These Days (Bon Jovi album)
Encyclopedia
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. The album, produced by Peter Collins
, Richie Sambora
and Jon Bon Jovi
, was an overall darker album in contrast to the band's usual brand of feel-good, inspiring rock songs and love ballads. At the time of release, the album was a huge commercial hit, particularly in Europe
and Japan
, but failed to impress the audience in the United States
. In the UK, the album was particularly notable for producing four Top 10 hit singles. The high sales of the album in Europe warranted a re-issue of the album under the name of These Days Special Edition a year after its original release.
These Days may be regarded as a concept album by some by its re-iteration of the title in many of the albums tracks.
chart with sales of 379,000 copies in first week, becoming one of the fastest selling albums by a non-Japanese band in history of the country's chart.
In the UK the album was highly anticipated. It replaced Michael Jackson
's album HIStory
at number one on the UK Albums Chart
and spent four consecutive weeks at #1. The album spawned four Top 10 singles for Bon Jovi in the UK Singles Chart
("This Ain't a Love Song
", "Something for the Pain
", "Lie to Me", and "These Days
") - the band's highest number of UK singles from one album. The album also topped the European Albums Chart for seven weeks and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry certified "These Days" three times platinum, denoting three million shipments within the continent. In 1997, the album was ranked number 2 on Q magazine's list of the Top 50 albums of 1995. In 2006 the album featured in the Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums Of The 90's.
In the United States, the album was met with a lukewarm reception. These Days managed only one hit single for the band in United States, with "This Ain't A Love Song" reaching the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100
. The album debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200
, but slipped down the charts very quickly; in all it sold just over one million copies in United States. The album has sold over 11 million copies worldwide to date.
and at the BRIT Awards
, the band was awarded for the 'Best International Band'.
Recorded live at Wembley Stadium, London
Additional musicians
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 sixth studio album, released on June 27, 1995. This was the first album Bon Jovi released after the departure of bassist Alec John Such
Alec John Such
Alec 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...
. Hugh McDonald
Hugh McDonald (musician)
Hugh "Huge" McDonald is a well known session musician and bassist. Before joining Bon Jovi he was the bass player for the David Bromberg Band, touring extensively worldwide and playing on many Bromberg albums...
unofficially replaced Such as bassist. The album, produced by Peter Collins
Peter Collins
Peter Collins may refer to:* Peter Collins * Peter Collins * Peter Collins * Peter Collins...
, Richie Sambora
Richie Sambora
Richard 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...
and Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon 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...
, was an overall darker album in contrast to the band's usual brand of feel-good, inspiring rock songs and love ballads. At the time of release, the album was a huge commercial hit, particularly in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and 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...
, but failed to impress the audience in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the UK, the album was particularly notable for producing four Top 10 hit singles. The high sales of the album in Europe warranted a re-issue of the album under the name of These Days Special Edition a year after its original release.
These Days may be regarded as a concept album by some by its re-iteration of the title in many of the albums tracks.
Commercial reception
These Days was a huge commercial success, especially in the Asian and European markets. In Japan, the album topped the OriconOricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
chart with sales of 379,000 copies in first week, becoming one of the fastest selling albums by a non-Japanese band in history of the country's chart.
In the UK the album was highly anticipated. It replaced Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's album HIStory
HIStory
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I is the ninth studio album by American songwriter and recording artist Michael Jackson, released on June 16, 1995 by Epic Records. The majority of the album's tracks were written and produced by Jackson...
at number one on the UK Albums Chart
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...
and spent four consecutive weeks at #1. The album spawned four Top 10 singles for Bon Jovi in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
("This Ain't a Love Song
This Ain't a Love Song
"This Ain't a Love Song" is the lead single from Bon Jovi's 1995 album These Days. It reached #14 in the United States Billboard, #11 on the top 40 mainstream and was the only significant US hit from the album, however, it reached a high of #6 on the U.K...
", "Something for the Pain
Something for the Pain
"Something For The pain" is a song by Bon Jovi from their 1995 album These Days. It charted at #39 on the top 40 mainstream charts and peaked at #8 on the UK Singles Chart....
", "Lie to Me", and "These Days
These Days (Bon Jovi song)
"These Days" is a single from Bon Jovi's 1995 album These Days. It was the fourth single released from the album, and showcases the darker tone that Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora's lyrics sought to achieve with the album...
") - the band's highest number of UK singles from one album. The album also topped the European Albums Chart for seven weeks and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry certified "These Days" three times platinum, denoting three million shipments within the continent. In 1997, the album was ranked number 2 on Q magazine's list of the Top 50 albums of 1995. In 2006 the album featured in the Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums Of The 90's.
In the United States, the album was met with a lukewarm reception. These Days managed only one hit single for the band in United States, with "This Ain't A Love Song" reaching the Top 20 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...
. The album debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200
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...
