You need to know the backstory to this song. There was no "Bon Jovi" at the time this song was recorded. It was simply John Francis Bongiovi Jr (Jon Bon Jovi). His cousin, Tony Bongiovi, ran "The Power Station" a recording studio in NYC, where Jon worked as a teen running errands and doing janitorial duties. It was in that same studio he recorded "Runaway" in 1982. There was NO BAND!! It was just Jon and studio musicians. In 1983, WAPP (103.5-FM NYC) began playing the song as part of their "local artists: series, and the song became very popular, thus Jon had to get a band together quick to perform at all the gigs that he received. The rest is history!!
That station took 9 or 10 of those local artists' songs and pressed them into an album. A Detroit DJ got ahold of a copy and started playing Runaway the next day. A pretty big hit here.
That is a great story! Is this the studio where the band "The Power Station "got their name from? The one with Duran Duran's bassist? His name alludes me at the moment.
The song started getting Top 40 airplay and he didn't have a band. He recorded a single "Runaway" at his cousin's recording studio with kick ass studio musicians.
When I saw RATT in concert in Tulsa in the mid 80s, Bon Jovi opened for them and this was their hit song before they really blew up a year or so later.
After all these years I found out Tim Pierce played the guitars on this track. The dude was all over the place on 80's albums. He's got a great youtube channel too.
Yeah, JBJ was working as an assistant at his brother's studio (or where his brother worked) and saved up to record this song to get his band started. So all studio musicians
@@correctlyrics Or when it's a good business decision.... 😆 Let's be honest. These guys are very motivated to "discover" that they actually like things they didn't used to like. And if we're being honest, Bon Jovi has solid but very cliched rock songs. I mean, the keyboards? The guitar dives? The lyrics? It's as cliche as the keyboard stabs of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes. (OK, the Yes keyboards were worst of the 80s, and so was the guitar solo, which appears on many "worst of the 80s" lists.)
Yeah 1984 was good. My favs include Black Flag- My War, Husker Du- Zen Arcade, Ratt- Out Of The Cellar, Minutemen- Double Nickels On The Dime, Van Halen- 1984, The Cure- The Top, Prince- Purple Rain (masterpiece), U2- Unforgettable Fire...
@@David-iv6je Sounds like you're just cognitive biasing your way into an explanation that matches your own distaste for bon jovi and/or the 80s. When they don't like something they make it pretty clear.
"THIS AIN'T A SONG FOR THE BROKEN HEARTED." Song: "It's my Life." Bon Jovi in top form. Bet if you did a poll this one would rank very high, probably win.
I remember my little brother playing this song on a cassette player back in 1984. It was just the beginnings of one of the most awesome rock groups of all time.
The one that started it all!! Early Bon Jovi definitely went harder than their later stuff. But, in my opinion, there are no bad Bon Jovi songs! Love Bon Jovi! Great reaction, guys.
It's great to see you starting to dip your toes into 80s metal! There is SO much material for you to discover and I'm looking forward to see where this road takes you. \m/
Bon Jovi, Poison, Winger, Ratt, Motley Crue, Warrant and so many more are all 80s greats. The ballads, bangers and beyond are so elevated and sexy. Some of the 80s bands went too commercial/cheesy but most of them stayed true to the genre and decade. I'm so happy Alex warmed up to the 80s, thanks guys!
I always loved this song!! Then the albums New Jersey & Slippery When Wet were just more amazing songs. We pre-partied to Bon Jovi (among others) to those albums before going out. The 80s were just as fun as they looked!
I graduated high school in 1989. Everyone loves Bon Jovi now, but back then, there was such a specific crowd who listened to them. They all had his haircut and wore leather bomber jackets. No judgement - some were nice, some were not. But it was just a very specific slice of the cafeteria seating chart.
Hahaha that is so true! I was home from Freshman year of college and working on a farm that summer. There were two huge topics of conversation: "Bahn Jeauvi" with a hick southern Illinois farm accent and Madonna's spread in Playboy I think it was: did you see her armpit hair?!?!?! Ah to be dumb as hell and 19 again.
Not everyone loves them now. I don't. There were plenty of comments in their last Bon Jovi reaction saying the same thing. This particular song is better than their later stuff, which the girls all went nuts for
This is definitely one of those songs that was exciting when it came out because it didn't sound like anything else at the time. I also recommend "Wanted Dead Or Alive", "Livin' On A Prayer", and "Bad Medicine".
This is the song thhat started it all! Jon didn't even have a band before this, which is why the contracts are alll with him and band members are technically his employees.
"First album is as early as you can get" Well there's also "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas." from the Star Wars Christmas Album, Christmas in the Stars, which features Jon Bon Jovi's first vocals on record, but I'm not sure you'd want to listen to that.
