Whitesnake

HISTORY
READY AN' WILLING
Ready An’ Willing was the album that solidified DC’s early vision and firmly established the band as a serious force. Recording started in late 1979 at Ridge Farm Studio, with Whitesnake having just performed an electrifying tour in support of the Lovehunter album. With former Deep Purple man Ian Paice replacing the more jazz-influenced David Dowle on drums, the future looked brighter than ever. The album was finished in around March, 1980, and the band embarked on a Japanese tour. It was while they were there that the Fool For Your Loving three track single was released in the UK prior to the album itself. When the band returned from Japan the single was just outside the top ten and the video had even made Top Of The Pops. The band had finally started to get more coverage in the press.

When the album was released it was apparent that the band had recorded their most convincing album so far. From the stomping opener that is Fool For Your Loving (written for BB King) we are taken on Mr. Snake’s wild ride with some excellent tracks. Highlights come in the shape of........the whole record!

This was Ian Paice’s first Whitesnake album and the difference his drumming made was obvious for all to hear! The tracks absolutely sparkle in the rhythm department due to Paice’s more rock n’ roll approach as opposed to David Dowle’s more jazzy influences. Neil Murray’s obvious delight in playing alongside him (check out Fool For Your Loving) further enhanced the new confident sound. DC was singing better than ever before and the Marsden/Moody guitar assault never sounded better than this - Marsden in particular playing some excellent leads. Highlights for me are Fool For Your Loving with its irresistible rock n’ roll riff, the sleazy title track, the rocking She’s A Woman (with DC showing the roots of his 1987 vocal style) and the majestic DC & Moody co-write Ain’t Gonna Cry No More.

The lyrics and unmistakable DC croon on Ain't Gonna Cry No More make it, in my opinion, one of the best pre-Slide It In tracks. Also worth noting is the reworked version of Blindman(no, Here I Go Again wasn’t the first track to be revamped) although it loses some of the haunting qualities of the original (check out the Whitesnake solo album). All in all this could easily be the best pre-Slide It In album so if you’re going to check out some earlier stuff then this is the best place to start. Even the somewhat dull Martin Birch production couldn't spoil such a fine set of songs and performances.

The album went gold in the UK and in August the band headlined the Reading festival.

Track Listing
1. Fool for Your Loving (Coverdale/Marsden/Moody)
2. Sweet Talker (Coverdale/Marsden)
3. Ready an' Willing (Coverdale/Lord/Moody/Murray/Paice)
4. Carry Your Load (Coverdale)
5. Blindman (Coverdale)
6. Ain't Gonna Cry No More (Coverdale/Moody)
7. Love Man (Coverdale)
8. Black and Blue (Coverdale/Moody)
9. She's a Woman (Coverdale/Marsden)

Extra Tracks (remastered version)
10. Mean Business (Whitesnake)
11. Night Hawk (Vampire Blues) (Coverdale/Marsden)
12. Don't Mess with Me (Whitesnake)
13. We Wish You Well (Coverdale)

Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Martin 'Basher' Birch

Musicians
David Coverdale - vocals
Bernie Marsden - guitar/vocals
Micky Moody - slide guitar/guitar/vocals
Neil Murray - bass
John Lord - keyboards
Ian Paice - drums

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This article was written by Phillip Hackney.