UAWIL #118: Coverdale Page at 30
Two hard rock legends collaborated for an album at the height of grunge but it wouldn't last
In March of 1993, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds) and David Coverdale (Whitesnake, Deep Purple) were brought together by A&R legend John Kalodner to create a hard rock album in the midst of grunge. They almost called the band Legends or North and South but settled on Coverdale Page to combine Coverdale's raspy vocals with Page's extraordinary guitar work. For Jimmy Page fans who had been waiting for his return after the tepidly received Outrider album, this release was highly anticipated and eventually went platinum in the US thanks to radio hits like Pride & Joy, Shake My Tree and Take Me For A Little While.
However, critics were all over Page for collaborating with Coverdale who had been derided throughout his career as a Robert Plant clone. Even Plant himself threw shade at Jimmy and David as many of the tracks sounded very much like the old Zeppelin. But for two college students who were sure they'd never see a live Led Zeppelin show, they were psyched to hear this album and we actually bought tickets to see them live in Orlando. That show (and the whole North American Tour) never happened but hearing some of these songs on the radio, watching the videos on MTV and blasting it through our 5 CD changer in the dorm room made for happy days. And Robert Plant must have realized there was some magic there as not long after the release of Coverdale Page, he teamed up with Jimmy for the Unledded album, video and tour. It may not be the best work of either of these Rock N Roll Hall of Famers but it has a special place in history and in our hearts.
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