This is my favorite Bon Jovi tune. I’ve loved it ever since it came out. Fkyn brings the house down. I LOVE IT. Thanks Alex and Andy for playing this song.😊🤘🏼💯% 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤in my opinion, this is their most rockin tune.…
My band in high school (84 grad) covered this - without the harmony vocals. Our guitar player worshipped EVH and he morphed the Sambora solo here into a finger-tapping Van Halen version. it really worked. This was easy enough for us to learn without the written music.
I saw the "Slippery When Wet" tour when they came around. They were filming a documentary about them, and I was in the video during "Lay Your Hands On Me". We had a banner that said "Bon Jovi And Crew, We Are Here For You!" I am 2nd from the left. It was so FUN!! We spent 2 days at the venue. And THAT is all I wish to say on that. I hope I Mesmerized you all with this one of a kind story. (lol)
Throughout a career that spans over five decades, the rock ‘n’ roll legends have sold over 150 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling American rock act of all time. Their music has transcended generations, and while they’ve been selling records since 1973, they band has just achieved a monumental modern-day milestone. While vinyl and CDs have seen a tremendous resurgence over the last ten years, streaming has become monstrous manner by which people consume music. Since the launch of Spotify back in 2006, many artists have amassed hundreds of thousands of streams, and some hundreds of millions. Few, however, have achieved the rare achievement that Aerosmith just did - having a single song surpass 1 billion streams. DREAM ON!
Funny you're reacting to this today, Tim Pierce (who played all the guitars on the track, including that amazing solo) just did a YT livestream this weekend talking about this song and how he came to play on it. Probably my favorite Bon Jovi song but for decades I didn't understand why it was so different from his other stuff. Turns out it's because Bon Jovi the band didn't exist yet so it's all studio musicians. Also, it's worth noting this was originally recorded in '81/'82 but not released until '84, so it was actually ahead of its time on the "80s rock" thing. Tim Pierce absolutely nailed what became the 80s hard rock guitar style before anyone had heard much of it.
This was before the band was formed, they're all session players playing on this song. Roy Bittan from E Street Band on keys and one of the greatest on guitar: Tim Pierce. Tim's guitar lines famously brought Rick Springfield's 80s albums into the stratosphere. But some of the biggest hits he played on were Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House, and Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, on which he played both the mandolin and the exquisite guitar solo. His musicality and sense of melody is second to none.
I've told this story about the early days of this song many times, but here goes again... In the Detroit area, there was (and I believe still is) a DJ who at the time had connections around the US including NY/NJ and one day he played the original recording of this song (recorded in like 1981 or 1982) that one of his buddies shared with him, and for some time got a LOT of requests for it and played it here and there, but he was the only DJ in the area who played it. Some time later, he talked about how the band and song won some contest in Jersey and had rerecorded it and then played that version...quite a lot...again he was the only DJ in the area to play it. Awhile later, it got released as a single for Bon Jovi's first album, and at the time the word was that Bon Jovi had been "discovered" by Aldo Nova who had had a big hit with a song called Fantasy a few years earlier. The DJ said it was likely a marketing thing, like Diana Ross presents The Jackson 5, as Aldo may have been a fan, but he didn't "discover" Bon Jovi. Aldo DID play on the first album, and came up with the guitar parts for the song Blaze of Glory years later. Anyway, we in the Detroit area (and I'm sure people in the NY/NJ area as well) got to hear this song like 1-2 years before it was officially released.
@@andrewclarke9817 Heck, I'm old enough to have enjoyed WABX and W4 when they both played Rock music! Detroit had AMAZING radio back in the day. It's still fine, WRIF and the new WLLZ are both goot for music that rocks, but these days, there are SO many other options that commerical radio with ads upon ads...I just hardly listen to anymore.
I saw these guys july 5th 1984 at the Louisville Gardens opening for the Scorpions. They were great live that night, and so were the Scorpions. That night was the first time I heard of Bon Jovi.
Like someone else commented, their was a "hair metal" crowd. Actually, there were specific crowds for almost all genres of music. Back then music was EVERYTHING to us! It defined us! Our group of friends, the places we hung out, the clothes we wore, everything was tied to the music we listened to. It was VERY divided back then. I myself was a New Waver, with the heart of a Rocker. I went through several phases during the 80s. All ny teenage years were during the 80s. I turned 21 in 1989. Bon Jovi was simply HUGE! They kinda transcended genres. I believe most people liked them, even if they wouldn't admit it! You know, image was very important! You couldn't be letting people know you liked them if you, for example, were a metal head! 😂😂😂
These guys are from New Jersey, somewhere after their first couple albums they really started getting more into country and Even Doc McGee their manager were like, y’all are from Jersey, what’s with the country, but it worked and they rocked it:)
This whole Album is a banger and I was one of a great many who got to hear it on vinyl on release. Seen them live in 89’ at the Milton Keynes Bowl (New Jersey Tour - Another banger of an Album btw) with special guest Steven Tyler doing a Beatles number. Vixen and Skid Row were the support acts.
