Blaze of Glory | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 7, 1990 | |||
Studio | A&M Studios (Hollywood, California) | |||
Genre | Hard rock | |||
Length | 48:43 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Producer | Jon Bon Jovi | |||
Jon Bon Jovi chronology | ||||
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Japanese limited edition cover | ||||
Singles from Blaze of Glory | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | C− [2] |
Rolling Stone | [3] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
Blaze of Glory is the debut solo studio album by Jon Bon Jovi,the frontman of Bon Jovi. The album was released on August 7,1990,through Mercury Records. It includes songs from and inspired by the movie Young Guns II . Emilio Estevez originally requested Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" as the theme song for his upcoming Billy the Kid sequel,but Jon Bon Jovi ended up composing an all-new theme song for the film's soundtrack instead.
The album featured guests such as Elton John,Little Richard,and Jeff Beck,was awarded a Golden Globe and received Academy Award and Grammy nominations.
The album mainly focuses on the theme of redemption and whether an individual's past wrongs will catch up with them. Another theme on the album is about making a stand and making yourself heard in the world. Jon Bon Jovi said on the 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong DVD that he originally thought the album's aggression and themes dealt with Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett from Young Guns II but has come to realize that they reflect the bad place he was in at the time. The album more or less transitioned Jon's songwriting from mostly girls and having a good time to other subject matters,which would lead into him and his band's further maturing in songwriting with 1992's Keep the Faith .
Emilio Estevez originally approached Bon Jovi to ask him for permission to include the song "Wanted Dead or Alive" on the soundtrack. [5] Bon Jovi did not feel the song's lyrics were appropriate;however,he was inspired by the project and resolved to write a new song for the film that would be more in keeping with the period and setting. He quickly wrote the song "Blaze of Glory",and performed it on acoustic guitar in the New Mexico desert for Estevez and John Fusco. This was the first time that "Blaze of Glory" was heard. Fusco called his co-producers into the trailer to listen,and it was named the theme song for Young Guns II on the spot. In an interview for UNCUT magazine,Kiefer Sutherland said,"When Jon (Bon Jovi) joined the team for Young Guns 2,we were all eating hamburgers in a diner and Jon was scribbling on this napkin for,say,six minutes. He declared he'd written 'Blaze of Glory',which of course then went through the roof in the States. He later gave Emilio Estevez the napkin. We were munching burgers while he wrote a No. 1 song... Made us feel stupid."
Music videos were made for the singles "Blaze of Glory","Miracle",and "Dyin' Ain't Much of a Livin'" featuring Elton John.
Bon Jovi's lyrics from the song "Santa Fe" are quoted in the 1998 book, About a Boy ,although the author,Nick Hornby,would have been light-heartedly referring to John Donne's "No Man Is an Island". The song is also quoted in the film High Fidelity .
The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 [6] and No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. [7]
The title track "Blaze of Glory" was released as the first single and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Mainstream rock charts. "Miracle" was released as the second single and charted at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the Mainstream rock charts [8] and the third single "Never Say Die" charted in Australia,Canada and Poland but was not released in the US. "Dyin Ain't Much of a Livin'" featuring Elton John and "Santa Fe" were released as promo singles.
In 1998,a country duet version of "Bang a Drum" was released with country singer Chris LeDoux,the track was released as a single with a music video and reached number 68 on the US Hot Country Songs chart.
Young Guns II is a 1990 western film,and the sequel to Young Guns (1988). It stars Emilio Estevez,Kiefer Sutherland,Lou Diamond Phillips,Christian Slater,and features William Petersen as Pat Garrett. It was written and produced by John Fusco and directed by Geoff Murphy.
Jon Bon Jovi also made a cameo appearance in the film as one of the prisoners in the pit with Doc and Chavez.
