Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Whitesnake - Here I Go Again

Here I go again, no pun intended. You can't mention hard rock bands from 1987 without including Whitesnake. We know that David Coverdale goes back to the 1970s during the Deep Purple Days; however it was Whitesnake's huge album in 1987 that put them on the 80s classic rock map. With hits like "Still of the Night", "Is This Love", and "Here I Go Again" that attracted the big audiences fueled by the music videos featuring the HOT Tawny Kitaen.  I remember watching Whitesnake music videos on MTV in Deniz' apartment in Miami Springs with friends. But I first saw Tawny in Tom Hank's classic movie - comedy "Bachelor Party".  The 1987 album was the only Whitesnake album I ever purchased. The following year when I dated my wife; I played her the Whitesnake cassette and she loved the group.

Below are three music videos. Of course the first two are the famed original videos "Here I Go Again" and "Is This Love". I also included from WhiteSnake's "Slide It In" album in 1984 the song "Slow An' Easy", which shows a little more of the hard rock side of Whitesnake. There is also a list of all the tracks from the Whitesnake album in 1987 that sold millions of copies and hit number 1 on the Billboard top 200. I found a very good bio of Whitesnake at 100XR Rock Web Station, which you can read below. Enjoy the trip to the past with Whitesnake. - Kenny Leibow


Whitesnake - Here I Go Again




Whitesnake - Is This Love

Whitesnake - Is This Love by jpdc11


Whitesnake - Slow An' Easy





















Track listing

All songs written by David Coverdale and John Sykes except where noted.

North American version
1.  Crying in the Rain
2.  Bad Boys
3.  Still of the Night
4.  Here I Go Again
5.  Give Me All Your Love
6.  Is This Love
7.  Children of the Night
8.  Straight for the Heart
9.  Don't Turn Away




BIOGRAPHY

Formed in 1977 in North Yorkshire, ENGLAND and steered by the legendary ex-Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale, Whitesnake carry a rightful reputation as one of the world's leading Hard-Rock bands. During the early years, a remarkably diverse array of musicians, among them Roger Glover, Tim Hinkley, Simon Phillips, Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray, joined Coverdale on his new venture.
The group began touring throughout Europe and Japan and eventually Coverdale teamed-up with guitarists Mick Moody and Bernie Marsden, keyboardist Peter Solley, bassist Neil Murray and drummer David Dowell to record 1978's "Snakebite".


Over the next two years the group released two albums, "Trouble" and "Lovehunter"; both the LPs, recorded with Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord, were mid-chart success in Britain.


In the spring of 1980 arrived "Ready An' Willing" which marked the recording debut of another Deep Purple founding member, drummer Ian Paice. The album quickly bulleted into the top 10 in U.K. and peaked at #90 on The Billboard 200; opener "Fool For Your Lovin'" was their first U.K. top 20 hit single; with its clever combination of hit-savvy chorus and authentic bluesy resignation; the single also entered The Billboard Hot 100 in U.S. where it leapt to #53.


One year later, the band's fourth offering, "Come An' Get It", shot up to #2 on the U.K. Albums chart spawning two bluesy rockers top 20 hits "Don't Break My Heart Again" and "Would I Lie To You". Staside, the album failed to rise above #151 on the Billboard's Top 200 LPs & Tapes chart.


"Saints & Sinners" followed in late 1982, it climbed into the U.K. top 10 and produced the top 40 hit "Here I Go Again"; most Americans only came to know this song five years later as the group's fifth album was largely ignored in the States.


