listening to Whitesnake's self-titled album for the 1st time in many years

[mesa/boogieman]

I was a senior in high school when this album came out and wore the cassette (that's right kids!) out in my car.

Listening to it now, John Sykes is just killing it on the entire album! His guitar has got chorus on it but it doesn't sound dated and he is just wailing all over the place! I don't understand why Coverdale didn't take him on tour and got Adrian Vandenberg to replace him. Sykes is way better! His playing on Whitesnake is better than Vai's playing on the following album.

[ShomerShabbos]

Brilliant record. Incredible guitar playing, great song writing, and a dose of teeny-bopper BS to gain a wider audience. Great work.

[axedoc2010]

Even Sykes was surprised when Coverdale replaced him (actually replaced the entire band) for the tour. I remember reading that it took just 3 weeks to record the album and that was it for Sykes. From hired to fired. But agree with you. He is awesome on the album! Another guy who stuns me to this day with his playing is Vivian Campbell on Holy Diver. Never get tired of that album.

[mesa/boogieman]

Even Sykes was surprised when Coverdale replaced him (actually replaced the entire band) for the tour. I remember reading that it took just 3 weeks to record the album and that was it for Sykes. From hired to fired. But agree with you. He is awesome on the album! Another guy who stuns me to this day with his playing is Vivian Campbell on Holy Diver. Never get tired of that album.

If I recall, didn't Coverdale want a more MTV looking band with him?

I guess Aynsley Dunbar didn't fit that bill in '87 :huh

[HurricaneJesus]

That album just starts off so strong. The first few songs just kill until we get all sensitive...

[Sidmore]

I was a senior in high school when this album came out and wore the cassette (that's right kids!) out in my car.

Listening to it now, John Sykes is just killing it on the entire album! His guitar has got chorus on it but it doesn't sound dated and he is just wailing all over the place! I don't understand why Coverdale didn't take him on tour and got Adrian Vandenberg to replace him. Sykes is way better! His playing on Whitesnake is better than Vai's playing on the following album.

:agree

I was a junior in high school - I spent hours trying to cop Sykes licks from that album!

[mesa/boogieman]

That album just starts off so strong. The first few songs just kill until we get all sensitive...

That's so true man. Very baroque in it's majesty.

[Ultron]

Even Sykes was surprised when Coverdale replaced him (actually replaced the entire band) for the tour. I remember reading that it took just 3 weeks to record the album and that was it for Sykes. From hired to fired. But agree with you. He is awesome on the album! Another guy who stuns me to this day with his playing is Vivian Campbell on Holy Diver. Never get tired of that album.


I thought it had something to do with David and John not getting along...both are pretty headstrong.


Great playing and tones on that CD......I know he used Mesa Mark Coliseums, but anyone know what he used for FX, speakers, etc?

[NB_Terry]

I read an interview with Coverdale where he said Sykes wanted a ton of money, (more than every guitarist that ever played in WS - combined), and David wouldn't pay him that amount.

DC also got sick around that time, and Sykes wanted to replace him and go on tour.

It is a great album. Sykes also has a lot of great solo albums worth checking out.

[Telefunky]

The MUSICAL chemistry between Coverdale and Sykes was brilliant. It was the stuff that makes certain partnerships legendary.

Unfortunately they didn't like each other, prompting Coverdale to pull the dumbest move of his career, replacing him with TWO guys he had no chemistry with.

The Stones were SO much smarter. Mick and Keith haven't gotten along for decades, but at least they understand the rarity of their musical chemistry and keep it together for the sake of their fans and their legacy. They don't need the money.

[mesa/boogieman]

The MUSICAL chemistry between Coverdale and Sykes was brilliant. It was the stuff that makes certain partnerships legendary.

Unfortunately they didn't like each other, prompting Coverdale to pull the dumbest move of his career, replacing him with TWO guys he had no chemistry with.

The Stones were SO much smarter. Mick and Keith haven't gotten along for decades, but at least they understand the rarity of their musical chemistry and keep it together for the sake of their fans and their legacy. They don't need the money.

And much like EVH and David Lee did recently. They don't have to like each other or hang out. But they know together they kick ass.

[aliensporebomb]

It's like day gigs too. How many of us work with people we don't particularly get along with or even like but we get stuff done.