They were still finding their individual voice here and I think you can hear their influences quite well but at the time this was something of a breakthrough hit. The following song on the debut, Roulette, is a favorite of mine and likely the heaviest song Bon Jovi ever did. Anyway, thanks for doing this and I am looking forward to more Bon Jovi.
@@alrivers2297 Bon Jovi currently are the only pre-TH-cam artists that have three songs from three different decades reach a billion views each. Plus about seven to eight others w/ 100+ million views, including one from JBJ's solo channel. By comparison, Def Leppard's channel currently has one song above 100 million views w/ two others nearing that mark. Of course, upload dates matter, but the view rates are still very far apart.
I really loved this song and album when it came out, and was excited to see what they would do going forward. Sadly, for me, they just became makers of bland top 40 pop rock. Nothing wrong with that, and God bless their success and the people who love their music.
Love that you're coming around to 80's music! Bon Jovi was one of my sisters favourites back in the 80's and I used to dis them as I was a metal fan - Iron Maiden all the way with a bit of Ozzy thrown in. Now, I look back on her music as fondly as I do my own music. Bryan Adams was another of her favourites and I'm sure you guys would like him as well - 'Run to You' would probably be the obvious starting point! Keep up the good work.
Still my favorite Bon Jovi tune, the first time I heard it was on Casey Cassam’s top 40 countdown, I think it was #38-went straight out and bought the album!
This is a cool rocker for the 80's, there were a lot of less than inspiring/interesting songs dropped in those years but Bon Jovi could and did hit it hard .
There were a lot of great albums in 1984. Born in the USA, Purple Rain, Learning to Crawl, Zen Arcade, Ride the Lightning, Let it Be (Replacements), Reckoning. This was just standard pop rock.
Aerosmith have 12 multi-platinum certified albums under their belt. To date, the band has garnered four GRAMMY® Awards, six American Music Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards. In 1999, Walt Disney World launched the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, the band’s very own theme park attraction. In 2001, they performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jon wrote this song and recirded it. A local DJ heard it, liked it and put it on the radio. It became really popular, but Jon had no real band at that time to go out and perform with, so the search was on in a hurry to find what became Bon Jovi the band.
Very underrated DEBUT album. Beside "Runaway" which Jon Bon Jovi recorded as a soloist. 2 years before the album was released, other great songs include: "Roulette" "She Don't Know Me" (You have to watch the video as well) "Shot Through The Heart" "Love Lies" "Breakout" "Burning For Love" "Come Back" "Get Ready" Damn. The whole bleeping album is FANTASTIC!!! Remember the album very well, as I was the music director of my college's radio station at the time. Played the entire album to death until someone stole the album to add to their personal collection. "Slippery When Wet" and "New Jersey" may have had more commercial success, but damn, Bon Jovi's debut album had so much raw rock power. GREAT, under appreciated album.
This Whole album was a great Debut for Bon Jovi! Every track is good. Check out In and Out of Love from the 2nd album, it's also a Banger, or She don't know me, from the Debut, Bon Jovi!
nice to see you guys going into the 80's. Check these: Honeymoon Suite - New Girl Now Accept - Balls To The Wall Charlie - It's Inevitable Cheap Trick - She's Tight Donnie Iris - Love is like a rock Just a start...lol
Bon Jovi has a new album called Forever which is a banger. The guitarist is Phil X. Jon had throat surgery in 2024 and can still sing great but can't hit those high notes. Not that many rock vocalist can hit those high notes when they hit there 60s. Sammy Hagar is one and Roger daltrey is another.
I agree with your rating. This is a typical Bon Jovi song. It’s somewhat ground breaking in that it was their first commercial release, but it’s on par with the others. Next song by them: “Wanted Dead or Alive”. A bit different and more unique, but still fantastic.
Most definitely the perfect combo of pretty boy lead singer and stellar lead guitarist. Definite chick band which made the live shows very fun! JBJ turned out to be more than a pretty face. Legit great 80s and 90s band
This might sound hypocritical, I HATE 80's hair metal groups, BUT I never think of Bon Jovi and Van Halen and a couple of other bands as hair metal, because their musicality is better than that. To me, it's why some groups survived and even outlasted grunge, and others became obscure overnight after "Nevermind". With Bon Jovi, even from this first album, I could hear they had "it"! They had a higher maturity. I'm not sure of the exact timeline - - this album put them on the map, Jon was or started dating the actress Diane Lane, they broke up, and then he wrote "You Give Love A Bad Name" is written about her.
