Slide It In
Encyclopedia
Slide It In is the sixth studio album by British hard rock
band Whitesnake
, released in 1984.
It was the first Whitesnake album to be released by Geffen Records in the United States, but was remixed for the release there. Because of this, two different editions of the album exist, each with its own unique qualities. In 1988 the album re-entered the charts due to the success of the self-titled Whitesnake
album (1987 in Europe), peaking at #99. It was the final Whitesnake recording to use the band's original "snake" logo.
in a 1997 interview. "(…) I realised that as soon as we started rehearsing and playing that it wasn't the same band, it never felt right. Mel Galley
is very talented, a good singer, a great guitar player, but that band just didn't work out. Cozy
was a great drummer, I always had a lot of respect for him, but he just didn't have any feel for the old Whitesnake sound. Cozy Powell brought with him a bass player called Colin Hodgkinson
. Me and David knew Colin in the North East back in the sixties. He was a great legendary bass player, worked with the jazz/blues styles, but he never struck me as the bass player for Whitesnake. It was more the heavy metal attitude, probably because of Cozy's influence. He was a more heavy drummer than Ian Paice. There were flames and explosions going on, not really my cup of tea. It seems to me now that maybe Cozy wanted the band to be much more heavier and flasher."
's personality had changed, compared to what he was when they got to know each other in 1976. "Me and David weren't friends and co-writers anymore. David never said anything to me. He just didn't socialise with me anymore. David was a guy who five, six years earlier was my best friend."
Moody decided for once to leave Whitesnake when David Coverdale
embarrassed him in front of John Sykes
, who was then in Thin Lizzy
, who were touring alongside Whitesnake. "Then one night we were in Germany and we did kind of a mini festival with Thin Lizzy and John Sykes was on guitar. Back at the hotel we were all sitting around and David was really talking a lot to John Sykes. I was sitting there quietly and David just turned around to me, pointing his fingers and said, 'Don't you ever turn your back on the audience again'. I went, 'Pardon?' He said, 'That's really unprofessional', in front of John Sykes to make me look small and I thought to myself, 'That's it'. I nearly said to him, 'Get him in the band', cause even I knew by then he wanted somebody like John Sykes, cause he looked good and he was a good guitar player. I decided to leave after finishing the end of the tour. The last gig was in Brussels in Belgium in October 83."
Apparently, this seemed like no major problem to Coverdale
, as, according to Moody, "After the gig, I said to the tour manager, 'I want to have a meeting in my room with all the band: I have something to say'. The other band members arrived and I said, 'Where is David?'. The tour manager came and told me, 'David is entertaining people in his suite, and he won't come down.'"
This was soon to change, as Whitesnake's new US label, Geffen Records
, insisted that the album should be remixed. With the help of famous producer Keith Olsen
, "Slide it In" had its sound revamped, making it sound crisper and more dynamic, as well as giving John Sykes
and Neil Murray
the opportunity to replace Micky Moody
's guitar parts and Colin Hodgkinson
's bass parts, respectively.
reunion was imminent, and Jon Lord
played his last Whitesnake concert on April 16 on the "Måndagsbörsen" Swedish TV show. This now left Whitesnake as a four-piece (not counting the off-stage keyboard player Richard Bailey, who was brought into the band).
and then Dio
. The extensive touring, along with the MTV
-ready promotional videos for the songs "Slow An' Easy" and "Love Ain't No Stranger", helped the American market to open itself for Whitesnake, something which would lead to the band breaking big on the United States with their 1987 album three years later.
, and the bass is more noticeable. The track order is also different from the U.S. mix.
The U.S. mix lowers the keyboards and bass in the mix, and is more orientated around the guitars and drums. The U.S. version features some different guitar solos to the European edition, with the addition of John Sykes
as a third guitarist layered on top of the original guitar parts recorded by Mel Galley
and Micky Moody
. The bass guitar parts which were originally recorded by Colin Hodgkinson
were replaced by returning member Neil Murray
's bass guitar parts. The US version also included some new keyboard parts by Bill Cuomo.
There are also other, more subtle differences in the mix. For instance, on the track "Gambler" on the UK version, Coverdale's voice echoes after every line he sings - this does not happen in the U.S. mix. On the track "Slow An' Easy", the U.S. version has more echo.
