Released on 7 Novemeber 1989 "Slip Of The Tongue" was the 8th., studio album by British band Whitesnake, released on 7 November first in the USA, and on the 13 November in the UK, the album peaked No. 10 in the UK/USA and spawned three singles "Fool For Your Loving' 89", "The Deeper The Love" & "Now You're Gone". It was the final album the band release with Geffen.
After touring with their massive eponymous album, the band's guitarist Vivian Campbell had problems with the band due to musical differences. According to David Coverdale, Campbell's wife had a "falling out" with Tawny Kitaen, who was Coverdale's fiancé at that time, causing tensions between the two. Originally, lead and primary guitarist, Adrian Vandenberg
had wanted to be the sole guitarist. This led to speculation that he
did not want Campbell in the band. However, that theory was debunked by
Vandenberg's assertion that he had nothing to do with Campbell's
departure and confirmation of Coverdale's statements about Campbell's
dismissal.
So Coverdale then announced that the next supporting album was going to be
written by him and Vandenberg, who established a fruitful working
relationship at that time. The singer David Coverdale and guitarist Adrian Vandenberg began assembling the album Slip of the Tongue at Lake Tahoe utilizing material, including the title track, written while on tour and lyrics previously composed by Coverdale in Bora Bora. After approximately a month of writing, the band regrouped for three weeks of rehearsals.
Adrian Vandenberg had planned to record for the album, but the
worsening of an existing injury made it painful for him to play,
requiring surgery. For the recording, Coverdale chose ex-Frank Zappa and David Lee Roth guitarist Steve Vai. Coverdale was unfamiliar with Vai's work with Zappa or Roth, but had seen him in the 1986 film Crossroads,
in which Vai had greatly impressed him.
Adrian Vandenberg revealed in
several interviews that he thinks Vai's flamboyant guitar playing was
somewhat inappropriate, and that a more bluesy approach would have suited the album better, nevertheless, Adrian Vandenberg was credited as a major co-songwriter, while Steve
Vai was credited with "fulfilling all guitar responsibilities" on the
album.
The album peaked at number ten on the US Billboard 200
chart and spent 34 weeks there. It was made as a US second top-ten and
the final album hit there. The album also charted at that same peak
position in the UK Albums chart and ran for a consecutive 8 weeks there, re-charting for another two weeks in the weeks of 1 September 1990. The album sold over 4 million copies worldwide as
of August 1990, only half of the previous album sold in the US (8
million copies) alone. This was considered in a commercial outlook, a disappointment. Coverdale stated that
within four days after its release, over 1.2 million records were sold
in America.
The album opener "Cheap an' Nasty" was a kinf of marriage of "Slide It In"/"Slow Poke Music" a very sexy little piece of Whitesnake stuff, then the powerful "Fool For Your Loving' 89", at first, Coverdale was mortified when allowed himself to be talked into letting Geffen release the re-recorded version
of "Fool for Your Loving", instead of "Judgement Day" as the first one
out of the box to promote the album, "Now You're Gone" that's was putting Coverdale in a
situation looking if I lost this most precious woman in my life, how I
would feel, because you usually blow perfect relationships by being
stupid, "Kitten's Got Claws" was the easiest song to sing from the album.
In addition, Coverdale mentioned that the song was written for Tawny, referring
to her last name calling as a "kitten.", "Wings Of The Storm" it is a love
song, it's very optimistic. You've got the situation, now it's up to
you to keep it together, the brilliant "The Deeper The Love" it's the closest song to a
solo R&B song. It's once again it's optimistic, it's positive, it's
like look and know, "Judgement Day" was referenced when Coverdale had back surgery in the spring of 1988
due to a herniated disc that had to be removed caused by intensive stage
performances he had encountered throughout the years. He was given a
medication called, "Percodan"
to relieve him from his post-operation. He said that he was in a
"desensitizing condition" given the fact that he was physically and
mentally worn out from that medication and finally "Slow Poke Music" taking flares from the very first solo album I did, you'll see "S.P. Music" on Coverdale's publishing credits, which was actually "Slow Poke Music,"Sailing Ships" it's a message from me to all of
you, to everybody. That's your ambition. That is your fantasy.
It's up to you to exercise that. Everybody has so many walls them
because of this ridiculous society that we live in, you know, you must
express yourself, you have to, 'cause nobody's gonna do it for you.
Unlike the band's previous album, which received widespread acclaim, this had mixed reactions, talking about this album that was too far from the original sound, questioning Coverdale and Vai collaboration, raising
doubts about the band's longevity and the musical style the band was fit
for, but the album maybe is not passionate enough to evoke pleasure but has "its
moments," even Coverdale himself has also seen the album as one of the
weakest in the band's catalogue, but has since found somewhat of an
appreciation for it.
Slip Of The Tongue Track List:
1. Slip Of The Tongue
2. Cheap an' Nasty
3. Fool For Your Loving' 89
4. Now You're Gone
5. Kittens Got Claws
6. Wings Of The Storm
7. The Deeper The Love
8. Judgment Day
9. Slow Poke Music
10. Sailing Ships
