Whitesnake fans worldwide now have something to be excited about! To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Whitesnake’s multi-platinum Slide It In album, Frontiers Music Srl, the Italian-based label, will release Live In ‘84 – Back To The Bone, a complete celebration of the group’s awe inspiring lineup during what many feel was the incredible beginning of what Coverdale called his desire to make Whitesnake more “electrifying” on record & on stage.
Set for release in the EU on November 7th and in North America on November 11th, this release will be available in DVD and a Deluxe CD/DVD edition.
Culled from audio and video recordings and unheard demos from the private collection of Whitesnake leader and vocalist, David Coverdale, the release offers an ultra-rare collection of material, performed by the band’s acclaimed ’83-’84 line-ups. Featured on the record & driven by the awesome Cozy Powell on drums (ex- Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, MSG and later on Gary Moore and Black Sabbath, among others); unique guitarist John Sykes, whom Coverdale credits with inspiring a whole generation of six stringers after his breathtaking work on the Whitesnake 87’ album and Bassist exceptionale Neil Murray.
There is also an extraordinary emotional bonus content featuring legendary keyboardist Jon Lord performing his last show ever with Whitesnake on video and also the bonus CD.
“It’s still hard for me to find the words when remembering that half the incredible band who originally recorded the Slide It In album with me have passed away,” says Coverdale. “It’s incredibly difficult to articulate: Cozy Powell…Mel Galley…Jon Lord…All amazing people and amazing musicians. Their memories live on in our hearts & in the music they made. I miss them beyond words… Wait until you see & hear them playing as only they can and add in the fiery guitar assault of the incredibly gifted John Sykes, plus the relentless melodic bass pounding of Neil Murray.”
Coverdale and co-producer Michael McIntyre launched a worldwide search for the best quality video footage and audio tracks from the 1984 tour. Among the gems found was a set from: Super-Rock, recorded at the first Japanese rock festival at Seibu Stadium in Tokyo and an invaluable video of Jon Lord’s final appearance with Whitesnake recorded live in Sweden. “All of the features on this package have been treated lovingly & respectfully, with no expense spared, utilizing technology to improve sound & picture quality,” says Coverdale, who personally oversaw all elements of this release.
Concludes Coverdale, “These are memories I treasure and delight in sharing with you as we continue our celebration of the 30th Anniversary of WHhitesnake’s Slide It In.”
Track listing:
CD (only available in combo edition):
1. Gambler
2. Guilty Of Love
3. Love Ain’t No Stranger
4. Slow An’ Easy
5. Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues
6. Ready An’ Willing
7. Guitar Solo
8. Crying In The Rain
9. Soldier Of Fortune
10. Love Ain’t No Stranger
11. Ready An’ Willing
12. Slow An’ Easy
Bonus Tracks – Jon Lord’s Final Performance with Whitesnake (Medley)
13. Gambler (featuring Jon Lord)
14. Guilty of Love (featuring Jon Lord)
15. Love Ain’t No Stranger (featuring Jon Lord)
16. Ready an’ Willing (featuring Jon Lord)
DVD:
1. Gambler
2. Guilty of Love
3. Love Ain’t No Stranger
4. Ready an’ Willing
5. Slow an’ Easy
6. Crying in the Rain
7. Guitar Solo
8. Soldier of Fortune
9. Drum Solo
10. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
11. Don’t Break My Heart Again
Bonus Tracks – Jon Lord’s Final Performance with Whitesnake (Medley)
12. Gambler (featuring Jon Lord)
13. Guilty of Love (featuring Jon Lord)
14. Love Ain’t No Stranger (featuring Jon Lord)
15. Ready an’ Willing (featuring Jon Lord)
DVD Bonus Gallery – Slide It In Slide Show with Rare Unseen Photos – The music bed contains snippets of private demos from David’s personal archives.
For all things Whitesnake, please visit whitesnake.com and facebook.com/Whitesnake.official
51 Responses
This was, without a shadow of a doubt the best lineup of Whitesnake period. I include the fact that Coverdale’s voice was just becoming an iconic instrument as well. Sykes is the ‘the’ guitarist of Whitesnake. Slide it In and the follow up do not happen without him.