All tracks are written by Jon Bon Jovi, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Billy Get Your Guns ft. Jeff Beck, Randy Jackson, Elton John, Aldo Nova & Kenny Aronoff" | 4:49 | |
2. | "Miracle ft. Jeff Beck, Randy Jackson, Benmont Tench, Aldo Nova & Kenny Aronoff" | 5:20 | |
3. | "Blaze of Glory ft. Jeff Beck, Randy Jackson, Benmont Tench, Aldo Nova & Kenny Aronoff" | 5:35 | |
4. | "Blood Money Ft. Aldo Nova & Kenny Aronoff" | 2:34 | |
5. | "Santa Fe ft. Aldo Nova, Benmont Tench & Kenny Aronoff" | 5:42 | |
6. | "Justice in the Barrel Intro ft. Jeff Beck, Aldo Nova, Louis Diamond Phillips, Julia Waters & Kenny Aronoff. Song: ft. Jeff Beck, Randy Jackson, Benmont Tench, Aldo Nova & Kenny Aronoff" | 6:48 | |
7. | "Never Say Die ft. Jeff Beck, Randy Jackson, Benmont Tench, Aldo Nova, Robbin Crosby & Kenny Aronoff" | 4:54 | |
8. | "You Really Got Me Now ft. Little Richards, Aldo Nova, Benmont Tench & Kenny Aronoff" | 2:24 | |
9. | "Bang a Drum ft. Jeff Beck, Aldo Nova, Randy Jackson, Benmont Tench & Kenny Aronoff" | 4:44 | |
10. | "Dyin' Ain't Much of a Livin' ft. Jeff Beck, Aldo Nova, Elton John, Benmont Tench & Kenny Aronoff" | 4:40 | |
11. | "Guano City" | Alan Silvestri | 1:16 |
Musicians (adapted from CD liner notes). Credits also from other sources. [9] [10] [11]
Production
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [26] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [27] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [28] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
Japan (RIAJ) [29] | Gold | 100,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [30] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [31] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [32] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [33] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
7800° Fahrenheit is the second studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on March 27, 1985, through Mercury Records. The album's title is a reference to the supposed melting point of rock, which is equivalent to 4313°C. In the United States, the Fahrenheit scale is in general use, suggesting the album consists of "American hot rock". The album's artwork introduced the classic 1980s Bon Jovi logo that would later be used on Slippery When Wet and New Jersey. 7800° Fahrenheit spent 104 weeks on the Billboard 200 albums chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 19, 1987. The singles "Only Lonely" and "In and Out of Love" both charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
Slippery When Wet is the third studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on August 18, 1986, by Mercury Records in North America and Vertigo Records internationally. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, with recording sessions between January and July 1986 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver. The album features many of Bon Jovi's best-known songs, including "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer", and "Wanted Dead or Alive".
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).
Keep the Faith is the fifth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on November 3, 1992, by Mercury Records. It is Bon Jovi's last studio album to feature all five original band members as bass guitarist Alec John Such was dismissed from the band in 1994. It is Bon Jovi's first album since 1985's 7800° Fahrenheit not to be produced by Bruce Fairbairn. The album was produced by Bob Rock and was recorded at the Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. Keep the Faith marked a change to a "more serious interpretation of the band's pop-metal groove". It is also Bon Jovi's longest album to date, clocking in at 66 minutes.
These Days (stylized as (these Days)) is the sixth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on June 27, 1995, by Mercury Records. This was the first album Bon Jovi released after the dismissal of original bass guitarist Alec John Such, and their first album to be recorded officially as four-piece band (without an official bassist, but featured Hugh McDonald as a session/touring member on bass guitar). The album, produced by Peter Collins, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, is praised by many critics and fans as their best album. These Days is overall a darker album in contrast to the band's usual brand of feel-good, inspiring rock songs and love ballads.
Crush is the seventh studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on June 13, 2000, by Island Records. It was produced by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Luke Ebbin. The album marks the longest timespan between studio albums for the band, with five years between the release of These Days (1995) and this album. After the initial plan to team up with producer Bruce Fairbairn fell through because of his death a year earlier, Bon Jovi and Sambora hired Luke Ebbin to update their sound with a smattering of loops and impressive arrangements.
