Rediscovering the Roots of Whitesnake: David Coverdale’s NorthWinds, Whitesnake, Into The Light – All Albums Remixed
As fans of rock history know, David Coverdale’s journey from Deep Purple to forming Whitesnake is legendary. But nestled between those two iconic chapters are two solo albums that played a pivotal role in shaping the sound and identity of what would become Whitesnake. With the release of the new boxed set Into The Light: The Solo Albums, these early works, Whitesnake (1977) and NorthWinds (1978), are getting the spotlight they deserve, alongside Coverdale’s later solo effort, Into the Light (2000).
The Post-Purple Era: Whitesnake and NorthWinds
When David Coverdale left Deep Purple in 1976, he was at a crossroads. Having spent years as the frontman of one of rock’s biggest bands, the question was, what next? The answer came in the form of his solo debut, Whitesnake—a title that would later become synonymous with the band that defined his career.
Whitesnake was a bold step away from the heavy, blues-infused rock of Deep Purple. Instead, Coverdale explored a more soulful and introspective sound, blending rock with blues and even touches of R&B. The album featured tracks like “Lady” and “Blindman,” which hinted at the sound that would later characterize Whitesnake but with a more subdued, reflective tone.
Following Whitesnake, Coverdale released NorthWinds in 1978. This album continued his exploration of varied musical styles, with tracks like “Keep On Giving Me Love” and “Only My Soul” showcasing a more mature and confident songwriter. NorthWinds was where Coverdale began to embrace the fuller, more anthemic sound that would come to define Whitesnake in the years to come.
A New Life Through Remixes
With Into The Light: The Solo Albums, both Whitesnake and NorthWinds have been remixed and remastered, breathing new life into these classic records. Coverdale has used cutting-edge audio technology to revisit these tracks, addressing the “technical issues” that had bothered him for decades. The result is a more dynamic and polished sound that aligns these solo efforts with the Whitesnake catalog.
One of the most exciting aspects of this reissue is the use of advanced AI sound separation software, which has allowed for new arrangements and elements that were previously impossible. On NorthWinds, for example, the track “Time & Again” now features new string and piano arrangements that Coverdale had envisioned since the album’s original recording sessions.
The remixed versions of these albums aren’t just about polishing old tracks—they represent a reimagining of Coverdale’s early solo work, bringing it closer to the sound that would define Whitesnake. As Coverdale himself puts it, “They’re all Whitesnake albums to me…we’ve remixed them to stand proudly alongside any Whitesnake album.”
In addition to the remixed and remastered albums, Into The Light: The Solo Albums also includes previously unreleased demos and tracks from Coverdale’s archives. These tracks provide a fascinating glimpse into Coverdale’s creative process during this formative period.
For instance, the set includes early versions of songs that would later become Whitesnake classics, such as “Lay Your Love On Me” (which evolved into “Lay Down Your Love” on 2008’s Good To Be Bad) and “Crazy ’Bout Cha” (which became “Whipping Boy Blues” on 2011’s Forevermore). There’s even a demo from 1968, recorded when Coverdale was still a teenager, offering a rare look at the artist’s early musical roots.
The boxed set also revisits Into the Light, Coverdale’s 2000 solo album, with a fresh remix that expands the original with additional tracks and outtakes. Featuring contributions from rock luminaries like Earl Slick, Marco Mendoza, and Denny Carmassi, the album is a testament to Coverdale’s enduring talent and versatility.
The remixed Into the Light will also be available as a standalone double vinyl album, presented in a gatefold sleeve—a must-have for vinyl enthusiasts.
For fans of David Coverdale, Into The Light: The Solo Albums is an essential part of the Whitesnake story. These albums represent the bridge between Coverdale’s time with Deep Purple and the formation of Whitesnake, capturing a crucial period of experimentation and growth.
With the remixed and remastered versions of WhiteSnake and NorthWinds, fans can now experience these albums as Coverdale always intended. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to these solo works, this collection offers a deeper understanding of the man behind the music and the origins of one of rock’s most enduring bands.