Guys you did a Reaction to Blood Sweat and Tears is it possible that you can listen to YOU MAKE ME SO VERY HAPPY ! rock, soft, jazz all in this a wonderful song but then again all the music you react to is. Enjoy watching you both .
"Shot Through The Heart" is another good song from the first album--not the same thing as "You Give Love A Bad Name," as you discovered, but may have inspired the lyrical line for that song.
I forget the exact details , but NYC radio station WAPP had some kind of battle of the bands contest that Bon Jovi won . I was in the audience for them opening for ZZ Top . Outside of "Runaway" which was getting airplay , their pretty boy looks & sound didn't mesh well for a crowd of Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers . Obviously things went better for Bon Jovi a few years later .
I remember the first time I saw them they performed it on Dick Clark's weekly TV show... can't recall the official name of the show. Someone will know. It may have been their first TV appearance.
You need to know the backstory to this song. There was no "Bon Jovi" at the time this song was recorded. It was simply John Francis Bongiovi Jr (Jon Bon Jovi).
His cousin, Tony Bongiovi, ran "The Power Station" a recording studio in NYC, where Jon worked as a teen running errands and doing janitorial duties. It was in that same studio he recorded "Runaway" in 1982. There was NO BAND!! It was just Jon and studio musicians.
In 1983, WAPP (103.5-FM NYC) began playing the song as part of their "local artists: series, and the song became very popular, thus Jon had to get a band together quick to perform at all the gigs that he received.
The rest is history!!
That station took 9 or 10 of those local artists' songs and pressed them into an album. A Detroit DJ got ahold of a copy and started playing Runaway the next day. A pretty big hit here.
Tim Pierce from Rick Springfields band on guitar also!
That is a great story! Is this the studio where the band "The Power Station "got their name from? The one with Duran Duran's bassist? His name alludes me at the moment.
I had no idea!!!
Fun fact: The guitars on this track were not performed by Richie Sambora, but by session guitarist extraordinaire, Tim Pierce.
th-cam.com/video/7z6uYpbbe4E/w-d-xo.html
No one in the actual band was on the recording of this song apparently
All studio musicians
@@jeffreymitchell7969 yeah it was Frankie LaRocka on drums, Roy Bitten on keyboards, Tim Price on guitar and Hugh McDonald on bass I think
The song started getting Top 40 airplay and he didn't have a band. He recorded a single "Runaway" at his cousin's recording studio with kick ass studio musicians.
When I saw RATT in concert in Tulsa in the mid 80s, Bon Jovi opened for them and this was their hit song before they really blew up a year or so later.
I loved RATT! they were my first concert.
I was at that show. And Wichita, OK City, and St. Louis on tha tour!
@@thecurtain Sweet! A long long time ago.
Where tulsa? Moved up here about a year ago from Houston. Crazy music history up here I wouldn't have ever thought of tulsa oklahoma of all fkn places
“Wanted Dead or Alive” is a must! 👍💜
They heard it
The video has to be seen with it to understand the context.
After all these years I found out Tim Pierce played the guitars on this track. The dude was all over the place on 80's albums. He's got a great youtube channel too.
he tells a great story about the recording and how it came to be. John's cousin ran the studio
@@ldenorio Ha! Yep that's where I heard it from. 👍
Yeah, JBJ was working as an assistant at his brother's studio (or where his brother worked) and saved up to record this song to get his band started. So all studio musicians
I Love Tim Pierce's channel.
I saw Tim Pierce when I went to see Rick Springfield in concert twice in the 80's as a young teenager. I never knew he played guitar on this record.
like how Alex is admitting that 80's music is absolute fire! I was born in '84 and like it was said - it was a GREAT year for music
Funny what happens when you throw your bias aside and actually give something a genuine chance, right?
@@correctlyrics Or when it's a good business decision.... 😆 Let's be honest. These guys are very motivated to "discover" that they actually like things they didn't used to like. And if we're being honest, Bon Jovi has solid but very cliched rock songs. I mean, the keyboards? The guitar dives? The lyrics? It's as cliche as the keyboard stabs of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes. (OK, the Yes keyboards were worst of the 80s, and so was the guitar solo, which appears on many "worst of the 80s" lists.)
Yeah 1984 was good. My favs include Black Flag- My War, Husker Du- Zen Arcade, Ratt- Out Of The Cellar, Minutemen- Double Nickels On The Dime, Van Halen- 1984, The Cure- The Top, Prince- Purple Rain (masterpiece), U2- Unforgettable Fire...
