Whitesnake - Trouble

Import only 14-track digitally remastered reissue of their debut album, originally released in 1978. This reissue now features four bonus tracks, 'Come On', 'Bloody Mary', 'Steal Away' & 'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City', all taken from their very rare Snakebite E.P. EMI. 2006. Album Description

Classic Whitesnake - remastered

Like many people, I first discovered Whitesnake in 1987 when they released their smash hit self-titled album. Growing up with that album, as well as the band's 1989 follow-up Slip of the Tongue, make listening to the band's early works a challenge. They're all good albums, but it's just not the Whitesnake I'm used to.

Released in 1978, Trouble is the band's fourth album (I'm counting counting White Snake and Northwinds). The blues and boogie Whitesnake sound on Trouble bears precious little resemblance to the hooks n' hairspray Whitesnake I was introduced to in 1987, but it's still plenty of fun to listen to. I love the hard charging Don't Mess with Me and the bluesy take on the Beatles' Day Tripper best, but the whole album is enjoyable and has something of a Thin Lizzy meets early Kansas vibe.

Trouble (or any other pre-1987 Whitesnake album) isn't for casual Whitesnake fans. If you're a serious fan of Whitesnake and David Coverdale though, it's definitely an album worth owning.

NOTE: There are a few different versions of Trouble available on CD, but the best (by far) is the 2006 reissue, which features digitally remastered sound and four bonus tracks taken from the Snakebite EP. The remastering is first rate, and really breathes new life into this classic album. Unfortunately it is only available for the Japanese market, which means an extraordinarily high price tag for US customers. Hopefully these remasters will receive a proper US (or at least European) release some day soon.
April 12, 2008

WTF??

I think Amazon needs to pay me some dividends!! When this first came out Amazon was listing this for a price of between $35 and $45. I had to go elsewhere to get it for the price it was really worth. Now after paying $25 elsewhere, Amazon lists it for less than $15. What a rip off!! January 24, 2008

Simply the best!

This is my favorite album of Whitesnake of the seventies, Take me with you, Day trippe, this time is right for love.....
This album is like a thin lizzy's style, but only in this album! June 30, 2007

Great Whitesnake Album

TROUBLE is Whitesnake's first great album. It features tough, bluesy hard rock that's sort of like a UK answer to Southern rock- unflinchingly raw and honest, yet melodic. Some songs may be a bit underdone, but Martin Birch was clearly the right man to produce the band, and listening to this CD/cassette, it becomes obvious what was lost when the band became more commercial in the late 80s. June 5, 2007

Definitely not their best

This album showcases the reasons why David Coverdale never made it big in the years between Deep Purple and his Pop Metal days. You have to love the voice (one of the best in hard rock history), you have to hate the cliche blues rock, the uninspired arrangements, and the often stupid lyrics (even though Trouble is still fairly light on the lame macho lyrics that would dominate Whitesnake's following albums).

Trouble contains three good songs: "The Time is Right for Love", "Love to Keep you Warm", and "Take me with you"; the rest is mediocre blues rock that really hasn't aged very well. I'd give Trouble 2 stars on account of those three great songs. With the addition of the four bonus tracks from the great Snakebite album, as is the case on this edition, the rating increases, but given the fact that the Snakebite full album is currently available on Amazon for under $7, while this Trouble CD goes for a whopping $44, I would say it's a no-brainer which of both CD's to buy.

Apart from Trouble, the other early Whitesnake albums that you should cherrypick instead of buy altogether are Lovehunter (only 2 great songs, i.e. Long way from home, and Walking in the shadow of the blues), and Come an' Get it (only 1 great song, i.e. Don't break my heart again). The early Whitesnake albums that do belong in your collection are: the underestimated gem Snakebite, as well as the classic albums (before Whitesnake turned pop) Ready an' Willing, Saints & Sinners and Slide it in. January 23, 2007

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