Cozy Powell/Octopuss Studio Demos

We present you with a superb studio demo album that delves even deeper into the flavor of the last masterpiece of British blues rock, “SLIDE IT IN (UK MIX)”. This work contains the demo of Cozy Powell’s third solo album, “OCTOPUSS”. It is a “Cozy Tape” collection. Why dig deeper? Because “SLIDE IT IN (UK MIX)” and “OCTOPUSS” are sister works by almost the same members. It all started with the WHITESNAKE re-election plan. After dismantling the classic lineup, Coverdale decided to resume activities in August 1982 when his contract with management expired. First, he started looking for members with Cozy as his partner, and Mel Galley was decided on guitar. Then it was decided that Jon Lord would return. Up to this point, things were going smoothly, but the bass was difficult. In September 1982, he approached Neil Murray, but he gave up because he had already signed with Gary Moore. So the choice was made to be former BACK DOOR member Colin Hodgkinson. Coverdale was originally a big fan of BACK DOOR, but he was also a tour member of Jon Lord, and John recommended Colin. However, in the end, it was all about compatibility with Cozy, who was his rhythm partner. He joined OCTOPUSS before joining WHITESNAKE (Mickey Moody’s return was decided in October 1982, so he did not participate in this work either). This work was produced under these circumstances. It is a demo track recorded at London’s Britannia Row Studio in September-October 1982 (by the way, Coverdale also recorded the vocals for SAINTS & SINNERS at the same studio around the same time (September 24, 1982). It was transcribed from the EMI Britannia Row Studio tape owned by Cozy himself. Its clarity is special even among the “Cozy Tape” collection. The direct sound is like entering the studio through an open door, and it’s as if Cozy is going wild right in front of you. The fine details of “Rattler’s Revenge (Up On The Downs)” and “Princetown” are particularly overwhelming. The backstage of “OCTOPUSS” is depicted with such quality, and it is striking. What is noteworthy is the ensemble of the “new WHITESNAKE” that is about to be born. In particular, “The Rattler” provided by Coverdale is recorded in four different takes, and each mix has a different “featured member”. First of all, “Version 1” is a mix where Cozy’s drums stand out, and the following “Version 2” has Mel’s guitar come to the forefront and compete on an equal footing with Cozy’s drums. In addition, Colin’s bass is featured in “Version 3”, and Jon Lord’s keyboard is featured in the last “Version 4”. I don’t know if they checked the ensemble on-site, but this take is enjoyable as if they were decomposing and analyzing the “new WHITESNAKE”. In addition to WHITESNAKE, it is also interesting from the perspective of “OCTOPUSS”. The three-song medley from “633 Squadron” to “The Big Country”, a collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, can also be decomposed and analyzed. First, in “633 Squadron (Orchestra Rehearsing)”, the London Symphony Orchestra’s tuning and the conductor’s instructions to the orchestra are vivid, and in the following “Octopuss (Bass & Drum Machine)”, Hodgkinson shows off his unique thick and bouncy bass line, which he also played in WHITESNAKE, over the rhythm of the drum machine. The last song of the medley, “Big Country”, was recorded in two stages: “orchestra rehearsal” and “with cozy”. The strings change their expression with the conductor’s guidance, and the drums explode with the backing, and you can enjoy a mix and arrangement that is different from the finished version. As I have said before, “WHITESNAKE 1982-1983” was not just a new lineup. Galley was a guitarist who was a candidate before Bernie Marsden when WHITESNAKE was formed, and Cozy was invited to join before Ian Paice. And Hodgkinson was also an old friend of Mickey Moody from TRAMLINE and BACK DOOR. If Bernie and Paice had been reluctant to join, the six members of “WHITESNAKE 1982-1983” might have been called “classic.” This is a superb studio demo album that captures the moment when such a lineup was assembled. Recorded at Britannia Row Studios, London, UK September & October 1982 Taken from the original Britannia Row Studios cassette tapes belonged to Cozy Powell (44:34) 1. Rattler’s Revenge (Up On The Downs) 2. 633 Squadron (with Cozy Powell) * 3. 633 Squadron (Orchestra Rehearsing) * 4. Octopuss (Bass & Drum Machine) 5. Big Country (Or chestra Rehearsing) * 6. Big Country (with Cozy Powell) * 7. Formula One (Backing Track) 8. Princetown 9. The Rattler (Version 1) 10. The Rattler (Version 2) 11. The Rattler (Version 3) 12. The Rattler (Version 4) Cozy Powell – Drums Mel Galley – Guitars Colin Hodgkinson – Bass Jon Lord – Keyboards * with John Du Prez & London Philharmonic Orchestra