It's funny cuz he used to hate it
@@David-iv6je Sounds like you're just cognitive biasing your way into an explanation that matches your own distaste for bon jovi and/or the 80s. When they don't like something they make it pretty clear.
"THIS AIN'T A SONG FOR THE BROKEN HEARTED."
Song: "It's my Life." Bon Jovi in top form. Bet if you did a poll this one would rank very high, probably win.
I remember my little brother playing this song on a cassette player back in 1984. It was just the beginnings of one of the most awesome rock groups of all time.
The one that started it all!! Early Bon Jovi definitely went harder than their later stuff. But, in my opinion, there are no bad Bon Jovi songs! Love Bon Jovi! Great reaction, guys.
"She Don't Know Me" from 1984 and "Lay Your Hands On Me", which came out later, are highly recommended.
It's great to see you starting to dip your toes into 80s metal! There is SO much material for you to discover and I'm looking forward to see where this road takes you. \m/
Bon Jovi, Poison, Winger, Ratt, Motley Crue, Warrant and so many more are all 80s greats. The ballads, bangers and beyond are so elevated and sexy. Some of the 80s bands went too commercial/cheesy but most of them stayed true to the genre and decade. I'm so happy Alex warmed up to the 80s, thanks guys!
I always loved this song!! Then the albums New Jersey & Slippery When Wet were just more amazing songs. We pre-partied to Bon Jovi (among others) to those albums before going out. The 80s were just as fun as they looked!
I graduated high school in 1989. Everyone loves Bon Jovi now, but back then, there was such a specific crowd who listened to them. They all had his haircut and wore leather bomber jackets. No judgement - some were nice, some were not. But it was just a very specific slice of the cafeteria seating chart.
I graduated in 86, he was kind of almost Air Supply to us.
😂 I was 10 when Slippery came out and I loved it so damn much. I definitely remember all the older dudes from High School who hated Bon Jovi.
Hahaha that is so true!
I was home from Freshman year of college and working on a farm that summer. There were two huge topics of conversation: "Bahn Jeauvi" with a hick southern Illinois farm accent and Madonna's spread in Playboy I think it was: did you see her armpit hair?!?!?! Ah to be dumb as hell and 19 again.
Very true! Hair metal fandom, in general, had its own specific sub-set in our generation.
Not everyone loves them now. I don't. There were plenty of comments in their last Bon Jovi reaction saying the same thing. This particular song is better than their later stuff, which the girls all went nuts for
This is definitely one of those songs that was exciting when it came out because it didn't sound like anything else at the time. I also recommend "Wanted Dead Or Alive", "Livin' On A Prayer", and "Bad Medicine".
This is the song thhat started it all! Jon didn't even have a band before this, which is why the contracts are alll with him and band members are technically his employees.
The guitar work is phenomenal. The solo is fantastic.
My favourite Bon Jovi song. It’s gritty, which I love.
When this was first out I was a teen and relistening to it, I’m realizing how badass that engine room is! Damn. Smoking bass.
"First album is as early as you can get"
Well there's also "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas." from the Star Wars Christmas Album, Christmas in the Stars, which features Jon Bon Jovi's first vocals on record, but I'm not sure you'd want to listen to that.
TIL, lol!
Blood on Blood and Dry County are quite epic songs from Bon Jovi.
The one that started it all
My favorite Bon Jovi song.
This is my favorite Bon Jovi tune. I’ve loved it ever since it came out. Fkyn brings the house down.
I LOVE IT. Thanks Alex and Andy for playing this song.😊🤘🏼💯%
🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤🎧🎤in my opinion, this is their most rockin tune.…
My band in high school (84 grad) covered this - without the harmony vocals. Our guitar player worshipped EVH and he morphed the Sambora solo here into a finger-tapping Van Halen version. it really worked.
This was easy enough for us to learn without the written music.
This was my introduction to Bon Jovi, and I've been a die-hard fan ever since.😊
I saw the "Slippery When Wet" tour when they came around. They were filming a documentary about them, and I was in the video during "Lay Your Hands On Me". We had a banner that said "Bon Jovi And Crew, We Are Here For You!" I am 2nd from the left. It was so FUN!! We spent 2 days at the venue. And THAT is all I wish to say on that. I hope I Mesmerized you all with this one of a kind story. (lol)
Throughout a career that spans over five decades, the rock ‘n’ roll legends have sold over 150 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling American rock act of all time. Their music has transcended generations, and while they’ve been selling records since 1973, they band has just achieved a monumental modern-day milestone.
