Slippery When Wet (1986)

By the beginning of 1986 Bon Jovi were at the end of a road: their previous albums, despite selling a substantial amount of copies and earning them the admiration of hundreds of fans throughout the world, had failed to achieve the multimillion status they were supposed to. And so the band had a final shot with their third record to boost on the charts and become popular enough to to fill arenas at least in North America.

Unlike the previous year, all the members were now fully focused on the band and there was some drastic changes in the process of writing, recording and promoting the album. The first one was that guitarist Richie Sambora started to collaborate more closely with Jon on crafting songs, and to help them it was hired professional song writer, Desmond Child, who added the Pop factor to their songs. The album was written on Richie's parents basement where he lived, while the demos were actually recorded in their native New Jersey. By the time they were ready to go to the studios they already had approximately 30 songs demoed. In fact they had so many, they had to pick which ones to focus their attention on, and so they showed them to the kids of a pizza parlor next to the studios. A simple and yet brilliant idea to filter the best tracks, after all ordinary people would be their target audience.

The next big change in the process of conceiving the album was the choice of the producer. Lance Queen had worked with them on the past and they were not entirely satisfied with the results. Their songs sounded much better live than in the studio and so they knew they needed to capture the feeling of their shows to their recordings. Bruce Fairbain was hired and took them to Vancouver, Canada so they could focus.
Bruce's techniques were quite peculiar and effective to inspire the band and soon the recordings started to take off. Vancouver was well known for its night life, specially in terms of strip clubs, something the band made sure not to skip. While it may sound typical of a Rock band to enjoy the pleasures of life, it really scared away all the fears and let the band loose and free to experiment new things in the studio. For example, once David Bryan, the keyboard player, was found by himself in the studios after hours, which meant extra cash, recording endless samples of keyboard/synthesizer solos and experimental parts. They were obviously mad at him, but eventually edited a 2 minute piece to become the album's introduction, unofficially named Pink flamingos. When the band could not nail "Wanted Dead or Alive" after a million takes, Bruce simply told them to go out and enjoy the night. When they returned late night, they recorded it in the first take.

When they returned from Canada they knew the album's name would be "Slippery When Wet", after a stripper who used to dance in a shower, and the cover a girl's breasts covered by a tight wet and slightly ripped shirt. Eventually the marketing department screwed it by making the borders of the album pink and at the last minute Jon came up with the idea of writing the title on a wet garbage bag, again simple and effective.


The third major difference had to do with their videos. They had been shooting mini movies with some parts live, leading them nowhere. This time another professional, Wayne Isham, took the lead and after seeing them live knew what to do. Much like their sound, the secret formula would be to capture the live vibrations and that's what he did, making videos consisting of the band performing to a live audience.

The album was discretely released and the band started supporting 38 Special. Week after week the album kept climbing the charts and eventually reached the top. When their audience become bigger than their headliners, they knew it was time for them to finally start a proper tour on their own.

But why did the album caught everyone's attention? Well after analyzing the process, it's time to look to the result:

"Let it Rock", as already mentioned, is introduced by "Pink Flamingos", a keyboard Rock 'n' Roll opera style solo, properly backed by a suspense atmosphere that is ended by a catchy guitar riff and screaming voices that kick off the song itself. The drums set the passe of the song and a good sing along meant for crowds to participate echoes all the way through it, only stopping for the guitar to assume the main role in a 5 star solo. A good opener making the album take off exactly with the highlights from the previous records: mass rockers about having fun.

The first single was really meant to be given to a band called "Loverboy" and was actually the first collaboration of the writing trio of Jon, Richie and Desmond Child, a team that would share many hits in the decades ahead. "You give Love a Bad Name" captures exactly what the band is all about: loud guitar riffs with sing along choirs you cannot stop from echoing in your ears. All the confusing samples and guitar layers of the second album were replaced by a harmony in which each instrument has its own role on supporting the lead, either vocals, keyboards or guitar. The song is sexy, cool and talks about something everyone can relate with, no matter what time you live in, you'll always know somebody who gives love a bad name. Bon Jovi's first truly brilliant song, that not only took them from earning 50$ a week to 50 000, but even set a musical trend, later called "Hair Metal", that would rule the charts for the following 5 years. Superb!

