Brother Mike Lebrain sent me this smoker. Yesterday, I posted a review of 2008’s Good To Be Bad, which was really great. Today’s record is from 1982 and, I have to say, the later effort is best-informed (all those 26 years later) by this rocker. Let’s go!
First, the KMA Award For Best Use Of Apostrophe To End Words in Song Titles goes to THIS RECORD!
Young Blood is a balls-out rocker that fully announces this record’s presence. Yes! Rough An’ Ready keeps the pace and rocks like ZZ Top, a bluesy barroom mayhem track. I can smell the whiskey and cigarettes and dry ice. Remember smoking in bars? Ha.
Blood Luxury refuses to let go of this album’s grip on the rawk button, and we’re off on another full-tilt boogie. Wahoo! This is FUN! Victim Of Love slows the ride to half-tempo but hits just as hard. Has the feel of a rock concert revival sing-along track. Greatness.
Crying In The Rain is the blues, and slinky as hell. Seriously folks, this is now five killer tracks in a row.
Here I Go Again is the big hit. Everyone knows this track. Well, a later version (I’d think) was popular. This, to me, doesn’t sound like the big radio hit I knew, it’s gotta be an early version. I have to be honest, whatever version it is, it almost doesn’t fit this record. Is that weird to say? We’ve been treated to bluesy rock so far, and here is a track blatantly aimed at being a pop hit… I dunno, maybe I’m wrong.
Love An’ Affection throws us right back into the blues rock of the rest of the album. Great! Rock An’ Roll Angels is a fun rocker, complete with piano. I can totally hear the Crowes doing the song, but with Rich on slide guitar… Damn, now I really wanna hear that…
Dancing Girls is hard, hard and fast. Just like I like it. Heh heh. Saints An’ Sinners fulfills my hope that this whole record would hit hard and drip the blues. Slinky groove, fantastic.
In sum: Best record I’ve heard all week. Daaaaamn! Thanks heaps, Mike!
keepsmealive 
Hahaha..I was 16…..at the time ,looking back now what a great time to be a music fan….
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Absolutely true. I was a bit younger, and caught up in, um, a few of the more non-rock things. I loved jazz. But my pop kick was more Gowan, Glass Tiger and Platinum Blonde. Does liking Honeymoon Suite back then save my sorry ass? Hahaha. Ah, to be 10, again. I still listen to Gowan, though. All his stuff is in my iPod.
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Yeah I kinda skipped this one as well for some reason.
I started with Live In The Heart Of The City and Come And Get it and than onto Slide It In which I was fortunate enough to see live back in the yr of 84 when they totally annihilated Quiet Riot (headliner) off the stage that night in Winnipeg !
Man that was a crack band ol Cov had back than !
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Dude I hate to do it to you, I was 10 in 1984. I doubt my folks would’ve taken me to see Whitesnake.
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I have to differ on this one. This album always sounded tired to me. I’m not surprised that the reshuffle/change of plan happened after this one. It’s not terrible, just ok.
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Not terrible, but I personally think it’s a lot better than Trouble and Lovehunter…personally.
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I don’t actually. I prefer those to this by a good bit. Saints and Sinners is my least favourite of the early years.
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I’m quite shocked!
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Hahaha really?
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Yeah I always assumed you would like that one. It’s Ready An’ Willing that I don’t enjoy as much.
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I used to really like that one but I think I’ve worn it out now. Don’t get much out off it anymore.
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Maybe I’ll have to fly through the Snake discography start to finish. I’ve never done that!
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Man, I liked both of these records. Now I wanna hear the ones you claim are better!!
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Do it! And write ’em up! I smell a SERIES!!
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Meanwhile over at 1001, I just suggested doing some Clash revisiting…oh man.
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You need 48 hours in every day!
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I do. I really do. If I did I would have more time to spend with my lovely beautiful collection, err I mean wife!
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THis is a killer album. I love Rock An’ Roll Angels. It is definitely a favourite.
I think this is the album we both sent EACH OTHER! You found one in a $1 bin and sent it to me!
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Haha oh man, I remember that. Well, I guess it was just meant to be – and I’m glad, it’s a really fun record!!
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This was the last of Whitesnake’s albums that failed to make an impact in the US. Slide It In was next and then 1987 blew the doors open.
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And that would be where the updated version of Here I Go Again decimated radio?
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