After a sixteen month tour for ‘Slippery When Wet’, Bon Jovi immediately went back in to the studio so they could prove that their third album wasn’t a fluke. They packed their bags again and headed back to Little Mountain Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with Bruce Fairbairn back as producer and Bob Rock as the engineer. The band was ready to record and they record they did. This time around, they wanted to experiment a little with their songs and their sound, but at the same time they brought back a team that understood them and what they wanted.

The were so inspired on tour, that they had a ton of material to record. So much so, that they wanted the album to be a double album and it was going to be called “Sons of Beaches”. They had Desmond Child back to help with some songs and this time around they even had a couple other very famous songwriters, Holly Knight and Diane Warren. They really wanted to make sure they could repeat their previous success. When all was said and done, they had around 26 songs. However, the record company was really nervous about releasing a double album. They were worried that it would price them out of the market. So, they made the band release a single album.

That album would end up being called “New Jersey” and it was released on September 19, 1988 and was it as successful as ‘Slippery When Wet’? Uhhh..basically, yes! It went to #1 and had 5 hit singles and sold over 7 million copies (I think Slippery has had over 12 million). I would say that was another massively successful album. The sound of the album was really middle-America with a rock, country flair that felt like a Rock & Roll Western at times, but still that Arena rock overall filled with even more great ballads. It is a quintessential 80’s Rock album. Let’s get to the music.

The opening track of the album was “Lay Your Hands On Me”. It was the fourth single which only went to #7 on the Billboard Charts and the band’s fourth Top 10 in a row for this album. The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and was inspired by a guitar riff by Richie rather than from a song title like they did a lot of the times. Written while they were in the studio and never did a real demo of the track. The song was crafted as a song that could open a live show and in this case, even an album. The opening drum sound was inspired by Peter Gabriel’s ‘So’ Tour where he used a lot of African drum sound. The song is a shout out to everyone that despite their grand success from ‘Slippery When Wet’, they were still just boys from New Jersey and very accessible.

Musically, the drum beat builds up, there are keyboard sounds mixed in with guitar fills and bass parts. Jon comes in and sings softly, the “Lay your hands on me” line and then the song explodes in to a grand arena rock track that screams, Here we are ready to rock you all night. And that is what they would do. It almost has a gospel, church feel to the song (especially with the song title). So much so that Dolly Parton covered it for a Gospel album she did many years back.

Up next is the first single off the album which was ‘Bad Medicine’. The song was released on September 3, 1988 and went all the way to #1 and was the band’s third #1 single and I don’t think it was their last. The title and chorus for “Bad Medicine” came to Richie Sambora when the band was filming a commercial in Japan and Jon Bon Jovi said to hold on to that thought and they would do something with it and after many re-writes with the help of Desmond Child, “Bad Medicine” was complete. The song is based off a really bad relationship Richie was in and if you listen to the lyrics, you can see that must’ve been true. The song opens with a heavy keyboard riff, some drum beats and guitar riff and then turns in to a pure rock & roll anthem. The corny, cheesy ass lyrics fit right in to the 80’s glam scene but today are so bad it is almost laughable. The numerous doctor, medicine references throws every cliche in the book at you and then some. However, the song still kicks ass and is musically a fun, rocking track.

“Born to be My Baby” was the second single off the album and did pretty dang great going all the way to #3 on the Billboard Top 100. It was another track written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and of course, Desmond Child. There is no denying his impact with the band. The theme on the song is very familiar to you as Bon Jovi have used it before on “Living on a Prayer”. It is about a couple that is struggling to make ends meet, but they still know they were made to be with each other and that God has a plan. Back then, the band had a way of crafting these type of songs in to a great story that would draw you in and you’d root for the couple to work it out. I’ve heard this was a sequel to the song and if so, then the song is from Tommy’s point of view as opposed to coming from a third person like the previous song, this one is him looking out.

A keyboard heavy track and a bunch of na-na-na’s in the opening. It is an upbeat rocker that was really written as an acoustic track but Bruce Fairbairn talked them in to making it more of a rocker. It did go to #3, but Jon thinks it would’ve gone to #1 as an acoustic song. He might not be wrong. It does have a great Richie Sambora solo as he did so many great ones during this time. Jon sings with so much emotion and you could really feel the lyrics as a result. The song is classic sounding Bon Jovi and these guys were bigger than life at this point. They could do no wrong and this was a shining example of that thought.

