Whitesnake - Starkers In Tokyo (1997)

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Starkers ['sta:kez] unclothed; undressed; naked; in puris naturalibus

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David Coverdale - Lead Vocals
Adrian Vanderberg - Guitar
Produced by David Coverdale.
Recorded and Mixed by Masuzo "Masu" Iida.
Engineered by Kazuaki 'Kazu' Fujita.
Assisted by Katsumi "Katsu" Kawakita.
Recorded in the heat of the night on the 5th of July 1997 and Mixed the
 following day at Toshiba EMI #3 Studio, Tokyo.
Production Coordinator: Takahiro Sugiyama, Myles Keller and
 Michael McIntyre.
Lighing: Toshinao Nakamura (Light Space).
Studio Coordination - Takashi "Matsu" Matsumura.
Post Production Assistance - Bjorn "Berserk" Thorsrud.
Interpreter - Masako Kawahara.
Hair and Makeup - Yumi Kubota.
Cover Concept - David Coverdale and Adrian Vandenberg.
Cover Photo - Hito Ito.
Art Direction and Design - Shinsuke Suda and Yuri Tamura. 
Photography - Hiro Ito and Koichiro Hiki.

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Track Listing

1) Sailing Ships (Coverdale, Vandenberg) 4:39
2) Too Many Tears (Coverdale, Vandenberg) 4:14
3) The Deeper The Love (Coverdale, Vandenberg) 4:10
4) Love Ain't No Stranger (Coverdale, Mel Galley) 3:16
5) Can't Go On (Coverdale, Vandenberg) 3:51
6) Give Me All Your Love (Coverdale, John Sykes) 3:21
7) Don't Fade Away (Coverdale, Vandenberg) 4:27
8) Is This Love (Coverdale, Sykes) 3:10
9) Here I Go Again (Coverdale, Bernie Marsden) 4:47
10) Soldier Of Fortune (Coverdale, Ritchie Blackmore) 4:24

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Whitesnake "Starkers" in Tokyo...
When Adrian and I were asked by Toshiba EMI to perform an acoustic set of 
songs whilst promoting the "Restless Heart" album in Japan, we were 
initially unenthusiastic. Even though we usually write our rock songs on 
acoustic guitars, it is with the vision of the final drum driven, electric 
guitar fueled, chest beating "Tarzan" vocal approach that people know as 
Whitesnake. However, as writers, we also believe that if a song is of any 
worth you should be able to present it any way you care to. Fast, slow, loud
or soft as long as the integrity and emotional essence is intact.
So, we decided to accept the challenge of "undressing" our songs to the bare
essential; one acoustic guitar and one voice. Hey and guess what? We had 
fun! No thundering drums (which we love), no crunch guitar (which we adore),
just two lonely old cowboys playing their tunes as simply, honestly and 
intimately as possible for a specially invited audience of their Japanese 
friends.
Well, there you have it. Whether or not it works remains to be seen, but, we
had a good time and hopefully, so will you. See you soon!

                                                       Domo,
                                                       David.

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10) Soldier Of Fortune

I have often told you stories
About the way
I lived the life of a drifter
Waiting for the day.
When I'd take your hand
And sing you songs
Then maybe you would say
Come lay with me love me
And I would surely stay.

But, I feel I'm growing older
And the songs that I have sung
Echo in the distance
Like the sound
Of a windmill goin' 'round,
I guess I'll always be
A soldier of fortune.

Many times I've been a traveler
I looked for something new
In days of old
When nights were cold
I wandered without you.
But, those days I thought my eyes
Had seen you standing near
Though blindness is confusing
It shows that you're not here

Now I feel I'm growing older
And the songs that I have sung
Echo in the distance
Like the sound
Of a windmill goin' 'round,
I guess I'll always be
A soldier of fortune.
I can hear the sound
Of a windmill goin' 'round,
I guess I'll always be
A soldier of fortune.

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Special Thanks: Masaaki Saito, Hiro Kadoma, Shun Mori, Hideo Seko and all at
Toshiba EMI; Koh Sakai and Masa Itoh; Kouonsha Co. LTD.; Moridaira Musical 
Instruments; Saskia and Cynthia; Starka and French Sake.