Whitesnake returned in 1984 with the new line-up that included Coverdale, Lord, Moody and the newcomers guitarist Mel Galley, bass player Colin Hodgkinson and drummer Cozy Powell. The sextet released "Slide It In" which cracked The Billboard 200 chart at #42 and subsequently went platinum on the back of the Mainstream Rock top 40 hits "Love Ain't No Stranger" and "Slow An' Easy". "Slide It In" took Coverdale and company to #1 on the British Albums chart for the first time; the disc included two U.K. sizeable hit singles "Guilty Of Love" and "Give Me More Time".
On a quirky historical note, Coverdale fired most of the band soon after the album's release, replacing them with younger, prettier faces with which to better conquer America; there were several personnel changes and finally he enlisted guitarists Adrian Vandenberg and Vivian Campbell, bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Tommy Aldridge.
In April 1987 Whitesnake released an explosive eponymous album, which rocketed to #2 on The Billboard Top 200, to #5 on the Top Canadian Albums chart, to #8 in U.K. selling over six million copies; it generated two British top 10 hit singles: the quiet ballad "Is This Love" and the remix version of "Here I Go Again", both these singles stormed The Billboard Hot 100 peaking at the #2 and #1 spots, respectively; two more singles appeared in the top 30 of The Mainstream Rock chart: "Still Of The Night" and the re-recorded version of "Give Me All Your Love".


Once again Coverdale changed the line-up and issued "Slip Of The Tongue" in February of 1989; the album crashed into the top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 chart and eventually was certified platinum for sales of one million copies. The new version of "Fool For Your Loving" soared to #2 on The Mainstream Rock Tracks and was followed by "The Deeper The Love", #4 and "Now You're Gone", #15, on that same chart.


In early 1991, David Coverdale disbanded Whitesnake “indefinitely” only to be re-born in 1993 with the release of the platinum selling album "Coverdale Page", recorded in collaboration with former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.


After full nine years Coverdale resurrected the Whitesnake name and recorded "Restless Heart" with Adrian Vandenberg on guitar, Brett Tuggle on keyboards, Guy Pratt on bass and Denny Carmassi on drums. The album, credited to David Coverdale & Whitesnake, was released only in Europe to relatively little attention.


April 2008 saw Whitesnake return with "Good To Be Bad", their tenth studio album and first in over a decade. This time the line-up included Coverdale, obviously, on vocals, guitarists Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach, keyboardist Timothy Drury, bass player Uriah Duffy and drummer Chris Frazier. The disc debuted at #62 on The Billboard 200, hit #23 on the Top Canadian Albums charts and also made it into the top 5 in Great Britain.


Whitesnake's new album "Forevermore" is scheduled to be released at the end of March 2011 by Frontiers Records. It includes the single "Love Will Set You Free".



Sunday, June 26, 2011

Home Brew Guitar Jams - Willie Vega

I met Willie Vega back in 1987 in Miami Springs. Willie and Deniz were good friends, which is how I was introduced. Deniz recorded one of his first tracks back in 1986 with Willie playing guitar. The song is called Tall Tales; you can listen on the original songs list in the music player on this blog. Willie now lives in New York City. We have connected again through social media. A lot of soul bleeds out when Willie Vega plays guitar. Check out his YouTube channel with videos of Willie Vega playing guitar at http://www.youtube.com/user/willievega.  I have embedded some of his latest videos and quotes below. Yes, I have to mention that Willie Vega is a huge guitar Gear-Head! For you gear-heads out there, make sure you also visit www.ThatGuitarShow.tv.

Good friend and good times! - Kenny Leibow



 Tweak Fuzz and Modtone Wah

"I did this video for my brother Rob 'Mr. Scumbag', cause he really digs this style.
The Tweak Fuzz is a Wah friendly pedal (not all fuzzes are).
Since I used a Seymour Duncan, Tweak Fuzz and a Modtone Wah, I am calling it a demo."





HBE (Home Brew Electronic) Power Screamer Blues


"Shot this little improv with no preparation. I'm a rambunctious bastard!"



