Live CDs certainly have improved over time. Remember when they sounded like garage rehearsals and you could never even hear the audience reaction/participation? Thank goodness for modern technology...at least in this case! I don't really need to delve into WHITESNAKE's lengthy career, which began in the early 1970s. They are true Rock-n-Roll pioneers, and if for some reason you are not already familiar with these legends, then you won't be interested in this collectible release anyway. (Check out some studio albums first.) This is for the tried and true fans of WHITESNAKE, particularly from the 1980's to the present.

This comes in 3 different formats: CD + DVD - Deluxe Version, DVD-Standard Version and Blu-Ray - In Concert Video. It was filmed / recorded at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan and for those lucky enough to have been at this show, you will definitely want this as a souvenir to remember it by!

This kicks off with the song "Best Years", which is from their 2008 release, "Good To Be Bad". This is a great rocker to start the show with and features a rougher sounding David Coverdale than what I am used to, but all in all, he still sounds great! His voice is still in strong condition after all these years. In fact, everyone in the band sounds like they haven't missed a step and are here to rock harder than ever! On top of all that, I see Mr. Coverdale still wears his hair the same as he always has too! I guess if something works for you, why change it?

Highlights for me on here include most of the tracks from the self-titled CD that came out in 1987 and which remains my all-time favorite release. Those songs include: "Give Me All Your Love Tonight", "Still Of The Night", "Is This Love?", and "Here I go Again". The oldest track on this is "Love Ain't No Stranger" from 1984's "Slide it In". (I personally would have preferred to hear "Slow And Easy" in its place.) "Fool For Your Loving" from 1989's "Slip of the Tongue" is another highlight. Fans who long to hear songs from 'The Purple Years' era, might be disappointed.

Also noteworthy is the intense guitar duel or otherwise known as the "Six String Showdown" between Reb Beach and Doug Aldrich. I imagine those sitting close to the stage had bleeding ears by the time this was finished. Then there is the bombastic 7+ minute long "Drum Solo" courtesy of Brian Tichy. This damn near gave me an orgasm (Thanks Brian!)! Indeed, listening to this inspired me to want to pick up my sticks again. This drum solo can rival that in IRON BUTTERFLY's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" and I can imagine how wonderfully exhausted Tichy must have felt at the end of all that. Wow!

 "Still Of The Night" was a very good choice to close the show on and the audience singing along makes you want to join in also. This, in my opinion, is one of the greatest songs in WHITESNAKE's entire repertoire. It is certainly my favorite. Finally, Mr. Coverdale bids his fans good night with the words "Be safe, be happy and don't let anybody make you afraid." Additional DVD bonus content includes assorted slideshows and fan videos by Purplesnake for the songs "Forevermore" and "Steal Your Heart Away". The double CD version also includes sound checks and acoustic versions of some songs.

For anyone who has ever seen WHITESNAKE live, especially since the late 1980's to the present, you may want to add this to your collection as a keepsake and reminder of why this band has achieved the legend status they have. If you have never had a chance to check them out live, go to their website and be sure to follow them on their upcoming "Year Of The Snake" tour. These guys just keep rocking and show all the rest out there how it's done!