“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 soley by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora with no outside help. Same with the B-Side, “Homebound Train”. Bon Jovi was at the top of their game and no one could touch them. They could have taken a piss, recorded it and it probably would’ve gone to #1 too as long as Jon and Richie were in the video.
If you ever wanted to know why this era of rock bands were called “Hair Bands”, just look at the cover. Aqua Net stock was riding high at that time as the amount of hairspray being used put a hole in the ozone layer…true fact!! My version of the single is standard cassette single. The single version and album version aren’t really different as there are only a couple seconds shaved off the single. The big difference is the radio edit which this is not.
SIDE 1:
“I’ll Be There For You” 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.
SIDE 2:
The B-Side is “Homebound Train”. The song is also off ‘New Jersey’ and 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.
NEXT UP: JON BON JOVI – ‘BLAZE OF GLORY’ (1991) – ALBUM REVIEW
THE BON JOVI COLLECTION SERIES:
- Bon Jovi – The Albums Box Set (2017)
- Jon Bongiovi – The Power Station Sessions (1980-1983) (2001)
- Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi (1984)
- Bon Jovi – Shot Through the Heart: Live in Cleveland, OH March 17, 1984 FM Broadcast (Bootleg)
- Bon Jovi – 7800° Fahrenheit (1985)
- Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (1986)
- Bon Jovi – New Jersey (1988)
- Bon Jovi – New Jersey: Super Deluxe Edition – Disc 2/DVD (1988)
- Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You” – Cassette Single (1988)
- Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory (1991)
- Jon Bon Jovi – “Blaze of Glory” – Cassette Single (1991)
- Richie Sambora – Stranger in this Town (1991)
- Bon Jovi – Keep the Faith (1992)
- Bon Jovi – “I Believe” – 7″ Single (1992)
- Bon Jovi – Crossroads (1994)
- Bon Jovi – “Please Come Home for Christmas” – CD Single (1994)
- Bon Jovi – These Days (1995)
- Bon Jovi – Live From London – DVD (1995)
- Jon Bon Jovi – Destination Anywhere (1997)
- Richie Sambora – Undiscovered Soul (1998)
- Bon Jovi – Crush (2000)
- Bon Jovi – Live From Osaka E.P. (2000)
- Bon Jovi – “Thank You For Loving Me” – CD Single (2000)
- Bon Jovi – The Crush Tour – DVD (2000)
- Bon Jovi – The Love Songs E.P. (Promo) (2001)
- Bon Jovi – Tokyo Road: Best of Bon Jovi (2001)
- Bon Jovi – One Wild Night Live: 1985-2001 (2001)
- Bon Jovi – Bounce (2002)
- Bon Jovi – Unauthorized: Rock ‘n Roll Legends – Bootleg DVD (2002)
- Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right (2003)
- Bon Jovi – Target E.P. (2003)
- Bon Jovi – Wild in the Streets: Unauthorized – Bootleg DVD (2003)
- Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right – DVD (2004)
- Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Part 1) – (2004)
- Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 1, Part 2) – (2004)
- Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 2, Part 3) – (2004)
- Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 3, Part 4) – (2004)
- Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 4, Part 5) – (2004)
- Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 5, Part 6) – (2004)
- Bon Jovi – Have a Nice Day (2005)
- Bon Jovi – Live from the Have a Nice Day Tour (Walmart Exclusive) (2006)
- Bon Jovi – Lost Highway (2007)
- Bon Jovi – Lost Highway: The Concert (2007)
- Bon Jovi – The Circle (2009)
- Bon Jovi – When We Were Beautiful Documentary DVD (2009)
- Bon Jovi – Live at Madison Square Garden – DVD (2009)
- Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection (2009)
- Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Video Collection – DVD (2010)
- Bon Jovi – Inside Out – DVD (2012)
- Richie Sambora – Aftermath of the Lowdown (2012)
- Bon Jovi – What About Now (2013)
- Bon Jovi – Live E.P. (RSD – 2013)
- Bon Jovi – Live 2 E.P. (RSD – 2014)
- Bon Jovi – Burning Bridges (2015)
- Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale (2016)
- Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale – Live From the London Palladium (2016)
- Bon Jovi – The Albums Box Set – The Extra LP (2017)
- RSO – Radio Free America (2018)
- Bon Jovi – 2020 (2020)
- 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:
- Bon Jovi – The Brotherhood Tour Book (1988-1990)
- Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi Tour 2011 – Tourbook
- Bon Jovi – The Rock History – Bootleg CD
- Bon Jovi – “You Give Love A Bad Name” – 12″ Single
- Bon Jovi – “You Give Love a Bad Name” – 7″ Single
- Bon Jovi – Red Hot & 2 Parts Live E.P. – 12″ Single
- Bon Jovi – “Wanted Dead or Alive” – 7″ Single
- Bon Jovi – “Bad Medicine” – 7″ Single
- Bon Jovi – “Born to Be My Baby” – 7″ Single
- Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You” – 7″ Single
- Bon Jovi – “Lay Your Hands on Me” – 7″ Single
- Bon Jovi – “Living in Sin” – 7″ Single
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
I don’t know if yours is “standard” as I’ve never seen this with a white shell before.
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I believe so as it is the only U.S. cassette single listed on Discogs. Maybe the other ones are the rare ones.
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Maybe! In Canada we had black shells, and then in the 90s, clear ones. White for singles…I may have only had one or two over the years! And never a Bon Jovi.
Just call it a rarity lol
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Okay, will do!
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Homebound Train is a great track as you said Johnny. That one cooks at a high clip for sure. I could lose the ballad to be honest but for them this stuff worked and as you said back than they could have pissed in a bowl in a video and people would have watched…
Great stuff sir and a cassette single as well…
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Thanks. I had to grab this when I found it. It was unopened when I bought it, but I needed pictures so I had to open it.
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It’s a great song, I really didn’t know much about it so this was interesting.
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The ballad was never my favorite song but it’s still a well-done track, no arguing that it’s their signature sound. Homebound Train is an awesome song. I do miss the cassingles, I wish I wouldn’t have misplaced mine.
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I only have a couple. You’ll see another one soon.
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A Bon Jovi cassette tape, that is so cool! I can’t say anything bad about “I’ll Be There For You,” despite how overplayed it is. And yes, Tico is an absolute beast on this song. I also like that Tico and David are in the front for the picture. At least Jon let them have some attention in photoshoots.
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He had to throw them a bone every now and again I suppose.
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Or they would’ve been gone a LONG time ago!
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These two songs, Richie plays his heart out. Shows his diversity
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That he does.
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Probably my favorite thing about this song is that he rhymes “you” with “you” over and over again in the chorus (seven times). At one point during the writing Jon or Richie must have said “Too many you’s,” let’s’ throw in one ‘do’ just to keep ’em guessing!” To which the other one replied “Brilliant! Do you have anymore Aqua Net?”
And I like your tangent. Lol.
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Ha!! Well, he is rhyming the word before “you” technically, but I get what you are saying.
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