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Rating: In the late '80s, Bon Jovi was a band that seemed destined to reach the great heights of Rock's Olympus, thanks to two gigantic albums that far exceeded the quality level of the hard rock in vogue at the time: I'm obviously talking about Slippery when wet (1986) and New Jersey (1988).
The band took a break and Jon Bon Jovi, the voice and leader, dedicated himself to “his music,” which evidently has its roots in classic American rock and pop with strong blues and folk influences, like that of Dylan, Jackson Browne, the Eagles, and, of course, Bruce Springsteen.
Legend has it that on a cold night in 1980, Jon, not yet eighteen, was playing in a New Jersey pub when, while performing The Promised Land by his idol Springsteen, Bruce himself, enjoying the show at the bar, put down his drink and joined the young Jon on stage: for months, Jon Bon Jovi told everyone at school, where he was still studying, that he had played with his idol.
This Blaze of glory is an album I consider capable of holding its own against the best artistic references mentioned above, a classic of American singer-songwriter music.
The album was born from a request made to Jon by Emilio Estevez for a soundtrack for his film Young Guns II, a sort of sequel to the legendary Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid by Sam Peckinpah from 1973, which featured Bob Dylan in the soundtrack (and also in the film as an actor): that soundtrack gifted the world one of the most beautiful songs in music history, Knockin’ on Heaven’s door.
In reality, inside Young Guns II, the only song from the album used in the soundtrack was Blaze of glory: a western song born from the famous Wanted dead or alive found in Slippery when wet, not inferior, in my opinion, to the aforementioned: Jon delivers a chilling vocal performance, supported by the magical guitar of the great Jeff Beck and the thunderous drums of Kenny Arnoff.
Blood money is a high-level folk piece that exudes the beauty of the best American folk songs, precisely those of Dylan and especially Springsteen, the Springsteen of 1980, the one from Nebraska and The River who, to Jon’s disbelief, he had the honor and surprise of having beside him on stage: a simple and short piece, all voice, guitar, harmonica, and accordion.
Santa Fe is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever listened to, it speaks poetically of redemption: a man who must atone for his terrible sins and fears divine judgment... “Tell my creator he can wait, I'm riding somewhere south of heaven, back to Santa Fe... Now I won't go to heaven, if the devil has his way, I swear I'll live forever going back to Santa Fe... I've got debts to pay in Santa Fe, it's judgment day in Santa Fe, so I'll save a prayer for when I need it for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Musically, the piece is dominated by a beautiful orchestral arrangement and Jon’s stunning voice.
Another piece to remember is You Really Got Me, short as well, but a concentrate of emotions, old-style western blues sung in two voices by Jon and Little Richard, who also lets us hear his magical touch on the piano.
In Dyin' Ain’t much of a love it's Elton John's turn on the piano and second vocals: a beautiful piece, a ballad in full Bon Jovi style, with lyrics that talk again about sin and redemption.
“... Dying ain’t for a young life
It’s too late to ask for forgiveness
For the things I’ve done...”
If you don't know this album, I highly recommend it to you: forget Bon Jovi (the Band), a great band, no doubt, but here is a musical masterpiece outside the genre for which that band was (and in my opinion still is) great.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Miracle (05:11)
A penny for your thoughts now baby
Looks like the weight of the world's
On your shoulders now
I know you think you're going crazy
Just when it seems everything's
Gonna work itself out
They drive you right back down
And you said it ain't fair
That a man walks
When a bird can fly
We have to kick the ground
The stars kiss the sky
They say that spirits live
A man has to die
They promised us truth
Now they're giving us lies
Gonna take a miracle to save us this time
And your savior has just left town
Gonna need a miracle
'Cause it's all on the line
And I won't let you down
(No I won't let you down)
The river of your hope is flooding
And I know the dam is busted
If you need me I'll come running
I won't let you down... no, no
You're looking for salvation
You thought that it'd be shining
Like an angel's light
Well, the angels left this nation
And salvation caught the last train
Out tonight
He lost one hell of a fight
He said
I'm just one man, that's all I'll ever be
I never can be everything you wanted from me
I've got plans so big
That any blind man could see
I'm standing in the river
Now I'm drowning in the sea
Gonna take a miracle to save us this time
And your savior has just left town
Gonna need a miracle
'Cause your heart's on the line
And your heartbeat is slowing down
Your feet are grounded still
You're reaching for the sky
You can let 'em clip your wings
'Cause I believe that you can fly
Solo
Well my eyes have seen the horror
Of the coming of the flood
I've driven deep the thorny crown
Into the soul of someone's son
Still I'll look you in the eye
'Cause I've believed in things I've thought
And I'll die without regret
For the wars I have fought
Gonna take a miracle to save you this time
And your savior has just left town
Gonna need a miracle
'Cause your heart's doing time
And your conscience is calling you out
It ain't all for nothing
Life ain't written in the sand
I know the tide is coming
But it's time we made a stand
With a miracle
Gonna take a miracle
I need a miracle
I need a miracle
08 You Really Got Me Now (02:26)
You're dancing with your shadow
You been talking in your sleep
Well you can walk on water
But don't want to wet your feet
You really got me
You really got me now
You know I don't know how you do it
But you really put me through it
You got me
You say you talk to everyone
Who is anyone in town
But they don't recognize you
With your foot out of your mouth
You really got me
You really got me now
You know I don't know how you do it
But you really put me through it
You got me
Who am I to judge a man
Who says he's his own biggest fan
It's true
You brought a knife out to a gunfight
And you're shouting that I'm dead
My old friends Smith and Wesson
Think you're in over your head
You really got me
You really got me now
You know I don't know how you do it
But you really put me through it
You got me
(Repeat)
09 Bang a Drum (04:38)
I went to see the preacher
To teach me how to pray
He looked at me and smiled
Then the preacher turned away
He said if you want to tell him something
You ain't gotta fold your hands
Say it with your heart
Your soul and believe it
And I'd say amen
Bang a drum for the sinners
Bang a drum for the sins
Bang a drum for the losers
And those who win
Bang a drum bang it loudly
Or as soft as you need
Bang a drum for yourself son
And a drum for me
I called upon my brother just the
Other day, he said: John I'm gonna
Die if I don't start to live again
I work each day and night like clockwork
Just trying to make ends meet
I could kick this bad world's ass
If I could just get on my feet
I'd bang a drum for the dying
Bang a drum for the truth
Bang a drum for the innocence
Lost in our youth
Bang a drum bang it loudly
Or as soft as you need
Bang a drum for you brother
And a drum for me
I don't know where all the rivers run
I don't know how far, I don't know how come
But I'm gonna die believin'
Each step that I take
Ain't worth the ground that
I walk on
If we don't walk it our
Own way
No I don't claim to be a Wiseman
A poet or a saint
I'm just another man who's searching
For a better way
But my heart beats loud as thunder
For the things that I believe
Sometimes I wanna run for cover
Sometimes I want to scream
Bang a drum for tomorrow
Bang a drum for the past
Bang a drum for the heroes
That won't come back
Bang a drum for the promise
Bang a drum for the lies
Bang a drum for the lovers
And the tears they've cried
Bang a drum bang it loudly
Or as soft as you need
But as long as my heart keeps on bangin'
I got a reason to believe
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