New Jersey (album)
Encyclopedia
New Jersey is Bon Jovi
's fourth album, released on September 19, 1988. The album charted at #1 on The Billboard 200. New Jersey was particularly notable for producing five Billboard Hot 100
Top 10 singles, the most top ten hits to date for a hard rock album.
, the following week reached #1 and spent four weeks at #1. In the United States
, it sold five million copies in six months. New Jersey was certified seven times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
for 7 million U.S. shipments.
New Jersey also holds the record for the hard rock album to spawn the most Top 10 singles, with five singles charting on the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100
Singles Chart in United States. No other hard rock album has ever equaled or broken this feat. "Bad Medicine
" and the ballad "I'll Be There for You
", both hit #1 on Billboard Hot 100. The album's three other singles ("Born to Be My Baby
", "Lay Your Hands on Me
", and "Living in Sin") reached the Top 10.
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
's fourth album, released on September 19, 1988. The album charted at #1 on The Billboard 200. New Jersey was particularly notable for producing five Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
Top 10 singles, the most top ten hits to date for a hard rock album.
Unreleased songs
The album was initially meant to be a double album, however this idea was rejected by the record company because they got nervous about the higher price point and decided they would only release a single album. Songs that were recorded but withheld from the album are:- "Love Is War"
- "Cadillac Man"
- "Let's Make It Baby"
- "Outlaws of Love"
- "Judgment Day"
- "Growing Up the Hard Way"
- "Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore?" (later recorded by CherCherCher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
and Kane RobertsKane RobertsKane Roberts,born Robert William Athas is a heavy metal guitarist best known for his tenure in Alice Cooper's band during the late 1980s...
) - "Rosie" (later recorded by Richie SamboraRichie SamboraRichard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer, and songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the rock band, Bon Jovi. He and frontman Jon Bon Jovi form the primary songwriting unit of the band...
) - "River of Love (Come Alive)"
- "Backdoor to Heaven"
- "Love HurtsLove Hurts"Love Hurts" is the name of a song, written and composed by Boudleaux Bryant. First recorded by The Everly Brothers in July 1960, the song is also well known from a 1975 international hit version by the rock band Nazareth and in the UK by a top 5 hit in 1975 by Jim Capaldi.The song was introduced...
" - "Diamond Ring" (released on the album These DaysThese Days (Bon Jovi album)These Days is Bon Jovi's sixth studio album, released on June 27, 1995. This was the first album Bon Jovi released after the departure of bassist Alec John Such. Hugh McDonald unofficially replaced Such as bassist...
) - "Now and Forever"
- "House of FireHouse of Fire"House of Fire" is a 1989 single by American rock musician Alice Cooper from his 1989 album Trash. It was co-written by rock guitarist Joan Jett and American songwriter Desmond Child....
" (Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
cover of the same name) - "In America"
- "Seven Days" (Bob Dylan cover)
- "The Boys Are Back In Town" (Thin Lizzy cover)
Critical reception
Critical reception for New Jersey was mostly positive.Chart success
New Jersey was a commercial success. The album debuted at #8 on Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, the following week reached #1 and spent four weeks at #1. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it sold five million copies in six months. New Jersey was certified seven times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for 7 million U.S. shipments.
New Jersey also holds the record for the hard rock album to spawn the most Top 10 singles, with five singles charting on the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
Singles Chart in United States. No other hard rock album has ever equaled or broken this feat. "Bad Medicine
Bad Medicine (song)
"Bad Medicine" is a number-one single by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. It was released in 1988 as the lead single from the band's album New Jersey...
" and the ballad "I'll Be There for You
I'll Be There for You (Bon Jovi song)
"I'll Be There for You" is a song by American hard rock band Bon Jovi from their 1988 album New Jersey, was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora...
", both hit #1 on Billboard Hot 100. The album's three other singles ("Born to Be My Baby
Born to Be My Baby
"Born to Be My Baby" is a song performed by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. It was released as the second single from their hugely successful album New Jersey in 1988...
