Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi (30th anniversary)

Today (January 21st), the New Jersey rock band Bon Jovi released their self-titled debut album. Bon Jovi went to number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 38 in Japan, number 39 in Australia and number 71 in the UK. It has since sold over 3.5 million copies.

Click here for my complete review of the album.

Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi

Happy fiftieth birthday today (March 2nd) to singer-songwriter and actor Jon Bon Jovi.

In 1980, Jon was working at a recording studio co-owned by his cousin Tony Bongiovi. There he made several demos but failed to get any bites from record labels. In 1982, while working at a New York City FM radio station, one of deejays heard Jon’s demos and added the song “Runaway” to a compilation album of local talent. After getting some local airplay, Mercury Records signed Jon.

A Very Special Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you, my blog readers. Today (December 25th) also happens to be the fifty-seventh birthday of Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics.

In 1987, the first of what has turned into a sporadic series of A Very Special Christmas albums was released. The series, created by music producer Jimmy Iovine, takes popular music artists of the time and has them sing holiday favorites. The album sales go to benefit the Special Olympics charity. Each cover has been designed by artist Keith Haring.

Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet

In 1986, the New Jersey born rockers of Bon Jovi released their third studio album. It was a best-seller record (over 12 million copies in the US and 28 million worldwide). It spent eight weeks at the number one spot and 38 weeks in the top five on the Billboard album charts; it was also the top selling album of 1987.