Bon Jovi (album)
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| Bon Jovi | ||||
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| Studio album by Bon Jovi | ||||
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| Released | January 21, 1984 | |||
| Recorded | June, 1983 at Power Station in New York City | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 38:29 | |||
| Label | Mercury Records (USA) Vertigo Records (Europe) |
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| Producer | Tony Bongiovi, Lance Quinn | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
| Bon Jovi chronology | ||||
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| Singles from 'Bon Jovi' | ||||
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Bon Jovi is the debut album from American rock band Bon Jovi, released January 21, 1984. Produced by Tony Bongiovi and Lance Quinn, the album is significant for being the only Bon Jovi album on which a song ("She Don't Know Me") appears that was not written or co-written by members of the band.
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[edit] Making of the record
In 1980 Jon Bon Jovi started to work at Power Station Studios, a Manhattan recording facility where his cousin, Tony Bongiovi, was a co-owner. Jon Bon Jovi made several demos and sent them out to many record companies, but failed to make an impact.
In 1982 Jon Bon Jovi went to local radio station WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple". DJ Chip Hobart listened to Jon's demos and loved "Runaway", deciding to include it on the station's compilation album of local homegrown talent. The studio musicians who helped record "Runaway" were known as The All Star Review. They were: guitarists Dave Sabo and Tim Pierce, keyboardist Roy Bittan, drummer Frankie LaRocka and bassist Hugh McDonald.
The song began to get airplay around New York. Jon signed to Mercury Records, part of the PolyGram company. Jon Bon Jovi wanted a group name and the A&R staff at PolyGram came up with Bon Jovi.
In March 1983 Bon Jovi called David Bryan (then Rashbaum), who in turn called bassist Alec John Such and an experienced drummer named Tico Torres. At that time Bon Jovi's lead guitarist was Dave Sabo (a.k.a. The Snake), who later formed the group Skid Row. Dave Sabo was eventually replaced by Richie Sambora.
Band recorded the album (originally titled "Tough Talk" but renamed after the record company decided it was wiser to issue the album as a self titled release) at Power Station Studios and produced by Tony Bongiovi and Lance Quinn. Most of the songs are written by Jon Bon Jovi David Bryan and Richie Sambora. "Burning For Love" and "Come Back" were the very first songs written for the album. Three singles were released from the album, "Runaway", "She Don't Know Me" and in Japan only, "Burning For Love".
[edit] Track listing
| # | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Runaway" | Jon Bon Jovi, George Karak | 3:50 |
| 2. | "Roulette" | Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora | 4:41 |
| 3. | "She Don't Know Me" | Mark Avsec | 4:02 |
| 4. | "Shot Through the Heart" | Bon Jovi, Jack Ponti | 4:25 |
| 5. | "Love Lies" | Bon Jovi, David Rashbaum | 4:09 |
| 6. | "Breakout" | Bon Jovi, Rashbaum | 5:23 |
| 7. | "Burning for Love" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 3:53 |
| 8. | "Come Back" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 3:58 |
| 9. | "Get Ready" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 4:08 |
[edit] Personnel
[edit] Bon Jovi
- Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals
- Richie Sambora – guitar, background vocals
- Alec John Such – bass, background vocals
- Tico Torres – drums, percussion
- David Bryan – keyboards, background vocals
[edit] Additional personnel
- Roy Bittan – keyboards
- Chuck Burgi - additional drums
- David Grahmme - background vocals
- Doug Katsaros - additional keyboards
- Frankie La Rocka – drums
- Hugh McDonald – bass
- Aldo Nova - additional guitar, additional keyboards
- Tim Pierce – guitar
- Mick Seeley - background vocals
[edit] Engineers
- Larry Alexander
- Jeff Hendrickson
- John Bengelshmy
[edit] Chart positions and sales
[edit] Album
| Country | Peak position | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 43 | Platinum [1] | 2,000,000+ |
| Canada | Gold [2] | 50,000+ | |
| Switzerland | Platinum [3] | 50,000+ | |
| Japan | Gold | 100,000+ | |
| Australia | 39 |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Runaway" | Billboard Hot 100 | 39 |
| 1984 | "She Don' Know Me" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 48 |
| 1984 | "Burning For Love" | Japanese Chart Position: | Unknown |