In 2009, the album was re-issued as a 2-disc digipack to commemorate its 25th anniversary. On the first disc, the CD contains the entire U.S. mix of the album and 8 of the original UK mixes digitally remastered, although the 1987 remixed version of "Need Your Love So Bad
" is used on this release instead of the original version. The UK mixes of "Hungry for Love" or "Love Ain't No Stranger" are not included, but the acoustic version of "Love Ain't No Stranger" is featured (taken from Starkers in Tokyo
). A DVD containing promo videos and live performances is also included.
and Mel Galley
, except where noted.
Certifications
US
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
, released in 1984.
It was the first Whitesnake album to be released by Geffen Records in the United States, but was remixed for the release there. Because of this, two different editions of the album exist, each with its own unique qualities. In 1988 the album re-entered the charts due to the success of the self-titled Whitesnake
Whitesnake (album)
Tracks 12-15 taken from Live: In the Shadow of the Blues-20th Anniversary Edition DVD:-Singles:*"Here I Go Again" *"Is This Love"*"Still of the Night"*"Crying in the Rain" *"Give Me All Your Love"-Personnel:...
album (1987 in Europe), peaking at #99. It was the final Whitesnake recording to use the band's original "snake" logo.
Recording process and personnel changes
Recordings of Slide It In began in 1983, but things within the band were not the same as they were before, as stated by Micky MoodyMicky Moody
Michael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
in a 1997 interview. "(…) I realised that as soon as we started rehearsing and playing that it wasn't the same band, it never felt right. Mel Galley
Mel Galley
Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...
is very talented, a good singer, a great guitar player, but that band just didn't work out. Cozy
Cozy Powell
Colin Flooks , better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.-Early history:...
was a great drummer, I always had a lot of respect for him, but he just didn't have any feel for the old Whitesnake sound. Cozy Powell brought with him a bass player called Colin Hodgkinson
Colin Hodgkinson
Colin Hodgkinson is a British rock, jazz and blues bassist, who has been active since the 1960s.-Career:...
. Me and David knew Colin in the North East back in the sixties. He was a great legendary bass player, worked with the jazz/blues styles, but he never struck me as the bass player for Whitesnake. It was more the heavy metal attitude, probably because of Cozy's influence. He was a more heavy drummer than Ian Paice. There were flames and explosions going on, not really my cup of tea. It seems to me now that maybe Cozy wanted the band to be much more heavier and flasher."
Micky Moody's final departure
Micky Moody recorded all of the album, as well as co-writing the song Slow An' Easy, but things came to a head in late 1983. According to Moody, David CoverdaleDavid Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
's personality had changed, compared to what he was when they got to know each other in 1976. "Me and David weren't friends and co-writers anymore. David never said anything to me. He just didn't socialise with me anymore. David was a guy who five, six years earlier was my best friend."
Moody decided for once to leave Whitesnake when David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
embarrassed him in front of John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
, who was then in Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
, who were touring alongside Whitesnake. "Then one night we were in Germany and we did kind of a mini festival with Thin Lizzy and John Sykes was on guitar. Back at the hotel we were all sitting around and David was really talking a lot to John Sykes. I was sitting there quietly and David just turned around to me, pointing his fingers and said, 'Don't you ever turn your back on the audience again'. I went, 'Pardon?' He said, 'That's really unprofessional', in front of John Sykes to make me look small and I thought to myself, 'That's it'. I nearly said to him, 'Get him in the band', cause even I knew by then he wanted somebody like John Sykes, cause he looked good and he was a good guitar player. I decided to leave after finishing the end of the tour. The last gig was in Brussels in Belgium in October 83."
Apparently, this seemed like no major problem to Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
, as, according to Moody, "After the gig, I said to the tour manager, 'I want to have a meeting in my room with all the band: I have something to say'. The other band members arrived and I said, 'Where is David?'. The tour manager came and told me, 'David is entertaining people in his suite, and he won't come down.'"
