New Jersey (album)
New Jersey | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 19, 1988 | |||
Recorded | May 1 - July 31 1988 | |||
Studio | Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 56:32 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Bruce Fairbairn | |||
Bon Jovi chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from New Jersey | ||||
|
New Jersey is the fourth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on September 19, 1988, by Mercury Records. The album was produced by Bruce Fairbairn and recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The album was the follow-up to the band's third album, Slippery When Wet, and reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart in its second week of release after debuting at number eight. It remained at the top for four consecutive weeks and was Bon Jovi's last album to do so until Lost Highway (2007).[5]
It produced five Billboard Hot 100 top ten hits, the most top ten hits to date for any glam metal album, including "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There for You", which both reached number one. The album was certified 7× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album also debuted at number one in the UK and was the band's first UK No. 1 album. New Jersey was released by the Soviet state-owned record label Melodiya, being the first American album to be officially released in the USSR.[6][7] To celebrate the band's 30th anniversary in 2014, the album was repackaged with bonus tracks.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Kerrang! | 3.75/5[9] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | C+[12] |
Background[]
The album was recorded very shortly after the Slippery When Wet Tour, because the band wanted to prove that they were not just going to be a one hit wonder.[13] The album was initially planned to be a double album; however, this idea was rejected by the record label because they were skeptical about the higher price point and decided they would only release a single album.[13] One working title for the album was Sons of Beaches, which alluded to the title of Slippery When Wet.[4]
Recording and production[]
The album was produced by Bruce Fairbairn like its predecessor and recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[4] It marked the final collaboration between Bon Jovi and producer Bruce Fairbairn.
When the Slippery When Wet Tour ended in October 1987, the band were inactive for about three to four weeks.[4][13] Then Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora began making demos for 17 songs which would make up the first batch of songs written for the album. However, they began to feel a high level of pressure because they did not feel as though they had "the amazing song".[4][13] Jon Bon Jovi said that "I really wanted to do it again, not for monetary reasons—I have plenty of money—but it was such an amazing feeling to have done what we've done.[13] There was a real fear of not being able to write You Give Love A Bad Name again." Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora sat together and wrote the song "Love Is War" but Jon Bon Jovi wanted to write a song that would prove to be just as successful as "You Give Love a Bad Name" so desperately that it came out with exactly the same chord progression. They later started on the second batch of songs and they wrote "Bad Medicine" and "Born to Be My Baby" with Desmond Child. "Born to Be My Baby" was originally recorded acoustically, however the producer Bruce Fairbairn persuaded them to re-record it with electric instruments in a much more metal style. Jon Bon Jovi has since said that he believed the song would have made number one on the charts if it had been released in its original form. This song has a similar theme to "Livin' on a Prayer", as it is about a young working class couple struggling to make ends meet.[citation needed]
Although the glossy production and anthems from Slippery When Wet remained, the band wished to show a level of diversity on the album. The album is much more experimental with a long, atmosphere-building intro on "Lay Your Hands on Me", harmonica and organ duels on "Homebound Train" and a flamenco guitar intro on "Wild Is the Wind". "Ride Cowboy Ride" is a short song functioning as an introduction to "Stick to Your Guns" and was recorded in mono. The song is credited to "Captain Kidd and King of Swing", the nicknames of Bon Jovi and Sambora.[citation needed]
"Love for Sale" was recorded and engineered by John P. Allen and Chris Cavallaro at Chalet Sound in Allenwood, New Jersey. All pre-production songs were recorded and engineered at Chalet Sound by Allen additional engineering by Cavallaro and Nejat Bekan.[citation needed]
Release and reception[]
New Jersey debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart, but climbed to No. 1 the following week and spent four weeks at the top spot. It eventually sold 7 million copies in the United States. The album debuted at No. 1 in Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand and Australia. "Bad Medicine" and the ballad "I'll Be There for You" both hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Born to Be My Baby", "Lay Your Hands on Me", and "Living in Sin" reached the Top 10.
