Slip of the Tongue

After the tour for the band's previous multi-platinum self-titled album, guitarist Vivian Campbell left the group due to musical differences. Even with Campbell's leaving, the writing process for a new Whitesnake album started at Lake Tahoe with singer David Coverdale and guitarist Adrian Vandenberg. Some material, including the title track, had already been written while on tour and some lyrics were finished by Coverdale in Bora Bora.

Adrian Vandenberg had planned to record for the album, but the worsening of an existing injury made it painful for him to play, requiring surgery.[5] For the recording, Coverdale chose ex-Frank Zappa and David Lee Roth guitarist Steve Vai. Coverdale was unfamiliar with Vai's work with Zappa or Roth, but had seen him in the 1986 film Crossroads, in which Vai had greatly impressed him. Adrian Vandenberg revealed in several interviews that he thinks Vai's flamboyant guitar playing was somewhat inappropriate, and that a more bluesy approach would have suited the album better.[6]

Most of the backing vocals are by Tommy Funderburk and Mr. Mister lead singer Richard Page; Coverdale's friend and former Deep Purple bandmate Glenn Hughes contributed backing vocals to three songs.[7] Once again, keyboardist Don Airey, along with session musicians Claude Gaudette and David Rosenthal, was brought in to do some keyboard parts, but just like with Hughes, much of his material didn't make the final cut of the album.

The album was finally released in late 1989. It reached number 10 on the US Billboard 200 chart,[2] going platinum.[4] Adrian Vandenberg was credited as a major co-songwriter, while Steve Vai was credited with "fulfilling all guitar responsibilities" on the album, and appeared in all the band's music videos. In October 2019 was released a 30th Anniversary Edition box set, including a newly remastered version of the album as well as other recordings and videos.[8]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[9]
Christgau's Record Guide	(D)[10]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	[11]
MusicHound Rock	[12]
Rolling Stone	[13]

The album was met with mixed reactions, with many saying the album's sound was too far from the original Whitesnake-sound. David Coverdale himself has also seen the album as one of the weakest in the band's catalogue, but has since found somewhat of an appreciation for it. He summed his feeling up by saying:

For a long time, I felt the album lacked a certain Whitesnake feel in the music, but, countless people thro' the years have assured me that they enjoyed and enjoy the album, nonetheless. So, now I happily accept it as a significant part of the Whitesnake catalogue and to be honest, I enjoy it more now than I did back then. It was an album plagued with challenges and obstacles for me, personally, from many avenues, but hey...nobody said being successful is supposed to be easy!

The world tour for the album was the biggest the band had undertaken yet, and included their third appearance and second headlining of the famous Monsters of Rock festival. After the tour Coverdale folded the band and took a break from the music business until late 1991 when he started to work with Jimmy Page, which resulted in the 1993 album Coverdale•Page.

All tracks are written by David Coverdale and Adrian Vandenberg, except where noted.

Whitesnake

• David Coverdale – vocals
• Steve Vai – guitar
• Rudy Sarzo – bass
• Tommy Aldridge – drums
• Adrian Vandenberg – guitar (credited but not recorded)

Additional musicians

• Don Airey, David Rosenthal, Claude Gaudette – keyboards
• Glenn Hughes, Tommy Funderburk, Richard Page – backing vocals

Production

• Produced and engineered by Mike Clink and Keith Olsen
• Assisted by Noel Golden, Gordon Fordyce, Shay Baby and Allen Abrahamson
• Mixed at Record Plant Studios by Mike Clink and Keith Olsen
• Mastered by Greg Fulginiti at Artisan Sound Recorders
• John Kalodner: A&R

• Official site
• Slip of the Tongue at Discogs (list of releases)