WHITESNAKE — Slip Of The Tongue (review)

WHITESNAKE — Slip Of The Tongue album cover Album · 1989 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Negoba
Toto Were Not in 1987 Anymore

Slip of the Tongue was the follow-up to 1987's phenomenally successful self-titled album by Whitesnake. Like the previous two albums, the recording of Slip of the Tongue involved plenty of drama. The famous all star touring band of Adrian Vandenberg, Vivian Campbell, Rudy Sarzo, and Tommy Aldridge had sizzled on stage, but much of the fire was fueled by interpersonal rivalry and ego. Campbell was kicked out (ostensibly for writing songs that didn't fit the band), leaving Vandenberg as the sole axe-slinger. He and Coverdale wrote all of the material for this album and were set to record when Vandenberg decided to show off on piano one night. He developed severe tendonitis and was not able to play at ability for many months. After significant delays in his rehab, Steve Vai was brought in to record the guitar parts.

To be clear, I am enormous Steve Vai fan. He is one of the most brilliant musicians to ever play rock guitar. He is almost untouchable as a player. But like Tommy Bolin, everything he plays sounds like HIM. Though some attempts were made to make this sound like the big sound of Whitesnake of 1987, mainly it sounds like Vai. Unfortunately, he didn't write any of the material and we get an amalgam the sounded great on paper but was merely good in actuality. To me, the power of the 1987 album was John Sykes guitar tone. As such, I preferred Blue Murder's debut album which came out slightly before this one.

My favorite song on this album was "Wings of the Storm" which is a little more epic in feel and features an insane Vai solo. His touches on "Sailing Ships" are great, including his signature Am7 slide that also appears on D.L. Roth's "Damn Good." His cat calls on "Kittens Got Claws" are great fun. The rehash of "Fool for your Loving" is solid. Cpverdale's voice is at full strength. But we just don't have the crushing riffing of "Crying in the Rain" or "Still of the Night." Again, this band was not the same without Sykes.

I saw this band headlining the 1990 Monsters of Rock Tour. The chemistry of the SotT band on stage was purely professional, and as the consummate professional Steve Vai put on a great show. But the remainder of the band clearly were a bit weary after the massive tour they had done for the big album. There wasn't alot of energy, either good or bad. In contrast, Great White (a band of buddies) blew me away. It was still a great day of music, and a show I'll always remember.

This is one of the big 3 of Whitesnake's career and a huge album in my personal history. 7/10 despite my criticisms.
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