Whitesnake/Slide it In Demo Tracks

The last masterpiece that carved the pride of British rock, “SLIDE IT IN (UK MIX)”. A studio album that reproduces the best demo tracks from the legendary “Cozy Tape” is now available. There are three types of sound sources included in this work. Five backing tracks from “SLIDE IT IN (UK MIX)” and four demo tracks with vocals. In addition, there are two “Eddie Kramer MIX” songs that were released as analog singles but have not been officially digitized until now. Demo takes are more varied than live ones, but this work is the “pin” one. And it is an extremely superb take. That’s because the source of this work is the original cassette owned by the late Cozy Powell. It is the so-called “Cozy Tape”. In fact, the backing tracks are from “PRODUCTION REHEARSALS” and the demo tracks are from “ROCK IN ’85”. However, both of these albums have been sold out and out of print for more than 10 years, and we have received requests to reissue them. Therefore, this time we have re-digitized the actual “Cozy Tapes” and finished them as the “2017 Best Edition”. The quality is on a different level from other demo albums. In particular, the backing tracks of the first five songs have a super-beautiful sound that is not inferior to the official album. The above Langley version was also digitized using the technology of the time, so there is no difference, but the sound that the “Cozy Tapes” absorbed has been sealed to the maximum extent possible. The sound revives the soul of the masterpiece “SLIDE IT IN (UK MIX)”. I have been casually adding “UK MIX” to the title, but this is extremely important. It may be a little late, but let’s briefly review “SLIDE IT IN”. There are three official mixes of “SLIDE IT IN”. The first is the “Eddie Kramer MIX” which only had the two pre-release singles. The second is the “UK MIX” which was released in Europe and Japan at the time, and the third is the “US REMIX” which was replaced by John Sykes (part of it) and Neil Murray (all of it). Currently, the “US REMIX” is the default worldwide, but this is a remake of the “UK MIX” which was once completed, but the record company found fault with it and remade it without the main members such as Coverdale and Galley. Moreover, they only had 10 days (!) to make the replacement, and Keith Olsen, who was in charge of the remix, suddenly fell ill while working. As a result, Sykes’ guitar was half-baked, and although the flashy obbligato was delicious, the work was inconsistent. Even more fatal is Neil’s bass. Of course, Neil is a master of the masters, but in the “US REMIX” it is uncharacteristically safe and unremarkable. I think it is probably due to the inconvenience of inserting it into a finished track… Anyway, the finished product left me with questions like Ian Paice’s “SLAVES AND MASTERS”. On the other hand, the original “UK MIX” is solid. It was made according to the vision envisioned by veteran members of British rock, and the blues rock they aimed for is firmly shaped. This work is the production process, and it is the best one to rediscover the original taste of “UK MIX”. The backing track at the beginning is particularly wonderful. In other words, it is a karaoke track without singing, but the taste of the rhythm section that seeps out from there is the best! Cozy’s drum pattern, which is not simply powerful, is conveyed in detail, and Hodgkinson’s bass, which seems to challenge it, roars and roars. To begin with, Cozy is a drummer with such a strong individuality that it could drown out the presence of the bass. Despite this, Hodgkinson, who creates a presence that seems to say “Listen to my bass!” while matching it perfectly, is no ordinary person. Although the two did not get along well as people, the rhythm track vividly highlights their sharp rivalry. On the other hand, the demo track with Coverdale’s singing is, so to speak, “another version of SLIDE IT IN”. It’s getting closer to the finished version, but the roughness of the temporary vocals is like a studio live and feels really good. Here too, the rhythm section is emphasized in a rough mix, and the natural wildness of the original beat is fully open. The last two tracks, “Guilty Of Love” and “Gambler”, from the “Eddie Kramer MIX” are even more “different version”-like. This is a take of the single “GUILTY OF LOVE” released for the appearance of “MONSTERS OF ROCK 1983”, and at that time “SLIDE IT IN” was still in production, and the producer was Eddie Kramer. After that, Martin Birch was replaced and the song was completed, but these two songs are the “Kramer” stage that was made public before that. To date, they have never been officially digitized. This work has been meticulously reprinted from an analog single in excellent condition. This work is not just a demo. “Pure British blues rock” before it was repainted by GEFFEN Records. It is a studio album that condenses and reduces the flavor of its last masterpiece, “SLIDE IT IN (UK MIX)”. When Coverdale and Galley first heard “US REMIX”, they were furious, saying “It’s the worst. The soul of Britain is gone!” But what was that “soul”? This is a superb album that testifies to its true identity with the “Cozy Tape”. Of course, it is recommended for those who felt something was wrong with “US REMIX”, but even those who did not feel much difference will understand Coverdale and Galley’s anger by listening to “UK MIX” after this work. After that, Coverdale changed his mind? He became a fan of “US REMIX”, and WHITESNAKE himself changed. And this is a piece that exposes the “soul of British blues rock” that never returned. Please enjoy this highest quality recording ever. Taken from the original cassette tape (TDK SA-X60) belonged to Cozy Powell (45:12) Backing Tracks Demos Recorded at Musicland Studios, Munich, Germany May 1983 1. Spit It Out 2. Give Me More Time 3. Slide It In 4. Standing In The Shadow 5. Slow An’ Easy Demo Tracks with David Coverdale 6. All Or Nothing 7. Hungry For Love 8. Spit It Out 9. Slide It In Bonus Tracks Eddie Kramer Mix 1983 10. Guilty Of Love 11. Gambler David Coverdale – Vocals Mel Galley – Guitar, Vocals Micky Moody – Guitar, Vocals Jon Lord – Keyboards Colin Hodgkinson – Bass Cozy Powell – Drums