John Sykes joins, Colin Hodgkinson leaves, Neil Murray rejoins
Soon after Micky Moody's departure, John Sykes was announced to the press as the new Whitesnake guitarist. At the same time it was in the news that Colin Hodgkinson had been fired, as David Coverdale felt that his style did not suit Whitesnake's new sound. As a result of Hodgkinson's departure, Neil Murray was asked to rejoin Whitesnake.UK Release: Mixed Reactions
When the UK released of "Slide It In" came out, it was a chart success, although most people who listened to it complained about the album mix, which was "resoundingly flat". "‘Slide It In’ was a chart success in the UK, but came in for hostile press reaction aimed at the double-entendre drenched lyrics and titles for which Whitesnake were already infamous (but which were considered increasingly un PC), as well as the resoundingly flat production job."This was soon to change, as Whitesnake's new US label, Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
, insisted that the album should be remixed. With the help of famous producer Keith Olsen
Keith Olsen
Keith Olsen is one of the most prolific and successful music producers in the industry.-Career:With over 120 albums produced netting a 1 in 4 Gold or better ratio, of which more than 24 are Platinum or better, and more than 14 are multi-Platinum, sales from Keith Olsen’s work exceeds 110 million...
, "Slide it In" had its sound revamped, making it sound crisper and more dynamic, as well as giving John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
and Neil Murray
Neil Murray (British musician)
Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
the opportunity to replace Micky Moody
Micky Moody
Michael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
's guitar parts and Colin Hodgkinson
Colin Hodgkinson
Colin Hodgkinson is a British rock, jazz and blues bassist, who has been active since the 1960s.-Career:...
's bass parts, respectively.
European Tour: Mel Galley gets injured and leaves Whitesnake
Whitesnake engaged in a European tour with the Coverdale / Sykes / Galley / Murray / Lord / Powell line-up, but the band ran into trouble when Mel Galley got involved in an accident which damaged some nerves in his arm, making him unable to play the guitar. He kept being a Whitesnake member for some time, but was fired not long after. The five-piece continued touring until April 1984, until another line-up change followed.Jon Lord leaves Whitesnake
In April 1984 the Deep PurpleDeep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
reunion was imminent, and Jon Lord
Jon Lord
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
played his last Whitesnake concert on April 16 on the "Måndagsbörsen" Swedish TV show. This now left Whitesnake as a four-piece (not counting the off-stage keyboard player Richard Bailey, who was brought into the band).
US Release: The big break for Whitesnake
The U.S. edition of "Slide It In" rapidly gained airplay in the United States, suddenly increasing the demand for Whitesnake. The more streamlined, four-piece version of the band started touring the United States supporting Quiet RiotQuiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
and then Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
. The extensive touring, along with the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
-ready promotional videos for the songs "Slow An' Easy" and "Love Ain't No Stranger", helped the American market to open itself for Whitesnake, something which would lead to the band breaking big on the United States with their 1987 album three years later.
Album versions
The European edition of the album contains the original mix. This mix features a stronger presence of keyboards by Jon LordJon Lord
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
, and the bass is more noticeable. The track order is also different from the U.S. mix.
The U.S. mix lowers the keyboards and bass in the mix, and is more orientated around the guitars and drums. The U.S. version features some different guitar solos to the European edition, with the addition of John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
as a third guitarist layered on top of the original guitar parts recorded by Mel Galley
Mel Galley
Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...
and Micky Moody
Micky Moody
Michael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
. The bass guitar parts which were originally recorded by Colin Hodgkinson
Colin Hodgkinson
Colin Hodgkinson is a British rock, jazz and blues bassist, who has been active since the 1960s.-Career:...
were replaced by returning member Neil Murray
Neil Murray (British musician)
Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
's bass guitar parts. The US version also included some new keyboard parts by Bill Cuomo.
There are also other, more subtle differences in the mix. For instance, on the track "Gambler" on the UK version, Coverdale's voice echoes after every line he sings - this does not happen in the U.S. mix. On the track "Slow An' Easy", the U.S. version has more echo.
In 2009, the album was re-issued as a 2-disc digipack to commemorate its 25th anniversary. On the first disc, the CD contains the entire U.S. mix of the album and 8 of the original UK mixes digitally remastered, although the 1987 remixed version of "Need Your Love So Bad
Need Your Love So Bad
"Need Your Love So Bad" sometimes known as "I Need Your Love So Bad", is a blues song first published in 1955 and written by Mertis John Jr....
