REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: November 22, 2022

WHITESNAKE – Lovehunter

Long before Mr. Coverdale bought huge amounts of shares in various hair spray companies and sold his soul to a scantily clad lady on the hood of a car, Whitesanke were purveyors of the finest blues rock to be heard anywhere.

This is where I really started to pay attention to them, mainly due to the awesome Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues and the title track, which Cloverdale co-wrote with the delightful Bernie Marsden. And, let’s not forget the awesome Medicine Man. These two tracks alone are the very definition of what the real Whitesnake was all about. Superb hooks and melodies, coupled with simple grab you by the throat riffs, and a driving groove.

I know 1987 sold in its squillions but to me, this is the real Whitesnake and always will be. My favourite track is Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues, it’s one of the best things they ever did. I know there’s not much chance of it ever happening, seeing as DC has blown out his voice, but I would like to see him team up with Bernie for a farewell album. One can dream.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

PHANTOM BLUE – s/t

To all the guys out there who stayed away from female rock bands saying they couldn’t cut it; this one’s for you. Released back in ’89 and produced by Marty Friedman on the Roadrunner label, this is a metal tour de force. An awesome dual guitar attack with Michelle Meldrum and Nicole Couch, shredding with the best of them.

Going Mad blasts into your ears with double kicks and some serious shred guitar, just in case you were a doubting Thomas. Last Shot is more of a straight up hard rocker but with added killer solos. Why Call It Love is a huge power ballad, with the emphasis on the power. Frantic Zone follows and it does what it says: a frantic pounding double kick assault with matching riff, until the speed decreases for the song. Slow It Down closes out Side 1 with a very choppy, almost funk groove and riff. Gigi Hangach has one hell set of pipes and doesn’t hold back.

Side 2 kicks off with a Walking Away. A hard rock groover with added harmonies, as well as a sweeping solo. Nice harmony guitars at the intro to Never Too Late, a great four to the floor rocker. It has a superb solo in the breakdown and gets my vote for favourite track. Out Of Control closes out the album and again, the killer harmony guitars are so good.  There is so much going on with nice harmony guitars and vocals. There was another album in ’93 and an EP in ’98 but other than a live album, that was it. Great record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.