Looking back on it now, all things considered, the Bon Jovi debut album quite easily ranks as one of the finest melodic rock albums ever made.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Bon Jovi
ALBUM: Bon Jovi
LABEL: Mercury
SERIAL: 914 982-1 (LP), 814 982-2 (CD)
YEAR: 1984
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Jon Bon Jovi – vocals * Richie Sambora – guitars * David Rashbaum – keyboards * Alec John Such – bass * Tico Torres – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Runaway * 02 Roulette * 03 She Don’t Know Me * 04 Shot Through The Heart * 05 Love Lies * 06 Breakout * 07 Burning For Love * 08 Come Back * 09 Get Ready
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
It’s hard to describe just how phenomenal this band ended up being, but at the very outset of their career, it could’ve been just any other New Jersey band hoping to make it big during the 80’s. Looking back on it now, all things considered, the Bon Jovi debut album quite easily ranks as one of the finest melodic rock albums ever made. Personally, if the band broke up after this album I still would have been a happy man.
Jon Bon Jovi spent many an evening hanging out in the Power Station recording studios in New York following on after cousin Tony’s shirttails. During one of these sessions in 1982, Jon released a demo called ‘Runaway’, and from this, he started to gather a line-up to help him achieve his rock and roll dream. He stole Tico Torres away from Franke And The Knockouts, while Sambora came via the band Message, featuring future Prophet vocalist Dean Fasano.
The Songs
A deal, a label, some songs, a band, and a great producer in Lance Quinn saw the release of the first Bon Jovi album in 1984. Contained within are some veritable classics. There’s a big booming sound on songs such as ‘Roulette’, ‘Breakout’ and ‘Come Back’, which to this day still stands the test of time.
Poppier efforts such as ‘Burning For Love’ and ‘Get Ready’ appeal, as do the co-written material ‘She Don’t Know Me’ (Mark Avsec), ‘Shot Through The Heart (Jack Ponti) and the aforementioned ‘Runaway’ (George Karak). The latter broke into the lower reaches of the US Top 40, and the album did mildly well as a debut.
In Summary
We won’t go on into Bon Jovi’s future as that’s well documented enough as it is. Though the band are still going to this day, they still seem to shun playing any of the material off this album and their second effort ‘7800° Fahrenheit’ in a live capacity. It’s as if they are scared to do so, to perhaps, not isolate their fan base.
Personally I can’t see why. For me this band ceased being popular after the release of ‘New Jersey’. Wind back the clock boys, and remember the music that made you famous in the first place.
Video
Runaway
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
