Snakebite (album)
Encyclopedia
Snakebite is an Extended Play
and the first official release by Whitesnake
in June of 1978. This EP unto itself would not be released in the U.S. The EP initially featured four tracks but was then re-released in September of 1978 as a Double Extended Play containing four extra studio tracks from David Coverdale's second solo LP Northwinds
all under the title Snakebite. This Double Extended Play would often be perceived as an LP but this was because there was no explanation of it being otherwise to those who did not know the history of Whitesnake's catalog worldwide until the age of the internet. The original UK EP sleeve is entitled David Coverdale's Whitesnake and features photographs of the live band in concert. All tracks from this EP also were used as bonus tracks on the 2006 remaster of Whitesnake's debut studio album Trouble
.
, Coverdale found his new band was already producing and testing new material. Thus they returned to the studio to capture this new found energy.
The resulting mini-album (Snakebite EP) features the cover song "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City
", originally performed by Bobby Bland
. Although it is now considered a classic Whitesnake song, according to Coverdale it wasn't planned that way: "Originally I had no plans to actually record ‘Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City’…if you can you believe it…a song that connects so deeply with so many that I still play it today, 25 years later."
Some of the songs from this album would be captured later in 1978 and released on the 1980 Live...In the Heart of the City
live album.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and the first official release by Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
in June of 1978. This EP unto itself would not be released in the U.S. The EP initially featured four tracks but was then re-released in September of 1978 as a Double Extended Play containing four extra studio tracks from David Coverdale's second solo LP Northwinds
Northwinds
Northwinds is the title of the second solo album by David Coverdale, released in early 1978. The original release contained eight tracks, with two more tracks added on recent reissues...
all under the title Snakebite. This Double Extended Play would often be perceived as an LP but this was because there was no explanation of it being otherwise to those who did not know the history of Whitesnake's catalog worldwide until the age of the internet. The original UK EP sleeve is entitled David Coverdale's Whitesnake and features photographs of the live band in concert. All tracks from this EP also were used as bonus tracks on the 2006 remaster of Whitesnake's debut studio album Trouble
Trouble (Whitesnake album)
Trouble is the first studio album from British rock band Whitesnake, led by former Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale. It reached #50 on the U.K. Chart when it was released in October 1978...
.
Background and writing
Shortly after producing and then touring NorthwindsNorthwinds
Northwinds is the title of the second solo album by David Coverdale, released in early 1978. The original release contained eight tracks, with two more tracks added on recent reissues...
, Coverdale found his new band was already producing and testing new material. Thus they returned to the studio to capture this new found energy.
The resulting mini-album (Snakebite EP) features the cover song "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City
Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City
"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" is a 1974 R&B song written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh and first recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland for the ABC Dunhill album Dreamer. While Bland scored a minor hit with the song, landing in the top ten of the R&B charts, it is perhaps best known through...
", originally performed by Bobby Bland
Bobby Bland
Robert Calvin Bland better known as Bobby "Blue" Bland, is an American singer of blues and soul. He is an original member of the Beale Streeters, and is sometimes referred to as the "Lion of the Blues"...
. Although it is now considered a classic Whitesnake song, according to Coverdale it wasn't planned that way: "Originally I had no plans to actually record ‘Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City’…if you can you believe it…a song that connects so deeply with so many that I still play it today, 25 years later."
Some of the songs from this album would be captured later in 1978 and released on the 1980 Live...In the Heart of the City
Live...In the Heart of the City
Live...in the Heart Of The City is a 1980 live album by Whitesnake. Originally released as a double-vinyl album, and double-play cassette, it utilises recordings made in 1978 and 1980...
live album.
Track listing
- "Come On" (David CoverdaleDavid CoverdaleDavid 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
, Bernie MarsdenBernie Marsden-External links:*...
) – 3:31 - "Bloody Mary" (Coverdale) – 3:18
- "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the CityAin't No Love in the Heart of the City"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" is a 1974 R&B song written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh and first recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland for the ABC Dunhill album Dreamer. While Bland scored a minor hit with the song, landing in the top ten of the R&B charts, it is perhaps best known through...
" (Michael PriceMichael PriceMichael F. Price is a value investor and fund manager in Far Hills, New Jersey.-Career:He began his career in 1973 when he joined Max Heine at Mutual Series. In 1982, he became a full partner and when Heine died in 1988, became the president and chairman. In 1996, Mutual Series was merged into...
, Dan WalshDan WalshDan Walsh is a painter based in New York.He studied at the Philadelphia College of Art in Pennsylvania and Hunter College in New York....
) – 5:07 - "Steal Away" (Coverdale, Micky MoodyMicky MoodyMichael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
, Marsden, Neil MurrayNeil Murray (British musician)Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
, Pete SolleyPete SolleyPeter "Pete" Solley is a Hammond organ player, pianist and a Grammy-nominated record producer. He has recorded with Eric Clapton, Al Stewart and Whitesnake as well as producing records for Ted Nugent, Oingo Boingo, Motörhead, The Romantics, Peter Frampton, The Sports, Wreckless Eric and many...
, Dave DowleDave DowleDavid 'Duck' Dowle is an English drummer who has played with the bands Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, Streetwalkers, Whitesnake, Runner, Midnight Flyer, Bernie Marsden.-Biography:...
) – 4:16 - "Keep On Giving Me Love" (Coverdale, Moody) – 5:13
- "Queen of Hearts" (Coverdale, Moody) – 5:15
- "Only My Soul" (Coverdale) – 4:33
- "Breakdown" (Coverdale, Moody) – 5:12
- Tracks 1-4 are from the original EP, recorded April 7–13, 1978 at Central Recorders, London.
- Tracks 5-8 are from the Northwinds album, recorded April 10–19, 1977 at AIR Studios, London.
Tracks 1-4
- David CoverdaleDavid CoverdaleDavid 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Micky MoodyMicky MoodyMichael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Bernie MarsdenBernie Marsden-External links:*...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Neil MurrayNeil Murray (British musician)Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Dave DowleDave DowleDavid 'Duck' Dowle is an English drummer who has played with the bands Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, Streetwalkers, Whitesnake, Runner, Midnight Flyer, Bernie Marsden.-Biography:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Tracks 5-8
- David Coverdale - vocals
- Micky MoodyMicky MoodyMichael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
- guitar - Tim HinkleyTim HinkleyTim Hinkley is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist and record producer. Hinkley started playing in youth club bands in the early 1960s, including The Copains, Boys, Freeman Five. During this time he turned down an offer to join The Konrads which featured Davy Jones, who later changed his...
– piano - Alan Spenner – bass
- Tony NewmanTony Newman (drummer)Richard Anthony 'Tony' Newman is an English rock drummer. He was at various times a member of the bands Sounds Incorporated, May Blitz, Three Man Army and T...
– drums - Lee BrilleauxDr. Feelgood (band)Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock band formed in 1971. The band's name derives from a slang term for heroin or for a doctor who is willing to overprescribe drugs. It is also a reference to a 1962 record by the American blues pianist and singer Willie Perryman called "Dr Feel-Good", which...
– harmonica - Roger GloverRoger GloverRoger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
– clavinet, cowbell, Arp 2600ARP 2600The ARP 2600 is a semi-modular analog subtractive audio synthesizer, designed by Alan R. Pearlman , and manufactured by his company, ARP Instruments, Inc... - Graham PreskettString Driven ThingString Driven Thing were a 1970s folk-rock band from Scotland led by husband and wife Chris Adams and Pauline Adams and featuring the electric violin of Graham Smith.-Formation:...
– violin