We are in the year 2004 and Bon Jovi has now been around for 20 Years at this point. To celebrate their 20th Anniversary, they released a really cool box set of mostly unreleased tunes and a lot of little extras titled ‘100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong’. The Box Set is a collection of 50 songs spread over 4 CDs, 38 of which had never been released. The others were songs from soundtracks, remixes and/or B-Sides. This was a band dumping everything sitting by the wayside in to one set and I applaud them for that. Us diehard fans love this kind of stuff. And if that wasn’t enough, if you have the Japanese Edition, which i do, you get another CD of B-Sides and Japanese Bonus Tracks. That is another 10 songs. 

This is a lot of music to absorb and we won’t be absorbing it all here. Nope. I’m going to go through each and every CD, track by track over 6 posts. We are now on the fourth disc which had a total of 13 tracks, 10 of which were previously unreleased. So let’s get started and dive into the music as that is why we are really here any way.

We are now to the final disc of music for the original box set. We still have the Japanese Bonus Disc to do and the DVD. This set starts off with two versions of “Love Ain’t Nothing But a Four Letter Word”. A song about domestic violence which is a serious topic for the band. However, the music doesn’t make it feel all that serious. This is an upbeat version with a real R&B, Motown feel to it with the horns and the angelic ladies on the backing vocals. That sound is why they never used it on an album. The other version of this song is Jon’s original demo with I think just him on the song. Some different lyrics and a more rocker feel to it the final studio version.

Next up is “River Runs Dry” written by Jon and Desmond Child. A slower, ballady type song, but more in the vein of “Dry County” and not a love ballad. Some great acoustic guitar and electric as well, but the song drones on a little and is missing the punch of “Dry County”. It has a been there done that feel to it. However, it is actually still a well-written song and has its merits. Done in 1996 so not sure if this was for a Jon solo album or not, but very possible.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=0szZCEIFdHk%3Fsi%3DqKrzul9dken0H63M

Now we get a the demo for the band’s big hit, “Always”. Originally written for the movie ‘Romeo is Bleeding’ which is a line in the song. I love when a band puts there heart and soul in to a demo and Jon does just that. He sings with all the emotion he can muster and just for a demo. A piano based ballad that even as a demo you can hear how special this one is. Cool to have this early piece of such a great song.

“Kidnap an Angel” is a demo from 1999 written by Jon and Billy Falcon. A sad song about watching someone die and there is a sadness in the song that was captured perfectly. The song is still missing something to take it to the next level, but there is something there you can hear it. Too band it never got flushed out fully it might have made a good song on any of the 2000 Bon Jovi albums. For what it is here, it is only okay.

From 2002, we get the demo for the song “Breathe” and this song has been released before. It was on the 2nd Maxi-Single for the single “Everyday”. This song I know well as it has always been one of my favorite B-Sides from the band. A little more upbeat than a ballad, the band sounds great. The bass groove is cool and gives the song some punch. Jon is sounding good and really in to it. This would’ve made a fantastic addition to any album.

Then we go back to 1986 and the ‘Slippery When Wet’ ear with the song “Out of Bounds”. It is pretty obvious why this one didn’t make that album as it isn’t up to snuff. For one, no denying what era this comes from as it sounds dated. Two, it is a little boring. The chorus is a weak and it sounds like stuff already on the album. A throwaway track for me.

“A Letter to a Friend” was written by Jon Bon Jovi around 1994 so it puts it around ‘These Days’ ear. A song about loving someone so much that you don’t want to take it to the next level in fear of ruining such a great friendship. This is a really good song and Jon is feeling it. He really puts his all in to some of these demos. I can see why it wasn’t on ‘These Days’ as it doesn’t sound like those songs, but doesn’t mean it isn’t a good song and maybe should’ve found a home somewhere (well, it did here I guess).

https://youtube.com/watch?v=BLy30IWhzSM%3Fsi%3DDq8IFt691UIuEBoy

Now we get an alternate version of the song “Temptation” which originally was the International B-Side to the single “It’s My Life”. This version is pretty cool. I like the pacing of it, the keyboard sound and there is just a new groove that is pretty sweet. A slower tempo, great beat and it has something that is special about it. I don’t know, I like this one.

“Gotta Have A Reason” was written with Michael Kamen for the movie “The Three Musketeers”. As the band was touring the Far East, they couldn’t get a full band version so this is only with Jon on acoustic. For the fact it isn’t a band song, they pulled it from the movie. The song is a ballad done acoustically on guitar. It isn’t a bad track by any means, it has a great chorus, but it is missing something (well, the band). Still cool to have here.

We are now to 1997 with a demo from Jon and Richie for a song called “All I Wanna Do Is You” and it is as bad as that title sounds. A pure sex song which the band doesn’t do a lot of and after listening to this one, there is a reason why. Pure and utter trash. A horrible chorus, sung flatly by Jon and there is nothing redeeming about this one.

“Billy” is a 1992 demo from Jon and Richie and has that classic era sound. However, the song falls flat. The chorus is weak, the verses are as well. The music is not inspiring and feels like they are going through the motions. Some of these demos there is so much heart and soul in them and some are like this. Lifeless and boring.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=nWRhquh3L7o%3Fsi%3Dm_F-A5GELtR30ZkS

A piano ballad written and sung by Jon and Richie from 1994, “Nobody’s Hero” is a special track. The fact that there is so much Richie in the backing vocals makes me love this song so much as his vocals add so much life to Jon’s. A perfect combination. This is a beautiful song and could’ve easily made an album if Bon Jovi didn’t have so many great ballads. This is one of the best tracks on this disc. Almost magical.

