BON JOVI - The Slippery When Wet Outtakes / Demos

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

It's not strange the interest in BON JOVI's demos from their 'Slippery When Wet' era, because this is the band's more popular, best-selling album to date. 
Even someone, some time ago, pressed on CD (and a quite well done Bootleg including artwork) all these pre-production demos for sale. Sadly, what it is not so good is the tape transfer audio quality.
Anyway, it's very interesting to hear the genesis of such classics like "You Give Love A Bad Name", "Wanted Dead Or Alive" or "Livin' On A Prayer".

Additionally, there's the early versions of songs that never were included into the final release. "Borderline" was a single B-side (featured here in a demo form), but "Game Of The Heart" (wrongly titled Give My Heart), "Lonely in The Night" and "Deep Cuts The Night" (wrongly titled Dick After Night !), never were finished and remain unreleased.



I did a very quick 'remastering' of these tracks to clean and enhance the sound a bit. Got the Bootleg in lossless format but I encoded the resulting files into VBR mp3, it's more than enough, believe me.
As bonus, I've added a couple of tracks from other source that sound slightly better.


01 - You Give Love A Bad Name
02 - Without Love
03 - Wild in The Streets
04 - Wanted Dead Or Alive
05 - Raise Your Hands
06 - Never Enough*
07 - Edge of a Broken Heart
08 - Borderline
09 - Give My Heart (Game Of The Heart)*
10 - I'd Die for You
11 - Let It Rock
12 - Social Disease
13 - Livin' on a Prayer
14 - Lonely in The Night*
15 - Dick After Night (Deep Cuts The Night)*
16 - Never Say Goodbye
Extras:
17 - Deep Cuts The Night (different source)
18 - Game Of The Heart (different source)

Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Richie Sambora – lead guitar, background vocals
David Bryan – keyboards, background vocals
Alec John Such – bass, background vocals
Tico Torres – drums


BON JOVI Slippery When Wet Outtakes HERE
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THE TRUTH - Weapons Of Love (1987)

The last album (1989) from British rockers THE TRUTH was featured at this blog some years ago, now one of you requested their previous and record, "Weapons Of Love".
This 1987 release was an unexpected success in America, with the title track reaching #7 on the Rock single charts and general Billboard Hot 100. Three songs from the album were also used in the great sci-fi movie 'The Hidden', and other in a Miami Vice episode.

The music packed in "Weapons Of Love" is commercial radio-ready rock with clean vocals, precise guitars, fine synths typical from the era, and an overall polished production sound.
Helped by ex-Mr. Mister drummer Pat Mastelotto and keyboardist Paul Fox (XTC), the only stable and founder members Dennis Greaves (Lead Vocals & Guitar) & Mick Lister (Vocals, Guitar) recorded a bunch of highly enjoyable '80s tunes here.



At places on this album The Truth bring to mind Mr. Mister, others the likes of Michael Learns To Rock, the lighter side of Honeymoon Suite, etc.
Good 80s album.


01 - Weapons Of Love
02 - Winterland
03 - Until It Burns
04 - The Edge Of Town
05 - Cover Up My Face
06 - Respect
07 - Come On Back To Me
08 - This Way Forever
09 - Another New Day
10 - Soul Deep Fascination

Dennis Greaves: Lead Vocals & Guitar
Mick Lister: Vocals, Guitar
Dennis Herring: Guitar, Keyboards, Programming
Pat Mastelotto: Drums
John Pierce: Bass
John Van Tongeren, Paul Fox: Keyboards
Pat MacDonald: Harmonica
Davey Faragher: Backing Vocals




THE TRUTH - Weapons Of Love (1987)- HERE
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MICHAEL BREEN - ST (1987)

Requested in "Request & Fill Corner" section...

Michael Breen is a Canadian session vocalist / guitarist / keyboardist, one of these musicians that got the opportunity to record his own solo album.
Apart from his work as session man, he was part of the local band Concert who released one album in 1982 called 'Vitamin', and later, vocalist of The Sailcats.

Breen soon came to the attention of Alert Records owner Tom Berry who signed him to the label.
Being born in the french side of Canada (Quebec), they wanted songwriting partners to provide english lyrics for his songs to have a universal appeal. The first single, in example, was penned by by the soon-to-be-famous female vocalist Sass Jordan.
With the songs ready, and Michael playing most of the instruments, the album was recorded at the end of 1986 produced by Pierre Bazinet (Luba, Boulevard, Paradox).

Breen's self titled effort is a mix of Rock&Pop / Lite AOR in the typical canadian style and sound, with some Hi-Tech elements.
Songs like "Rain", "SOS Emotion" and "Risky" are keyboard dominated poprockers, the most commercial and radiable tracks on the album.
But with "How Will I Know" things start to become interesting. This is a good semi-ballad with more tough vocals (shared with Sass Jordan) and great keyboards. A song in the Tommy Shaw style.

"So Long" has a very classy sound, a relaxing late-night Lite AOR that reminds me Russ Irwin, with good keys and guitars. One of the best tracks here.
"Face To Face" is an old song written when Breen's was in The Sailcats, placed 2nd in the 1985 Music Express/MuchMusic National Talent Search contest. Another good one, an uptempo poppy AOR with nice orchestration.
"Do It" is the more guitar dominated track of the album. Richard Marx comes to mind, Brian Spence also. Good guitar solo.
"All The Way" is a 'techy' number with a catchy chorus, similar to Robert Tepper stuff. Breen's vocals are rougher and effective.

This album is a good exponent of the 'eighties canadian sound'.
Nothing spectacular or memorable, but a pleasant listen, well composed, played and recorded.
Impossible to find -particularly this CD version- (artwork included).
A collectible item.


01 - Rain
02 - Risky
03 - High And Low
04 - SOS Emotion
05 - How Will I Know
06 - So Long
07 - Face To Face
08 - Do It
09 - All The Way
10 - How Will I Know (Reprise)


Michael Breen: Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Bkg Vocals
Sass Jordan: Vocals, Bkg Vocals
Rest of Personnel: unlisted



MICHAEL BREEN - ST _ HERE
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