The Solo Albums Box Set’ (2024) – Album Review (The David Coverdale Series) – 2 Loud 2 Old Music

David Coverdale has really outdone himself with these Super Deluxe Editions Box Sets.  First was the ‘1987’ album, then an UnZipped Box Set, then ‘Slide It In’ and the 1989 album ‘Slip of the Tongue’. Heck, He even did the 25th Anniversary Edition of ‘Restless Heart’ and even a 15th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition for ‘Good to Be Bad’ now called ‘Still…Good to Be Bad’. And they are all spectacular. Now, we get a new box set. This time around it is a collection of his 3 solo albums. Starting with the most recent, 2000’s ‘Into the Light’ and going all the back to his first 2 solo albums including 1977’s ‘Whitesnake’ and 1978’s ‘Northwind’. And you don’t get each album once, you get them twice. One with a remastered version and then a 2024 complete remix.

This special edition consists of 6 CDs, 1 60-page Book, and 1 Album Cover Poster.  And it has over 91 tracks amongst all the CDs.  Well…not really. Each album is repeated twice with the remixed and the remastered versions, but there is a lot of new unreleased stuff too which is great. So, this is why I say this is for the diehard fans as it is very repetitive…this is for the diehard fans as it is very repetitive! Yes, I said this twice to prove a point and yes, I did this joke on pretty much every box set review for Whitesnake because its true. Here are all the songs you get…it’s immense.

What I like about these box sets are that each one is done in the exact same style with similar box types and goodies. They all fit nicely together on a shelf and it looks really great…I have them all and will continue to buy them if he puts them out. Can’t wait to see what is next, but for now let’s focus on this one.

DISC 1: ‘INTO THE LIGHT’ (2024 Remix)

First up is the 2024 Remix of the album ‘Into the Light’. I am not a huge fan of remix albums. I don’t see the need to ever have a remix of the original album. I’m a purist and like to stick to the original. But I’ll be honest. These three solo albums aren’t that engrained into my mind like the classic Whitesnake era albums are so…I can tolerate these remixes. In fact, this album sounds so much richer, fuller and really fantastic. I also like that you get 3 bonus tracks that the original release did not have. In short, not a bad mix and sounds amazing!!

DISC 2: ‘INTO THE LIGHT: ADDITIONAL REMIXES & DEMOS’

This is the cool disc in the bunch. It is nothing but demos and different mixes of songs that were never released. The ‘Into the Light’ Demos are fun and I enjoyed the “Strings Only’ mixes for “Wherever You May Go” and “Love is Blind”. But the real prize are all the Demos with Tony Franklin on bass. They are broken up in to two sections with the first being ‘Unfinished Symphonies’ and the 2nd are the original demos done in 1997 with Tony and David. These are basically instrumentals and I feel the bass is brought to the front a little in the mix which I am completely fine with. Some really laid back tracks, some bouncy and fun while some completely rock out. This is the prize of the whole set.

DISC 3: NORTHWINDS (2024 REMIX)

My original copy of ‘Northwinds’ only had 8 songs so we get some bonus tracks here with 3 different versions of “Time & Again” and the really cool track “Shame the Devil, Tell the Truth” which really kicks some ass. This album was a step up from the debut solo album ‘Whitesnake’ and this Remix sounds even better. I might actually like this a little better than the original mix. Okay, I’m coming around on remixes now.

DISC 4: ‘WHITESNAKE – MCMLDXXVII’ (2024 REMIX)

The debut solo album, ‘Whitesnake’, was a decent start. I gave it a 3.0 out of 5.0 Stars. Not bad. The 2024 Remix definitely improves on the dated sound of the original and might even move up to a 3.5 rating. But the real treat on this album are the 8 demos from David that he recorded back in 1968 at his home. They are mostly acoustic and all really cool. I love how he calls this section ‘Young Lad’s Blues’ as that is appropriate. One of the tracks actually was used on the debut. It is these nuggets in his box sets that make these so worth getting.

DISC 5: ‘INTO THE LIGHT’ (2024 REMASTER)

Here is what I said about this album back in The David Coverdale Series:

The album was ballad heavy and it was two of the ballads I didn’t like, kick those off and then 10 tracks with the intro and you have a damn near perfect album.  I have to say that I forgot how good this album is.  I liked it back in the day, but hearing it again after bumping it up against his entire catalog and this is pretty freaking an awesome.  I am going to give this a 4.5 out of 5.0 Stars.  I really got in to this and loved how David’s voice has matured and how controlled he was on his vocal delivery.  It was a new David, a fresh David, a true singer with this one.

I have to say, I still feel this way. The remaster definitely adds some more balls to the overall sound and it even sounds better than my original copy. The score will still hold at 4.5 and I think it holds up well. A fun album…but this ain’t Whitesnake…this is David Coverdale with hints of Whitesnake.

DISC 6: ‘WHITESNAKE’ & ‘NORTHWINDS’ (2024 REMASTER)

Here is what I said about each album in the original series:

‘WHITESNAKE’: The album was a little all over the place in styles and it seemed David didn’t really know what direction he wanted to take.  He was still discovering who he was as a songwriter and a singer.  Musically, the album was understated as I said earlier.  The music was there as a background and no real highlights or stand out moments. There were some fantastic songs such as “Blindman”, “Whitesnake” and “Peace Lovin’ Man” which I think hold up even today.  It was a pretty decent first effort and a hint at was to come. This will get listened to again and as a result, I will give it a 3.0 out of 5.0 Stars.  It is always cool to see where an artist began and this is a good starting point for David. It makes me excited to venture in to the next chapters of his career.

