7800 Degrees Fahrenheit

by

Bon Jovi

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I don't know why people who are Bon Jovi fans put down this album in comparison to the other three that came out in the '80s. To me, the quality of these songs is as top-notch as on any of their albums.

"In And Out Of Love" is a fantastic, catchy hard rocker to lead off the album. This is the only song that got any noteriety on this album. It stands up in quality to other, better-known Bon Jovi rockers. But then comes a couple of amazingly tuneful, emotional, yet rocking anthems. "Price Of Love" and "Only Lonely" amaze me every time I hear them with their pretty yet rocking sound. I love these songs as much as anything these guys have ever done.

Next comes "King Of The Mountain", a fun hard rocker but not overly noteworthy. Following is the great power ballad "Silent Night", which to me stands up in quality to later Bon Jovi ballads. "Tokyo Road" is impossibly tuneful and yet rocking, while "Hardest Part Is The Night" is another heartfelt, amazing anthem/power ballad.

The last three tracks are also great, from the catchy anthem/rocker "Always Run To You" to the straight ahead rocker "To The Fire" to yet another amazingly melodic anthem "Secret Dreams" (try to get that song out of your head if you play this album in order and don't play another album immediately after).

The bottom line is this: the debut self-titled effort got these guys on the map and had the breakout hit "Runaway", while the album after this one "Slippery When Wet" sold millions (rightfully so) and made these guys huge. Nonetheless, to me this album is as good as either of those efforts and any Bon Jovi album for that matter. If you like huge hooks and harmonies in your rock and roll, then you absolutely should like this album. For me, a must-have in my Bon Jovi and hard rock music collection.

Somewhere along the way to megastar status between their self titled debut and their monster breakout third record, Bon Jovi mistepped on album number two. Not a bad LP but certainly not a stunner, `7800 Degrees Fahrenheit' was not better than `Bon Jovi' was is the proof that it was a slight decline in their evolution. Still trying to find their identity (do we want to be a hair metal band or a Journeyesque pop band?), Jon and the boys cover all the bases with nothing really notable with the possible exception of opener "In and Out of Love", a very good song but it really didn't set the band apart from their glam metal brethren. "Tokyo Rose" is okay but kinda silly. The ballads aren't great though "Only Lonely" features a great lead from Richie Sambora. I love the intro and verse on "Always Run to You" but man the chorus sucks! "Hardest Part " is probably the best slow song after "Only" and don't get me started on "Silent Night" (God awful!). `7800' would be disowned by the band and I really can't say I blame them.....'Slippery When Wet' it ain't!