Collage of Gear demos

Monday, June 6, 2011

Greatest Rock Keyboard Players - Pianists


Rock keyboard players in bands don't get as much recognition for songwriting and performing as lead singers and guitar players do. Below is the complete list of the 100 Greatest Rock Keyboard players. Before you freak out about missing names; there is also a list below of the Greatest Rock Pianists. This list comes from the site, of which I have reposted other lists from before, www.digitaldreamdoor.com.  Where is Foreigner? Foreigner has specialized in Synthesisers; and this is one of the reasons the band broke up in the late 1980s because of disagreements between Mick Jones and Lou Grahm regarding synthesisers verses a heavy rock guitar style. I didn't see any of the keyboard players from Foreigner like Ian McDonald or Mick Jones listed. Also, I believe David Bryan from Bon Jovi is underrated, but he at least received an honorable mention on the list below. My number one vote for greatest rock keyboardist is Jonathan Cain from Journey.  I will not disclose my vote for greatest pianists because I am sure that there are more deep heated debates over that list. Please comment who you would vote for as the Greatest Rock Keyboardist and Pianist. - Kenny Leibow

Greatest Rock Keyboard Players
1. Keith Emerson (ELP)
2. Rick Wakeman (Yes)
3. Jon Lord (Deep Purple)
4. Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
5. Richard Wright (Pink Floyd)
6. Tony Banks (Genesis)
7. Billy Preston
8. Rod Argent (Zombies, Argent)
9. Steve Winwood (Traffic)
10. Al Kooper (Blood Sweat & Tears)
11. Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum, Solo)
12. Booker T. Jones
13. Ian Underwood (The Mothers Of Invention)
14. Gregg Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
15. Tony Hymas (Jeff Beck)
16. Jan Hammer
17. Nicky Hopkins (Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck)
18. Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey)
19. Brian Eno
20. Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater, The Dregs)
21. Richard Tandy (ELO)
22. Dennis De Young (Styx)
23. Jens Johansen (Yngwie Malmsteen)
24. Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
25. Kevin Moore (Dream Theater)
26. T. Lavitz (The Dregs)
27. Don Airey (Rainbow, Ozzy, Deep Purple)
28. Garth Hudson (The Band)
29. David Sancious (Springsteen, Santana, Sting)
30. Ian Mclagan (Rolling Stones, Faces)
31. George Duke (Frank Zappa/Solo)
32. Allan Zavod (Frank Zappa)
33. Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello)
34. Max Middleton (Jeff Beck)
35. Billy Powell (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
36. Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater)
37. Jimmy Greenspoon (Three Dog Night)
38. Jon Carin (Pink Floyd, Roger Waters)
39. Tony MacAlpine
40. Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep)
41. Benmont Tench (The Heartbreakers)
42. Isaac Hayes
43. Stevie Wonder
44. Amos Milburn
45. Jonathan Cain (Journey, Solo)
46. Geoff Downes (Yes, Asia)
47. Allen Ravenstine (Pere Ubu)
48. Roy Bittan (E Street Band)
49. Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues, Yes, Solo)
50. Matt Bellamy (Muse)
51. Alan Price (The Animals)
52. Leon Russell
53. Michael Mcdonald (Doobie Borothers)
54. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
55. Bob Mayo (Frampton)
56. Mike Pinder (Moody Blues)
57. Tony Kaye (Yes)
58. Bill Payne (Little Feat)
59. Richard Tee (Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, James Brown)
60. Claudio Simonetti (Goblin)
61. Bernie Worrell (Talking Heads, Funkadelic)
62. David Rosenthal (Rainbow)
63. Roddy Bottum (Faith No More)
64. Robert Lamm (Chicago)
65. Michael Pinella (Symphony X)
66. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (Grateful Dead)
67. Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones)
68. Michael Brown (Left Banke, Stories, Montage)
69. Peter Bardens
70. Jools Holland (Squeeze)
71. Bobby Whitlock (Derek & The Dominos)
72. Mike Ratledge (Soft Machine)
73. Neal Doughty (REO Speedwagon)
74. Mike Garson (David Bowie)
75. Larry Knechtel (Bread, Smith)
76. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
77. Burton Cummings (Guess Who)
78. Gary Wright
79. Lee Michaels
80. Jeff Chimenti (Rat Dog, The Dead)
81. John Evan (Jethro Tull)
82. Chris Stainton (Joe Cocker's Grease Band)
83. Dick Sims (Eric Clapton, Bob Seger)
84. Rick Davies (Supertramp)
85. Paul "Wix" Wickens (Paul McCartney)
86. Roger Powell (Todd Rundgren, David Bowie)
87. Mark Mancina (Yes)
88. Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge)
89. Felix Cavaliere (Rascals)
90. Page McConnell (Phish)
91. Edgar Winter
92. Art Neville
93. Vincent Crane (Arthur Brown)
94. Roger O'Donnell (The Cure)
95. Mark Kelly (Marillion)
96. Eric Drew Feldman (Captain Beefheart)
97. Janne Warman (Children of Bodom, Warmen)
98. Goldy McJohn (Steppenwolf)
99. Kerry Minnear (Gentle Giant)
100. Manfred Mann