‘NORTHWINDS’: The songs are a definite step up from the debut ‘Whitesnake’ and only a few misfires.  As a result, I will give the overall score on the album a 3.75 out of 5 Stars.  I found the album a major step in the right direction and a quite enjoyable listen.  Some of the album sounds a little dated, but the production was much improved.  David Coverdale’s song writing has improved and even more so when you throw Micky Moody in to the mix. 

Now, how does the remastering sound…well…it sounds great. The albums aren’t as dated sounding and do sound richer. A vast improvement on the overall production. The scores still stand as they are both solid albums and cool to see where David started after his break from Deep Purple.

60-PAGE HARD BACK BOOK:

Another treat in these box sets are the hard back book always included. There are great pictures and this time around we get a magnificent interview with David and some great insight into the making of the Remasters and remixes of the older albums. Technology has come a long way and they explain as much. So glad they include these are they are great reads.

ALBUM COVER POSTER:

I guess he could’ve put in 3 posters, one for each album cover. However, they went with the album cover for the debut solo album, ‘Whitesnake’. Not a bad choice. I won’t ever unfold it again or display, but here you have it with its first and only unfolding. Luckily, I didn’t rip anything.

And that is everything you get in the box set. A pretty extensive set even if it repeats a lot of songs over and over, but there isn’t as much repeat as past box sets…thank God. David has me in on these box sets hook line and sinker. It is pretty much, here’s a new box set and my wallet opens and the money is gone. I will say out of the 7 so far, this is a really great one as it is 3 albums in one set. And the remixes are actually worth it here. The only draw backs are no live shows from any of the eras, do DVD/Blu Ray and no Evolutions Disc which has been done in most of the sets and are usually my favorite part of the set. But we do get a whole disc of demos on here. My Overall Score is a 4.0 out 5.0 Stars. I haven’t care for the remix albums on past sets because the original albums are so engrained in mind, but here…they work and work well. Okay, David, I’ll give it to you this time around, the 2024 mixes are great.

Here is everything in one shot…without the poster as I wasn’t opening it again…

The David Coverdale Series:

1. Deep Purple – Burn
2. Deep Purple – Stormbringer
3. Deep Purple – Come Taste the Band
4. Deep Purple – Made in Europe
5. David Coverdale – Whitesnake
6. Deep Purple – Last Concert in Japan
7. David Coverdale – Northwinds
8. David Coverdale’s Whitesnake – Snakebite
9. Whitesnake – Trouble
10. Whitesnake – Lovehunter
11. Whitesnake – Ready an’ Willing
12. Whitesnake – “Fool For Your Loving” 7″ Single (Bonus Review)
13. Whitesnake – Live at Hammersmith
14. Whitesnake – Live…in the Heart of the City
15. Whitesnake – Come An’ Get it
16. Deep Purple – Live in London
17. Whitesnake – Saints & Sinners
18. Whitesnake – Slide It In
19. Whitesnake – “Give Me More Time” 12″ Single (Bonus Review)
20. Whitesnake – ‘The Best of Whitesnake (Bonus Review – 1982 release)
21. Whitesnake – Whitesnake (1987)
22. Whitesnake – “Is This Love” 12″ Promo (Bonus Review)
23. Whitesnake – ‘Best’ (Greece Version)
24. Whitesnake – Slip of the Tongue
25. David Coverdale – “The Last Note of Freedom” – Single Review
26. Coverdale/Page – Coverdale/Page
27. Coverdale/Page – “Take Me For A Little While 12” Single (Bonus Review)
28. David Coverdale & Whitesnake – Restless Heart
29. Whitesnake – Starkers in Tokyo
30. David Coverdale – Into the Night
31. Whitesnake – Live…In the Still of the Night (DVD)
32. Whitesnake – Live…In the Shadow of the Blues
33. Whitesnake – Good To Be Bad
34. Whitesnake – Forevermore
35. Whitesnake – Live at Donington 1990: Monsters of Rock
36. Whitesnake – The Purple Album
37. Whitesnake – The Purple Tour (Live)
38. Whitesnake – Flesh & Blood
39. Whitesnake – The Rock Album
40. Whitesnake – Love Songs
41. Whitesnake – The Blues Album
42. Whitesnake – The Albums Ranked Worst to First
43. David Coverdale – The Albums Ranked Worst to First

Other David Coverdale Albums reviewed – (Box Sets and Bootlegs):

1. Whitesnake – Little Box ‘O’ Snakes (The Sunburst Years 1978-1982) – Box Set (2013)
2. Whitesnake – 1987 (30th Anniversary Edition) – Box Set
3. Whitesnake – Slide It In (35th Anniversary Edition) – Box Set
4. Whitesnake – Unzipped – Box Set
5. Whitesnake – Slip of the Tongue (30th Anniversary Edition) – Box Set
6. Whitesnake – Restless Heart (25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) – Box Set
7. Whitesnake – Still…Good to Be Bad (15th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) – Box Set
8. Whitesnake – Into the Light: The Solo Albums – Box Set (2024)
9. Whitesnake (Snake) – Still of the Night Live in Battle Creek, Mich. July 26, 1987 (Bootleg)
10. Whitesnake – Washington State Wipeout (Spokane & Glasgow Broadcasts 1984) – (Bootleg)
11. Whitesnake – Nagoya 1980: The Japanese Broadcast (Bootleg)
12. Whitesnake – Saints And Sinners Tour 82-83 (Bootleg)