While vinyl and CDs have seen a tremendous resurgence over the last ten years, streaming has become monstrous manner by which people consume music. Since the launch of Spotify back in 2006, many artists have amassed hundreds of thousands of streams, and some hundreds of millions. Few, however, have achieved the rare achievement that Aerosmith just did - having a single song surpass 1 billion streams. DREAM ON!
Funny you're reacting to this today, Tim Pierce (who played all the guitars on the track, including that amazing solo) just did a YT livestream this weekend talking about this song and how he came to play on it. Probably my favorite Bon Jovi song but for decades I didn't understand why it was so different from his other stuff. Turns out it's because Bon Jovi the band didn't exist yet so it's all studio musicians.
Also, it's worth noting this was originally recorded in '81/'82 but not released until '84, so it was actually ahead of its time on the "80s rock" thing. Tim Pierce absolutely nailed what became the 80s hard rock guitar style before anyone had heard much of it.
I’m not a big Bon Jovi but this song and In And Out Of Love are two great songs I listen to… definitely on my playlist.
I'm going to go against the grain and suggest Dry County. It's a kind of sprawling epic piece that you might not expect from this band.
In my opinion, it's their best song.
This was before the band was formed, they're all session players playing on this song. Roy Bittan from E Street Band on keys and one of the greatest on guitar: Tim Pierce. Tim's guitar lines famously brought Rick Springfield's 80s albums into the stratosphere. But some of the biggest hits he played on were Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House, and Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, on which he played both the mandolin and the exquisite guitar solo. His musicality and sense of melody is second to none.
I've told this story about the early days of this song many times, but here goes again... In the Detroit area, there was (and I believe still is) a DJ who at the time had connections around the US including NY/NJ and one day he played the original recording of this song (recorded in like 1981 or 1982) that one of his buddies shared with him, and for some time got a LOT of requests for it and played it here and there, but he was the only DJ in the area who played it. Some time later, he talked about how the band and song won some contest in Jersey and had rerecorded it and then played that version...quite a lot...again he was the only DJ in the area to play it. Awhile later, it got released as a single for Bon Jovi's first album, and at the time the word was that Bon Jovi had been "discovered" by Aldo Nova who had had a big hit with a song called Fantasy a few years earlier. The DJ said it was likely a marketing thing, like Diana Ross presents The Jackson 5, as Aldo may have been a fan, but he didn't "discover" Bon Jovi. Aldo DID play on the first album, and came up with the guitar parts for the song Blaze of Glory years later. Anyway, we in the Detroit area (and I'm sure people in the NY/NJ area as well) got to hear this song like 1-2 years before it was officially released.
Yeah, Doug Podell, who broke an incredible number of bands in Detroit. He was coaxed from retirement to be the main guy at the new version of WLLZ.
@@cletusbeauregard1972 Yep, but I didn't use his name on a "global" comment because most people wouldn't know of him, lol
Big deal
WLLZ - Detroit's Wheeelz!, WRIF - The Home of Rock and Roll, Baby!
WJLB the electricifing MOJO what a great time for Detroit radio
@@andrewclarke9817 Heck, I'm old enough to have enjoyed WABX and W4 when they both played Rock music! Detroit had AMAZING radio back in the day. It's still fine, WRIF and the new WLLZ are both goot for music that rocks, but these days, there are SO many other options that commerical radio with ads upon ads...I just hardly listen to anymore.
I saw these guys july 5th 1984 at the Louisville Gardens opening for the Scorpions.
They were great live that night, and so were the Scorpions. That night was the first time I heard of Bon Jovi.
Like someone else commented, their was a "hair metal" crowd. Actually, there were specific crowds for almost all genres of music. Back then music was EVERYTHING to us! It defined us! Our group of friends, the places we hung out, the clothes we wore, everything was tied to the music we listened to. It was VERY divided back then. I myself was a New Waver, with the heart of a Rocker. I went through several phases during the 80s. All ny teenage years were during the 80s. I turned 21 in 1989. Bon Jovi was simply HUGE! They kinda transcended genres. I believe most people liked them, even if they wouldn't admit it! You know, image was very important! You couldn't be letting people know you liked them if you, for example, were a metal head! 😂😂😂
These guys are from New Jersey, somewhere after their first couple albums they really started getting more into country and Even Doc McGee their manager were like, y’all are from Jersey, what’s with the country, but it worked and they rocked it:)
One of the few Bon Jovi songs that I've heard and liked.
Bon Jovi is a them. Jon Bon Jovi is a him.
Shot through the heart is another banger on the album.
One of the hottest guitar solos ever!!! Tim Pierce absolutely killed it!!!!!!!!!
This whole Album is a banger and I was one of a great many who got to hear it on vinyl on release.
