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Whitesnake - Saints & Sinners Audio CD

A fair review of the Whitesnake "Saints & Sinners" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Whitesnake reviews here, or go back to the Whitesnake tabs.

Whitesnake Band: Whitesnake
Title: Saints & Sinners
Rating:
Release Date: 2007-03-19
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Young Blood 2: Rough an' Ready 3: Bloody Luxury 4: Victim of Love 5: Crying in the Rain 6: Here I Go Again 7: Love an' Affection 8: Rock an' Roll Angels 9: Dancing Girls 10: Saints an' Sinners 11: Young Blood [Monitor Mix/Early Vocal][#][*][Version] 12: Saints an' Sinners [Monitor Mix/Early Vocal][#][*][Version] 13: Soul Survivor [Unfinished, Unreleased Song][*]

The best of the early Whitesnake albums - now remastered
Growing up with that album and the band's 1989 follow-up Slip of the Tongue made listening to the band's early works a challenge. Like many people, I first discovered Whitesnake in 1987 when they released their smash hit self-titled album. It's a challenge that paid off though. I'm not a huge blues rock fan, but something about these early Whitesnake albums really works for me, and I've come to love them (almost) as much as the later albums I grew up with.

Originally released in 1982, Saints & Sinners is the last real "old school" Whitesnake album before the band evolved into their better known "hair metal" phase. At this point the band had pretty well perfected their bluesy, soulful hard rock sound. All they were really missing was a wider audience. They had the technical chops, an amazing vocalist in David Coverdale, and some potential singles in "Here I Go Again" and "Crying in the Rain". Hearing the original versions of these familiar 1987-era hits is a real eye-opener. Unfortunately, when you consider the more popular new wave, arena rock and metal sounds at the time, even an album as impressive as Saints & Sinners sounds out of touch and dated.

Popularity issues aside, Saints & Sinners is a completely infectious blues rock album. Unlike previous albums, the songs on Saints & Sinners are much more up-tempo and generally "rock out" more. This may have been due to the departure of guitarist Bernie Marsden. I love the rockin' "Young Blood" and "Rock `an Roll Angels" is a great old school party rock anthem, but honestly the whole album has a charged, energetic vibe that's impossible to resist.

Saints & Sinners is probably my favorite of the early Whitesnake albums, and one that I'd definitely recommend it to all serious Whitesnake fans, as well as anyone into old school blues-based rock & roll. I'd also recommend it as the perfect starting point for fans of the later Whitesnake albums to start exploring the band's roots.

NOTE: Saints & Sinners was reissued by EMI in 2007. The reissue features digitally remastered sound, expanded liner notes and three bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are a pair of "monitor mix/early vocal" songs ("Young Blood" and "Saints an' Sinners") and an unfinished, previously unreleased song called "Soul Survivor" that's very rough and has no vocal track added. The bonus tracks are interesting enough, but the real reason to buy this import reissue is the digitally remastered sound, which is worlds better than the original release. EMI has been on fire lately with great sounding reissues (see: Blind Guardian, MSG, Scorpions, UFO and Saxon) and the Whitesnake reissues may be the best of the bunch.


Rock n Swagger
While it is a little on the bluesy side, I rather consider that a good thing. I really enjoyed this album. Whitesnake were a blues/rock band before the late 80s conversion to more straight edge rock. The strongest track on the disc is 'Victim of Love' IMO as it really accentuates David Coverdale's voice. Of course 'Young Blood', 'Crying in the Rain', 'Here I go Again'and 'Saint an Sinners' are also strong tracks.

Whitesnake has always been unique to me as it exsists solely to accentuate the very powerful voice of David Coverdale, no matter the incarnation it is always the vocals that stand out. Saints & Sinners is no different in that regard.


WTF???
I had to go elsewhere to get it for the price it was really worth. I think Amazon needs to pay me some dividends!! When this first came out Amazon was listing this for a price of between $35 and $45. Now after paying $25 elsewhere, Amazon lists it for less than $15. What a rip off!! .


You can see a complete list of all Whitesnake discography, or go back to the Whitesnake tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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