Whitesnake
Greatest Hits

THE REVIEW

Buying a "Best Of" or "Greatest Hits" is never a mistake: a collection can be useful for someone who doesn't know the artist, to get an idea, or even for the fan searching for a compilation that includes their idols' greatest hits or most beautiful songs. This one from Whitesnake, released in 1994, after Coverdale and company's twenty-year career, not only includes the best tracks from the early period, but also new and reinterpreted versions in a different key.

Most of the songs come from "Whitesnake 1987," the most successful album, but other respectable tracks make their way and complete this excellently executed work. Born in the late '70s, the era of Punk in England, they had little success at first, making the leader think, "Someone definitely made a mistake." But it wasn't him who was mistaken, as with the help of the American audience he gained the fame he hoped for. Not everyone achieves this, especially those who risk carrying the uncomfortable label of being a former singer of Deep Purple.

Only "Still Of The Night" could open the LP best, followed by a radio version of "Here I Go Again," very pleasant indeed, although true fans will prefer the old version. We continue with "Is This Love", "Love Ain't No Stranger" and the wonderful "Looking For Love", also in an unpublished version, with a wonderful final guitar solo by John Skyes, ad libitum. "Now You're Gone" seems like an anthem to love, and you can feel the presence of Steve Vai, but the lively "Slide It In" arrives, followed by "Slow An' Easy", perfect Coverdale style. Another unpublished version for "You're Gonna Break My Heart Again", while "The Deeper The Love" is confirmed as a historic track, though perhaps a bit too commercial, but we all remember that among Coverdale's best will always remain "Soldier Of Fortune", and that's part of his style. "Crying In the Rain" closes the cycle of songs taken from the first album, another confirmed classic, to once again hear Vai dominate in "Fool For Your Loving", a song with love as the subject but seen from a different perspective compared to the lyrics of the other tracks, and it's the piece that made the white snake successful at home.

What else is there to say, Whitesnake consolidate their success with this collection, and remain the best in their genre. I conclude by quoting Sal Manna's words: from "Love Ain't No Stranger" to "Is This Love" to "Fool For Your Loving", Whitesnake sang the songs of romantic Hard Rock, and they are among the best hits of the decade.