Forget the legions of collectors furiously bidding on mint-condition copies and the endless debates over its legacy. Let's talk about the raw, unadulterated power of Whitesnake's 1987 self-titled album—the one that catapulted them to the top of the hair metal heap and made David Coverdale a household name.
This wasn't the bluesy, hard-rockin' Whitesnake of old, mind you. This was a full-on, no-holds-barred assault on the senses, a glorious celebration of big hair, tight jeans, and even tighter guitar riffs. And while some critics dismissed it as calculated commercialism, the truth is, it was a damn fine rock 'n' roll record, one that perfectly captured the spirit of the times.
Let's set the scene. It's the late 80s, and hair metal is king. Bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Bon Jovi are ruling the charts, and MTV is their kingdom. Whitesnake, with their roots in the 70s British blues-rock scene, had always been a bit of an outlier, but Coverdale, ever the shrewd operator, sensed a change in the wind.
He assembled a new lineup of young, hungry musicians, including the virtuosic guitarist John Sykes and the flamboyant bassist Rudy Sarzo, and set about crafting an album that would take the world by storm. The result was a slick, polished, and undeniably catchy collection of songs that pushed the boundaries of what Whitesnake had done before.
Recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, with the legendary producer Mike Stone at the helm, the album was a masterclass in hair metal excess. From the opening chords of "Crying in the Rain" to the soaring vocals of "Is This Love," it was a non-stop barrage of hooks, harmonies, and power ballads.
Of course, it wasn't without its controversies. Some fans of the old Whitesnake cried foul, accusing Coverdale of selling out. And the video for "Here I Go Again," featuring Coverdale's then-girlfriend Tawny Kitaen writhing on the hood of a Jaguar, certainly raised a few eyebrows. But controversy, as they say, sells, and the album went on to become a multi-platinum smash, spawning a string of hit singles and cementing Whitesnake's place in rock 'n' roll history.
Sure, it might not be the most groundbreaking or innovative album ever made, but that's not the point. It's a snapshot of a particular time and place, a reminder of an era when rock 'n' roll was all about having a good time, looking good, and sounding even better. And in that regard, Whitesnake's self-titled album is a masterpiece.
So crank up the volume, let your hair down, and lose yourself in the glorious, over-the-top, unapologetically fun world of 80s hair metal. You won't regret it.
