Recover

Album review

Seemingly since the dawn of time, countless veteran rock artists have issued an album's worth of cover songs at some point during their career. And in 1989, everyone's favorite Zep influenced hair metallists, Great White (who at that point were at the peak of their popularity), laid down an album's worth of cover tunes. Instead of trying to immediately cash in on the success of "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," these recordings were shelved -- until 2007, with the release of the double-disc, 25-track, "Deluxe Edition" set Recover. As with the vast majority of these all-covers sets, only the most diehard of Great White fans will need to hear the group "rock" out to lightweight readings of the Cult's "Love Removal Machine," AC/DC's "Sin City," or a bluesy -- and two-thirds acoustic -- Rolling Stones medley (which includes "Bitch," "It's Only Rock and Roll," and "Women"). The second disc includes new recordings of such Great White favorites as the aforementioned "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and "Rock Me," as well as a reading of Van Halen's "Unchained," which sees Great White singer Jack Russell do battle with Dweezil Zappa. The inclusion of five (!)Zep covers that close the set will only confirm the claim that Great White was a Led Zep clone once and for all. Great White fanatics will appreciate Recover. Everyone else should stick with the far superior original versions.

© Greg Prato /TiVo