#39 Bon Jovi : Slippery When Wet
Released: August 1986Track listing
1. "Let It Rock" 5:27
2. "You Give Love a Bad Name" 3:42
3. "Livin' on a Prayer" 4:09
4. "Social Disease" 4:18
5. "Wanted Dead or Alive" 5:08
6. "Raise Your Hands" 4:16
7. "Without Love" 3:30
8. "I'd Die for You" 4:30
9. "Never Say Goodbye" 4:48
10. "Wild in the Streets" 3:54
I’ve spent a lot of time – for the first time in many years- listening to the first four Bon Jovi albums over the last day or two. Firstly to decide which album gets priority and second , whether I want to leave them in the Top 50 at all. Mention of their name these days induces a rolling of the eyes and various less than complimentary adjectives cross my mind. There’s various reasons for that but 20+ years of releasing crap and the distinct impression that I’d want to knock JBJ’s dentures out the back of his scone if I got to know him are a good start.
Unfortunately if I banned every tosser who had been releasing crap for the last 20 years……..well.
As I listened to these albums a few things became clear:
- Based on the criteria I set out they deserve their spot , probably higher – but I feel better with them down here
- Tico Torres is a better than average rock drummer
- Despite many of my favourite tracks being on the debut and New Jersey , SWW is by far the most influential in my life and the most consistent….and Bad Medicine has too much cringe factor..
- The key to the Bon Jovi music I like is that Richie Sambora was just as prominent in the music as JBJ – I’d almost forgotten the degree to which he’s all over these albums with his pick slides, harmonics, artificial harmonics and whammy bar work etc…….and how important that was to the music for me. The minute he became part of the backing band for JBJ’s corporate country rock housewife crap is when I switched off. So I basically have nil interest in anything post New Jersey.
Half of the members of the forum here probably weren’t even born the last time Bon Jovi rocked , but “Slippery” really was a big part of the soundtrack of my childhood and spawned a number of massive singles – Livin On A prayer, You Give Love A Bad Name , Wanted Dead or Alive. Without Love, Never Say Goodbye.
It’s hard to think of too many other rock albums that were so huge for so long – it set all kinds of records including “first rock album to feature three top 10 singles” and “first rock album to chart #1 with a #1 single concurrently” . It’s also hard to believe that Polydor had told them that this album was their absolute last chance – big singles or you’re gone. I recall Bruce Springsteen labelling them a “5 minute wonder” around this time too.
I think Bon Jovi on the New Jersey tour (supported by Roxus) was also my first gig which adds some sentimental value - either that or Satriani Flying In A Blue Dream tour which were both 1989. This live recording of
Runaway in the mid 80's is a good timestamp on the Bon Jovi that I enjoyed. To make the write up more appealing I’ve used the original cover art too
- it was actually released in Japan that way .
Favourite Tracks: Raise Your Hands, Let It Rock , Living On A Prayer, Wanted Dead or Alive, Wild In The Streets (no links - sure everyone knows them whether they like em or not)
Honourable Mention: White Lion-Pride : talking of bands where the guitarist just gets them over the line with me. Vito
I like a few tracks off each album - right back to All The Fallen Men off Fight To Survive - but Pride seems their most consistent. Never made a truly great album IMO.