Track Listing

1. Slip Of The Tongue
2. Cheap And Nasty
3. Fool For Your Loving
4. Now You're Gone
5. Kitten's Got Claws
6. Wings Of The Storm
7. Deeper The Love
8. Judgement Day
9. Slow Poke Music
10. Sailing Ships

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37019 in Music
• Released on: 1994-07-11
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
When it became known that Vivian Campbell had left Whitesnake and been replaced by six-string master Steve Vai in 1989,the rock world and guitar fans everywhere waited with batedbreath for the new line-up's first album together. Vai was supposed to join forces with Whitesnake's other guitarist, Adrian Vandenberg, but a freak injury to Vandenberg's hands prior to the sessions meant that Vai handled all the guitar duties himself.
While the album wasn't on par with such past releases as 1984's SLIDE IT IN and 1987's smash self-titled release, SLIP OF THE TONGUE was another hit--the band, and especially singer David Coverdale, was once again in fine Zeppelin-esque form. A re-recording of an earlier UK hit, "Fool For Your Loving", was an MTV favourite, while such raunchy rockers as the album-opening title track, "Cheap An' Nasty", and "Kittens Got Claws" fitted in well with the then-thriving party/glam metal climate. Once the world tour for SLIPOF THE TONGUE wrapped up, Coverdale would quietly retire Whitesnake.

Customer Reviews

It's Vai's album really...
Bestriding this album like a behemoth is the guitar of one Steve Vai. Or rather the three hundred and eighty-seven guitars you can hear all at once whilst listening to it. In the same way that DLR's first two albums were pretty much Steve Vai albums with the lyrics sung by somebody famous, this is Vai's triumph more than anyone's, and his guitar playing is fantastic throughout.

Know primarily for his soloing, Vai is in my opinion criminally underrated as a rhythm player, and he underpins these songs with great riffs and chops. Of course he wouldn't be Stevie if he didn't let fly after every middle eight, and the fretwork doesn't disappoint either (the track 'Wings Of The Storm immediately springs to mind).

The songs and lyrics themselves now seem very dated, and listening to it now the album appears to occasionaly slip unknowingly into Spinal Tap style self parody. But these songs were written and recorded before we knew who Kurt Cobain was, and songs like Cheap 'N' Nasty and Kittens Got Claws were accepted by listeners without any thought of a wry smile.

Anyway, If you love Little Stevie, (and who doesn't?) you should own this album.

Hmmm, don't listen to anybody who tells you this is better than '1987'
So Mr Steve Vai is the axeman of choice for recording duties on this album. The songs are weaker than those on "1987" but surely Vai's guitar rescues the whole thing, right? No! There is little here of melody from Vai, no glorious solos to tug at the heart strings. Just a succession of technical, competent but ultimately dull guitar work. John Sykes, in my opinion, is a MUCH better composer of both riffs and solos. Vai is an astonishing technician but that's as far as it goes. Brilliant player but he's nowhere near as good as Sykes in a band setting. We all knew that Sykes' guitar work on "1987" was phenomenal and that's why Coverdale felt it necessary to get someone of Vai's stature in to record the follow-up. Ultimately though, Coverdale doesn't bring the songs and Vai just doesn't bring the chops. That isn't to say that this is a bad album, it's not. There are a couple of good songs on here, it's not all bad. I'm just criticising Coverdale for ditching the best guitarist and songwriting partner he ever had (Sykes)! Who knows how many more gems we could have had after the "1987" album?

Love it.
I know not every Whitesnake fan liked this release (I gather Bernie Marsden had hysterics watching Steve Vai perform "Fool For Your Lovin'" on TV), but I think it's fantastic.

I've always been a fan of Steve Vai's playing, and to hear him in a band context is a real treat.

The overall songwriting is strong, although apparently Coverdale now hates Kitten Got Claws, in particular Sailing Ships, which is one of the best rock ballads ever written, the rhythm section tight, and Steve just hs a ball, playing his heart out (overplaying? who cares!) on every track. I also love Wings of the Storm - what a riff! And the SOLO!

At least as good as 1987.