Bon Jovi – New Jersey (1988)
Release Date: September 19, 1988
Label: Mercury / PolyGram
Producer: Bruce Fairbairn
Genre: Glam Metal / Hard Rock
Length: 57:30
Tracklist:
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Lay Your Hands on Me – 5:14
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Bad Medicine – 5:14
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Born to Be My Baby – 4:40
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Living in Sin – 4:37
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Blood on Blood – 4:41
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Homebound Train – 4:38
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Wild Is the Wind – 5:41
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Stick to Your Guns – 4:40
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Ride Cowboy Ride – 4:48
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I'll Be There for You – 5:42
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Love for Sale – 4:45
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Lay Your Hands on Me (Extended Mix) – 4:30 (bonus on some editions)
Overview
New Jersey is Bon Jovi’s fourth studio album and a continuation of the arena-rock formula perfected on Slippery When Wet. It marked the band’s final album of the 1980s glam-metal era and demonstrated their peak commercial power. With six Top 10 singles in the U.S., New Jersey cemented Bon Jovi as one of the most dominant rock acts of the decade. The album balances hard rock anthems, heartfelt ballads, and gritty New Jersey storytelling, reflecting the band’s roots.
Fun Facts & Trivia
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Record-Breaking Singles: New Jersey produced six Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits: “Bad Medicine,” “Born to Be My Baby,” “I'll Be There for You,” “Lay Your Hands on Me,” “Living in Sin,” and “I’ll Be There for You.”
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Did You Know? It was the first American rock album to hit #1 with five consecutive Top 10 singles, showcasing Bon Jovi’s peak 80s dominance.
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Guitar Magic: Richie Sambora’s signature talk box continues to shine on tracks like “Born to Be My Baby” and “Lay Your Hands on Me.”
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Album Artwork: The original cover features the band in a sepia-tone photograph with an embossed “New Jersey” title, symbolizing their home state pride.
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Writing Process: Many tracks were written on the road during the band’s Slippery When Wet tour.
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Pop Culture Impact: Songs like “Bad Medicine” and “Born to Be My Baby” became staples in films, TV shows, and commercials.
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Recording: The album was recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, Canada, giving it a polished yet hard-hitting sound.
Album Credits
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Jon Bon Jovi: Lead vocals
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Richie Sambora: Guitar, backing vocals, talk box
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David Bryan: Keyboards, backing vocals
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Alec John Such: Bass guitar, backing vocals
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Tico Torres: Drums, percussion
Production Team:
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Producer: Bruce Fairbairn
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Engineer: Bob Rock
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Mixing: Bruce Fairbairn & Bob Rock
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Mastering: George Marino
Mini Review (66 words)
New Jersey is the pinnacle of Bon Jovi’s 1980s arena-rock era, combining hard rock power, catchy hooks, and heartfelt ballads. The band’s chemistry and Richie Sambora’s guitar work shine across tracks like “Bad Medicine” and “Born to Be My Baby,” while Jon Bon Jovi’s vocals convey grit and emotion. Polished yet powerful, the album showcases the band at their peak, offering both radio-friendly anthems and rock credibility.
