David Coverdale, the powerful voice behind Whitesnake and former Deep Purple frontman, sees his solo work shine brightly in a new collection featuring remixed, remastered, and revisited versions of his solo albums, Rediscovering the Roots of Whitesnake: David Coverdale’s “NorthWinds“, Whitesnake, “Into The Light” All Albums have been 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).
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.
The collection also unearths several unreleased demos from Coverdale’s archives, including songs destined for future Whitesnake albums. “Lay Your Love On Me” would later appear as “Lay Down Your Love” on 2008’s “Good To Be Bad”, while “Crazy ’Bout Cha” evolved into “Whipping Boy Blues” on 2011’s “Forevermore“. The set even goes back to 1968 with demos Coverdale recorded as a teenager, including an early version of “Sunny Days,” a track that would appear on his solo debut, “WhiteSnake”.
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.
With “Into The Light: The Solo Albums”, both “Whitesnake” and “NorthWinds” have both 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 within Whitesnake catalogue.
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 the band 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 own archives. These tracks provide a fascinating glimpse into Coverdale’s creative process during this formative period.
“Into The Light: The Solo Albums” will be available from Rhino.com on October 25th as a 6-CD boxed set. It comes packaged in a hardcover box featuring a 60-page book with rare photos, detailed liner notes, and a new interview with Coverdale.
The newly remixed version of “Into the Light” will also be available separately as a double vinyl album presented in a gatefold sleeve. “Into the Light“, Coverdale’s third solo album, boasts an impressive musical lineup that includes guitarists Earl Slick (David Bowie) and Doug Bossi, bassist Marco Mendoza (who later joined Whitesnake), legendary drummer Denny Carmassi (Montrose, Whitesnake), and keyboardist Mike Finningan (Jimi Hendrix). The remixed version of the album expands the original with songs like “Let’s Talk It Over” and “All The Time In The World.” The collection also offers additional remixes, demos, and outtakes from the album, including “With All Of My Heart.” Coverdale wrote the song for his wife and considers it one of the best he’s ever written.
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