One Wild Night Live 1985–2001 is the first live album by the American rock band Bon Jovi, released on May 22, 2001. The album includes live covers of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" and performance of the Boomtown Rats' "I Don't Like Mondays", with a guest appearance by their lead singer Bob Geldof. The album charted at number 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Bounce is the eighth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on October 8, 2002 through Island Records. Produced by Luke Ebbin, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, the album was recorded at Sanctuary II Studio in New Jersey.
This Left Feels Right is an album featuring new versions of Bon Jovi songs from previous albums. It was released in 2003 and charted at No. 14 on The Billboard 200. It's a "trip down memory lane" as Jon Bon Jovi described the album. It features revamped versions of many of Bon Jovi's biggest hits, often in a more somber style. Many of the 80's hard hitting chart-rockers are presented in a different light as soulful ballads.
Young Guns II is a 1990 American Western action film and a sequel to Young Guns (1988). It stars Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Christian Slater, and features William Petersen as Pat Garrett. It was written by John Fusco and directed by Geoff Murphy.
100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong is a boxed set released in 2004 on Island Records. A collection of demos and B-sides, it was released to celebrate Bon Jovi's twentieth anniversary and the milestone of the band selling 100 million records worldwide.
Cross Road is the first official greatest hits album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on October 11, 1994, by Mercury Records. The album contains hits from all previously released albums from their debut, Bon Jovi (1984) to Keep the Faith (1992). The album also features two new tracks: the hit singles "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night", as well as a new, updated rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer" entitled "Prayer '94" available only on the North American versions.
Have a Nice Day is the ninth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on September 20, 2005. Produced by John Shanks, the album was recorded at Sanctuary Sound II in New Jersey, and Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, California.
"Blaze of Glory" is the debut solo single of American singer-songwriter Jon Bon Jovi. It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Album Rock Tracks charts in 1990, becoming his only chart-topper away from his band Bon Jovi. "Blaze of Glory" also topped the Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand singles charts and reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart.
Stranger in This Town is the first solo studio album by Richie Sambora, the guitarist from the New Jersey band Bon Jovi. The album was released in 1991, while Bon Jovi was on a 17-month hiatus. Jon Bon Jovi also released a solo album, Blaze of Glory (1990), during this period.
Destination Anywhere is Jon Bon Jovi's second solo studio album released June 16, 1997 and features music from the film Destination Anywhere released in the same year. It follows his successful 1990 soundtrack Blaze of Glory, from the film Young Guns II.
"Bang a Drum" is a country rock song written and originally performed by Jon Bon Jovi. Released in 1990, it featured on Jon Bon Jovi's Blaze of Glory album, which had songs that were inspired by the 1990 film sequel Young Guns II, and some songs directly from the film.
Burning Bridges is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi consisting of new songs, as well as formerly unreleased and unfinished songs. Released on August 21, 2015 by Mercury Records. Produced by John Shanks, it was the first release since the departure of former guitarist Richie Sambora in 2013, with Shanks handling the lead guitar parts. Burning Bridges is their last album to be released through Mercury, marking the end of their 32-year relationship with the label. According to Jon Bon Jovi, the album serves as a "fan record" to tie in with an accompanying international tour: "It's songs that weren't finished, that were finished, a couple of new ones like the one we released as a single 'We Don't Run'." Burning Bridges was followed by This House Is Not for Sale, the band's fourteenth studio album released in 2016 which featured all new songs.
This House Is Not for Sale is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. Released on November 4, 2016, by Island Records. It is their first studio album with Phil X on lead guitar after replacing founding member Richie Sambora in 2013, as well as the first album to feature bassist Hugh McDonald as an official member after having played with the band in a touring/session capacity since 1994.
2020 is the fifteenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. The album was initially set for release on May 15, 2020, through Island, but was later pushed back to October 2, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.