Slip of the Tongue is the eighth studio album by the British-American hard rock band Whitesnake, released on 7 November 1989 in the US, by Geffen Records and six days later in Europe, by EMI. The album marked a continuation of the band's commercial success, following their multi-platinum performance of their 1987 self-titled release. Known for its polished production and a shift toward a more technical, virtuosic guitar style, the album features guitarist Steve Vai, who recorded the majority after guitarist Adrian Vandenberg was sidelined by a wrist injury. This was Keith Olsen's second and final appearance producing the group's release, while Mike Clink received the only co-producing credit for the group.
Slip of the Tongue became the group's second consecutive album to go on to the top ten of the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and the sixth consecutive in the UK Albums Chart, both peaking at number ten. The album managed to peak at number one in Finland, making it the only album in Whitesnake's discography to ever top the chart. It managed to achieve platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the US and gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the UK and has sold over four million worldwide. Despite the considerable sales, it received mixed critical reception, with some reviewers praising Vai’s musicianship while others felt it diverged from the band's blues-based roots. The album spawned several singles: "Fool for Your Loving" (a re-recording of the band's 1980 hit), "The Deeper the Love," and "Now You're Gone"—all of which received substantial radio and MTV music video airplay. It was the final studio album to be released through Geffen as they were dropped from the label after the Greatest Hits tour by the end of 1994.
The album was supported by an extensive Liquor & Poker world tour, during which the band shared stages with acts such as Aerosmith and Bad English. Over the years, Slip of the Tongue has become a subject of debate among fans and critics alike, regarding over Coverdale's collaboration with Vai regarding their "radio-friendly" approach on sound. Lyrically, the album establishes to the band's usual trademark themes of passion, usage of sexual innuendos, and sensuality. Tracks like "The Deeper the Love" explore emotional intimacy and longing, while songs such as "Fool for Your Loving" and "Now You're Gone" reflect on romantic disillusionment and resilience.
Background After touring with their previous multi-platinum eponymous album in August 1988, guitarist Vivian Campbell was having problems with the band due to musical differences. According to David Coverdale, Campbell's wife had a "falling out" with Tawny Kitaen, who was Coverdale's fianceé at that time, causing tensions between the two. Originally, lead and primary guitarist, Adrian Vandenberg, had wanted to be the sole guitarist. This led to speculation, that he did not want Campbell in the band. However, that theory was debunked by Vandenberg's assertion that he had nothing to do with Campbell's departure and he confirmed that Coverdale's statements, about Campbell's dismissal were true. Coverdale then announced that the next supporting album, was going to be written by him and Vandenberg, who had established a fruitful working relationship, at that time.
Songwriting and production Singer David Coverdale and guitarist Adrian Vandenberg began assembling the album Slip of the Tongue at Lake Tahoe utilizing material, including the title track, written while on tour and lyrics previously composed by Coverdale in Bora Bora. After approximately a month of writing, the band regrouped for three weeks of rehearsals. Campbell departed a short time later, in December 1988.
The band originally planned to work on the album with producer Bruce Fairbairn in Vancouver; this did not materialise, however, due to scheduling difficulties. Instead, producers Mike Clink and Keith Olsen were hired; Clink recorded the basic tracks while Olsen did the overdubs including vocals and keyboards.
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. Thus, they wound up recording basic rhythm tracks with session guitarist Kevin Russell as a stand-in for Vandenberg. Eventually, 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. At Vai's request, Coverdale gave him complete freedom over the guitar parts, which the former recorded at his home studio to the existing basic track tapes alongside producer Clink. Adrian Vandenberg revealed in several interviews that he thought Vai's flamboyant guitar playing was somewhat inappropriate, and that a more bluesy approach would have suited the album better. Vandenberg was credited as a major co-songwriter, while Vai was credited with "fulfilling all guitar responsibilities" on the album, and appeared in all the band's music videos. Vandenberg would not appear to play in any recording of Whitesnake albums, except "Here I Go Again", until his only appearance on the next release, 1997s Restless Heart.
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. 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. Out of the ten tracks in the album, nine were recorded in an analogue format while one was recorded digitally.
Shay Baby, who was credited as an assistant engineer, noted that the project "was just an incredible experience", and Coverdale "intended for it to be a reference point for a new decade, something truly great. We wanted a Sergeant Pep-per-type situation where we took care in making everything sound absolutely wonderful."
Release and promotion The album was hit by a majority of US-based radio stations leaking the album tracks before its intended release. In the late evening of 20 October, a local Santa Barbara radio contemporary station, KHTY, known as "Y97", obtained an unauthorised copy of Slip of the Tongue and broadcast it in its entirety. Reports claim that around 10:30 P.M, the station's disc jockey allegedly aired the full album with the intent of encouraging listeners "to get your [sic] tape recorders ready because KHTY had an exclusive and was about to play a hot new album." Geffen Records president, Eddie Rosenblatt, was at Santa Barbara and had heard KHTY's broadcast. Seven days later, a lawsuit was filed in the US District Court against the station and their owner, Pinnacle Communications, issuing a court order to prohibit them from playing all Warner Bros. Records-related releases prior to their release date and seeking at least $500,000 in damages. It was later revealed to be settled, but the label proceeded to continue with the lawsuit. KHTY's general manager, William Johnson Jr., claimed that they have received a copy from "an unknown source". At that time, the acting program director, Darren Stone "didn't understand" the consequences before playing an unauthorised release. In another incident, a Detroit AOR station WLLZ also illegally played a majority of tracks from the album, at the same time when KHTY was broadcasting the album, but no lawsuit was filed due to a lack of rival stations reporting the illegal broadcast.
Reports of the original release date were anticipated on 10 October 1989 but were moved to a month later. Slip of the Tongue was released on 7 November 1989 in the United States through Geffen Records, then was released internationally six days later through EMI. It later received a Japanese release on 18 November 1989 through CBS/Sony.
Commercial performance Reports of the album are predicted to sell high, but went below expectations. According to different sources, Slip of the Tongue had sold as far as 2.6 million by February 1990, or 4 million copies domestically, which was considered a commercial disappointment compared to the group's previous efforts. This was considerably lower than their effort of their previous release, which had sold more than 25 million. Commenting on this, Coverdale explained that he had years to write and experiment in peace before Whitesnake/1987, which were already all consistent in sales he was comfortable with, whereas Slip of the Tongue was written and recorded under greater pressure. He also blamed the album's lack of performance on radio and TV stations, saying they were "really dance-oriented at the moment", favouring artists like Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Bobby Brown.
Slip of the Tongue debuted at number ten in their native UK Albums Chart and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) within four days after its UK release, selling over 100,000 copies. This was the group's seventh top ten appearance in the chart. It ran for a consecutive eight weeks among its initial release, but eventually re-charted at number 67 at the beginning of September 1990 for another two weeks, which was attributed by the group's recent headline at the 1990 Monsters of Rock festival.
The album peaked at number ten on the US Billboard 200 chart and spent 34 weeks there. It was made as a US second top ten and the final album hit for the group. In Coverdale's account, the album shipped over 1.2 million copies within four days. Two months later, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified Slip of the Tongue platinum on 17 January 1990, denoting more than 1 million units shipped. In Canada, Slip of the Tongue debuted at number 20 on the RPM chart, ultimately peaking at number 18, and staying on the charts for 33 weeks. In Japan, the album peaked at number 12 in Oricon Albums Chart and stayed on the charts for five weeks. Three years later, it certified gold by the (RIAJ) for shipments of 100,000 copies.
Across the pancontinental Europe, the album had similar successes to other countries, peaking at number 17. Among the Scandinavian market, the album fared very well in the region. In Finland, Slip of the Tongue reached at number one, which made the only album in the group's discography to ever chart there. In Norway, the album peaked at number nine. This was the group's highest peak position among their previous releases until their 2008 release Good to Be Bad peaked at number 5 in that country. In the Swedish Albums Chart, it reached number 11. On the Australian Albums Chart, it peaked at number 39. This was the group's third appearance but their second-peaking in that region since 1987, which reached number 23. In New Zealand, it performed poorly than their previous effort, which peaked at number two, only to be charting at number 35.
Within the 2019 reissue of Slip of the Tongue, it re-charted in the UK consecutively, at number seven on the Rock & Metal Albums chart, number 43 in Scotland, number 55 on Album Sales, and number 50 on Physical Albums. The reissue also reached number 41 in Oricon Albums Chart and number 73 on the Japanese Billboard chart. It peaked in Hungary at number nine. Combined since its 1989 release, the album charted in 18 countries.
Singles Three singles were spawned from the album. "Fool for Your Loving '89" was released in October 1989 while "The Deeper the Love" and "Now You're Gone" were released in 1990. "Judgement Day" did not receive a single release, rather, it was made solely as a radio airplay. The single B-Side of the album, "Sweet Lady Luck" was released in 1990, only to be re-released in 1994 for the Greatest Hits promotion.