Those two got stuff done.

[bsteff666]

Its a great album...I also just about wore out my cassette back in those years.

But...I have to say that at this point...

Here I Go Again makes me want to puke.

I have heard it enough times for one lifetime & never need to hear it again.

[seafoamer]

Its a great album...I also just about wore out my cassette back in those years.

But...I have to say that at this point...

Here I Go Again makes me want to puke.

I have heard it enough times for one lifetime & never need to hear it again.

Here I Go Again doesn't bother me half as much as Is This Love:barf

[jtm622]

Unless Sykes did something totally financially stupid when he and Coverdale parted company, I can guarantee you that he has gotten wealthy off of the royalty checks from that "1987" Whitesnake album... :)

[Whiskeyrebel]

But Here I Go Again was written and recorded for Saints An' Sinners, two albums prior to Serpens Albus, when Mickey Moody and Mel Galley were still the guitarists. So was Crying In The Rain. Sykes came on after S&S for the Slide It In album, but only after all the songs were written already apparently.

That said, I became a fan when Slide It In was on the radio and got into all the older albums. When Serpens Albus came out I snapped it up before the Tawny videos started getting evryone else's attention.

[mesa/boogieman]

But Here I Go Again was written and recorded for Saints An' Sinners, two albums prior to Serpens Albus, when Mickey Moody and Mel Galley were still the guitarists. So was Crying In The Rain. Sykes came on after S&S for the Slide It In album, but only after all the songs were written already apparently.

That said, I became a fan when Slide It In was on the radio and got into all the older albums. When Serpens Albus came out I snapped it up before the Tawny videos started getting evryone else's attention.

I remember buying Saints and Sinners in 1988 after getting Whitesnake and that original version just totally threw me off! It's totally different from the 1987 version with Sykes.

[mesa/boogieman]

Here I Go Again doesn't bother me half as much as Is This Love:barf

No kidding! Yak yak yak!!!! :noevil

[Mudder]

Coverdale has a solid case of LSD, and would have been hard pressed to take a guy like Sykes on tour. I mean, Sykes did everything better than Coverdale, maybe even sing.

[Bankston]

Coverdale has a solid case of LSD, and would have been hard pressed to take a guy like Sykes on tour. I mean, Sykes did everything better than Coverdale, maybe even sing.

Check out Sykes' live album Bad Boy Live where he plays several songs from the WS record and just KILLS it -- guitar and vocals.

[SteveO]

Ah, memories.... That album was released my senior year, and it was in the cd player often through that time.

[retro_dad]

Check out Sykes' live album Bad Boy Live where he plays several songs from the WS record and just KILLS it -- guitar and vocals.

Heck yes! And also his work with Blue Murder, or as I liked to call them the heavier Whitesnake :D

[Frank Prince]

Great album! Sykes absolutely killed on it in all ways.

Is This Love is one of my all time favorite power ballads, mainly because of the guitar work. Great ethereal rhythm work, harmony guitars, and an awesome, melodic, flowing solo that still contained enough quirk to make it interesting.

[tylerfreak]

Sykes was/is sick...still one of my favorite players ever.

Tone = Sick
Playing = Sick
Breakdown = Sick
Solo = Otherworldly

G3DJhwAhrjY

[Brian D]

Here I Go Again doesn't bother me half as much as Is This Love:barfI totally get what you're saying, but one of my favorite "melodic" solos from the 80's is found in that song.

Embedding not allowed, but you can hear it @ 2:45 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujnH4yNqL8E) (even though the video shows Vivian Campbell playing it).

Sykes deserves a lot of credit for his contribution to that album.

[monsta]

Sykes was/is sick...still one of my favorite players ever.

Tone = Sick
Playing = Sick
Breakdown = Sick
Solo = Otherworldly

G3DJhwAhrjY

Sooooo EPIC!

[ak301]

Check out Sykes' live album Bad Boy Live where he plays several songs from the WS record and just KILLS it -- guitar and vocals.

Listening to it now on Spotify - you're right, killer performance!

[jetydosa]

Great album. Blue Murder's debut album to me is almost as good too. Very similar playing and production.

If you dig the Whitesnake album, but have not heard Blue Murder you should go and download it immediately.