The success of the debut album, ‘Bon Jovi’, the band was out on the road a lot opening for Scorpions in the United States and with Kiss in Europe…two very solid bands to help you get noticed. As a result, the band only had about six weeks to record the new album. Things didn’t go well as they had trouble with producer Lance Quinn and their personal lives were also a little messed up. The band were not happy with the results as they hated sound of the album and have pretty much ignored this album when they finally blew up in to superstar status.

But for fans, such as myself, we actually love this album. Yes, it didn’t sell as much as the debut, but I think there are some really great songs on here. The band even started writing more together as four of the band members had writing credits, even Tico Torres has one which is rare. The only member without a credit is Alec John Such.

The title of the album is ‘7800° Fahrenheit’ which is actually the melting point of rock. SInce this is a ‘rock’ album, they felt it was a great title. Being the U.S. is probably the only country that uses ‘Fahrenheit’ as measure of temperature, it made the album very American. In Celsius, the temperature is 4313° if you were curious. And one other fact, this it the first album with the Bon Jovi logo that adorned all their biggest albums. Okay, enough already. On to the music.

Supposedly written by Jon Bon Jovi while he was watching the MTV Top 20 Countdown, “In Out of Love” is an explosive opening track. Written about a girl he keeps falling in and out of love, the song comes out of the gate swinging with a drum barrage and big guitars. The song is filled with section with the band whistling and doing cat calls at women that is totally inappropriate today, but that was the scene back then and made the song a pure party song. This high energy rocker reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Next up is “The Price of Love” with a neat Sambora riff. The song is filled with great backing vocals, melodies and harmonies. The song is big and a little cheesy with some pounding drums from Tico and a killer solo by Sambora who even haves some hidden gem riffs here as well. Another solid track to keep the party moving.

The first single on the album was “Only Lonely” which reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is a melodic track with more gritty Bon Jovi singing and a huge chorus filled with vocals. After a softer Jon vocal line that then he goes out screaming and then Sambora comes in and lays down one of the better solos on the album, really stellar. The song borderlines on power ballad, but only edges out to softer rocker.

Then the band goes to almost metal status with “King of the Mountain”. The confident lyrics, the forceful intensity, the hard driving bass line give us the heaviest song on the album and pure arena rocking track. It is one of those deep cuts that make you take notice that this band is more than the hits.

We get our first real ballad with the overly sappy love song “Silent Night”. Heavy on the keyboard, this ballad is the cornerstone of what the band was to bring forth in the future. I remember listening to this album down in the basement and I loved when this song would come on and I would sing it loud (not too loud that my parents would yell at me though). Jon’s emotive vocals would make you dig down deep to hit those same notes and I could never do it.

The second side of the album kicked with another rocker “Tokyo Road” and this is the song I latched on to first as it instantly grabbed hold of me with the Japanese stylings of the music box sound and the Japanese girl singing…I was like what is going on! Then the song detonates in to a wall of sound. There are great riffs and little talk box and a whole lot of rocking good times. That riff right before the chorus was huge and when you heard it you were ready to singalong. A great way to wake you back up after a ballad.

An exclusive single to the UK comes one of the best songs on the album, hands down. “Hardest Part is the Night” is the first time we get a song from Jon that is about how hard it is on the streets and how tough life can be. “Living on a Prayer” would take it to another level. The is a dark and foreboding riff and a ominous keyboard riff that give the song a sense of despair, but the song is glam, pure 80’s rocker.

The drum beat that kicks of “Always Run To You” sets you up for a great riff by Richie. Tico keeps that beat going through out driving the song forward. The pay-off comes with that huge chorus and full on band backing vocals. Jon hits some sick notes that I doubt he could do today as they are so high. A fast-paced, full on energy rocker and the band keeps on delivering the goods on this one.

The chugging, driving keyboard really dates this song to the 80’s. The song is a little more serious sounding and darker. The chorus is a little repetitive and overall the song isn’t like anything else on the album. It builds and builds, but no massive pay-off, however, I still enjoy the song for the energy it does emit. “To the Fire” is something a little different and different can be good, but htis doens’t feel finished.

Then things get a little dirty with “Secret Dreams” as the music is a little more raw. The song is a little dull as it doesn’t feel as full as the other songs on the album. By this time, it fills that the band has run out of gas and with only 6 weeks to do the album, they just didn’t have enough material for a full solid album.

Track Listing:

1. In And Out of Love – Keeper
2. Price of Love – Keeper
3. Only Lonely – Keeper
4. King of the Mountain – Keeper
5. Silent Night – Keeper
6. Tokyo Road – Keeper
7. Hardest Part is the Night – Keeper
8. Always Run To You – Keeper
9. To the Fire – Delete
10. Secret Dreams – Delete

The Track Score is 8 out of 10 Tracks or 80%.  I will agree with the band that the sound on this album is not great production wise. The guitars at times sound a little dull and lifeless at times and should’ve sounded bigger. There is a tone throughout that seems a little off as well, however, the songs on here are great and are a band that is starting to find themselves and is really hungry.  If it wasn’t for the sound this would be one of my favorite records by the band (minus those last two tracks).  I remember buying this album when it came out and really loving it and spending a lot of time with it.  So, there is a personal connection to it.  With 8 really solid tracks, minus the sound issues, My Overall Score is a 3.5 out of 5.0 Stars.  I think this album is way better than people give it credit for, but I will admit the production value is less than stellar.  I feel it is still a must owned album.

