THE VOICE THAT MAKES ME DREAM

He was born on September 22, 1951 in Saltburn-by- the -Sea, North Yorkshire, England. As a teenager he was in numerous unknown bands and worked in a clothing shop until he saw an advertisement in 1973 in Melody Maker. A band was looking for a vocalist. He had no idea that he would ultimately be replacing Ian Gillan, who had given notice to leave the band. His name is Davis Coverdale and the band was Deep Purple.
The first time I heard Coverdale sing I was laying out by the pool feeling rather blue. The sunshine was swept away by a wave of clouds and it began to rain. I rushed inside and watched my plan of soaking up the sun go down the drain. All of a sudden, I heard a song come on the radio. It began like this: " I have often told you stories about the way. I lived the life of a drifter, waiting for the day..." It was the intro to " Soldier of Fortune". I was hooked. I was enamored and enchanted by this angelic yet pained voice filling the room with song. The song tells the story of a man who is lost, wishing his lover would stay. In my opinion, it's one of the most honest and moving ballads in rock history. It made me feel vulnerable and I could feel the sadness coming through the speakers. I immediately wanted to know everything bout the man with the golden voice. I had no idea that the lead singer of Whitesnake had also been in Deep Purple. For those of you who haven't heard "Soldier of Fortune" here are the lyrics and I hope you'll listen o the song.

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 traveller
I looked for something new
In days of old
When nights were cold
I wandered without you
But those days I thougt 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

Are you mesmerized? If you have good taste and know a thing or two about rock music then you'll feel the same way I do. My adoration of this song led me to a completely new side of Coverdale's capabilities as a singer. He'd already made me feel the anguish of lost love and yearning for someone to love. Now he proved that he had the powerful grit of a blues singer with "Mistreated." The song makes your blood pump and you feel like tearing off whatever is holding you down or making you ache and screaming " I've been mistreated! I've been abused!" The slithering guitar riffs by Ritchie Blackmore makes your spine tingle and our senses come to life. The permanent state of slumber so many people experience will dissolve after hearing a song that is packed full os sex, anger and pure blues rock-n-roll. The man with the voice that can make you weep as well as scream is David Coverdale. He is the voice of my emotions. Try him on for size and you'll be begging for more.
Till next time...