New Jersey was released on July 1, 2014, as a 2CD "Deluxe Edition", which included the original album remastered along with b-sides and previously unreleased demos from the New Jersey/Sons of Beaches sessions. The "Super Deluxe Edition" includes both discs plus a DVD containing the documentary Access All Areas: A Rock & Roll Odyssey and New Jersey: The Videos. Both titles were previously available on VHS.
Track listing[]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Lay Your Hands on Me" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora | 5:58 |
2. | "Bad Medicine" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Desmond Child | 5:16 |
3. | "Born to Be My Baby" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 4:40 |
4. | "Living in Sin" | Bon Jovi | 4:39 |
5. | "Blood on Blood" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 6:16 |
6. | "Homebound Train" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 5:10 |
7. | "Wild Is the Wind" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child, Diane Warren | 5:08 |
8. | "Ride Cowboy Ride" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 1:25 |
9. | "Stick to Your Guns" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Holly Knight | 4:45 |
10. | "I'll Be There for You" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 5:46 |
11. | "99 in the Shade" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 4:29 |
12. | "Love for Sale" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 3:58 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | "Bad Medicine" (Live at Wembley Arena, 1988) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | |
12. | "Bad Medicine" (Live on the New Jersey Tour) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | |
13. | "Blood on Blood" (Live at Wembley Arena, 1988) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | |
14. | "Born to Be My Baby" (Acoustic version) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | |
15. | "I'll Be There for You" (Live at Lakeland 1989) | Bon Jovi, Sambora | |
16. | "Lay Your Hands on Me" (Live at Giants Stadium, 1989) | Bon Jovi, Sambora | |
17. | "Love Is War" (Studio outtake) | Bon Jovi, Sambora |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "Blood on Blood" (Live Version) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 12:04 |
14. | "Born to Be My Baby" (Live Version) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 5:47 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "You Give Love A Bad Name" (Live Version) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 3:53 |
2014 deluxe edition[]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Lay Your Hands on Me" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora | 5:58 |
2. | "Bad Medicine" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Desmond Child | 5:16 |
3. | "Born to Be My Baby" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 4:40 |
4. | "Living in Sin" | Bon Jovi | 4:39 |
5. | "Blood on Blood" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 6:16 |
6. | "Homebound Train" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 5:10 |
7. | "Wild Is the Wind" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child, Diane Warren | 5:08 |
8. | "Ride Cowboy Ride" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 1:24 |
9. | "Stick to Your Guns" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Holly Knight | 4:45 |
10. | "I'll Be There for You" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 5:46 |
11. | "99 in the Shade" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 4:29 |
12. | "Love for Sale" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 4:01 |
13. | "The Boys Are Back in Town" (Thin Lizzy cover, previously released on Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell compilation. Released in the U.K. as a 12” single B-side.) | Phil Lynott | 4:05 |
14. | "Love Is War" (B-side from "Living in Sin" single.) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 4:14 |
15. | "Born to Be My Baby (Acoustic Version)" (Previously released as a B-side in Japan) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 4:53 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Homebound Train" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 6:32 |
2. | "Judgement Day" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 4:18 |
3. | "Full Moon High" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 4:42 |
4. | "Growin' Up the Hard Way" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 5:31 |
5. | "Let's Make It Baby" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 5:56 |
6. | "Love Hurts" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 4:49 |
7. | "Backdoor to Heaven" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 5:51 |
8. | "Now and Forever" | Bon Jovi, Sambora | 5:34 |
9. | "Wild Is the Wind" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child, Warren | 4:55 |
10. | "Stick to Your Guns" | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Knight | 5:15 |
11. | "House of Fire" (Demo of the song from Alice Cooper's 1989 album Trash) | Alice Cooper, Child, Joan Jett | 5:01 |
12. | "Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore?" (This song was later recorded for Heart of Stone by Cher and by Kane Roberts for his album, "Saints & Sinners".) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child, Warren | 4:57 |
13. | "Diamond Ring" (This song was later recorded for These Days) | Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child | 4:10 |
Personnel[]
Bon Jovi
- Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica
- Richie Sambora – lead guitar, background vocals, co-lead vocals on "I'll Be There for You"
- Alec John Such – bass guitar, background vocals
