Bon Jovi – Lost Highway (2007)
Release Date: June 19, 2007
Label: Island / Mercury
Type: Studio Album
Genre: Country Rock / Pop Rock / Rock
Length: 49:54
Producers: John Shanks, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Dann Huff
Overview
Lost Highway is Bon Jovi’s eleventh studio album, representing the band’s bold foray into country music while maintaining their signature rock roots. Inspired by Nashville’s songwriting culture and the country sound of artists like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, the album blends country instrumentation, rock anthems, and heartfelt ballads.
The lead single, “Lost Highway,” set the tone for the album’s thematic focus on journey, self-reflection, and life on the road. This record demonstrates Bon Jovi’s versatility, appealing to longtime fans and reaching new audiences within the country-pop crossover market.
Tracklist
-
Lost Highway – 3:53
-
Summertime – 3:36
-
Whole Lot of Leavin’ – 3:58
-
We Got It Going On – 3:44
-
Seat Next to You – 4:03
-
Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore – 4:25
-
Any Other Day – 4:29
-
Everybody’s Broken – 4:00
-
Everybody’s Broken (Acoustic Version) – 4:03
-
Love’s the Only Rule – 3:57
-
Open All Night – 3:43
-
Stand – 4:55
Bonus Tracks / Special Editions:
-
“I Love This Town” (International Bonus Track)
-
“Who Says You Can’t Go Home” (Acoustic Version)
Fun Facts & Trivia
-
Country Crossover: The album’s sound is heavily influenced by Nashville, with banjos, pedal steel guitars, and fiddle appearing throughout.
-
Chart Success: Lost Highway became Bon Jovi’s first #1 album in the U.S. Billboard 200 in nearly a decade, selling over 300,000 copies in its first week.
-
Award-Winning Single: “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” (duet with Jennifer Nettles) won a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals in 2007.
-
Did You Know? The band recorded part of the album in Nashville, Tennessee, working with country songwriters to adapt their rock sound to country sensibilities.
-
Tour Tie-in: The Lost Highway Tour (2007–2008) incorporated both arena rock hits and tracks from the country-inspired album.
-
Mature Themes: Tracks like “Whole Lot of Leavin’” and “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore” explore heartbreak, reflection, and reconciliation, showing a softer side of the band.
-
Visual Identity: The album cover’s open road imagery reflects freedom, journeys, and self-discovery, central themes of the album.
-
Singles: Other singles included “Summertime” and “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore,” the latter featuring country star LeAnn Rimes.
Album Credits
Bon Jovi:
-
Jon Bon Jovi: Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
-
Richie Sambora: Guitar, backing vocals, talk box
-
David Bryan: Keyboards, backing vocals
-
Tico Torres: Drums, percussion
-
Hugh McDonald: Bass guitar, backing vocals
Additional Musicians:
-
Dann Huff – Guitar, production
-
Tim Pierce – Guitar
-
Various Nashville session musicians contributed pedal steel, banjo, and fiddle
Production Team:
-
Producers: John Shanks, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Dann Huff
-
Engineers: John Shanks, Obie O’Brien
-
Mixing: Bob Clearmountain
-
Mastering: Ted Jensen
Mini Review
Lost Highway marks a daring and successful experiment for Bon Jovi, blending country instrumentation with their classic rock sensibilities. Tracks like “Lost Highway” and “Summertime” offer energetic, road-ready vibes, while ballads like “Whole Lot of Leavin’” reveal introspection and emotional depth. The country crossover, paired with signature anthems and strong melodies, demonstrates the band’s versatility, making this album a standout in their post-2000 discography.
