing a moody vocal and Marsden a fine, voicebox solo. “Nighthawk (Vampire Blues)” is another solid rocker that hints at the direction of the early 80s despite some distinctly 70s guitar licks in it but notably it does feature Coverdale singing about a ‘Gypsy woman’ not for the first or the last time!
Opening side two is the quite mid tempo love song “Time Is Right For Love” featuring some quite brilliant guitar touches down low in the mix adorning the versus. The title track “Trouble” is quite superb; effectively Whitesnake’s own smoking heavy blues number that didn’t replace but actually accompanied its close relative “Mistreated” in the live set. “Belgian Tom’s Hat-Trick” is a Micky Moody written instrumental that features a solo spot each for Moody, Lord then Marsden within the structure of a decent little boogie rocker. “Free Flight” is notable for Coverdale relinquishes lead vocal duties to Marsden for the whole track. Closing track “Don’t Mess With Me” has a thumping intro, fast paced versus, chant-able chorus and singalong breakdown. It’s a more than solid rocker that closes the album.
“Trouble” is a solid if fairly unspectular album that built upon the strengths of their EP and went some way toward establishing the band although it would be their next album, “Love Hunter” that really seals their ascension.
Line-up:
* David Coverdale – vocals
* Micky Moody – guitar
* Bernie Marsden – guitar
* Neil Murray – bass guitar
* Jon Lord – keyboards
* Dave Dowle – drums
Track List:
01. Take Me With You – 4:47
02. Love To Keep You Warm – 3:45
03. Lie Down (A Modern Love Song) – 3:15
04. Day Tripper – 3:48
05. Night Hawk (Vampire Blues) – 3:38
06. The Time Is Right For Love – 3:29
07. Trouble – 4:48
08. Belgian Tom’s Hat Trick – 3:26
09. Free Flight – 4:05
10. Don’t Mess With Me – 3:18
Link in comments.
Whitesnake – Snakebite (EP 1978) (@256)
12 May 2008
(Review from rockofages)
Employing some of the names that had helped out on the commercially unsuccessful but worth exploring post-Purple solo albums “White Snake” and “Northwinds” Coverdale set out with guitarists Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden, bass player Neil Murray and drummer Dave Dowle to create a new hard blues-rock outfit.
The very first album under the Whitesnake moniker, the Snakebite EP features four tracks which pretty clearly marked the route Coverdale and his band intended to take, at least in the bands early years. The highlight of the release is undoubtedly the excellent cover of the blues standard “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City”. A slow, grooving number that recreates somewhat the feeling of Coverdale’s Deep Purple highlight “Mistreated”. It later became a concert staple for the rest of band’s career.
Elsewhere, Micky Moody gets a showcase with the excellent, upbeat slide guitar rocker Steal Away, whilst the bands hard rock credentials were set out as the Coverdale/Marsden songwriting team produced it’s first fruits in the guise of Come On, a great blues rock number which itself nods to older Coverdale output with the line “I’m just a soldier of fortune”.
Another up-tempo rocker entitled “Bloody Mary” proves to be the weakest of the release and wouldn’t become a part of the early live set that the others would. It’s still worth hearing though if only for some classic Coverdale-isms.
The CD edition includes 4 bonus tracks taken from David Coverdale’s Northwinds solo album.
Line-up:
* David Coverdale – vocals
* Micky Moody – guitar
* Bernie Marsden – guitar
* Neil Murray – bass guitar
* Dave Dowle – drums
Track List:
01. Come On – 3:33
02. Bloody Mary – 3:20
03. Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City – 5:13
04. Steal Away – 4:20
05. Keep On Giving Me Love (Bonus) – 5:18
06. Queen Of Hearts (Bonus) – 5:17
07. Only My Soul (Bonus) – 4:36
08. Breakdown (Bonus) – 5:12
Link in comments.
Whitesnake – Live in the Heart of the City (1980) (@256)
28 Nov 2007
(Review from amazon, metal-observer.com, allmusic)
“Live In The Heart of the City” was recorded over two dates in 1980 and one date in 1978 and from the much missed Hammersmith Odeon. Although Whitesnake never achieved the sales figures of Coverdale’s previous band, Deep Purple, this is still a class live-album.
Featuring some quite excellent musicianship from guitarists Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody, interlocking guitar riffs and fiery solos; the rhythm section of Lord, Paice and bassist Neil Murray is rock-steady and the exceptional vocal talents of Coverdale every single song on this live-CD is a slab of good time rock ‘n’ roll with a whole load of boogie thrown in.
Whitesnake favorites such as “Walking in the Shadow of the Blues” “Ready an’ Willing” and “Fool for Your Loving” heat up the crowd, but it’s the extended version of “Lovehunter” that gets things boiling, thanks to Micky Moody’s extended slide guitar solo. The audience participation on “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City” provides another thrilling moment, but the band truly brings the house down with a last encore of Deep Purple’s “Mistreated” — a blues of monstrous proportions that becomes an 11-minute catharsis for Coverdale.
Line-up:
* David Coverdale – vocals
* Micky Moody – guitar
* Bernie Marsden – guitar
* Jon Lord – keyboards
* Neil Murray – bass guitar
* Ian Paice – drums
Track List:
01. Come On – 3:38
02. Sweet Talker – 4:14
03. Walking in the Shadow of the Blues – 4:49
04. Love Hunter – 11:00
05. Fool for Your Loving – 4:50
06. Ain’t Gonna Cry No More – 6:28
07. Ready An’ Willing – 4:46
08. Take Me With You – 6:44
09. Come On – 4:01
10. Might Just Take Your Life – 5:27
11. Lie Down – 4:27
12. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City – 6:27
13. Trouble – 4:52
14. Mistreated – 10:50
Links in comments.
Whitesnake – Ready an' Willing (1980) (@256)
06 Apr 2007
(Review from allmusic.com, amazon.com)
Back in 1980, Whitesnake guitarists Bernie Marsden and Mick Moody played big, bluesy guitar riffs and short, sparse solos, Coverdale didn’t yet dye his hair, and the music was raw and powerful.
David Coverdale and company were growing increasingly more consistent and self-assured with each record, and this album’s first half shows great progress over the previous year’s Lovehunter. Opener “Fool for Your Lovin’” was their best single yet, as well as their highest charting; with its clever combination of hit-savy chorus and authentic bluesy resignation, it set the template for subsequent triumphs. Further highlights include the live favorite “Sweet Talker” (given extra bite by Micky Moody’s expert slide guitar), the groove monster of a title track, and a set of memorable ballads in “Blindman” and “Ain’t Gonna Cry No More.”
Line-up:
* David Coverdale – vocals
* Micky Moody – guitars
* Bernie Marsden – guitars
* Jon Lord – keyboards
* Neil Murray – bass
* Ian Paice – drums
Track List:
01. Fool for Your Loving
02. Sweet Talker
03. Ready an’ Willing
04. Carry Your Load
05. Blindman
06. Ain’t Gonna Cry No More
07. Love Man
08. Black and Blue
09. She’s a Woman
Link in comments.
Whitesnake – Lovehunter (1979) (@256)
26 Feb 2007
(Review from wikipedia, amazon.co.uk)
Whitesnake was the band formed by vocalist David Coverdale after his acrimonious departure from Deep Purple. During the band’s early years, its music was primarily blues rock (although, Coverdale himself described Whitesnake’s early style as, “progressive R&B”). At this time, the band was made up of; Coverdale himself, Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody and Neil Murray. The drummer and keyboard slot changed a few times.
Intended as a vehicle for his own brand of bluesy vox-heavy rock (the first album was a set of ballads), the project quickly grew to include the gargantuan keyboards and pyrotechnic percussion of Deep Purple’s Jon Lord and Ian Paice, the sound becoming fuller, the lyrics more overtly predatory. Love Hunter, recorded before Paice’s arrival, was immediately notorious for a sleeve featuring a buxom woman sitting lasciviously astride an enormous snake. Lovehunter’s lurid cover art featuring a naked white female straddling a large snake was created by famed fantasy artist Chris Achilleos. Achilleos’ original Lovehunter artwork was stolen in the 1980s and has yet to be recovered.
The album revealed Coverdale, who was often dismissed as a mere sexist rocker, to be a master of various forms–dirty, dark-hearted rock (“Mean Business”), incorrigibly sensual R&B (“Rock’n'Roll Women”), and slow, impassioned and soulful anthems (“Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues”). Leading to 10 years of unremitting success, Love Hunter was Whitesnake’s purest offering.
Line-up:
* David Coverdale – vocals
* Micky Moody – guitars
* Bernie Marsden – guitars
* Jon Lord – keyboards
* Neil Murray – bass
* Dave Dowle – drums
Track List:
01. Long Way From Home – 4:56
02. Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues – 4:24
03. Help Me Thro’ The Day – 4:39
04. Medicine Man – 3:59
05. You ‘N’ Me – 3:30
06. Mean Business – 3:48
07. Love Hunter – 5:39
08. Outlaw – 4:03
09. Rock ‘N’ Roll Women – 4:45
10. We Wish You Well – 1:34
Link in comments.
Paice Ashton Lord – Malice in Wonderland (1976) (@256)
08 Feb 2007
(Info from purplerecords.net)
Ashton and Lord first met in 1970, and ended up writing and playing together on a number of projects over the next few years, including the “First Of The Big Bands” album released in 1974; in many ways a prototype for the PAL project. Following Purple Mk 4’s demised in March 1976, Paice Ashton Lord emerged amidst much fanfare.
Mysterious adverts in the music papers gave some hint of what was going on: “British Band Requires British Bass Player and Lead Guitarist for formation of new rock band by three established musicians.” Paul Martinez, then in Stretch, got the bass player’s job, guitarist Bernie Marsden (then with Babe Ruth) completed the band. The line-up was made official on August 21st 1976 and by September they were in the Musicland studios, Munich, recording.
By now, Howie Casey was part of the band on saxophone, having previously played with Wings, along with a brass quartet. The horns helped give the band their unique sound. The line-up was completed by two girl singers. The band stayed at an Arabella Hotel in Munich, home to the drunken American who, in trying to pronounce Alice In Wonderland, gave Jon the idea for the album title, to which Tony provided the lyrics. There was a lot more freedom within the band for Jon, with the guitar used more as a rhythm instrument. With Martin Birch (who had been producing Purple for many years) at the helm, the album took just ten days to lay down. Ian Paice feels they’d cut a good album, “PAL was trying to do something ahead of its time, the sort of thing Level 42 became, a cross between jazz and rock”.
The post-recording period saw the construction of a large stage set at Pinewood put together by the guy who had done the stages for the “Spy Who Loved Me” movie. They also announced that a film about the band was being produced. The album release was eventually put back to March 4th 1977. “One of those rare combinations of musicians which catches fire and becomes something really exciting”, wrote Beat Instrumental. A tour of selected cities across Europe was dropped leaving just the UK dates intact.
The group made their debut on the BBC TV show “Sight & Sound In Concert” on Saturday March 19th. A week later they opened their tour at the Birmingham Odeon supported by Bandit. Musically the band were at times a force to be reckoned with, turning out some ferocious r’n b flavoured rock, with a great duel keyboard style which was very adventurous. What it needed was something to build on top of this, Tony wasn’t at all happy fronting such a large band. Once the tour was over, the group returned to Germany to begin work on their second album. This was 75% completed, when sometime in early 1978 they came to a decision to fold the band. Bernie Marsden joined David Coverdale in Whitesnake. Tony Ashton returned to his role as a producer. Paice, Lord and Martinez went off to back Maggie Bell, formerly of Stone The Crows but the project didn’t last long and the following month Jon Lord also joined Whitesnake.
Paice Ashton Lord were undoubtably overambitious but the album is one that grows on the listener. Ian Paice looks back on the band without regrets. “PAL was a brave experiment! It was an experiment that cost Jon and I a fortune but I’m glad we did it”.
Track List:
01. Ghost Story
02. Remember the Good Times
03. Arabella [Oh Tell Me]
04. Silas and Jerome
05. Dance With Me Baby
06. On the Road Again, Again
07. Sneaky Private Lee
08. I’m Gonna Stop Drinking Again
09. Malice in Wonderland
10. Ghost Story (Live) (Bonus)
11. Streamroller Blues (Live) (Bonus)
12. Ballad of Mr Giver (Live) (Bonus)
Links in comments.
