Whitesnake - Ready An Willing

Title: Ready An Willing Artist: Whitesnake Release Date: 1980 Re-Released On: 1/29/2008 Label: Universal Distribution, EMI Music Distribution, Axe Killer Records Duration: 39:57 UPCs: 077775205428, 4988005502193, 4988005532480, 0077775205459, 3596971552626, 738476933125, 3700403527582 Genre: Rock Styles: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop-Metal Moods: Aggressive, Raucous, Sleazy, Brash, Rebellious, Rousing, Sexual, Theatrical, Hedonistic, Party/Celebratory, Rambunctious, Rowdy, Sentimental Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 5 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Fool for Your Loving
2. Sweet Talker
3. Ready an' Willing
4. Carry Your Load
5. Blindman
6. Ain't Gonna Cry No More
7. Love Man
8. Black and Blue
9. She's a Woman

Year Type Label Catalog # 2008 CD Universal Distribution 90776 2007 CD Axe Killer Records 0709100 2000 CD Axe Killer Records 305526 1994 CD EMI Music Distribution 52054

Ready an' Willing [Japan Bonus Tracks] Ready an' Willing [Sweden Bonus Tracks]

Despite benefiting from the expert assistance of legendary producer Martin Birch (Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, later Iron Maiden) Whitesnake's early studio albums all tended to sound unexplainably flat. Their fourth effort, 1980's Ready an' Willing, was no exception, but it did make up for this somewhat with solid songwriting. In fact, David Coverdale and company were growing increasingly more consistent and self-assured with each record, and this album's first half shows great progress over the previous year's hit-and-miss Lovehunter. Opener "Fool for Your Lovin'" was their best single yet, as well as their highest charting; with its clever combination of hit-savvy chorus and authentic bluesy resignation, it set the template for subsequent triumphs, and the fact that Coverdale re-recorded it (in disappointing pop-metal fashion) over a decade later for 1989's Slip of the Tongue is a testament to its staying power. Further highlights include the live favorite "Sweet Talker" (given extra bite by Micky Moody's expert slide guitar), the groove monster of a title track, and a set of memorable ballads in "Blindman" and "Ain't Gonna Cry No More." The same laurels can't be awarded to the album's closing trio of songs, all of which evince the tired and formulaic blues-rock that had dominated previous releases. But this didn't stop Ready an' Willing from qualifying as Whitesnake's finest hour thus far, with ever-greater glory waiting just over the horizon. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide

Name Credits Bernie Marsden Guitar David Coverdale Vocals, Design, Piano, Percussion Ian Paice Drums Jon Lord Keyboards Martin Birch Mixing, Producer, Engineer Micky Moody Guitar Neil Murray Bass