David Coverdale built Whitesnake’s commercial breakthrough on a collection of loud, polished hard rockers, plus the band’s best set of pop hooks. The Led Zeppelin-ish “Still of the Night” offered headbanger appeal, but it was the big chorus of “Here I Go Again” — one of the very small number of non-power ballad ’80s hard rock singles to actually top the pop charts — and the quiet ballad “Is This Love” that really sold the album in spades. The rest of the album generally holds interest as well, and it’s easily the band’s best. – Steve Huey