AWESOME!!! This is the album that made me a fan of Whitesnake and it’s still my favorite from that band. And it seemed more like a “band” then, not just the Coverdale/Sykes group, although I love the self titled ’87 album too and John Sykes’ playing on that album is some of the best work he’s ever done. But the ’87 album became something I didn’t like, meaning the band that recorded it, especially John Sykes, was gone upon release and I couldn’t stand seeing Vivian Campbell and Adrian Vandenberg “miming” John’s guitar parts in all those videos. Believe or not, I still have the original record of Side It In that I’ve had since it was first released back when I was about 15 years old! I’ve always taken very good care of my albums and I have enough now (I’m 45) to open up my own record store. Now I get to add another Whitesnake release to that collection!
I have 2 very rare Slide it In records on vinyl. One is a picture disc.
James K, if you truly are, as you say you are, a fan of Whitesnake, you need to start at the beginning. Do the names Bernie Marsden and Mickey Moody mean anything to you? Do you know who they are? Do yourself a favor and check out Trouble. You won’t be disappointed.
Let me clear something up: When I stated above that the first Blue Murder album is the best album Whitesnake never recorded, I meant it in reference to the follow up to the ’87 album, Slip Of The Tongue. I have heard the pre-Sykes material and I do like a lot of it. The first couple albums are, to my ears, a little blusier and maybe a little closer to Deep Purple and that I like. Albums like Come an’ Get It, Saints & Sinners are also good albums. Slide It In was definitely a little more commercial sounding album in comparison to the older stuff and although that’s sometimes a dirty word and not a good direction for some bands (Turbo) Whitesnake did it and it still had depth and real musical substance while able to write great songs with huge hooks. The same thing can be said for when Scorpions changed their style after Uli left that band. Whitesnake after Sykes didn’t work for me. It just didn’t sound right. Slide It In was my introduction to Whitesnake and still my favorite, not only for the sentimental reason of it being my first Whitesnake album but also because I became a huge fan of John Sykes’ guitar playing and guitar tone. But you know what, I haven’t heard Trouble in 30 years and I didn’t listen to it much even back then. So I will take your advice and track it down and give it a good listen.
I am with you on some of that. I agree, after Sykes it got a little boring. I just love the first incarnation of the band and I hate that people forget about that era. I just think that was a great band with great players and truly great songs. I wish Coverdale would continue to work in some real classic stuff during the shows.
Well Harry, you’ve sparked my interest. I was shopping on amazon for a book and while on the site I checked out some vinyl records and searching under Whitesnake, there was the Trouble album. I’ve been itching to buy some new records anyway, so when I get it and I get to sit down and give it a good thorough listen I’ll let you know what I think. I’m actually excited to hear it because, to be honest, I heard it back around the same time I first got Slide It In but it was my cousin’s record and although I borrowed it I didn’t listen to it much and don’t really remember much about it.
James,
I checked out a few samples on youtube and the checked out-LOL! Eh, not my thing. It sounds like a watered down version of the band, but to each their own. Maybe, you will appreciate it more than I did, enjoy.
D 🙂
And Mel Galley who played on Slide it In also as there are 2 versions of that album-one was just Sykes and the other had both guitarists. I own both of them.
I’ve heard a couple of tracks from other version of Slide It In. Has that version ever been officially released in the US? I knew it was available on import. Good score bud! I’d like to hear that version of the album in its entirety.
I think it is on a double release for Slide it In that came out a few years ago on cd as a mini double pack. Both versions were in there but do not quote me on it.
Now this is going to be great! I love live cds that i can crank up! haha! Dana, I love the first Blue Murder release also!! Have not gotten around to buy the second one yet but will one of these days.What I find completely boring is when an artist release a delux cd with a second disc of demos. Boring, me I would kill for a second disc of a live concert from that cds tour!! Sorry Jimmy Page. Thanks David Coverdale!!
Shawn,
Nothing But Trouble is great record too and I don’t think you will be disappointed when you get around to purchasing a copy. But, that first one, is simply amazing.
Additionally, since you love live performances, I also highly recommend John Sykes’ Bad Boy Live.
Cheers,
D 🙂
Bad Boy Live covers his career up to that point nicely. Anyone that doesn’t know much about or doesn’t know anything at all about John’s career outside Whitesnake needs to check that album out and I guarantee they won’t disappointed. John’s also a great singer to and not just on his own songs but also on the Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake songs. The live version he does of Still Of The Night alone is much better than the recorded version with Whitesnake. That’s just my opinion.
What a great band. Look at those eyes, those guys mean business man.
There are 2 versions of Slide it In. One with Sykes,another Mel Galley and Sykes. Have them right here on vinyl.