Lead singer of Whitesnake, David Coverdale, has had a storied career that spanned 52 years. From starting in Deep Purple, to a stint singing with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, he was most noted for being the founder and singer of Whitesnake. When you think of Coverdale, there are a handful of albums that come to mind: Deep Purple’s Burn, Whitesnake’s Slide It In and Slip Of The Tongue. But the most recognized is the band’s 1987 self-titled effort.
The band’s self-titled album, most commonly known as 1987, almost didn’t happen. After the tour to support their sixth studio record, Slide It In, wrapped up, drummer Cozy Powell left the group. Coverdale then went to fold the band, but executives at Geffen Records convinced him to push forth. After convincing the band, they hit the studio to begin recording and working on the record. Delays started with a sinus infection hitting Coverdale and, two years later, their self-titled effort was released on March 16, 1987. The 53-minute record would chart to the No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200, 8x Platinum in the United States.
The record starts with the bombastic “Crying In The Rain.” Drummer Aynsley Dunbar beats the drums for the perfect opening of the record. Coverdale matches the opening with howling lyrics. On this song, there’s a perfect blend between hard rock and blues that the band has perfected throughout their career. Additionally, guitarist John Sykes utilizes his whammy bar like a hammer to add a crazy sound that was overstaurating the 1980s hard rock and metal scene.
By sound three, fans are greeted with one of the band’s biggest songs, “Still Of The Night.” Throughout this record, the band lets Coverdale showcase his amazing vocals. What’s fun about this particular song is the jump of the vocals, which contrasts with the sharp riffs from Sykes. In this six-and-a-half-minute song, the band uses a variety of instruments. At the halfway mark, a keyboard overtakes the rest of the band, creating a seedy, hidden feel to the tune before Sykes opens the song up for a solo before returning to the main track.
“Still Of The Night” is a great song that leads right into the smash hit “Here I Go Again ‘87.” Even if you aren’t a fan of the band, you’ve heard this tune at least 20 times in your life. This song was originally recorded on the band’s Saints & Sinners record but rerecorded for this album. “Here I Go Again ‘87” was released as the band’s first single and it shot up to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100; it became the band’s only No. 1 single. This song is one of the top rock anthems. This song makes fans want to belt out the chorus at the top of their lungs. There’s a certain smell of independence that oozes out of this song. Fans most notably have seen the video where actress and model Tawny Kitaen jumps across a pair of cars.
Immediately following “Here I Go Again ‘87” is “Give Me All Your Love,” another Whitesnake staple. The rhythm section of Dunbar and bassist Neil Murray creates a concrete beat for the song. While Murray has a simplistic beat, it allows for Dunbar to go wild on the high-hat and crash symbols. The simplistic drum beat allows Sykes to have a shredding and melodic solo. “Give Me All Your Love” is a great contrast to “Here I Go Again ‘87.” It was a smart decision by the album’s producers, Mike Stone and Keith Olsen, to place these two songs back-to-back.
Track six of 11 is another classic rock and roll ballad, “Is This Love.” By the end of 1987, this single landed at No. 17 Billboard Hot 100. This song is the typical rock ballad. Skyes has a dramatic solo stamped right in the middle of the song, while there’s a dramatic chorus about a man who loves a woman. Keyboardist Don Airey has a very recognizable pattern on this song that makes the song immediately recognizable. You can compare these handful of songs to The New York Yankees Murderers’ Row. The Yankees had a great lineup of Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri all as the first six hitters. Whitesnake equally has “Still Of The Night,” “Here I Go Again ‘87,” “Give Me All Your Love” and “Is This Love,” all monstrous rock songs.
Song eight is a more lighthearted tune. The pace on “Straight For The Heart” makes the tune underrated on an album packed with heavy hitters. The rhythm of the song makes it a perfect song to be out on the open road and drive to. The lyrics are repetitive as the band elects to repeat the chorus over and over, just in case the listener forgot the name of the tune.
The last three songs on the album can be considered by some to be “fillers,” but they provide a nice variety to close out the album. “Don’t Turn Away” is another anthem tune. “Don’t Turn Away” bleeds into song 10, “Looking For Love,” which is a six-and-a-half-minute power ballad. “Looking For Love” is heavy when compared to “Is This Love.” The drums are harder and more meaty, with the keyboards not being as prominent. The last tune, “You’re Gonna Break My Heart,” is more guitar-friendly as it showcases Sykes’ amazing ability to shred and craft solos. “You’re Gonna Break My Heart” is a fairly good hard rock song that sets the scene for some of the themes on their next record, Slip Of The Tongue.
Whitesnake was on the brink of extinction before the making of their 1987 record. After completion, the band was propelled to rock star status with multiple songs from this record becoming jukebox and karaoke classics. When it comes to bands from the hard rock scene of the 1980s. Coverdale’s voice has become one of the most distinct in the genre. Whitesnake’s 1987 can safely be considered one of the best classic hair metal records of the decade.
Rating: 8.5/10
Tracklisting:
1. Still Of The Night
2. Give Me All Your Love
3. Bad Boys
4. Is This Love
5. Here I Go Again ’87
6. Straight For The Heart
7. Looking For Love
8. Children Of The Night
9. You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again
10. Crying In The Rain
11. Don’t Turn Away
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. I am always looking for the next concert to attend.