Once the ‘Bounce’ Tour was complete, the band was ready to do a side-project. It was originally supposed to be an acoustic album of all their hits, but someone thought why not re-imagine the hits so the band re-recorded and re-constructed numerous Bon Jovi classics in to what became known as ‘This Left Feels Right’…but does it??? The album was released on November 3, 2003 and charted at #14 in the U.S. but did much better in Europe like most of their albums did. They sold over 500,000 copies in Europe, but I have no sales figures in the U.S. I know a lot of people that did not buy this album and we will soon see why.

The band had written two new songs for this project, but Jon and Company decided to drop them as one of the songs he felt didn’t send the right message to up and coming artists. The song in question was “Last Man Standing” which had Jon singing about his anger towards the music industry. The song did see the light of day as it was re-worked for the ‘Have a Nice Day’ album. The original wound up on the box set ‘100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong’ along with the other new song “Thief of Hearts”. Okay, let’s get right to this painful journey…I guess that gives away a little of how I feel about this one. Oh well…

The album opens with the classic “Wanted Dead or Alive”. It still has an acoustic feel to it, but there is a loud electronica sound bass and a horrible ass electronic drum beat that grates on my last nerve. The backing vocals are more gang style and not just Richie’s backing vocals and it is awful. Richie’s backing vocals made this song and they destroyed it by removing him. If this would’ve been the original version, the band would’ve faded away into oblivion never to be heard from again. It is simply awful.

Then we get a re-imagining of “Livin’ on a Prayer” and turned it in to a duet with British singer and actress Olivia d’Abo and you know, I’m okay with this one. Her voice is pretty good, not angelic sounding, a little roughness to it and that works well with Jon. Musically, it is slowed down a little, more acoustic and not dramatically different. By changing it to a duet, I’ll let this one get a passing grade as not a bad idea to do it this way.

Next up is “Bad Medicine” and I’m not sure what I’m listening to. The upbeat, rock anthem is stripped down to a sluggish attempt at Jon trying to sound gruff and whiskey voiced, but it comes across as forced and what the hell is up with that guitar. It sounds a little country. It is basically unlistenable as I feel my ears about to explode…wait…is that blood?? I’m going to need a doctor to cure this disease.

“It’s My Life” gets an acoustic twist to it. Being a newer song, I haven’t lived with it as much so I’m not as invested if it gets changed up. But this is really just taking the original and slowing it down acoustically. And I will say it is a really great version of the song. It feels more introspective and heartfelt.

“Lay Your Hands On Me” also gets an acoustic vibe to it, but rather than slow it down it seems a little peppy. Jon approached the vocals a little different and it is hard to take. The chorus has more gang vocals that are very different than the original. It is a little corny in my opinion. This isn’t a terrible version, the problem with it is it is rather dull and lifeless and this song was definitely not that originally.

Then things go all soulful and bluesy as they turn “You Give Love A Bad Name” into a horrendous blues version. I don’t even know where to begin with how bad this is. Bon Jovi is not a blues band. Now, Richie can play some blues, but not Bon Jovi. It sounds like something would try to do an American Idol or The Voice and God help us if anyone actually does.

“Bed of Roses” is turned in to a piano version with some strings and percussion. Honestly, it doesn’t sound all that different, not much re-imagining here. It still isn’t as good as the original, but at least they didn’t destroy all of its heart and essence from it like most of these songs.

Now we get to another newer song with Bounce’s “Everyday”. Like with “It’s My Life”, the basically stripped it down, but the did add some bad electronic drum beat…sort of sounds like a heartbeat and click track all in one. There is some piano as well and Jon sings it slower and tries to be more tender. I hear Richie helping on the vocals in the background and that is always good. The tempo changes, some Tico drum beats are added and the song picks up. I like this change and the song seems a lot like the original with some minor changes. This one is too bad after all.

“Born to Be My Baby” gets some keyboards and a slowed down tempo. A much more somber feel to it. The vocals are fine, there is a twangy guitar thrown in but when they get to the chorus, that is where they lose me. It is flat and lifeless. There is so much going on musically you get lost with all the sounds and it all blurs into a harsh sound for me. It is a poor attempt at making it more of a ballad. I don’t like it at all.

Then the acoustic guitar starts up with a some violin (or maybe cello) comes in and “Keep the Faith” is started. It is a very stripped down acoustic performance now, nothing more. Not much re-imagining with this one either. Simple and a decent rendition.

Let’s keep the slowed down acoustic performances going with “I’ll Be There For You”. The vocals sounds like the are trying to sound sexy as they breath heavy through the words. There is another voice behind Jon’s and I am guessing it is Richie’s but it doesn’t sound like him as he does the same type of vocal Jon is doing. It really sounds corny and way over done. For me, it doesn’t work at all. Sorry boys.

And finally…thank the Lord!! We now end with “Always” and again a slowed down, acoustic version. Nothing overly new on it to start. The guitar style is a little different then the original, but that drum machine is not good. Jon, you have Tico, why the hell do you have drum machines on this album. I mean, seriously!!! As the song carries on it gets more boring and dull. The heart is pulled from the originally, stomped on and buried in the ground leaving the blood stained ground uncleaned.

Track Listing:

1. Wanted Dead or Alive – Delete
2. Livin’ on a Prayer (feat. Olivia d’Abo) – Keeper
3. Bad Medicine – Delete
4. It’s My Life – Keeper
5. Lay Your Hands On Me – Delete
6. You Give Love a Bad Name – Delete
7. Bed of Roses – Keeper (1/2 Point)
8. Everyday – Keeper
9. Born to Be My Baby – Delete
10. Keep the Faith – Keeper
11. I’ll Be There For You – Delete
12. Always – Delete

The Track Score is 4.5 out of 12 Tracks or 38%.  Yes, it is that bad.   I think a straight up acoustic album would have been better received rather than a butchering…I mean a re-imagining of their biggest hits. For me, there wasn’t much imagination in to them as nothing was overly creative or particularly well done.  You had a handful of tracks that were decent, but nothing on here is even close to being better than the original.  If you can’t equal or better it, then why do it at all.  My Overall Score is a 1 out of 5 Stars. This would’ve been better left in the studio trash can with lighter fluid poured over it and set ablaze.  This was painful folks.

NEXT UP: BON JOVI – ‘WILD IN THE STREETS: UNAUTHORIZED’ (2003) – BOOTLEG DVD REVIEW

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 (1990)
11. Jon Bon Jovi – “Blaze of Glory” – Cassette Single (1990)
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 – Cross Road (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 – Target E.P. (2003)
31. Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right (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