When Slip Of The Tongue was finally released in November 1989, it was a journalists's dream. For a start co-writer and lead guitarist Adrian Vandenberg had failed to appear on it (Steve Vai was recruited to perform all the guitar duties), due to a wrist injury. The UK press went to town saying that Adrian wasn't good enough and that DC was going to fire him. Early recording sessions did not go too well and after six months Keith Olsen was brought in to help Clink. Olsen later said that he was dismayed to find that all the songs were in the same key (A) - to the point where there were common tones everywhere. Thus they tried speeding songs up, slowing them down, altering keys, and ultimately re-recording tracks just to sort out what was essentially a basic problem that should've been identified during the demo stage. In all the album was probably recorded three times - the final time with both Olsen and Clink in the production chair.

To add to the trouble, and much to the surprise of the band, Geffen Records had included a new version of Fool For Your Loving on the album (the band had recorded it for a planned Greatest Hits record). Not only that, but they also decided to release it as the first single. The thought behind this was probably to emulate the success of the re-vamped Here I Go Again. As a single it flopped. Other tracks from the past were re-recorded with the new line-up for possible inclusion on the new album; the classic Ain't Gonna Cry No More, and We Wish You Well. Don't Break My Heart Again and the old Vandenberg hit Burning Heart were considered, but only made it as far as the rehearsal room. New track titles being banded about at the time, such as Sweet Lady Luck, Kill For The Cut, and Parking Ticket, were left off the album (Sweet Lady Luck later appeared as a b-side and also finished up on 1994's Greatest Hits compilation). Despite it's dodgy moments (check out Kitten's Got Claws for some of Steve Vai's most ridiculous over-playing, or the uninspired single The Deeper The Love), Slip Of The Tongue had some great songs on it. The anthemic opener was classic Whitesnake and complemented by the excellent Judgement Day. There was also a great ballad in the form of the hit single Now You're Gone, plus the unforgettable Sailing Ships (still one of my favourite Whitesnake songs).

DC was exhausted and disillusioned by the time he had finished touring the record in September 1990. The 'Snakes had headlined Donington in late August and a host of other festivals around europe (not forgetting the months prior to that touring the US). With sales of over 3,000,000 copies Slip Of The Tongue was hardly a flop, but DC had publicly admitted to being tired of screaming his lungs out every night, later admitting his surprise that audiences recognised which songs he was singing despite the over-playing of Steve Vai and the competing Adrian Vandenberg.

In hindsight Steve Vai had been a bad choice; never quite letting the songs breathe and maybe exploiting his position in the band to promote his solo record. Vai had also publicly spoken out about not being entirely happy within the band which didn't go down too well.

The year was wrapped up with the solo release of the Trevor Horn produced song Last Note Of Freedom, from the Days Of Thunder movie soundtrack. Featuring Trevor Rabin (Yes) on guitar and a bunch of top session musicians it was a different sound to what fans were used to (Don't Fade Away from Restless Heart is perhaps similar in style). It was time for a change....

David Coverdale unofficially retired....

Track Listing
1. Slip Of The Tongue (Coverdale/Vandenberg)
2. Cheap And Nasty (Coverdale/Vandenberg)
3. Fool for Your Loving (Coverdale/Marsden/Moody)
4. Now You're Gone (Coverdale/Vandenberg)
5. Kitten's Got Claws (Coverdale/Vandenberg)
6. Wings Of The Storm (Coverdale/Vandenberg)
7. Deeper The Love (Coverdale/Vandenberg)
8. Judgement Day (Coverdale/Vandenberg)
9. Slow Poke Music (Coverdale/Vandenberg)
10. Sailing Ships (Coverdale/Vandenberg)

Produced and engineered by Keith Olsen and Mike Clink

Musicians
David Coverdale - vocals
Adrian Vandenberg - songwriter (could not play guitar due to injury)
Steve Vai - guitar
Rudy Sarzo - bass
Tommy Aldridge - drums
Don Airey - keyboards
Glenn Hughes - backing vocals
Tommy Funderburk - backing vocals
Richard Page - backing vocals
David Rosenthal - keyboards