There is a hidden track on here as well and it is demo of the amazing song “Livin’ on a Prayer”. This is the original demo from 1986 from Jon, Richie & Desmond. You can hear that there is something special about this one from the get go. It already has that talk box feel to it even though it is only guitar here. I guess I’m so familiar with the song I know it is supposed to be there. The keyboard sounds great with that ominous tone. Jon’s vocals have a hollow-echo effect to it, but all together it sounds great, if not a little rough around the edges here. That chorus is huge even early on. Another great piece on this disc.

Track Listing:

1. Love Ain’t Nothing But a Four Letter Word – Keeper
2. Love Ain’t Nothing But a Four Letter Word (Original Demo) – Keeper
3. River Runs Dry – Keeper (1/2 Point)
4. Always (Demo) –Keeper
5. Kidnap an Angel – Keeper (1/2 Point)
6. Breathe – Keeper
7. Out of Bounds – Delete
8. Letter to a Friend – Keeper
9. Temptation – Keeper
10. Gotta Have a Reason – Keeper
11. All I Wanna Do Is You – Delete
12. Billy – Delete
13. Nobody’s Here – Keeper
14. Livin’ on A Prayer (Original Demo – Hidden Track) – Keeper

The Track Score is 10 out of 14 Tracks or 71%.  Another solid disc even if there are some weak tracks on here.  They can’t all be perfect.  This has enough good stuff that it will get repeat listens. There are some great demos to some great songs like “Always” and “Livin’ On a Prayer”. It is so cool to get early versions of those classics. The B-Sides on here are awesome as well. There are even some songs that could’ve made an album like “Nobody’s Here” or “Love Ain’t Nothing But a Four Letter Word”.  A few dudes, but that is to be expected. Not my favorite of the four discs, but still great nonetheless. My Overall Score is a 3.5 out of 5.0 Stars.

See you next week as we dive in to Disc 5 & 6.

NEXT UP: BON JOVI – ‘100,000,000 BON JOVI FANS CAN’T BE WRONG’ (2004) – (DISC 5 & 6 – PART 6 of 6) – BOX SET 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 – “Burning For Love” – 12″ Single – Japanese Edition (1984)
6. Bon Jovi – 7800° Fahrenheit (1985)
7. Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (1986)
8. Bon Jovi – “Borderline” – 12″ Single – Japanese Edition (1986)
9. Bon Jovi – New Jersey (1988)
10. Bon Jovi – New Jersey: Super Deluxe Edition – Disc 2/DVD (1988)
11. Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You” – Cassette Single (1988)
12. Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory (1990)
13. Jon Bon Jovi – “Blaze of Glory” – Cassette Single (1990)
14. Richie Sambora – Stranger in this Town (1991)
15. Bon Jovi – Keep the Faith (1992)
16. Bon Jovi – “Keep the Faith” – CD Maxi Single (1992)
17. Bon Jovi – “I Believe” – 7″ Single (1992)
18. Bon Jovi – Cross Road (1994)
19. Bon Jovi – “Please Come Home for Christmas” – CD Single (1994)
20. Bon Jovi – These Days (1995)
21. Bon Jovi – Live From London – DVD (1995)
22. Jon Bon Jovi – Destination Anywhere (1997)
23. Richie Sambora – Undiscovered Soul (1998)
24. Bon Jovi – Crush (2000)
25. Bon Jovi – Live From Osaka E.P. (2000)
26. Bon Jovi – “Thank You For Loving Me” – CD Single (2000)
27. Bon Jovi – The Crush Tour – DVD (2000)
28. Bon Jovi – The Love Songs E.P. (Promo) (2001)
29. Bon Jovi – Tokyo Road: Best of Bon Jovi (2001)
30. Bon Jovi – One Wild Night Live: 1985-2001 (2001)
31. Bon Jovi – Bounce (2002)
32. Bon Jovi – Unauthorized: Rock ‘n Roll Legends – Bootleg DVD (2002)
33. Bon Jovi – Target E.P. (2003)
34. Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right (2003)
35. Bon Jovi – Wild in the Streets: Unauthorized – Bootleg DVD (2003)
36. Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right – DVD (2004)
37. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Part 1) – (2004)
38. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 1, Part 2) – (2004)
39. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 2, Part 3) – (2004)
40. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 3, Part 4) – (2004)
41. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 4, Part 5) – (2004)
42. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 5 & 6, Part 6) – (2004)
43. Bon Jovi – Have a Nice Day (2005)
44. Bon Jovi – Live from the Have a Nice Day Tour (Walmart Exclusive) (2006)
45. Bon Jovi – Lost Highway (2007)
46. Bon Jovi – Lost Highway: The Concert (2007)
47. Bon Jovi – The Circle (2009)
48. Bon Jovi – When We Were Beautiful Documentary DVD (2009)
49. Bon Jovi – Live at Madison Square Garden – DVD (2009)
50. Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection (2009)
51. Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Video Collection – DVD (2010)
52. Bon Jovi – Inside Out – DVD (2012)
53. Richie Sambora – Aftermath of the Lowdown (2012)
54. Bon Jovi – What About Now (2013)
55. Bon Jovi – Live E.P. (RSD – 2013)
56. Bon Jovi – Live 2 E.P. (RSD – 2014)
57. Bon Jovi – Burning Bridges (2015)
58. Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale (2016)
59. Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale – Live From the London Palladium (2016)
60. Bon Jovi – The Albums Box Set – The Extra LP (2017)
61. RSO – Radio Free America (2018)
62. Bon Jovi – 2020 (2020)
63. 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