Seen them live in 89’ at the Milton Keynes Bowl (New Jersey Tour - Another banger of an Album btw) with special guest Steven Tyler doing a Beatles number.
Vixen and Skid Row were the support acts.
I remember when my older brother brought this record home. I couldn't stop playing it.
They were still finding their individual voice here and I think you can hear their influences quite well but at the time this was something of a breakthrough hit. The following song on the debut, Roulette, is a favorite of mine and likely the heaviest song Bon Jovi ever did. Anyway, thanks for doing this and I am looking forward to more Bon Jovi.
1984 I was 18. That high note he hits was awesome.
A LOT of the 80's rock that was good at the time, hasn't aged all that well. This one does.
I feel like most of Bon Jovi's stuff hasn't aged that well
80s music is better than this trash music comes out today
@@alrivers2297 I won't argue with that.
@@alrivers2297 Bon Jovi currently are the only pre-TH-cam artists that have three songs from three different decades reach a billion views each. Plus about seven to eight others w/ 100+ million views, including one from JBJ's solo channel. By comparison, Def Leppard's channel currently has one song above 100 million views w/ two others nearing that mark. Of course, upload dates matter, but the view rates are still very far apart.
Still my fav by Bon Jovi, saw him at the Country club in Reseda when he broke this on the radio😮 Tico was an animal behind his kit 🥁😎
Wolf & Rissmillers’s Country Club! (Unless you weren’t around in the 70’s)
@Rock_Snob used to be a Market Basket grocery store 😎
I believe that this was before Jon had formed the band that we all know as Bon Jovi....none of the members we all know were on this recording.
I really loved this song and album when it came out, and was excited to see what they would do going forward. Sadly, for me, they just became makers of bland top 40 pop rock. Nothing wrong with that, and God bless their success and the people who love their music.
Love that you're coming around to 80's music! Bon Jovi was one of my sisters favourites back in the 80's and I used to dis them as I was a metal fan - Iron Maiden all the way with a bit of Ozzy thrown in. Now, I look back on her music as fondly as I do my own music. Bryan Adams was another of her favourites and I'm sure you guys would like him as well - 'Run to You' would probably be the obvious starting point! Keep up the good work.
Still my favorite Bon Jovi tune, the first time I heard it was on Casey Cassam’s top 40 countdown, I think it was #38-went straight out and bought the album!
My fav band in 80s saw them several times..I still have my leather fringed jacket ❤..
1:10 Always loved this song had no idea it was Bon Jovi. I was like "Its my life" Bon Jovi? in 2001?
This has always been my favorite Bon Jovi song specifically due to the fabulous keyboards.
A great pop rock tune for this album is "She Don't Know Me". But their best album is 7800 degrees Fahrenheit.
I saw Bon Jovi open for Ratt. Amazing concert in the peak 1980s, with a great skunky smell in the smoke filled arena. 😊
Never cared for them but this song was the exception. Great 80s song.
This is a cool rocker for the 80's, there were a lot of less than inspiring/interesting songs dropped in those years but Bon Jovi could and did hit it hard .
great song, this is the first song I heard by them an got me to listen to more of there songs
'Shot Through the Heart' is also a banger - that's why it's popular I think, not just due to the title! It's almost as good as 'Runaway'.
There were a lot of great albums in 1984. Born in the USA, Purple Rain, Learning to Crawl, Zen Arcade, Ride the Lightning, Let it Be (Replacements), Reckoning. This was just standard pop rock.
I'm not too wild about Bon Jovi honestly, but I admit I always liked this one.
Listen to the entire album! Not a bad track on it.
Nice reaction! "Blaze of Glory", and then "Dead or Alive" next!
Aerosmith have 12 multi-platinum certified albums under their belt. To date, the band has garnered four GRAMMY® Awards, six American Music Awards, and ten MTV Video Music Awards. In 1999, Walt Disney World launched the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, the band’s very own theme park attraction. In 2001, they performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jon wrote this song and recirded it. A local DJ heard it, liked it and put it on the radio. It became really popular, but Jon had no real band at that time to go out and perform with, so the search was on in a hurry to find what became Bon Jovi the band.
Very underrated DEBUT album. Beside "Runaway" which Jon Bon Jovi recorded as a soloist. 2 years before the album was released, other great songs include:
"Roulette"
"She Don't Know Me" (You have to watch the video as well)
"Shot Through The Heart"
"Love Lies"
"Breakout"
"Burning For Love"
"Come Back"
"Get Ready"
Damn. The whole bleeping album is FANTASTIC!!! Remember the album very well, as I was the music director of my college's radio station at the time. Played the entire album to death until someone stole the album to add to their personal collection.
"Slippery When Wet" and "New Jersey" may have had more commercial success, but damn, Bon Jovi's debut album had so much raw rock power. GREAT, under appreciated album.
You guys look like I probably did when I was driving in my first car hearing this on the radio for the first time. Oh those firsts…😉🤗
I named one of my doggies at the time Jovi. She was a rescue dog, a "run away"
In and Out of Love is a good early one.
Keep the faith and dry county are very underrated songs from them
New Jersey is their best album. Wild is the Wind their hidden gem.
This Whole album was a great Debut for Bon Jovi! Every track is good. Check out In and Out of Love from the 2nd album, it's also a Banger, or She don't know me, from the Debut, Bon Jovi!
nice to see you guys going into the 80's.
Check these:
Honeymoon Suite - New Girl Now
Accept - Balls To The Wall
Charlie - It's Inevitable
Cheap Trick - She's Tight
Donnie Iris - Love is like a rock
Just a start...lol
The breakout song, I remember when it happened, live Six Flags great adventure,Then they were all over the local radio ,soon to go national
Like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi was at their absolute best on the first albums. Classic!
'Roulette' off this album is their best song, y'all should do it next. "In & Out of Love' is also a good one.
glad you like this one - it's one of the best
Try a Bon Jovi ballad next. "Bed of Roses" is a great one!
This is how i remember metal. It was fun it was pop and it was new at the time.
I believe this is the song that Tom Petty refers to in the song Running Down a Dream, Me and Del were singing, (Little Runaway)
Nah… he referred to Del Shannon’s “Runaway”. Huge hit in 1961.
Del Shannon song
Lay Your Hands On Me and Born To Be My Baby are both absolute bangers worth checking out.
Bon Jovi has a new album called Forever which is a banger. The guitarist is Phil X. Jon had throat surgery in 2024 and can still sing great but can't hit those high notes. Not that many rock vocalist can hit those high notes when they hit there 60s. Sammy Hagar is one and Roger daltrey is another.
I agree with your rating. This is a typical Bon Jovi song. It’s somewhat ground breaking in that it was their first commercial release, but it’s on par with the others.
Next song by them: “Wanted Dead or Alive”. A bit different and more unique, but still fantastic.
Most definitely the perfect combo of pretty boy lead singer and stellar lead guitarist. Definite chick band which made the live shows very fun! JBJ turned out to be more than a pretty face. Legit great 80s and 90s band
"She works the night away" reminds me of Black Diamond by Kiss. Which was rowdily covered by Replacements 💥🎸🏴☠️
Talk to Ya Later by The Tubes is a classic 80’s pop rocker, with awesome guitar work by another session master.
My opinion, first single and their best work.
I fell in love with Bon Jovi to this song.
yes the begining! they were so good!
"Tokyo Road" from their second album, 7800 Degrees, is a good next step.
This might sound hypocritical, I HATE 80's hair metal groups, BUT I never think of Bon Jovi and Van Halen and a couple of other bands as hair metal, because their musicality is better than that. To me, it's why some groups survived and even outlasted grunge, and others became obscure overnight after "Nevermind". With Bon Jovi, even from this first album, I could hear they had "it"! They had a higher maturity.
I'm not sure of the exact timeline - - this album put them on the map, Jon was or started dating the actress Diane Lane, they broke up, and then he wrote "You Give Love A Bad Name" is written about her.
Guys you did a Reaction to Blood Sweat and Tears is it possible that you can listen to YOU MAKE ME SO VERY HAPPY ! rock, soft, jazz all in this a wonderful song but then again all the music you react to is. Enjoy watching you both .
"Shot Through The Heart" is another good song from the first album--not the same thing as "You Give Love A Bad Name," as you discovered, but may have inspired the lyrical line for that song.
I forget the exact details , but NYC radio station WAPP had some kind of battle of the bands contest that Bon Jovi won . I was in the audience for them opening for ZZ Top . Outside of "Runaway" which was getting airplay , their pretty boy looks & sound didn't mesh well for a crowd of Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers . Obviously things went better for Bon Jovi a few years later .
Yeah, WAPP. I have the record they made. 😊
Great guitar playing. Tim Pierce was the guitar player on this track.
Runaway was his 1st demo. All studio musicians to cut it for resl. Tim Pierce was the guitarist.
He was with Scandal (Goodbye To You) before this album came out.
Old school Bon Jovi. Before they ruled the world. Great song.
I remember the first time I saw them they performed it on Dick Clark's weekly TV show... can't recall the official name of the show. Someone will know. It may have been their first TV appearance.
Tim Pierce Guitar played all the guitars on this record, and he just did a livestream two days ago about it...
Good song, back in the day and still holds up to this day....Check out "She Don't Know Me" another forgotten gem of a song.