Living with the Ghost & Reunion music videos + more #THINFS

In my previous post, I speculated about what was going to happen with the remaining music videos for Bon Jovi's This House Is Not For Sale album. Today I got my answer.

The last two videos: "Living with the Ghost" and "Reunion" were both released on TIDAL today. Watch them below.

UPDATE 27/1/17: All these videos have now been released on the BonJoviVEVO YouTube channel. Links below.*

Living with the Ghost:

*You can now also watch "Living with the Ghost" on YouTube:

"Living with the Ghost" is the song that's probably more about Richie Sambora than anything else on the album, but interestingly (though perhaps unsurprisingly) they went in a completely different direction for the video, choosing instead to highlight the social issues in Camden, New Jersey with a haunting black and white video.

Reunion:

*You can now watch "Reunion" on YouTube too:

The "Reunion" video was also shot in Camden, but shines a light on the positive steps being taken there.

"Spiritual Warfare" is both videos put together. (*It's also on YouTube now.)

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed with "Living with the Ghost". I didn't expect them to make it patently obvious that it's about Richie, and I'm fine with Jon showing his socially conscious side. It just feels too forced in "Living with the Ghost" -- fans know what the song is about, and the video doesn't seem to fit at all. Of course, it's not the first time they've done something like this... "Superman Tonight" was discussed in early interviews as being a boy-girl song, but the video was very different.

There's also a short documentary on Camden streaming on TIDAL, which just happens to be called This House Is Not For Sale.

The tour of the same name kicks off very soon. In a recent Facebook Live Q&A, Jon said that every show on the upcoming tour would be recorded and released. I'm assuming it'll be audio only, much like what Bruce Springsteen and others have been doing. I hope Jon's got a vocal coach on retainer because I'd be deaf if I didn't hear that he's been struggling for a few years... but the Lost Highway Tour proved he could get back to sounding great with a little guidance.

P.S. I know a great vocal coach if he needs one. ;)

Housekeeping and New Jersey re-releases

Firstly, a little housekeeping: It's been a few weeks since I blogged, so apologies to my readers. I'm currently working on what I hope will be my first novel, but there are no guarantees (although I mentioned that publicly in the hope that it would spur me on to complete the manuscript so as to avoid humiliation).

Feel free to pitch or submit a guest blog post if you would like to see your perspectives on Bon Jovi showcased on Blame It On The Love. Click here for some previous guest blogs to inspire you.

Meanwhile, Richie Sambora began his run of European dates last week. I'll post the set lists, etc up in my next post.

Finally, the Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions of New Jersey will be released on July 1. You can get demos of Homebound Train and Full Moon High in advance by pre-ordering the Deluxe edition on iTunes. The Super Deluxe version with DVD can be pre-ordered from various outlets including JB Hi-Fi, CDJapan, and Amazon.

New Jersey Album Anniversary Package Sneak Peak

Bon Jovi to release expanded editions of New Jersey

As part of Bon Jovi's 30th anniversary celebrations, new remastered editions of their New Jersey album will be released this year. The Deluxe Edition will be a 2-CD set featuring the full album plus bonus tracks on the first disk, and unreleased demos from what was intended to be Sons of Beaches (before it was whittled down to the 12 tracks we know as New Jersey) on the second disk. The Super Deluxe Edition will feature the two CDs plus a DVD with Access All Areas and the music videos on it.

The track listing for the expanded editions are as follows:

DISC 1: NEW JERSEY (original album, remastered) + bonus tracks

1. Lay Your Hands On Me
2. Bad Medicine
3. Born To Be My Baby
4. Living In Sin
5. Blood On Blood
6. Homebound Train
7. Wild Is The Wind
8. Ride Cowboy Ride
9. Stick To Your Guns
10. I’ll Be There For You
11. 99 In The Shade
12. Love For Sale
Bonus Tracks:
13. The Boys Are Back In Town (Cover of the Thin Lizzy classic; previously released on Stairway To Heaven/Highway To Hell compilation; released in the U.K. as a 12” single B-side)
14. Love Is War (B-side from Living In Sin single)
15. Born To Be My Baby (Acoustic Version; previously released as a b-side in Japan)

DISC 2: The ‘SONS OF BEACHES’ Demos

1. Homebound Train
2. Judgment Day
3. Full Moon High
4. Growin’ Up The Hard Way
5. Let’s Make It Baby
6. Love Hurts
7. Backdoor To Heaven
8. Now And Forever
9. Wild Is The Wind
10. Stick To Your Guns
11. House Of Fire
12. Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore?
13. Diamond Ring

DISC 3 (DVD):
1. ‘ACCESS ALL AREAS: A ROCK & ROLL ODYSSEY’
Directed by Wayne Isham.
The original 1990 88-minute documentary of the band’s epic 16-month world tour in support of the NEW JERSEY album; includes rare backstage, on-the-road, and live concert footage.
First time released in the U.S. on DVD format

2. MUSIC VIDEOS From the NEW JERSEY album
All directed by Wayne Isham

• Bad Medicine (1st Version)
• Born To Be My Baby
• I’ll Be There For You
• Lay Your Hands On Me
• Living In Sin
• Blood On Blood
• Bad Medicine (2nd Version)

The New Jersey Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions are set for release on July 1, although Australian music site Noise11 lists a June 27 date, so presumably the release dates will be staggered in different parts of the world. Other albums are set to get the "special deluxe" treatment this year, too.

Bon Jovi's Hidden Gems

This is a guest post by Daniel Ross... Enjoy!

Bon Jovi plays the hits. Thatʼs 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. Donʼt 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 arenʼt necessarily the best songs on the album (for instance “These Days” is definitely the best song from the “These Days” album, but itʼs not all that hidden to many fans). These are songs that arenʼt 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 isnʼt a proper Bon Jovi album, in my opinion, as the band had not found its footing yet.

7800 Fahrenheit
7800 Fahrenheit isnʼt 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 arenʼt 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 Iʼve 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 Jonʼs impassioned vocal and Richieʼs 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. Itʼs so hopeful and has always been a great pick-me-up. Pure rock nʼ roll. Love Richieʼs 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 theyʼd 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 Richieʼs 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, itʼs not a very good album. They chased the success of “Itʼs My Life” with a whole album of misfires.

Have A Nice Day
“Novocaine.” Itʼs kind of bitter and not all that happy but it has a sweet sound. Iʼve always wondered if Richieʼs marriage troubles were starting around this time. Production could be better though.

Lost Highway
None. See “Bounce” but swap out “Whole Lotta Leavinʼ” and “Who Says...” as reasons this album isnʼt 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 “Itʼs Just Me” for Jon and “Father Time” and “Harlem Rain” for Richieʼs 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. Heʼs 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).

Bon Jovi special edition albums to be released

According to this media release, Bon Jovi's first 10 albums are set to be re-released next month with live bonus tracks:

On May 11, Bon Jovi will re-release their classic studio albums as Special Editions. Each of the band's first 10 albums – Bon Jovi, 7800 Fahrenheit, Slippery When Wet, New Jersey, Keep The Faith, These Days, Crush, Bounce, Have A Nice Day and Lost Highway – will feature the original studio album tracks plus era-specific live recordings included as bonus tracks.

The bonus live tracks include songs taken from sound checks and concerts held in venues from all over the world, ranging from 500 seat theatres to massive football stadiums. Many of the live versions are extended, including "Get Ready" (Bon Jovi), "In and Out Of Love" (7800 Fahrenheit), "Blood on Blood" (New Jersey), "Keep The Faith" (Keep The Faith), and a duet featuring Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland performing "Who Says You Can't Go Home" (Have A Nice Day) with the band.

This "Special Edition" collection will feature new packaging. Each CD will feature new artwork, including images from each period, and new liner notes documenting the band's success through each stage of their twenty-five year career. Exclusive soft-pack versions will also contain reproductions of laminated tour credentials.

Additionally, each "Special Edition" will provide fans with the ability to gain "backstage access" to The Bon Jovi Vaults — a website being created to offer exclusive virtual content, including photos, tour memorabilia and additional live audio tracks.

Cha-ching! goes the Jovi cash register. :P Damn, I think I can feel my wallet getting lighter already.