" is used on this release instead of the original version. The UK mixes of "Hungry for Love" or "Love Ain't No Stranger" are not included, but the acoustic version of "Love Ain't No Stranger" is featured (taken from Starkers in Tokyo
Starkers In Tokyo
Starkers in Tokyo is a live acoustic album by Whitesnake released only in Japan on September 9, 1997. It is performed in the style of the Unplugged series and simply features David Coverdale on vocals and Adrian Vandenberg on acoustic guitar. The performance was recorded at the EMI studios in...
). A DVD containing promo videos and live performances is also included.
Track listing
All songs written by David CoverdaleDavid Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
and Mel Galley
Mel Galley
Mel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...
, except where noted.
25th Anniversary Edition DVD
Singles
- "Guilty of LoveGuilty of Love (Whitesnake song)"Guilty of Love" is a single by the English hard rock band Whitesnake, from their 1984 album Slide It In. The song peaked at number 31 on the UK singles charts....
" - "Standing in the Shadow"
- "Give Me More Time"
- "Love Ain't No StrangerLove Ain't No Stranger"Love Ain't No Stranger" is a single by the English hard rock band Whitesnake, and is taken from the band's US-breakthrough album Slide It In. The song charted at number 44 on the UK Singles Chart and 34 on the US Mainstream rock charts...
" - "Slow An' EasySlow An' Easy"Slow An' Easy" is a song by the English hard rock band Whitesnake, taken from their 1984 US-breakthrough album Slide It In. The song , along with the previous single "Love Ain't No Stranger", were the bands first real "hits" in the US, although they only reached #17 and #34 on the Billboard...
" (Promo single)
UK release
- David CoverdaleDavid CoverdaleDavid 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
– lead vocals - Mel GalleyMel GalleyMel Galley was an English guitarist and a former member of the Hard rock bands Whitesnake, Trapeze, Finders Keepers and Phenomena. He was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England...
– guitars, backing vocals - Micky MoodyMicky MoodyMichael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
– guitars - Colin HodgkinsonColin HodgkinsonColin Hodgkinson is a British rock, jazz and blues bassist, who has been active since the 1960s.-Career:...
– bass - Jon LordJon LordJonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
– keyboards - Cozy PowellCozy PowellColin Flooks , better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.-Early history:...
– drums
US release
- David Coverdale – lead vocals
- John SykesJohn SykesJohn James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
– guitars - Mel Galley – guitars, backing vocals
- Neil MurrayNeil Murray (British musician)Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
– bass - Jon Lord - keyboards
- Cozy Powell – drums
- Bill Cuomo – keyboards
Credits
- Mixed by Keith OlsenKeith OlsenKeith Olsen is one of the most prolific and successful music producers in the industry.-Career:With over 120 albums produced netting a 1 in 4 Gold or better ratio, of which more than 24 are Platinum or better, and more than 14 are multi-Platinum, sales from Keith Olsen’s work exceeds 110 million...
at Goodnight LA - Mastered by Greg FulginitiGreg FulginitiGregory Fulginiti is an American recording and mastering engineer.In a career spanning three decades, Fulginiti was nominated for the TEC Awards by Mix magazine 6 times, earned 175 Gold and Platinum Awards, 25 Multi-Platinum Awards, 100 Number One recordings, 135 Grammy nominees, including the...
at Artisan Sound Recorders - John KalodnerJohn KalodnerJohn David Kalodner is a retired American A&R executive. His achievements included signing Foreigner, AC/DC, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins to Atlantic Records in the seventies....
: John Kalodner
Album
Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Billboard 200 | 40 |
| U.K. Albums Chart | 9 |
Certifications
| Year | Album | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Slide It In | 2X Platinum (RIAA) |
Singles
UK| Name | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Guilty of Love | UK Charts | 31 |
| Standing in the Shadow | UK Charts | 62 |
| Give Me More Time | UK Charts | 29 |
| Love Ain't No Stranger | UK Charts | 44 |
US
| Name | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Love Ain't No Stranger | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 34 |
| Slow An' Easy | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 17 |