White Lion - Pride

I'm a fan of Vito and a fan of WL's songwriting--but not Pride, purely because of the poppy, reverby mix. Reading NLTM a while back, I noticed Scott said this about the album:

""Pride" was actually recorded twice. The version that became the huge hit was the second recording and was produced by Michael Wagener, who gave the band a slick sound that slightly robs the band of their edge. There first recordings are said to be much heavier and were recorded by Peter Hauke at 'Hotline Studio' Frankfurt, Germany. That's actually something I would like to hear."

So where is this original recording? It sounds like it would be an improvement if anything. I've researched the net about it but very little comes up. Anyone have any clues? I would love to hear it as well.

Never heard of this before... I love White Lion, soundtrack of my youth, and i think Pride sounded just like it should back when it came out. But i would love to hear the original recording..

I would like to hear it as well.I liked Pride pretty well and Vito is a great guitarist.

I never knew recorded it twice, I wonder what it sounds like it? Doubt we will get to ever hear it, unless the original recordings get somehow leaked, no real demand for White Lion to make it something commerically vibe for release.

Perhaps it's an urban legend ? It would be interesting to hear (although I do like Pride as it is).

There is this...
http://www.amazon.com/Anthology-83-89-White-Lion/dp/B000FI8M3Y/ref=ntt_mus_dp_dpt_14

Damn has it gotten pricey.  Think I bought it for a couple bucks years back.  I believe it is just the demos and not a first mix.  The songs have a real ragged and rough feel to them that works really well.  There are also some gems in the unreleased stuff.  I seem to remember the liner notes being a nice detailed history of the band too (though Mike Tramp's version of things).  Not worth fifty but certainly worth the price of the download.

Usually original mix/remaster doesn't mean much to me - but boy does Pride ever need it bad.

I couldn't find anything on-line about it. The only thing that came close was this, about their debut album Fight to Survive being re-recorded with a different line-up:

Quote :

White Lion was signed by Elektra Records in 1984 and recorded their debut album Fight to Survive. Elektra was unhappy with the final recording, and after refusing to release the album, terminated the band's contract.

The album Fight to Survive was eventually re-recorded with the new line-up and released in Japan by RCA Records in 1984. The small US independent label Grand Slam Records finally released Fight To Survive in the US on November 9, 1985.

It went on to say that they were picked up by Atlantic Records and recorded Pride with Michael Wagener.

I like how Pride sounds anyway. A product of it's time yes, but as a fan of 80s rock I have no problem with the way it sounds.

I heard and read a few interesting things today.
Mike Tramp never saw any royalties for 20 years.
IRS stepped in. The band owed a million dollars.....etc.
W.L accountants didn’t file or forgot to file for them.
Vito Bratta, 59, would not let Tramp use the White Lion name.
Went to court. Bratta won.
Bratta hasn’t been seen since 1996 or there abouts......
A recent interview with Bobby Blotzer says Bratta lives with his mother.
Needless to say Tramp isn’t happy with Bratta when people ask him questions.

This is one of my favorite albums ever. It’s nearly perfect. Bratta’s guitar work is masterful. I think the production sounds great, even all these years later.