", "Lay Your Hands on Me
Lay Your Hands on Me
"Lay Your Hands on Me" is a song written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and recorded by the American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released in 1989 as the fourth single from the band's 1988 album New Jersey...
", and "Living in Sin") reached the Top 10.
Track listing
Samples
Personnel
- Jon Bon JoviJon Bon JoviJon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...
- lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Richie SamboraRichie SamboraRichard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer, and songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the rock band, Bon Jovi. He and frontman Jon Bon Jovi form the primary songwriting unit of the band...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Alec John SuchAlec John SuchAlec John Such is an American musician, and the former bassist for the band Bon Jovi. He left the band in 1994, and has not been officially replaced. As well as playing bass guitar, Such sang backing vocals and occasionally took the lead for part of 'Blood on Blood' at live shows...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Tico TorresTico TorresHector Samuel Juan "Tico" Torres is an American drummer and percussionist for rock band classic, Bon Jovi. He also has taken lead vocals on a song on the box set 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong, as well as backing vocals on a couple of the early Bon Jovi tracks, notably "Born to Be My...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion - David BryanDavid BryanDavid Bryan is the keyboard player of the band rock classic, Bon Jovi. Bryan also sings backing vocals and often at live shows sings part of or the whole of the song "In These Arms", one of a handful of Bon Jovi songs credited to him as songwriter...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- John Allen - Engineer
- Peter Berring - Arranger, Vocals, Vocal arrangement
- Joanie Bye - Vocals, Vocals (background)
- Chris Cavallaro - Engineer
- Bruce FairbairnBruce FairbairnBruce Earl Fairbairn was a Canadian musician and international record producer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was active as a producer from 1976 to 1999 and is considered one of the best of his era...
- Percussion, Horn, Producer - Scott Fairbairn - Cello
- Lovena Fox - Vocals, Vocals (background)
- Linda Hunt - Vocals, Vocals (background)
- Cecille Larochelle - Vocals, Vocals (background)
- Sue Leonard - Vocals, Vocals (background)
- George Marino - Digital remastering engineer
- Goudin Dido Morris - Percussion
- Audrey Nordwell - Cello
- Bob Rock - Engineer, Mixing
- The Sweet Thing - Vocal association
- Hugh SymeHugh SymeHugh Syme is a Canadian Juno Award-winning graphic artist who is best known for his artwork and cover concepts for rock and metal bands. He is also a musician and has appeared in some Rush songs as a keyboard player. Syme is notably responsible for all of Rush's album cover art since 1975's Caress...
- Artwork, Design - Chris Taylor - Assistant engineer
- Jim Williams - Assistant engineer
- Joani Taylor - Vocals, Vocals (background)
- Tim White - Photography
- Cameron Wong - Photography
Album
| Charts | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
1 |
| Brazil Brazil Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... |
1 |
| Canada Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
1 |
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
4 |
| Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
2 |
| Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... |
1 |
| New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
1 |
| Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
4 |
| Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
1 |
| Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
1 |
| Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
1 |
| United Kingdom UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
1 |
| United States Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
1 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Bad Medicine" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| 1988 | "Bad Medicine" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 3 |
| 1988 | "Born to Be My Baby" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 7 |
| 1988 | "Born to Be My Baby" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| 1989 | "I'll Be There for You" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| 1989 | "I'll Be There for You" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5 |
| 1989 | "Lay Your Hands on Me" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
| 1989 | "Bad Medicine" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 20 |
| 1989 | "Living in Sin" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 9 |
| 1989 | "Living in Sin" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 37 |
Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| RIAA – USA | Gold | November 18, 1988 |
| RIAA – USA | Platinum | November 18, 1988 |
| RIAA – USA | 3x Platinum | November 18, 1988 |
| RIAA - USA | 4x Platinum | January 11, 1989 |
| RIAA - USA | 5x Platinum | May 25, 1989 |
| RIAA – USA | 6 x Platinum | November 17, 1994 |
| RIAA – USA | 7x Platinum | March 12, 1996 |