“Living in Sin” off the mega-seller ‘New Jersey’ and was released on October 7, 1989. Bon Jovi was the king of power ballads and this fit the bill nicely as the song went to #9 on the Billboard Top 40 charts.  The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi and talks about cohabitating with the person you love out of wedlock, thus the “Living in Sin” part. True love outweighs every thing. Jon doesn’t need a wedding, a preacher, a ring to tell him he loves her and they should be together. He doesn’t need her father telling them it is wrong either. The only thing that matters is that they are together.

The start of this song really isn’t Jon. Nope. I think it is Alec John Such. The bass line in the rhythm section of the song stands out and is the most powerful part of the song. It is the driving force behind it. You get the explosive power of the electric guitar and the drums when it is time to go from soft to power, but that bass is still there front and center. Jon Bon Jovi’s vocals are emotive as he sings those emotional lyrics, but it does seem a little forced at times. Still though, a great track from an amazing album.

Up next is “Blood On Blood” and the song was never released as a single, but I probably listened to it more than any other song on the album.  The song was based on the movie “Stand By Me”.  Jon was so inspired by that movie, he got with Richie Sambora and Desmond Child and they crafted this gem. The story is about three childhood friends, though not related, they were like brothers to each other.  They cut their hands and then shook to signify they were blood brothers, lifelong friends and friends you could call at any time and they would be there to help. That theme resonated with me.  It resonated so much, I started outlining a book based on that very concept.  Sadly, I never finished that book (or really ever started other than the outline – maybe some day).

The opening layers of guitars, the pounding Tico drums just exploded out of the gates. A catchy rhythm section that quickly grabbed hold, but the star was Jon with that voice and those lyrics. He crafted a story that played out like a movie that you could picture in your had as he spat out the lyrics. The high paced energy was intoxicating and helped you get lost. The keyboards added layers and textures that fit perfectly with everything else. My friends, it don’t get better than this.

“Homebound Train” might be the heaviest song on the album. It is as close to heavy metal as the band will ever get. The song opens with some twangy guitars and a train sound before the song explodes into a heavy metal rocker. Jon screams out a train whistle sound and then races in to the lyrics. The tempo is quick, fast and furious and chugs along frantically. There is a cool part before Sambora’s stellar solo with a harmonica (Jon Bon Jovi) and keyboard (David Bryan) going back and forth soloing and playing off each other which is new and different and awesome. I like this one as it so different than anything else on the album.

“Wild is the Wind” seems to be an admission of guilt for Jon as he seems to be feeling bad for not being there for his wife.  It is something deeply imbedded in him that drives him to be on the road all the time.  He feels she would probably do better finding someone else that can give her what she needs because he feels he is failing at that task.  And as much as he lived that rock star lifestyle, I would say he failed quite a bit at giving her what she needed.  In the end, we know how the story ends in real life as he and his wife are still together after all these years.

What I loved about the song is something that was a common theme on the New Jersey songs, it was this cowboy spirit drenched in the music style.  It wasn’t a country twang or anything like that, it was mostly in how the acoustic guitar is used in the songs.  There is this restless feeling in the songs.  Musically, it is a cross between a ballad and just a plain old rock song. It has its slow moments, but rocks out in the end with some damn fine guitar work by Mr. Richie Sambora, the backbone of the band.  Tico Torres has some nice drum fills and great moments as well so I don’t want to leave him out.  Jon sings with all his heart and his emotions on his sleeve like he always did back then (now the new stuff feels like is his just going through the motions, but that is another story for another day).

Next up is “Ride Cowboy Ride” which is basically an intro to “Stick to Your Guns” which will get to in second. This is a pure cowboy song written by Jon and Richie and recorded in mono. The song starts with a needle drop on to the vinyl and the song like it is really old and coming out of an old radio. Rumor has it that it was recorded on the tour bus and they liked it so much they used it for the album. I have to admit, I really like the style of this one. The song was credited to “Captain Kidd and King of Swing” which are Jon & Richie’s nicknames.