Next stop is what Jon first didn't think it would make to the record, and eventually, not only became their biggest hit ever, as the most played song on karaoke bars for the following decades. The song "Livin'on a Prayer", again written by the magic trio, is a real Ode to what a good song is all about: a catchy rhythm that builds up momentum all the way to the chorus; loud and steady drums that know when to change the rhythm; classic bass riffs that really enforce the song's structure; a superb keyboard atmosphere that can be both discrete and supportive; a fabulous guitar work that doesn't need to force itself as it naturally complements the song, only occupying the spotlight when supposed to shine; simple and yet effective words everyone repeat after the first time upon hearing them; a voice that doesn't fail one note, even at the heights this song reaches, carrying honesty and emotion; and of course the lyrical content of hope with characters Tommy and Gina sounding so familiar whatever background you may have. This is a true example where the whole is worth far more than the sum of the parts, since we hear a real team playing together, and scoring points one after the other. It was rightfully picked to be the album's second single and if "Bad Name" presented the band to the world, "Prayer" made them World Wide Superstars, reaching all generations, and giving meaning to the words "Bon Jovi". Everything fits together perfectly on this World Class Timeless Song.

The girls moaning that we hear in the beginning of the song "Social Disease" do really make an impression, changing the scenario back to a sexy groove about the sole reason most kids want to become Rock stars. Here's a another catchy track that Aerosmith wanted to record after hearing it, but the band eventually made the right choice by keeping it, since, even though it's not a highlight on the record, it does really enforce the atmosphere around this album.

The third single was the first top 10 for resident writer's duo Jon and Richie. This was the song that, after becoming known and getting commercial success, earned them the respect from their peers, as the World Class Songwriters they are. "Wanted Dead or Alive" is their national anthem, and if you close your eyes when hearing it you'll find yourself in the mid-west with your cowboy hat while walking on the band's shoes going from town to town, living as Rock 'n' Roll outlaws who carry "a 6 string on their back" and having "seen a million faces, rocked them all". Another brilliant piece of a song in which the keyboards set the mood, while the guitar shines either with its 12 string quintessential riff, 6 string songwriter kind of feel, electrifying explosions that bursts like a volcano in a timeless rock solo, only to carry the legendary words of the final bridge to the songs conclusion.
Very cinematic, in the way that it has a few twists and the climax at the very end, and yet in the context of the album. Superb.

"Raise you hands" brings back the good vibes of a loud Rock number. This one was meant to be played live, even mentioning several city names, but it still fits incredibly well in a studio release, much to its simple, yet extremely catchy, guitar riff, loud chorus and complementary synthesizers that shape the remaining of the song. If something was missing, the screams, whistles and cheering after the solo put the cherry on the top of the cake.

The melodic mid tempo "Without Love" is very compelling on its message, "cutting right to the chase". The band shows another proof that a good song doesn't need to be extensively produced to sound honest and fresh.

"I'd die for you" could have been another hit, if released as a single, as it follows the success formula of having a simple guitar riff, supported by anthemic keyboards, loud chorus echoing an emotional lead voice who sings the girl/boy love declaration.

The band didn't even forget a power ballad, "Never say goodbye" is set on the teenage promenade night and recalls adventures of the previous years, while promising to capture the moment and keep it forever. It is probably the first ballad the band really nails, proving simplicity is the right ingredient to deliver such an emotional tune. This was released in Europe as a single, but what is more impressive is that it reached nr. 14 in North America without being released there.If properly released and promoted this would had been another nr. 1 song for them easily.

The final chapter is another number about having fun. In "Wild in the Streets" Jon is really talking of his youngest brother, but as in so many other songs he's abstract enough to make the listener feel comfortable with the story. The upbeat tempo makes this another highlight of the record, having its climax with the keyboard and guitar solos that really capture the groove of a song which one can't stand still as it is so contagious. The album wraps up with energetic cheers, like if we were in a live show and the fans' were as loud as the band, closing the door to the album that really changed Bon Jovi from being just another Jersey shore Rock stars wannabes to world acclaimed artists.

There were several factors that set "Slippery When Wet" apart from both previous releases, but the most important is its conceptual integrity. The album is presented as a whole, and each song, even if it stands out on its own, makes its contribution for the overall coherence. Musically it is a very cohesive record creating an energy shared by all of its songs. They achieve their goal to capture their live energy, delivering what truly are stadium rock anthems, while providing a positive message in a relaxed way. The party atmosphere always present makes it easy to listen and enjoy, while biographical songs like "Wanted", positive messages, "Prayer" or "Without Love", or love promises, "Never say goodbye", provide substance to the "shallow", yet with such a good feel, remaining of the album. Definitively a magical moment in time, that cannot be repeated, making history in the Music bizz.

Today this is still one of Rock's, not only best selling records of all times but also, most influential to generations ahead. 10/10