"Saints & Sinners" is the fifth studio album by the English hard rock band Whitesnake, released on 15 November 1982 by Liberty Records. This album marked the last collaboration with the band's Ready an' Willing line-up, a period that was marked by internal tensions and strained relations. Despite their commercial successes in the UK and abroad, particularly in Europe and Japan, the band’s relationships were deteriorating, and the group struggled with their management and finances. The recording of Saints & Sinners was complicated, with initial production duties handled by Guy Bidmead after the illness of longtime producer Martin Birch. However, Birch returned to finish the album, though the discord within the band persisted.
Despite the behind-the-scenes troubles, Saints & Sinners was a commercial success, peaking at number nine on the UK Albums Chart and earning a silver certification, which was a rarity for the band, whose previous albums had achieved gold and platinum certifications. The album included the single "Here I Go Again," which was released in October 1982 and charted at number 34 in the UK, though it did not make an impact in the U.S. It would later be re-recorded for the band's 1987 self-titled album, which would redefine the band's sound and global success.
The early 1980s were a tumultuous time for Whitesnake, despite their European and Japanese success. Their previous album, Come an' Get It, had been a major hit, and the band had toured extensively, including an appearance at the Monsters of Rock festival. However, tensions within the band started to surface, especially as their exhausting tour schedule left them fatigued. Singer David Coverdale began working on material for Saints & Sinners during a retreat in southern Portugal in late 1981, a time when his personal life was unraveling. His marriage to Julia was in crisis, which he later described as a major influence on his songwriting, particularly on songs like "Here I Go Again."
Back in England, the band began rehearsing at Nomis Studios, but there was a noticeable lack of energy. As Coverdale later put it, "There wasn't that 'spark' that was usually in attendance." To try to revive the group's morale, the band relocated to Clearwell Castle in Gloucestershire, where they had previously recorded their 1979 album Lovehunter. However, during the recording process, tensions continued to mount, particularly as the band struggled with their financial situation.
Saints & Sinners was produced initially by Guy Bidmead, who was brought in after Martin Birch was sidelined by illness. However, Birch returned to the project later at Britannia Row Studios and Battery Studios, both locations that would become associated with major rock albums of the era. Despite the change in production, the band's relationships were continuing to fray, with band members growing increasingly dissatisfied with their situation.
Guitarist Micky Moody recalled that the band was exhausted, and the constant late nights and partying were taking a toll on their creativity. Despite these difficulties, the band managed to complete the multi-track recordings for the album. However, by December 1981, Moody had grown frustrated with the band's financial situation and left the band. He, along with the rest of the band, was frustrated by what they perceived as a financial mismanagement by their management company, Seabreeze, led by Deep Purple’s former manager, John Coletta.
In January 1982, Coverdale called a meeting to dismiss Seabreeze and its manager Coletta, but he failed to show up to the meeting himself. Instead, guitarist Bernie Marsden, bassist Neil Murray, and drummer Ian Paice were informed that they were being let go from the band. Coverdale explained that it was a "business decision, not personal," although the decision was largely motivated by the band's deteriorating relationships and Coverdale's desire to gain more control over Whitesnake.
Coverdale’s personal life also played a major role in these decisions. His daughter, Jessica, contracted bacterial meningitis, which prompted Coverdale to reconsider his priorities and put the band on hiatus for a time. This period of reflection allowed Coverdale the space to sever ties with the management company, pay off Whitesnake's debts, and make decisions about the future of the band.
After this hiatus, Coverdale began assembling a new version of Whitesnake, recruiting former Trapeze guitarist Mel Galley, Rainbow drummer Cozy Powell, and bassist Colin Hodgkinson. Powell, in particular, had been keen to join Whitesnake and was instrumental in the band's renewed direction. Meanwhile, Coverdale invited Moody back to finish the recording of Saints & Sinners, specifically to contribute backing vocals and additional parts. The recording of the album was completed in October 1982, with Martin Birch mixing and mastering the final product.
Saints & Sinners features a bluesier, more straightforward hard rock sound compared to some of Whitesnake's previous, more experimental work. The album includes both rowdy, energetic tracks like "Rough an' Ready" and "Bloody Luxury," as well as slower, more blues-infused songs such as "Crying in the Rain." The latter, in particular, would be re-recorded in a more electrifying and intense version for the band's 1987 album. Coverdale has remarked that "Crying in the Rain" was misunderstood at the time, and many viewed it as being too heavy or "Black Sabbath-like" in style.
The album’s lyrics, often direct and passionate, reflect Coverdale's personal experiences. "Here I Go Again" is a standout track, deeply influenced by Coverdale's divorce and reflecting his emotional turmoil during that period. The song was co-written with guitarist Bernie Marsden and became one of Whitesnake's most enduring songs, later being re-recorded for the 1987 album with a more polished, mainstream rock sound.
"Love an' Affection" is another track that showcases Coverdale’s lyrical directness and commercial appeal, with its "sexed-up" lyrics and energetic delivery. The album as a whole presents a mix of bluesy rock and more polished, commercial hard rock, embodying the band's struggle between artistic vision and commercial success.
While Saints & Sinners was the end of an era for the original Whitesnake lineup, the album's tracks would go on to become staples of the band's live performances and would be revisited in later years. "Here I Go Again," in particular, would experience a resurgence in 1987 when it was re-recorded and became a massive hit, symbolizing the new, commercially successful direction Whitesnake would take in the late 1980s.
Despite the personal and financial challenges surrounding the making of Saints & Sinners the album remains a pivotal moment in Whitesnake's history, bridging the gap between their classic blues-rock roots and their later, more commercial success. It reflects the tumultuous nature of the band's journey and the personal hardships that would inspire much of their future music.