It leads straight in to “Stick to Your Guns” which was written by Jon, Riche and Holly Knight. The song bleeds from “Ride Cowboy Ride” and goes full on production, loud and proud. The guitar work is sensational with the acoustic picking. Another cowboy feel to it and Jon is all in on vocals as he sings like he means it. You believe that he believes what he’s singing. You feel like you are that young shooter being taught by the experienced cowboy. The song is about standing up for you believe in, fight for it, stand your ground and don’t back down. A really touching song lyrically.

“I’ll Be There For You” was the third single off the album and it went to #1 on the Billboard Top 100 Charts. This was the band’s fourth #1 song and if I’m not mistaken, it was their last but not from lack of great songs as they still put out some fantastic tracks even after this one. This particular song was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora with no outside help.  It is a pure 80’s power ballad. The song is about a guy that screwed it up with his girlfriend and is dying for one more chance. The song kicks off with the girl having packed her bags and leaving. He apparently has hurt her a lot as she’s cried a thousand rivers. The boyfriend pleads for one more chance and will do anything for her he promises. He’ll be there for her…blah, blah, blah. You know he won’t. He’ll screw it up again. It is probably best she leave, but sorry that isn’t in the song as I went off on a slight tangent, sorry about that.

Musically, it starts off with a soft guitar picking and is really a slowed tempo. Jon comes in singing softly and tries to be emotive as he can. The song builds up and gets a little stronger as we go. Richie Sambora actually shares a little of the lead vocals with Jon. Richie’s backing vocals and lead in this case are always the best and he was so crucial to their sound which they are lacking now, but we won’t go there. The song is a classic power ballad including the powerful choruses and the killer guitar solo also by Richie. I don’t know if I’ve noticed how prominent Tico’s drums were on this one, very nice. With all that is going on in the song, it is no wonder this song went to #1.

To keep with the stupid and cheesy lyrics going like on “Bad Medicine, we have “99 in the Shade”. Reminiscent of “Wild in the Streets”, “99” is its lesser cousin that is rocking but full of horrible stupid lyrics and feels like pure filler which it was. At the time, it was a pretty cool track but now seems so dated its awful. It also lacks the punch of some of the other songs has and the production is little less as well. One of my least favorite tracks on ‘New Jersey’ and during these times I didn’t have a lot of those.

The final track is another throw away song, but I can’t because I actually love it. “Love for Sale” is a drunkenly great good time. The boys sound hammered and they are rambling through the lyrics making it up as they go along. However, it is a blast. some great harmonica work and the playfulness between Richie and Jon is classic. It showed there was a brotherhood between them at one time. It sounds like they are down in a swampy bayou or dirty honky tonk. A fun way to go out.

Track Listing:

1. Lay Your Hands On Me – Keeper
2. Bad Medicine – Keeper
3. Born to Be My Baby – Keeper
4. Living in Sin – Keeper
5. Blood on Blood – Keeper
6. Homebound Train – Keeper
7. Wild is the Wind – Keeper
8. Ride Cowboy Ride – Keeper
9. Stick To Your Guns – Keeper
10. I’ll Be There For You – Keeper
11. 99 in the Shade – Delete
12. Love For Sale – Keeper

The Track Score is 11 out of 12 Tracks or 92%.  ‘Slippery When Wet’ might have sold more albums, but this one is the better of the two for me.  My all time favorite track, “Blood on Blood”, is on here for starters.  But the rest of the album sees better crafted songs all around.  I do like the western, cowboy vibes as well as it really seem to fit these guys even if they were from New Jersey.  The deep cuts were as good or better than the singles and Jon and Richie as well as the rest of the band were clicking and on fire.  5 hit singles, 7+ million sold…and a band at the top of their game.  My Overall Score is a 5.0 out of 5.0 Stars even if there was one song I didn’t like, it is still pretty much perfect to me.  I had a blast revisiting this one.

