This is the 35th anniversary remix edition. Depending on what version you had at the time (whether the UK or the US version), you had either Mickey Moody or John Sykes on guitar. Coverdale’s ego was out of control at the time. He belittled Moody in front of Sykes after some show in Germany, and it wasn’t long after that Sykes was in the band. Coverdale was going for the pretty boy approach for the American market. As we all know, it worked wonders for him and the band as the 1987 album sold squillions, but you have to feel for Mickey Moody, Mel Galley and Bernie Marsden.
This is the last British sounding album with the heavy blues thing still very prevalent in all the songs. I’m not sure Coverdale would get away with it today, but the lyrics are very suspect and overloaded with double entendres and sexual references. Musically, the first three tracks are all classics with Slide It In, Slow An Easy, and Love Ain’t No Stranger – all crowd favourites that are killer live. Guilty Of Love is another great track that really grooves along, and Coverdale has a perfect voice for the heavy blues vibe that this band did so well.
I am used to hearing the UK version of this album, so hearing Sykes’ guitar parts and the slightly different bass lines is an odd experience. Anyway, good songs are good songs no matter how you tinker with them to rewrite history.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