NEXT UP: BON JOVI – ‘SLIPPERY WHEN WET’ (1986)

THE BON JOVI COLLECTION SERIES:

1. Bon Jovi – The Albums Box Set (2017)
2. Jon Bongiovi – The Power Station Sessions (1980-1983) (2001)
3. Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi (1984)
4. Bon Jovi – Shot Through the Heart: Live in Cleveland, OH March 17, 1984 FM Broadcast (Bootleg)
5. Bon Jovi – 7800° Fahrenheit (1985)
6. Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (1986)
7. Bon Jovi – New Jersey (1988)
8. Bon Jovi – New Jersey: Super Deluxe Edition – Disc 2/DVD (1988)
9. Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You” – Cassette Single (1988)
10. Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory (1991)
11. Jon Bon Jovi – “Blaze of Glory” – Cassette Single (1991)
12. Richie Sambora – Stranger in this Town (1991)
13. Bon Jovi – Keep the Faith (1992)
14. Bon Jovi – “I Believe” – 7″ Single (1992)
15. Bon Jovi – Crossroads (1994)
16. Bon Jovi – “Please Come Home for Christmas” – CD Single (1994)
17. Bon Jovi – These Days (1995)
18. Bon Jovi – Live From London – DVD (1995)
19. Jon Bon Jovi – Destination Anywhere (1997)
20. Richie Sambora – Undiscovered Soul (1998)
21. Bon Jovi – Crush (2000)
22. Bon Jovi – Live From Osaka E.P. (2000)
23. Bon Jovi – “Thank You For Loving Me” – CD Single (2000)
24. Bon Jovi – The Crush Tour – DVD (2000)
25. Bon Jovi – The Love Songs E.P. (Promo) (2001)
26. Bon Jovi – Tokyo Road: Best of Bon Jovi (2001)
27. Bon Jovi – One Wild Night Live: 1985-2001 (2001)
28. Bon Jovi – Bounce (2002)
29. Bon Jovi – Unauthorized: Rock ‘n Roll Legends – Bootleg DVD (2002)
30. Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right (2003)
31. Bon Jovi – Target E.P. (2003)
32. Bon Jovi – Wild in the Streets: Unauthorized – Bootleg DVD (2003)
33. Bon Jovi – This Left Feels Right – DVD (2004)
34. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Part 1) – (2004)
35. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 1, Part 2) – (2004)
36. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 2, Part 3) – (2004)
37. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 3, Part 4) – (2004)
38. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 4, Part 5) – (2004)
39. Bon Jovi – 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong (Disc 5, Part 6) – (2004)
40. Bon Jovi – Have a Nice Day (2005)
41. Bon Jovi – Live from the Have a Nice Day Tour (Walmart Exclusive) (2006)
42. Bon Jovi – Lost Highway (2007)
43. Bon Jovi – Lost Highway: The Concert (2007)
44. Bon Jovi – The Circle (2009)
45. Bon Jovi – When We Were Beautiful Documentary DVD (2009)
46. Bon Jovi – Live at Madison Square Garden – DVD (2009)
47. Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection (2009)
48. Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Video Collection – DVD (2010)
49. Bon Jovi – Inside Out – DVD (2012)
50. Richie Sambora – Aftermath of the Lowdown (2012)
51. Bon Jovi – What About Now (2013)
52. Bon Jovi – Live E.P. (RSD – 2013)
53. Bon Jovi – Live 2 E.P. (RSD – 2014)
54. Bon Jovi – Burning Bridges (2015)
55. Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale (2016)
56. Bon Jovi – This House is Not For Sale – Live From the London Palladium (2016)
57. Bon Jovi – The Albums Box Set – The Extra LP (2017)
58. RSO – Radio Free America (2018)
59. Bon Jovi – 2020 (2020)
60. Bon Jovi – 40th Anniversary Box Set (TBA – I Hope it is out by the time we get here)

We’ve reviewed a bunch of pieces already over the years and won’t review again. They are as follows:

1. Bon Jovi – The Brotherhood Tour Book (1988-1990)
2. Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi Tour 2011 – Tourbook
3. Bon Jovi – The Rock History – Bootleg CD
4. Bon Jovi – “You Give Love A Bad Name” – 12″ Single
5. Bon Jovi – “You Give Love a Bad Name” – 7″ Single
6. Bon Jovi – Red Hot & 2 Parts Live E.P. – 12″ Single
7. Bon Jovi – “Wanted Dead or Alive” – 7″ Single
8. Bon Jovi – “Bad Medicine” – 7″ Single
9. Bon Jovi – “Born to Be My Baby” – 7″ Single
10. Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You” – 7″ Single
11. Bon Jovi – “Lay Your Hands on Me” – 7″ Single
12. Bon Jovi – “Living in Sin” – 7″ Single