NEXT UP: BON JOVI – ‘NEW JERSEY’ SUPER DELUXE EDITION (1988) – PART 2

THE BON JOVI COLLECTION SERIES:

1. Bon Jovi – The Albums Box Set (2017)
2. Jon Bongiovi – The Power Station Sessions (1980-1983) (2001)
3. Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi (1984)
4. Bon Jovi – Shot Through the Heart: Live in Cleveland, OH March 17, 1984 FM Broadcast (Bootleg)
5. Bon Jovi – 7800° Fahrenheit (1985)
6. Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (1986)
7. Bon Jovi – New Jersey (1988)
8. Bon Jovi – New Jersey: Super Deluxe Edition – Disc 2/DVD (1988)
9. Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You” – Cassette Single (1988)
10. Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory (1991)
11. Jon Bon Jovi – “Blaze of Glory” – Cassette Single (1991)
12. Richie Sambora – Stranger in this Town (1991)
13. Bon Jovi – Keep the Faith (1992)
14. Bon Jovi – “I Believe” – 7″ Single (1992)
15. Bon Jovi – Crossroads (1994)
16. Bon Jovi – “Please Come Home for Christmas” – CD Single (1994)
17. Bon Jovi – These Days (1995)
18. Bon Jovi – Live From London – DVD (1995)
19. Jon Bon Jovi – Destination Anywhere (1997)
20. Richie Sambora – Undiscovered Soul (1998)
21. Bon Jovi – Crush (2000)
22. Bon Jovi – Live From Osaka E.P. (2000)
23. Bon Jovi – “Thank You For Loving Me” – CD Single (2000)
24. Bon Jovi – The Crush Tour – DVD (2000)
25. Bon Jovi – The Love Songs E.P. (Promo) (2001)
26. Bon Jovi – Tokyo Road: Best of Bon Jovi (2001)
27. Bon Jovi – One Wild Night Live: 1985-2001 (2001)
28. Bon Jovi – Bounce (2002)
29. Bon Jovi – Unauthorized: Rock ‘n Roll Legends – Bootleg DVD (2002)
30. Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right (2003)
31. Bon Jovi – Target E.P. (2003)
32. Bon Jovi – Wild in the Streets: Unauthorized – Bootleg DVD (2003)
33. Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right – DVD (2004)
34. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Part 1) – (2004)
35. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 1, Part 2) – (2004)
36. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 2, Part 3) – (2004)
37. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 3, Part 4) – (2004)
38. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 4, Part 5) – (2004)
39. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 5, Part 6) – (2004)
40. Bon Jovi – Have a Nice Day (2005)
41. Bon Jovi – Live from the Have a Nice Day Tour (Walmart Exclusive) (2006)
42. Bon Jovi – Lost Highway (2007)
43. Bon Jovi – Lost Highway: The Concert (2007)
44. Bon Jovi – The Circle (2009)
45. Bon Jovi – When We Were Beautiful Documentary DVD (2009)
46. Bon Jovi – Live at Madison Square Garden – DVD (2009)
47. Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection (2009)
48. Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Video Collection – DVD (2010)
49. Bon Jovi – Inside Out – DVD (2012)
50. Richie Sambora – Aftermath of the Lowdown (2012)
51. Bon Jovi – What About Now (2013)
52. Bon Jovi – Live E.P. (RSD – 2013)
53. Bon Jovi – Live 2 E.P. (RSD – 2014)
54. Bon Jovi – Burning Bridges (2015)
55. Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale (2016)
56. Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale – Live From the London Palladium (2016)
57. Bon Jovi – The Albums Box Set – The Extra LP (2017)
58. RSO – Radio Free America (2018)
59. Bon Jovi – 2020 (2020)
60. Bon Jovi – 40th Anniversary Box Set (TBA – I Hope it is out by the time we get here)

We’ve reviewed a bunch of pieces already over the years and won’t review again. They are as follows:

1. Bon Jovi – The Brotherhood Tour Book (1988-1990)
2. Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi Tour 2011 – Tourbook
3. Bon Jovi – The Rock History – Bootleg CD
4. Bon Jovi – “You Give Love A Bad Name” – 12″ Single
5. Bon Jovi – “You Give Love a Bad Name” – 7″ Single
6. Bon Jovi – Red Hot & 2 Parts Live E.P. – 12″ Single
7. Bon Jovi – “Wanted Dead or Alive” – 7″ Single
8. Bon Jovi – “Bad Medicine” – 7″ Single
9. Bon Jovi – “Born to Be My Baby” – 7″ Single
10. Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You” – 7″ Single
11. Bon Jovi – “Lay Your Hands on Me” – 7″ Single
12. Bon Jovi – “Living in Sin” – 7″ Single