, but slipped down the charts very quickly; in all it sold just over one million copies in United States. The album has sold over 11 million copies worldwide to date.
Awards
In 1995, Bon Jovi was voted 'Best Rock', at the MTV Europe Music AwardsMTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
and at the BRIT Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
, the band was awarded for the 'Best International Band'.
Re-release
The album was re-released in Europe on June 1996 in a box package including two discs—the original album and an extra CD which included previously unreleased songs. The set was issued as These Days Special Edition. These Days Special Edition was not listed in the UK charts as a different album than the original These Days, and helped the album to jump from #129 to #11 during the band's European Tour at summer of 1996.Track listing
European 2 Disc Special Edition Bonus Disc
Latin American release
14. "Como Yo Nadie Te Ha Amado" (Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child), spanish version of "This Ain't A Love Song" - 5:04French Bonus CD
- "Always" (Live in Montreal) (Bon Jovi) - 5:52
- "Good Guys Don't Always Wear White" (Bon Jovi, Sambora) - 4:27
- "Prostitute" (Bon Jovi, Sambora) - 4:28
- "Lonely at the Top" (Bon Jovi, Sambora) - 4:14
- "When She Comes" (Bon Jovi, Sambora) - 3:29
- "The End" (Bon Jovi, Sambora, 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...
) - 3:38
Australian Tour Edition Bonus CD
Mercury 528 874-2Recorded live at Wembley Stadium, London
- This Ain't A Love Song (Live)
- I Don't Like Mondays (Live)
- Livin' On A Prayer (Live)
- You Give Love A Bad Name (Live)
- Wild In The Streets (Live)
Japanese Limited Edition Bonus CD
1998 Nippon Phonogram PHCR90023/4- This Ain't A Love Song (Wembley 1995)
- Hey God (Wembley 1995)
- These Days (Johannesburg 1995)
- Something For The Pain (Miami Arena 1995)
- (It's Hard) Letting You Go (Johannesburg 1995)
- Rocking In The Free World (Johannesburg 1995)
- 634-5789 (Studio Outtake)
- All I Want Is Everything
- Bitter Wine
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, 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...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals - 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 ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - 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...
, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Hugh McDonaldHugh McDonald (musician)Hugh "Huge" McDonald is a well known session musician and bassist. Before joining Bon Jovi he was the bass player for the David Bromberg Band, touring extensively worldwide and playing on many Bromberg albums...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Robbie BuchananRobbie BuchananRobbie Buchanan is a Canadian keyboardist, songwriter, arranger, and producer.Buchanan began playing the piano at the age of 6. He acquired his first paying gig as a pianist at the age of 12 playing 6 nights a week in Dawson City, Yukon Territory. While still a teenager, Buchanan joined a band...
– keyboards, programming - Jerry Cohen – keyboards
- Rory DoddRory DoddRory Dodd is a Canadian rock vocalist who has performed many songs written by Jim Steinman. He is probably best known for singing the "Turn around, bright eyes" lyrics on Bonnie Tyler's version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart."...
– background vocals - Randy JacksonRandy JacksonRandall Darius "Randy" Jackson is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew...
– bass guitar - Suzie Katayama – celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
- Frank Marocco – accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
- Richie LaBamba – tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- Ed ManionEd ManionEd Manion , also known as Eddie "Kingfish" Manion, is an American saxophonist who plays both tenor and baritone sax. He is best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen with The Seeger Sessions Band Tour later called Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band with the release of the CD/DVD Bruce...
– baritone saxophoneBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece... - Mark PenderMark PenderMark "The Loveman" Pender is a trumpet player and vocalist who has played with Southside Johnny, Little Steven and Bruce Springsteen. Since 1993 he has performed on Late Night With Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien as a member of The Max Weinberg 7 and The Tonight Show Band...
– trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air... - Jerry VivinoJerry VivinoJerry Vivino is an American musician. He is currently a member of the Basic Cable Band, the house band for the TBS late night program Conan...
– tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble... - David Campbell – arranger (strings)
Peak positions
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Argentinan Albums Chart | 3 |
| Australian Albums Chart | 1 |
| Austrian Albums Chart IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
1 |
| Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders) |
3 |
| Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Wallonia) |
6 |
| Canadian Albums Chart 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... |
3 |
| Chilean Albums Chart IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
5 |
| Danish Albums Chart | 7 |
| Dutch Albums Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
1 |
| European Albums Chart | 1 |
| Finnish Albums Chart | 1 |
| French Albums Chart | 6 |
| German Albums Chart | 1 |
| Hungarian Albums Chart | 2 |
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
1 |
| Italian Albums Chart | 3 |
| Japanese Albums Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 11 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 7 |
| Portuguese Albums Chart Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa The Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa is currently the only recording industry association in Portugal. Created in 1989, it succeeded GPPFV and UNEVA .... |
1 |
| Spanish Albums Chart | 3 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 2 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart 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 |
| US Billboard 200 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... |
9 |