MONSTERS OF ROCK SPECIAL

Praise be to the gods rock and roll, that my rehab resulted in a 6.50 arrival at the shitehole that is the Glasgow SECC. For who had just hit the stage but Y&T. I last saw them in 1983, a mere 20 years hence, and was stunned by the magnificence of a rock band playing for the love of music. With three original members in the band (was Dave Meniketti having a dig), they powered through an exemplary 40 minute opening slot, reminding me of why I loved rock music in the first place. Musicians playing music they love, with people they like and respect. Highlights included "Forever", "I Believe In You", the nasty "Dirty Girl", even the pop of "Summertime Girls" (and a vivid memory of the video), Y&T were stunning and nearly worth the overpriced admission by themselves. Now where's my Friday Rock show tape?

Gary Moore. Not a favoured artiste of years gone by. A competent sideman, unengaging frontman. I do recall one good show when Ian Paice and Neil Murray were in the band, with Nibs Carter and John Sloman, which sparked to life when Sloman was allowed to leave his Casio keyboard and unleash his classic rock vox on the likes of "Nuclear Attack". I also remember a sunstroked, acid fried mate of mine forcing himself to stay conscious until he heard the opening bars of "Empty Rooms" at MIlton Keynes Bowl before passing out muttering how much he hated that tune. So had the years been kind to Mr Moore. No. If anything his lamentale yowl of a singing voice had got worse.

A pub band opening of "Shapes Of Things" and "Wishing Well", prior to a new song called "Rectify", which actually had an excelent riff and a spark of life, albeit it a regurgitated Frank Marino riff. But then came the power ballad with its execrable solo, the mauling of a couple of Phil Lynott / Thin Lizzy classics in the shape of "Don't Believe A Word" and "Out In The Fields" before the inevitable, excruciating "Parisienne Walkways". This was being taped for a live album. Please let me never hear it. As it is I anticipate nightmares for quite some time to come.

Then it was time for Mr Coverdale and his latest assembly line product. Would he put the rancid memory of 1994 to rest? Would his latest hired hands have any feel for the music? Things didn't start well with the dreadful "Bad Boys" and "Slide It In" combo highlighting two of the lesser moments in his canon. Highlights included a powerful "Slow An Easy" and an emotive "Love AIn't No Stranger". It was good to hear "Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues" one more time, and "Ain't No Love.." always brings back memories of happier times.

Unfortunately, the latest batch of automaton guitarists yet again remained immune to the warmth and depth that some of the material deserves. Screeching metal guitar solos from Beach and Aldrich, quite possibly the worst solo spot I've ever heard courtey of Reb Beach (unless he was being ironic), the dreaded return of the drum solo. Dear god the pain. Pluses. Sir David was in fine fettle, seemed to be having a great time, and when he dumped the band for a solo rendition of "Blindman", made the pain go away.

As Lord D of C is the sole proprietor of Whitesnake Inc, he has to take the lions share of blame. With his voice having dropped in register over the years, you would think he wouldn't want to have to shriek over an unsympathetic backing. Bearing in mind that I started complaining in 1984 that they weren't as good as they used to be, Mr C did lay some of the ghosts of 94 to rest. He looked good, danced like a big tart, and brought back some life to the tarnished name of Whitesnake. Overall, a good, not great show, but the final score remains Yesterday & Today 1 - The Rest Of The World 0.

WHITESNAKE / DAVID COVERDALE / COVERDALE.PAGE - The Silver Anniversary Collection

In one word, yes!

After my gripes about the shoddily packaged, yet TV advertised "Best Of", and the exemplary packaged yet hair metalled US Collection, here's the third compilation to cross my path in as many weeks. And this is the one. 36 tracks across 2 CDs, culled from every area of Sir Davids post Purple patch. Nearly. There's nowt from his first 2 solo albums, and whilst "Whitesnake" was patchy at best, "Northwinds" remains an all time classic. However, let's concentrate on what's here.

If, as the sleeve says, Mr C personally selected these tracks, then it's nice to see I'm not the only one fond of the mellower, jazzier early numbers such as "The Time Is Right For Love" and "Love To Keep You Warm". In fact the run of "Blindman", "Love To..", "Love Is Blind" and "Ain't Gonna Cry No More" on CD2 is the closest thing to to aural sex imaginable. Simply awesome.

There's even room for a couple of "Live At Hammersmith" numbers, but sadly it's the studio "Ain't No Love" that's include again. However, we do get a couple of live tracks from the 1997 Starkers show to tease us in the shape of "Sailing Ships" and "Soldier Of Fortune". Nice.

Apparently, the material has been digitally remastered, but frankly I couldn't tell the difference. Strangely enough, despite the space available on 2CDs, Lord C manages to exclude the two opening numbers from the current set list. And if this collection are his favourites, why we would he do such a thing. The hair tracks which are here actually sound better in the broader context of 25 years of Whitesnake, and don't jar even when in the vicinity of out and out classics such as "Till The Day I Die", which I am so glad to see here. The Jimmy Page tracks still sound a bit forced 10 years on, and I'm glad that Mr C saved up the intended 2nd album tracks for "Into The Light" which dammit, you have to own. How many times will I tell people that it's the crowning glory of a long career. Well, there's 4 tracks here to try and persuade you.

Minor gripes. No musician credits. Again. Come on Covvy, let bygones be bygones. No rare material. Which is annoying. A couple of tracks from the projected 87 live album wouldn't have gone amiss, and there must be soundboard recordings of the UK band laying around. Hell, I could have provided some.

There' s a nine page potted history, nothing new, but at least Mick Wall manages to restrain himself from his normal writing style and presents the facts as is. Even His Majesty finally concedes that the early line up had it's moments. Talking about "Fool For Your Loving" he concedes that "I feel the original has significantly more integrity than the altter version", hence the inclusion of the original here. Maybe it's time to bury the hatchet.

This release is a rarity, a collection that actually lives up to its billing. Everyone will find faults. I would have happily junked "Judgement Day", "Is This Love" and "Guilty Of Love", bunged in a track of "Northwinds", possibly another off the under represented "Lovehunter" and then squeezed in the live version of "Ain't No Love..". But this puts a lot of collections to shame. If only I'd hadn't got that infernal "Best Of":-)