This is a guest post by Daniel Ross... Enjoy!
Bon Jovi plays the hits. That始s what the crowd wants and Jon, especially, gives the crowd what they want. As a die-hard fan who follows the tours, downloads bootlegs and occasionally engages the crowd over at the
JoviTalk message board, this is not the Bon Jovi we love. Don始t get me wrong, I LIKE the shows and I LIKE “
Prayer,” “
Wanted,” etc. but the Bon Jovi I LOVE is found in deeper album cuts that rarely, if ever, will see the light of day at their live shows.
Taking at look at each album the band has released (minus two greatest hits collections and the abomination that was “This Left Feels Right”) and four solo albums, one can find hidden gems. Below are my favorites. These aren始t necessarily the best songs on the album (for instance “
These Days” is definitely the best song from the “These Days” album, but it始s not all that hidden to many fans). These are songs that aren始t played live all that much (if at all) either these days.
Bon Jovi
None. “
Runaway” is the only song from this album that I ever listen to. The rest is pretty Velveeta. This isn始t a proper Bon Jovi album, in my opinion, as the band had not found its footing yet.
7800 Fahrenheit
7800 Fahrenheit isn始t much better than the debut album but “
King Of The Mountain,” though VERY 80s, is a fun song with a great chanting chorus. This one sounds better on vinyl so you can take the way-back machine to 1985.
Slippery When Wet
“
Wild In The Streets.” This one used to be played live quite often but then dropped. I fell in love with this one through the live version found on a “These Days” import single (recorded
live at Wembley, 1995). Specifically, I love the intros to the solos Jon shouts out on the live cut. “Slippery” is so pervasive that there aren始t many true deep cuts on this one.
New Jersey
“
Stick To Your Guns.” I have a theory that this was their attempt to recreate the success of “Wanted Dead Or Alive.” For a bunch of guys from New Jersey, they can pull off the cowboy motif very well. I prefer the studio version to any (rare) version I始ve ever heard. I also get the impression that, were Richie in charge, this one would get more play. The line “And when you pray for independence” with Jon始s impassioned vocal and Richie始s harmony is the best part of the song.
Keep The Faith
“
Little Bit Of Soul.” A buddy of mine in high school lent me his VHS copy of “Keep The Faith: An Evening With Bon Jovi.” This is the song I latched onto immediately. It始s so hopeful and has always been a great pick-me-up. Pure rock n始 roll. Love Richie始s playing on this one.
These Days
“
My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms.” The “These Days” album is my favorite. Much of it has to do with where I was in life when it came out (entering college and liking a very uncool band). However, I also think the band took more chances and stretched more as songwriters on this album than any other and the results showed. So much of me wishes they始d revisit this attitude. “Guitar” is a prime example of this. Dark and brooding with a huge chorus that addresses the listener with honesty. I also really dig
Richie始s fat Les Paul sound on this song (specifically the lick at 4:16).
Crush
“
Next 100 Years.” Very Beatle-esque and a absolutely killer outro. Remnants of “These Days” songwriting are apparent.
Bounce
None. Maybe “
The Distance” but, otherwise, it始s not a very good album. They chased the success of “
It始s My Life” with a whole album of misfires.
Have A Nice Day
“Novocaine.” It始s kind of bitter and not all that happy but it has a sweet sound. I始ve always wondered if Richie始s marriage troubles were starting around this time.
Production could be better though.
Lost Highway
None. See “Bounce” but swap out “
Whole Lotta Leavin始” and “
Who Says...” as reasons this album isn始t better.
The Circle
“
Thorn In My Side.” They really killed it live with this one (via the YouTube videos I saw) with the extended guitar-mony jam at the end. The stops make this song.
SOLO ALBUMS
“
Santa Fe” and “
It始s Just Me” for Jon and “
Father Time” and “
Harlem Rain” for Richie始s solo albums.
What are your favorite hidden gems on each album?
About the Blogger:
Daniel is the Music and Communications Minister at the Christian Church of Jasper in Jasper,
Indiana. He is the father of two girls and husband to a beautiful woman. He has been a Bon Jovi
fan since 1987 when his older sister dubbed a copy of Slippery When Wet from her friend and he would sneak into her room to listen to it. He was also a rock star in the garage of his Tennessee home playing the tennis racquet (along with his friend Jeremy) and singing “Bad Medicine” (which had been recorded by holding a tape recorder up to the radio speaker. He始s seen Bon Jovi live four times (3 times in Nashville - 1995, 2008 and 2010 and once in Louisville, Ky. - 2010). Daniel writes and records his own music with the band Narrow Path (www.narrowpath.us) and blogs (very occasionally) at Alien Soil (www.aliensoil.blogspot.com). You can follow him on Twitter (@jdanielross).
