Slide It In

Slide It In is the sixth studio album by English rock band Whitesnake, released on 30 January 1984 in Europe, and on 6 February in the UK by Liberty and EMI Records. To cater to the American market, the album was remixed and resequenced, and subsequently released on 16 April 1984 in North America through Geffen Records, after the group was signed to the label prior to its release. The album is widely regarded as a pivotal release for Whitesnake, as it marked their initial success in the United States and laid the groundwork for their breakthrough later in the 1980s. Notably, it was the last Whitesnake album to feature the band’s original "snake" logo. Two distinct editions of the album exist, each reflecting a different production approach. The original mix was criticised for its "flat" sound, while the remix adopted a more modern and polished production style, aligning with the growing popularity of the American glam metal scene. The remix proved instrumental in refining Whitesnake's sound, helping the band establish a stronger identity in the competitive U.S. rock market, giving it "the voice" that the group wanted. Critics have described the album as a blend of blues rock and glam metal. The remixed version, in particular, was praised for its energy and accessibility, which resonated with American audiences.

During the promotional tour for Slide It In, the band underwent significant lineup changes. Founding guitarist Micky Moody, left the group after the album's recording and was replaced by John Sykes, formerly of Thin Lizzy and Tygers of Pan Tang, while bassist Colin Hodgkinson was replaced by a returning Neil Murray. Guitarist Mel Galley also left due to a nerve injury, while longtime keyboardist Jon Lord departed the band, to rejoin the reformed Deep Purple and play on their comeback album Perfect Strangers, which was released later the same year. Drummer Cozy Powell would also leave the band, to form Emerson, Lake & Powell in January 1985, after the supporting tour finished. These changes eventually changed the band's evolution in style and sound leading into the late 1980s, while rising in popularity.