John Sykes/Whitesnake Blue Murder Demos 1985-2021 & more

A huge upgrade of the treasure track collection left by John Sykes! From “SERPENS ALBUS” where his talent fully blossomed to his posthumous work “SY-OPS”, this two-disc set summarizes his career and is a permanent preservation decision! This work is engraved with 29 takes (plus α) of treasure sound boards. Based on the smash hit memorial album “WHITESNAKE/BLUE MURDER DEMOS”, it is an expanded edition that has been expanded by about twice the amount. Of course, it is not just padding, but the concentration is also increased by further thick takes. It is a super-decisive edition worthy of permanent preservation. Anyway, the best way to understand the rare track collection is to look at them individually. Let’s introduce them by five sections. DISC 1: “1987” Demo/Rehearsal (9 takes) that are different from the official one DISC 1 is the same content as the smash hit “WHITESNAKE/BLUE MURDER DEMOS”, so if you already know it, please skip to DISC 2. Well, the first thing that comes up is the 6-track demo/3-take rehearsal of “1987 (SERPENS ALBUS)”. The “Serpens demo” was included in large quantities on the official 30th anniversary edition, but this work is completely different. In fact, the official demo was quite processed depending on the song, and various stages of sound sources were connected from the early composition stage to the late demo that was close to completion. The intro of the song was in the composition memo stage, the verse was a jam, the solo was close to the actual performance, and the end was a rough mix of the finished product… The takes changed all the time within one song. In contrast, this work is a through demo recording that was produced in the advanced stages. There is no post-production, and the production stage is realistically depicted. Moreover, the quality of this work is also the highest peak. The take is the same as the first Bondage label version, but the sound re-digitized with modern technology from the original master is a world apart. The strangely high pitch is normal, but the dynamism is completely different. Unlike the previous releases, which had a light and distant sound, David Coverdale’s breath feels close, and John Sykes’ guitar is directly connected to the brain. The quality is generally equal to or better than the official demo, and although there is a slight hiss, even that depicts the realism of the original master. Since the same master is used, it should definitely be the same, but you can encounter a sound that has been reborn so much that you wonder “is it the same take?” DISC 1: Cozy Tape “BLUE MURDER” demo (6 songs) The second half of DISC 1 is a demo for BLUE MURDER’s debut album. This is a demo from the early days of the band, and the drummer is Cozy Powell (!). These are also well-known sound sources, but this work is a collection of the best masters. What is particularly wonderful is that five of the six songs were created from the cassette tape “TEAC MR60” owned by Cozy, and are of official grade (only Lady Luck is not a Cozy tape, so the sound is lower). The sound source itself is floating around on Youtube and other sites, but the sound quality is on a completely different level. Moreover, the content is amazing. The songs on the album also have different arrangements and phrases from the finished version, and Cozy’s unique bass drum hits are also powerful. And above all, it’s an unreleased song! In particular, one song, “It’s Too Late,” is sung by Ray Gillan! This is a one-of-a-kind studio recording where Sykes and Ray overlap their sounds, and this is the master quality version. In addition, the melodic and lively “Rockin’ And Rollin’ Our Life Away” and the heavy “Lady Luck” are also great songs that are a shame to be wasted. This is a treasured take that lets you realize how Sykes was a mass-producing machine at the time. DISC 2: Remix live with Coverdale (4 songs) And the first appearance of DISC 2 is the highlight of this work. First up is a live performance with David Coverdale again! Of course, Sykes and Coverdale never reconciled until the end and never performed together again, but this work uses the latest AI technology to remix and recreate a “what if” live encounter. Please note that although it is an AI, it is not the popular generated AI. Based on the official live album “BAD BOY LIVE!”, it mixes the vocal track of WHITESNAKE’s “LIVE… IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT”. It is truly reconstructed 100% with the voices and performances of the members themselves. Both are live performances from 2004, and the rhythm section is the same, Marco Mendoza/Tommy Aldridge. It is a real embodiment of a “reunion that could have happened” with the sound of the members themselves. The content is already overwhelming. Led by Sykes’s thick Gibson, Coverdale begins to sing… Yes, this! How long I have been waiting for this moment. And even more than that, the chorus. Of course, Coverdale is the main focus, but Sykes’ voice from “BAD BOY LIVE!” is also partially retained as a chorus. The magic of the two voices overlapping is more full of “reunion!” than the guitar. “Crying In The Rain,” which they exchange every verse, is also goosebump-inducing, but the best is “Bad Boys.” After the chorus, Coverdale shouts “Make some fuckin’ noise!”, and Sykes immediately responds with “Come on, let’s go!!”