- Tico Torres – drums, percussion, background vocals on "Born to Be My Baby", "Love for Sale"
- David Bryan – keyboards, background vocals
Additional musicians
- Scott Fairbairn – cello
- Audrey Nordwell – cello
- Bruce Fairbairn – additional percussion, horn
Additional credits
- Bruce Fairbairn – production
- John Allen – engineering
- Peter Berring – arrangement, additional vocals, vocal arrangement
- Chris Cavallaro – engineering
- Bob Rock – engineering, mixing
- George Marino – mastering
- Isabella Lento, Carmela Lento – photography, unknown association
- Hugh Syme – artwork, design
- Chris Taylor – engineering assistance
- Jim Williams – engineering assistance
- Tim White – photography
- Cameron Wong – cover photography
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
|
Year-end charts[]
|
Certifications[]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[35] | 2× Platinum | 165,000[36] |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[37] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[38] | 5× Platinum | 500,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[39] | Platinum | 51,126[39] |
Germany (BVMI)[40] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[41] | Gold | 100,000[41] |
Japan (Oricon Charts) | — | 332,000[42] |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[43] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Sweden (GLF)[45] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[46] 1989 certification |
Platinum | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[46] 1998 certification |
Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] | 2× Platinum | 600,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[48] | 7× Platinum | 7,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Bon Jovi--More Mass Pop". Los Angeles Times. September 25, 1988. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ December 2, Eduardo RivadaviaPublished; 2013. "Top 10 Albums of 1988". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved June 11, 2021.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- ^ Rolli, Bryan (July 1, 2021). "Top 30 Glam Metal Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Kuzminski, Anthony (September 19, 2018). "30 Years Ago: Bon Jovi Grow Up on 'New Jersey'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ "AllMusic (Bon Jovi charts & awards) Billboard albums".
- ^ "netmusiccountdown". Historyking.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
- ^ "n-this-day". Historyking.com. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Bon Jovi New Jersey review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
- ^ Henderson, Paul (September 24, 1988). "Bon Jovi 'New Jersey'". Kerrang!. 206. London, UK: Spotlight Publications ltd. pp. 26–27.
- ^ Azerrad, Michael (November 4, 1992). "New Jersey". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews: New Jersey". Robert Christgau. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Llewellyn, Sian (September 19, 2021). "Bon Jovi: How the New Jersey album nearly killed the band". Louder Sound. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Bon Jovi – New Jersey" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – New Jersey" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – New Jersey" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bon Jovi – New Jersey" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Bon Jovi: New Jersey" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bon Jovi – New Jersey" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "ボン・ジョヴィ 4 NEW JERSEY/ボン・ジョヴィ-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック" [Highest position and charting weeks of New Jersey by Bon Jovi]. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Bon Jovi | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "European Top 100 Albums – 1988" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6 no. 52/1. January 1, 1987. p. 31. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via World Radio History. Digit page 17 on the PDF archive.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1988". hitparade.ch. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1989". RPM. December 23, 1989. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "1989年 アルバム年間TOP100" [Oricon Year-end Albums Chart of 1989] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "The ARIA Report - Chartifacts - Week Commencing ~ 28th January 2008 ~ Issue #935" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2008.
- ^ "Pacing the Majors" (PDF). Billboard. January 20, 1990. p. A-10. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – Bon Jovi – New Jersey" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". Music Canada. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ a b "Bon Jovi" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bon Jovi; 'New Jersey')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ a b "Bon Jovi - Gold Disc" (PDF). Music & Media. January 1, 1989. p. 11. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- ^ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1979–1990". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ a b "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Bon Jovi; 'New Jersey')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ "British album certifications – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 3, 2012.Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type New Jersey in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American album certifications – Bon Jovi – New Jersey". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- 1988 albums
- Bon Jovi albums
- Mercury Records albums
- Vertigo Records albums
- Albums produced by Bruce Fairbairn
- Albums recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios