WHITESNAKE – Lovehunter [Japan Ltd. SHM-CD remastered MiniLP +4] *HQ*

As requested, here’s the only version on SHM-CD / cardboard sleeve LP-replica of WHITESNAKE second LP 1979’s “Lovehunter“, remastered plus 4 bonus tracks. In our humble opinion, this is the best digital version of this album you can get in terms of sound fidelity. Of course, nothing beats the original vinyl pressings.
Released in October ’79, ”Lovehunter” became the band’s first Top 30 album in the UK. Due its provocative cover art, it was banned in various countries, including America. Coverdale had already inflamed the wrath of the so-called PC brigade with the previous album’s love- ’em-and-leave-’em lyrics, but ”Lovehunter” – with a front-cover image of the rear view of a naked woman straddling the coils of a giant serpent – was about as subtle as a flying mallet.
The image was drawn by the noted fantasy artist Chris Achilleos, and it’s simply on of the best rock album covers of all time. Musically? ”Lovehunter” represented a massive step up from Whitesnake debut album. There are some essential and classic Whitesnake songs on this album (“Long Way From Home”, “Lovehunter” and “Help Me Thro’ the Day”).

But the star here is “Walking in the Shadow of the Blues”, which presented a textbook fusion of blues, hard rock and melody, and it’s simple one of the best Whitesnake songs ever. It would become a pivotal early Whitesnake song and a stage favorite for many years to come.
Enhancing its overall charm, the album ends with a short yet poignant sign-off, ”We Wish You Well”, which to this day still sends concertgoers home with the audio equivalent of a warm, manly hug.

In the months leading up to the release of ”Lovehunter”, Whitesnake had been one of the bands of the weekend at 1979’s Reading Festival. “We went down an absolute storm, and that made a big difference,” Bernie Marsden recalled fondly. “We sold a lot of records when it came out. Ian Paice was yet to come, but Jon Lord had already joined and it made us think: ‘Maybe we’re a bigger band than we thought.’”

Calling once again on producer Martin Birch, who had established his credentials on Purple’s classic efforts and would later keep up the good work with Black Sabbath’s Ronnie James Dio-era albums and Iron Maiden, Coverdale and band knocked out a career-defining signature anthem named “Walking in the Shadow of the Blues.”
They surrounded it with racy hard rockers like “You ’n’ Me,” “Mean Business” and “Rock ’n’ Roll Women,” and finally cracked the U.K. singles chart with “Long Way From Home.”

All in all, Whitesnake was pretty much finally and truly gelling as a band, and the proof was there for all to see — particularly in the stunning title track’s generous showcase of Moody’s slide guitar technique, as well as Coverdale’s willingness to share lead vocals with Marsden on “Outlaw.”
By the time ”Lovehunter” bid adieu to listeners with the placid piano ballad, “We Wish You Well,” there was no doubt more and bigger things lay just ahead for the band and their growing legion of fans.

And then there’s the unforgettable ”Lovehunter” cover art – which, needless to say, scandalized some delicate sensibilities (especially among women’s groups), but also appealed to the band’s core. The man responsible for it, fantasy artist Chris Achilleos, had made his name working for sci-fi magazines like the prestigious Heavy Metal. His striking work on behalf of Whitesnake would become inextricably intertwined with one of the finest heavy blues-rock albums of the late ‘70s, and another cobblestone path on the band’s road to stardom.
Highly Recommended

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【ＬＴＤ ＳＨＭ－ＣＤ】 『 ＣＡＲＤＢＯＡＲＤ ＳＬＥＥＶＥ 』
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01 – Long Way From Home
02 – Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues
03 – Help Me Thro’ The Day
04 – Medicine Man
05 – You ‘n’ Me
06 – Mean Business
07 – Love Hunter
08 – Outlaw
09 – Rock ‘n’ Roll Women
10 – We Wish You Well
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Belgian Tom’s Hat Trick [BBC Radio 1 sessions]
12 – Love To Keep You Warm [BBC Radio 1 sessions]
13 – Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City [BBC Radio 1 sessions]
14 – Trouble [BBC Radio 1 sessions]

David Coverdale – lead vocals (all but track 8), backing vocals
Micky Moody – guitars, backing vocals
Bernie Marsden – guitars, backing vocals, co-lead on 1, lead on 8
Neil Murray – bass
Dave Dowle – drums
Jon Lord – keyboards

out of print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-93738