Europe missed out on the three bonus tracks featured on the Japanese album. One of the bonus tracks, namely Can't Stop Now (which harks back to the old days lyrically as well as vocally) was used as a b-side on the Too Many Tears single. The other bonus tracks appeared on the Don't Fade Away single. Anyone owning the Japanese version will have gotten the family tree booklet also missing from the european edition.

The album itself is a far cry from the heavy metal screaming days of Slip Of The Tongue. Although there are nods to Coverdale/Page in songs such as Take Me Back Again, the album is pretty mellow in places and more like older Whitesnake. DC sings well (with a slightly different tone in the higher ranges), and I feel older fans who hated the late eighties will be pleasantly surprised. The first single Too Many Tears was a soul ballad and personally I'd have preferred the more upbeat Restless Heart which is a bit more exciting to these ears.

Adrian Vandenberg's guitar playing on the album is very tasteful (not a widdle in sight) and, even as a massive John Sykes fan, I do like the bluesy style here(very much like his work on the excellent Manic Eden record, but with possibly a little less fire). The band line-up on this album is DC (vocals), Adrian Vandenberg (guitars), Guy Pratt (bass), Brett Tuggle (keyboards), and Denny Carmassi (drums). As is the usual case this line-up did not make the transition as a touring band with Tuggle and Pratt making way for Derek Hilland and Tony Franklin respectively (a second guitarist was also added for the live show in the shape of former Mr. Mister six stringer Steve Farris).

In all it's a good record. It does lack the late eighties power of the 1987 album, but I think it's a transitional record, with David moving towards a different direction (occasionally getting caught in two minds). Even so, it comes highly recommended and the moody album opener, and second single, Don't Fade Away were big clues as to where DC was heading for the solo album Into The Light. If you were a fan up to the 1987 album you'll love Restless Heart, if you were a fan from Slide It In onwards it might take a bit of getting used to....

David Coverdale & Whitesnake - the start of a new chapter....