•
Rating: Honestly, I was somewhat surprised not to find an album like "Slip Of The Tongue" already reviewed in Debaser's archives, and the reason is easily understandable: we're talking about Whitesnake and a lineup that, for the first time, features the six-string wizard Steve Vai on lead guitar, Tommy Aldridge on drums, Rudy Sarzo on bass, and valuable collaborations like Don Airey on keyboards or Glenn Hughes as backup vocals.
All the ingredients for a memorable work are indeed present and, although in terms of sales it was not a real success like "1987", the final product turns out to be equally of great quality, both in terms of songs and musically. Certainly, the same cannot be said for the atmosphere in which this work was completed; many will remember the previous departure of Vivian Campbell from the group and the subsequent injury of Adrian Vandenberg (the composer of a good portion of the guitar parts of "Slip Of The Tongue"); basically, a true curse seemed to haunt Coverdale during that period, and for this reason, the only "titan" capable of facing such a calamity entered the scene, able to swiftly learn the guitar parts already written 90% and to assimilate them with his great and unique personality: Steve Vai.
After a rather aggressive opening given by the song that lends the album its title, the record gradually shifts to more melodic sounds, as in the completely original reinterpretation of the track "Fool For Your Loving" (originally written by the group in 1980 in "Ready an Willing") or even in the ballad "Now You're Gone" which almost seems, at times, to bring back memories of the early Whitesnake style, but with a Vai always ready to scratch with his histrionic and virtuosic guitar. The guitar intro present in "Kittens Got Claws" is a true emulation of a cat's meow, almost giving a modern Hendrixian version of the sound, but the highest level is definitely reached in "Wings of the Storm" which alternates slow parts with fast ones with great technical skill, and even more so in "Sailing Ships", the last track of this album and probably also the one with the greatest potential, with a magnificent Steve Vai both in the acoustic section and arrangements, as well as in the thrilling solo, but, if possible, perhaps even more for the active presence of Glenn Hughes as a backup voice next to Coverdale, a presence that brings to mind, with a hint of nostalgia, the magical duets of the glorious Deep Purple. A song often underrated by critics, "Slow Poke Music", should be highlighted, however, for an absolutely brilliant and original guitar work by Vai and a second ballad that became very famous also due to its notable radio play, "The Deeper The Love", where Coverdale displays an incredibly sensual and mature voice.
Adding to all this is a respectable production by Mike Clink and Keith Olsen, "Slip Of The Tongue" should rightfully be considered a significant album in the hard rock genre, with the only limitation being that it was crafted, due to sheer necessity, in a very tight timeframe, especially for Steve Vai, who materially couldn't manage his boundless talent to its fullest, as in his works with Diamond Dave, but as we know, miracles were only performed by the Messiah!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Slip of the Tongue (05:23)
Sometime after midnight, the heat begins to rise
Girl you'd shame the devil with the look that's in your eyes
I know what's on your mind and I can't run away
If I don't give you what you want there's gonna be some hell to pay
Creeping up behind me, knocking at my door
I'd never be too blind to see just what you're looking for
You roll me over, make me moan
Ooh, such a velvet touch, you'd melt a heart of stone
(chorus:)
Anytime, anyplace, I'm just the fool who puts a smile on your face
A slave to love and keep you young
All it takes and no mistakes is just a slip of the tongue
And if I want a little love I gotta take a little pain
Make me think a thousand times before I kiss again
I'm waiting on your, every day and every night
If I don't try to satisfy there's gonna be a fist fight
(chorus)
The sun is slowly rising and I'm sinking to my knees
I'm dying just to close my eyes, I'm begging, darlin' please
I hear you calling and I'm crawling cross the floor
I give you everything I got and still you ask for more
(chorus)
02 Judgement Day (05:11)
The night is gone,
The time has come
To find a new day has begun,
An' it promises to stay.
To soothe the pain of wasted years
An' kiss away the bitter tears
A love to light the way.
And from the darkness
Comes a smile,
That reaches out for many miles,
Touching everyone.
No more shadows of the past,
Your spirit free to fly at last,
Shining in the sun.
Like the rolling thunder,
I feel the power of love,
It's a gift from heaven
And the Lord above.
We walk toward desire,
Hand and hand
Through fields of fire.
With only love to light the way
On the road to Judgement Day.
Take it easy, take it slow,
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go,
Places never seen before.
'Cause I love you, an' I need you,
I'll do my best to please you,
My love can open any door.
When you hear the thunder
In your darkest night,
I'll be there to hold you
When the lightning strikes.
So don't you worry,
You can ease your mind
'Cause we'll be dancing
At the end of time.
Who loves you, who needs you,
Who'll do his best to please you,
I love you, I need you
I'll get down on my knees.
We walk toward desire,
Hand and hand
Through fields of fire.
With only love to light the way
On the road to Judgement Day.
(Solo)
So don't you worry, baby
On the road to Judgement Day.
Who loves you, who needs you
On the road to Judgement Day.
So I love you, and I need you.
My love can open any door.
My love can open any door.
