Throwback Thursday: "Slip of the Tongue", by Whitesnake

In 1987, Whitesnake was launched into the stratosphere in terms of fame and commercial success. Their album Whitesnake aka 1987 was filled to the brim with chart topping hits and everyone knew who they were, or at least their songs. In 1989 it was time for the David Coverdale lead band to start working on a follow-up LP that would be strong enough to keep the gravy train going. The result was their final initial run album Slip of the Tongue.

Although Slip of the Tongue did not do anywhere near as well for Whitesnake commercially, it still featured many songs that loyal long time fans of the band still know and love to this day, such as "The Deeper the Love", "Slip of the Tongue", "Fool for Your Lovin' '89", etc. To make things even better, guitar god Steve Vai did all of the guitar playing on this record, which in turn brought it to a much higher level musically.

"The Deeper the Love" definitely has that late 80's Whitesnake hair metal ballad feel to it. It just oozes cheese and hairspray. Definitely the kind of song you put on to get your girlfriend in the mood back in the 80's. That said, its saving grace is that Steve Vai does one hell of a wicked job on the guitar work - especially in the solo section. None of the other guitarists who have come and gone through the band since have been able to come anywhere near being able to touch it.

Now for those of you with actual taste in music, this album still has you covered. By far without a single fraction of a shadow of a doubt, "Wings of the Storm" is the single best track on Slip of the Tongue. Hell, it might be the best hair metal era Whitesnake song. This is straight up metal. Ripping riffs, powerful melodies, passionate singing, driving thundering rhythms, and a solo that Steve Vai himself admitted was the most difficult thing he has ever played in his entire career. Definitely worth checking out.

Slip of the Tongue is by far nowhere near being the greatest Whitesnake album, though it does have some of their best tracks. It was a solid effort to attempt to follow up 1987, but it just didn't quite hit the mark commercially. That said, nearly 30 years later a lot of it still holds up and is worth looking into at least once. If nothing else, it's some Steve Vai shredding that some of you may not have heard at all yet.

Slip of the Tongue, by Whitesnake receives 3.5/5 stars

Track List:

1. Slip of the Tongue
2. Cheap an' Nasty
3. Fool for You Loving '89
4. Now You're Gone
5. Kitten's Got Claws
6. Wings of the Storm
7. The Deeper the Love
8. Judgment Day
9. Slow Poke Music
10. Sailing Ships

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Slip-Tongue-Whitesnake/dp/B000000OZ8/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1521167515&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=slip+on+the+tongue+whitesnake