Doug Ingle (Iron Butterfly)
Geddy Lee (Rush)
Howard Jones
David Greenfield (The Stranglers)
John "Rabbit" Bundrick (The Who)
Tony Carey (Rainbow)
Steve Walsh (Kansas)
Brent Mydland (Grateful Dead)
Barry Goldberg (Electric Flag)
Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
Stephen Stills
Eddie Jobson (UK, Roxy Music)
Greg Hawkes (Cars)
Reese Wynans (Double Trouble)
Gene Taylor (Fabulous Thunderbirds)
Pete Townshend (The Who)
Eddie Van Halen
John "Jojo" Herman (Widespread Panic)
Keith Tippett (King Crimson)
David Bryan (Bon Jovi)
Andrew Fletcher (Depeche Mode)
Moby
John Herndon (Tortoise)
Alan Fitzgerald (Night Ranger)
Simon House (Hawkwind)
Alan Pasqua (sessions-Damn Yankees)



1. Jerry Lee Lewis
2. Professor Longhair
3. Ray Charles
4. Elton John
5. Billy Joel
6. Little Richard
7. Fats Domino
8. Randy Newman
9. Keith Emerson
10. Rick Wakeman
11. Dr. John
12. Huey "Piano" Smith
13. Tony Banks (Genesis, Solo)
14. Leon Russell
15. Bruce Hornsby
16. Ian McLagan (Small Faces)
17. Stevie Wonder
18. Nicky Hopkins (Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck)
19. Esquerita
20. Ben Folds
21. Gary Brooker (Procol Harum)
22. Ian Stewart (Rolling Stones)
23. Spooner Oldham
24. Roy Bittan (E-Street Band)
25. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
26. Carole King
27. Joe Jackson
28. Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello)
29. Paul McCartney
30. Laura Nyro
31. Neil Sedaka
32. Tori Amos
33. Jack Nitzsche
34. Alan Price (The Animals)
35. David Sancious (Springsteen, Santana, Sting)
36. Jools Holland (Squeeze)
37. David Foster
38. Larry Knechte (Bread, Smith)
39. John Cale (The Velvet Underground)
40. Warren Zevon
41. Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople)
42. Paul Carrack (Squeeze)
43. Jim Dickinson
44. Tom Waits
45. Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
46. Carly Simon
47. John Legend
48. Mark "Moogy" Klingman (Utopia)
49. Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
50. Van Dyke Parks
51. Chris Martin (Coldplay)
52. Pete Wingfield (The Olympic Runners)
53. Matt Rollings
54. John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting)
55. Russ Conway
56. Tim Rice-Oxley (Keane)
57. Sarah McLachlan
58. Dan Fogelberg
59. Ed Harcourt
60. Sheldon Miller (This Is Me Smiling)
61. Delta Goodrem
62. Alicia Keys
63. Brenda Russell
64. Rufus Wainwright