05 Kittens Got Claws (05:03)
Walking down the street
You're the center of my universe
You got the world in your pocket,
My manhood in your purse
You ain't a bad girl, honey,
No matter what the neighbours say,
It's just that you were those skin-tight dresses
With your G-string tuned to "A"
Sweet, sweet, child of the street
Heaven sent, you're an angel dressed in black,
Cool, stiletto strut, you're a drop jaw cardiac
You're the genuine, feline, prettiest girl I've ever seen,
With your thief of hearts smile
You're a certified pleasure machine
Sweet, sweet, child of the street
Dressed to kill in diamonds and fur,
You get what you want
With your pussy cat purr
But, the kittens got claws,
She'll tear your heart out
The kittens got claws,
She'll scratch your back
The kittens got claws
She'll tease an' please you
The kittens got claws,
She's a heart attack
You treat me good,
Sometimes you treat me bad,
But, keep it up, honey,
You're the best time I've ever had
No matter what you put me through I must confess,
Oh, you got more style than a brand new XJS
Sweet, sweet, child of the street
Dressed to kill in diamonds and fur,
You get what you want
With your pussy cat purr
But, the kittens got claws,
She'll tear your heart out
The kittens got claws,
She'll scratch your back
The kittens got claws,
She'll tease an' please you
The kittens got claws,
She's a heart attack...
Walking down the street
You're the center of my universe
You got the world in your pocket,
My manhood in your purse
I know you ain't a bad girl, honey,
No matter what the neighbours say,
It's just that you were those skin-tight dresses
With your G-string tuned to "A"
Sweet, sweet, child of the street
Dressed to kill in diamonds and fur,
You get what you want
With your pussy cat purr
But, the kittens got claws,
She'll tear your heart out
The kittens got claws,
She'll scratch your back
The kittens got claws,
She'll tease an' please you
The kittens got claws,
She'll blow your stack
The kittens got claws,
She'll tear your heart out
The kittens got claws,
She'll scratch your back
The kittens got claws,
She'll tease an' please you
The kittens got claws,
She's a heart attack...
You scratch my back, baby,
An' I'll scratch yours...
06 Cheap an' Nasty (03:31)
Come on baby...
I get so confused,
But, my heart knows you're one of a kind
Leather an' lace, an angels face,
Riding on a one track mind
You're fully loaded with cruise control,
My four wheels rock with your back seat roll
You're cheap an' nasty,
All you wanna do is give it up, give it up
Cheap an' nasty,
Come on an' do the dirty with me
I get so excited, babe, when I'm invited
To ride in your limousine,
You drive it every day, burn it every night,
I wonder how you keep it so clean
Smooth accelerator, you get me so loose,
You keep your motor running till I run out of juice
You're cheap an' nasty,
All you wanna do is give it up, give it up
Cheap an' nasty,
Come on an' do the dirty with me
Cheap an' nasty
I never knew it could be this way
An' I never thought I'd ever complain,
But, gimme a second just to catch my breath
Babe, before you do it again
All the boys call your name
Down the wishing well,
Baby, when you go
You're like a cat out of hell
You're cheap an' nasty,
All you wanna do is give it up, give it up
Cheap an' nasty,
All you wanna do is give it up, give it up
Cheap an' nasty,
All you wanna do is give it up, give it up
Cheap an' nasty,
Come on an' do the dirty with me
Come on an' do the dirty,
Come on an' do the dirty,
Come on an' do the dirty with me
Come on an' do the dirty with me...
09 Wings of the Storm (05:06)
(Coverdale/Vandenberg)
On an' on, the road goes on,
An' it'll go on forever,
Time will show if you and I
Will walk that road together
Through fire an' water, ice an' snow,
Heaven above us, an' hell below,
Holding on, trying to walk the line
With sweet temptation running close behind
I'm talking 'bout love
Ooh, love
Like a fire forever burning,
A flaming heart that's yearning, more an' more
A love to keep us warm
On the wings of the storm
Everyday an' every night
I keep hoping it'll be all right,
Trying to leave the past behind,
Still looking for some peace of mind
But, destiny brought us together
An' promised us a time that would last forever
Tho' it's all been said before
It's the kind of love worth fighting for
I'm talking about love
Ooh, love
Like a fire forever burning,
A flaming heart that's yearning, more an' more
A love to keep you warm
On the wings of the storm
On an' on, the road goes on,
An' it'll go on forever,
Time will show if you and I
Will walk that road together
I'm talking about love
Ooh, love
Like a fire forever burning,
A flaming heart that's yearning, more an' more
A love to keep us warm
On the wings of the storm
My love will keep you warm
On the wings of the storm...
10 Sailing Ships (06:06)
Sailing Ships
Do you remember
Standing on the shore,
Head in the clouds,
Your pockets filled with dreams
Bound for glory
On the seven seas of life,
But, the ocean is deeper than it seems
The wind was with you
When you left on the morning tide,
You set your sail for an island in the sun,
On the horizon, dark clouds up ahead,
For the storm has just begun
Take me with you,
Take me far away,
Lead me to the distant shore
Sail your ship across the water,
Spread your wings across the sky
Take the time to see
You're the one who holds the key,
Or sailing ships will pass you by
You cry for mercy,
When you think you've lost your way,
You drift alone, if all your hope is gone
So find the strength and you will see
You control, your destiny,
After all is said and done
So take me with you,
Take me far away,
An' lead me to the distant shore
Sail your ship across the water,
Spread your wings across the sky
Take the time to see
You're the one who holds the key,
Or sailing ships will pass,
Sailing ships will pass you,
Sailing ships will pass you by...
Take me with you,
Take me far away,
We'll ride the wind across the sky
Spread your wings and you will see
You control, your destiny,
So sailing ships don't pass you by
So take me with you,
Take me far away,
We'll ride the wind across the sky
Spread your wings and you will see
You control, your destiny,
So sailing ships don't pass,
So sailing ships don't pass you,
So sailing ships don't pass you by...
Baby, baby, baby, baby,
You'll find that you're the only one
Can sail your ship across the sky
Loading comments slowly