Into The Light: The Solo Albums is available for pre-order now and will be released on October 25th by Rhino Records.
Into The Light: The Solo Albums
CD Track Listing
Disc One: Into The Light (2024 Remix)
“She Give Me” *
“River Song” *
“Don’t You Cry” *
“Love Is Blind” *
“Slave” *
“Cry For Love” *
“Living On Love” *
“Midnight Blue” *
“Too Many Tears” *
“Don’t Lie To Me” *
“All The Time In The World” *
“Wherever You May Go” *
“Yours For The Asking” *
“Let’s Talk It Over” *
Disc Two: Into The Light (Additional Remixes)
“Love Is Blind” (Band Version) *
“As Long As I Have You” *
“With All Of My Heart” *
“Wherever You May Go” (Strings Version) *
“Love Is Blind” (Strings Version) *
Demos & Unfinished Symphonies
“Lust” *
“Oh No! Not The Blues Again” *
“Into the Light Intro”
“Into The Light” *
“You Make It Hard On Me” *
“Would You Be Happy” *
“Fooling Yourself” *
“Make The Best Of It” *
“Veda of Cassandra Blues” *
“I Can See The Light” *
“Another Fallen Angel” *
“Itchy Finger” *
Original Demos 1997
“Crazy’ Bout Cha” (Original Version of “Whipping Boy Blues”) *
“If You Want Me” *
“Lay Your Love On Me” (Original Version of “Lay Down Your Love”) *
Disc Three: NorthWinds (2024 Remix)
“Keep On Giving Me Love” *
“Sweet Mistreater” *
“NorthWinds” *
“Give Me Kindness” *
“Queen Of Hearts” *
“Only My Soul” *
“Time & Again” (String Version) *
“Say You Love Me” *
“Shame The Devil, Tell The Truth” *
“Breakdown” *
“Time & Again” (Piano Version) *
“Time & Again” (Strings Only) *
Disc Four: WhiteSnake MCMLXXVII (2024 Remix)
“Lady” *
“Blindman” *
“Goldies Place” *
“Time On My Side” *
“Peace Lovin’ Man” *
“Sunny Days” *
“Hole In The Sky” *
“WhiteSnake” *
“Celebration” *
Young Lad’s Blues (1968 Home Demos)
“Sunny Days” (Original) *
“Love Me In The Morning” *
“I Will Love You” *
“Moment In Time” *
“It Would Be Nice” *
“There Was A Time” *
“Why?” *
“I Still Love You” *
Disc Five: Into The Light (Original Mix 2024 Remaster)
“She Give Me”
“River Song”
“Don’t You Cry”
“Love Is Blind”
“Slave”
“Cry for Love”
“Living On Love”
“Midnight Blue”
“Too Many Tears”
“Don’t Lie To Me”
“Wherever You May Go”
Disc Six: WhiteSnake (Original Mix 2024 Remaster)
“Lady”
“Blindman”
“Goldies Place”
“Time On My Side”
“Peace Lovin’ Man”
“Sunny Days”
“Hole In The Sky”
“Celebration”
“WhiteSnake”
NorthWinds (Original Mix 2024 Remaster)
“Keep On Giving Me Love”
“NorthWinds”
“Give Me Kindness”
“Time & Again”
“Queen Of Hearts”
“Only My Soul”
“Say You Love Me”
“Breakdown”
Into The Light (2024 Remix)
2LP Track Listing
LP One: Side One
“She Give Me” *
“River Song” *
“Don’t You Cry” *
“Slave” *
Side Two
“Love Is Blind” *
“Cry For Love” *
“Yours For The Asking” *
“Midnight Blue” *
LP Two: Side One
“Too Many Tears” *
“Don’t Lie To Me” *
“All The Time In The World” *
“Wherever You May Go” *
Side Two
“Living On Love” *
“With All Of My Heart” *
“Let’s Talk It Over” *
* Previously Unreleased
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine