1987: 20th Anniversary

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Product Description ------------------- This Collector's Edition CD & DVD is released to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the original release. It's beautifully packaged in a fold out digipack with slipcase and sleevenotes written by Geoff Barton of Classic Rock magazine. When originally released the album hit no. 8 in the UK charts and went on to sell a phenomenal 8 million copies worldwide. The album spawned 3 hit singles the Led Zeppelin influenced 'Still Of the Night', the anthemic 'Here I Go Again, and the power ballad 'Is This Love' The CD features the original European album (with 2 more tracks than it's American counterpart) and 4 bonus tracks taken from 'Live...In The Shadows of The Blues'. The DVD features 4 videos all of which got huge airplay on MTV at the time of release and 4 live performances from the Live ...In The Still of The Night' concert. Review ------ There are two schools of thought on Whitesnake over here. Most diehards believe that the early days provided the glory moments, when the 'Snake were true to their blues-rock heritage, and that this album was the point at which David Coverdale departed completely from his roots. Why? To make a mark Stateside. Of course, for others this represents that time when they were introduced to the band, as they were more commercially accessible and, image wise, fitted the landscape. Both views have their points, and where you stand is purely subjective. However, the fact remains that 1987 is the biggest selling album released by anyone connected to Deep Purple and - when you consider most fans believed Coverdale would disappear without trace after the band fell apart in '76 - that is a testimony to his vision and ruthless commitment. So, two decades on, how does the album stack up? For the most part, brilliantly. Still of the Night remains a tour de force, an epic that might draw from Led Zeppelin, but has its own timbre and predatory resonance. Bad Boys is a crotch grabbing, prowling anthem. Is This Love is a smoochy pooch of a ballad, one specifically designed to get the oestrogen flowing. And Children Of The Night lacquers on the big hair melody... Add in well-informed sleevenotes ... a bonus DVD - and well designed booklet and ... oh hell, it's a lavish, fitting celebration. -- Classic Rock July 2007