This week on Vanyaland we are celebrating all things 1987 with a look back at moments, trends, and icons in the worlds of music and film. Follow along #V87.
Perhaps it’s coincidence, but we doubt it: Whitesnake just announced plans for an October 6 deluxe edition, 30th anniversary release of their landmark self-titled album, which, like the year it came out, is dubbed 1987 in some countries. The news comes down smack in the the middle of Vanyaland’s 1987 Week and we couldn’t be more excited if video vixen Tawny Kitaen were doing splits across the hood of our car (which she can still do btw).
The massive four CD/DVD collection includes the original album with newly remastered sound, unreleased live and studio recordings, classic music videos, concert footage and a 30 minute documentary, featuring a new interview with lion-maned ‘Snake frontman David Coverdale. There’s also a 60-page hardbound book that’s filled with rare and unseen photos from the era along with a booklet of the album’s lyrics, handwritten by Coverdale. The set will retail for a price that won’t leave you “Cryin’ in the Rain” either — just $49.98!
Shortly after its release in April 1987, the record took off, finding success with the singles “Still Of The Night,” “Give Me All Your Love,” “Is This Love” and the chart-topping hit and — ’80s sonic epitome — “Here I Go Again.” The songs were all brilliant for certain, but what really propelled the album into the stratosphere was the the series of videos on MTV which launched a million male (and female) fantasies featuring the aforementioned Kitaen.
Even beyond the staggering five singles (out of the nine tracks on the album), the remaining songs are hardly filler; “Bad Boys” and “Straight for Your Heart” could’ve just as easily charted.
Last summer, we covered the story behind “Here I Go Again” and its accompanying video which was detailed in a podcast by former Bostonian Craig MacNeil, the DJ/VJ and promoter of the Videodrome Discothèque dance parties. It gives some deep insight into just how popular Whitesnake was and the power of MTV.
As if the news couldn’t get any better, this release is the first under a newly signed catalog deal with Whitesnake and Rhino Entertainment, the catalog division of Warner Music Group. This new deal includes both the North American and Japanese rights, marking the first time a substantial amount of the Whitesnake catalog will reside under Warner Music Group worldwide.
“It gives me great joy to finally have so much of my Whitesnake catalog all under the same roof with the Warner family and I’m thrilled to be now working with this tremendous team on a worldwide basis,” Coverdale says in a statement. “This elaborate reissue is the perfect project to kick off the new relationship.”
Adds Rhino President Mark Pinkus: “Whitesnake is one of the all-time great rock ‘n’ roll bands, with David being an absolute icon as a vocalist and front man. We are absolutely thrilled to now have so much of the Whitesnake catalog with Warner on a global basis and are excited for the fans to see what great releases we have planned for the coming years.”
Pinkus didn’t come right out and say it, but let’s just go ahead and mark our calendars for the 30th anniversary deluxe edition of Slip of the Tongue in the summer of 2019. In the meantime, below are all the glorious details for the upcoming monster set Whitesnake 1987: Super Deluxe Edition.
Featured Whitesnake photo by Norman Ferianto.
Disc One: Original Album 2017 Remaster
1. “Still Of The Night”
2. “Give Me All Your Love”
3. “Bad Boys”
4. “Is This Love”
5. “Here I Go Again 87”
6. “Straight For The Heart”
7. “Looking For Love”
8. “Children Of The Night”
9. “You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again”
10. “Crying In The Rain”
11. “Don’t Turn Away”
Disc Two: Snakeskin Boots [Live On Tour 1987-88]
1. “Bad Boys/Children Of The Night”
2. “Slide It In”
3. “Slow An’ Easy”
4. “Here I Go Again”
5. “Guilty Of Love”
6. “Is This Love”
7. “Love Ain’t No Stranger”
8. Guitar Solo – Adrian and Vivian
9. “Crying In The Rain”
10. “Still Of The Night”
11. “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City”
12. “Give Me All Your Love”
Disc Three: 87 Evolutions [Demos and Rehearsals]
1. “Still Of The Night”
2. “Give Me All Your Love”
3. “Bad Boys”
4. “Is This Love”
5. “Straight For the Heart”
6. “Looking For Love”
7. “Children Of The Night”
8. “You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again”
9. “Crying In The Rain”
10. “Don’t Turn Away”
11. “Crying In The Rain” (Lil’ Mountain Alternate Take Ruff Mix)
Disc Four: 87 Versions [2017 Remixes]
1. “Still Of The Night” – Remix
2. “Is This Love” – Remix
3. “Give Me All Your Love” – Remix
4. “Here I Go Again 87” – Remix
5. “Standing In The Shadows” – 1987 Versions, Japanese Mini-Album
6. “Looking For Love” – 1987 Versions, Japanese Mini-Album
7. “You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again” – 1987 Versions, Japanese Mini-Album
8. “Need Your Love So Bad” – 1987 Versions, Japanese Mini-Album
9. “Here I Go Again” – Radio Mix
10. “Give Me All Your Love” – Single Version
DVD
1. “Still Of The Night” – Music Video, Restored and Remixed in 5.1
2. “Here I Go Again 87” – Music Video, Restored and Remixed in 5.1
3. “Is This Love” – Music Video, Restored and Remixed in 5.1
4. “Give Me All Your Love” – Music Video, Restored and Remixed in 5.1
5. Documentary about the making of 1987 Album
6. “Here I Go Again” – Purplesnake Video Jam
7. “Crying In The Rain” – 1987 Tour Video Bootleg
8. Band Intros – 1987 Tour Video Bootleg
9. “Still Of The Night” – 1987 Tour Video Bootleg