. The breathing makes you want to ask, “Are you guys really doing a different live show?” After all, these two have a special magic. DISC 2: Official rare track collection (5 songs) full of precious collaborations The next section is the official rare track collection “Collaboration Tracks.” Sykes, who is a prolific singer, has few extracurricular activities, especially in the 40 years since WHITESNAKE, he has only written five songs. This work allows you to collect those five official takes all at once. The highlight of these five songs is the gorgeous collaboration with various musicians. For example, “Heaven’s Missing an Angel” is a masterpiece ballad included in HTP’s debut album, sung by Glenn Hughes. It is a perfect match with the crying, thick guitar and Sykes’ chorus voice, and I would have liked to see this combination make an album. Also, in “God of War” from Derek Sherinian’s solo album, he collaborates with Zakk Wylde. Both are heroes who use Les Pauls and are characterized by picking harmonics. Although they seem similar, when they actually battle it out, it is a masterpiece take that highlights the personalities of the two. And the masterpiece “Still Got The Blues”. This take was taken when they participated in a tribute album for Gary Moore, and the vocals are by Danny Bowes of THUNDER. Danny’s wet voice is also wonderful, but it is the guitar that pierces the heart. The crying of pouring out the feelings in this masterpiece song by the beloved Gary is unprecedented. DISC 2: Collection of tracks from the posthumous album “SY-OPS” (5 takes + α)The last section of this work is the posthumous album “SY-OPS”. Although it was said that it would be released, it ended up being unreleased, but three songs (+ α) were released online as a release notice. This work covers all of them. The content is three songs (4 types) full takes. You can still listen to “Out Alive” and “Dawning Of A Brand New Day” on Youtube, but it also includes “Gates Of Hell” released in 2018 and a different version “Out Alive [Different Mix]” that was sent to Derek Sherinian (why?). In addition, there is an “Album Trailer”. This is a preview sound source that edits together the touches of each song on the album. It features Sykes-like melodies, grand phrases, and even reggae-style songs. I don’t know if the day when “SY-OPS” will be released will actually come, but it seems that it will definitely be a masterpiece. And the last song of this work is “Message to the Fans”. It is a voice message announcing the release of “SY-OPS” and expressing gratitude to the fans who have waited for a long time, and the words “See you soon” that never came true are the closing words of this work. This is a collection of treasures that lasts for 30 takes and 2 hours, 36 minutes, and 49 seconds. It includes different versions of the great albums “SERPENS ALBUS” and “BLUE MURDER”, a re-co-starring live with Coverdale, and a number of precious official tracks… all of which are permanently preserved in the highest quality ever in this two-disc set. This is a super-definitive edition that brings together rare tracks from WHITESNAKE to his posthumous work. DISC 1 includes demos of “SERPENS ALBUS” and “BLUE MURDER”, and DISC 2 includes AI remixes that allow you to experience a re-co-starring live with Coverdale, as well as guest co-starring/official tracks of “SY-OPS”. It is a 2-CD set of the highest peak masters of 30 tracks in total. DISC 1(79:59) ‘1987’ Album Demos 1. Still Of The Night 2. Looking For Love 3. Bad Boys 4. Is This Love 5. Crying In The Rain 6. Give Me All Your Love (Instrumental) ‘1987’ Album Rehearsals 7. Bad Boys 8. Give Me All Your Love 9. Is This Love ‘BLUE MURDER’ Album Demos 10. It’s Too Late (with Ray Gillen) 11. Ptolemy 12. Riot 13. Out Of Love 14. Rockin’ And Rollin’ Our Life Away 15. Lady Luck Track 10-14 are taken from the original cassette tape (TEAC MR60) owned to Cozy Powell DISC 2 (76:50) Remix Live 2004 1. Bad Boys (with David Coverdale) 2. Crying In The Rain (with David Coverdale) 3. Is This Love (with David Coverdale) 4. Still Of The Night (with David Coverdale) Collaboration Tracks 5. Pride and Joy (with Ron Young) 6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (with Mars Lasar) 7. Heaven’s Missing an Angel (with Glenn Hughes) 8. God of War (with Zakk Wylde) 9. Still Got The Blues (with Danny Bowes) ‘SY-OPS’ Album Tracks 10. Out Alive 11. Dawning Of A Brand New Day 12. Gates Of Hell 13. Out Alive (Different Mix) 14. Album Sampler 15. Message to the Fans STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING