Jump to content

Slippery When Wet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Raise Your Hands (song))

Slippery When Wet
The album title written in the water droplets on a black surface; above is the Bon Jovi logo in red.
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 18, 1986 (1986-08-18)
Recorded1986
StudioLittle Mountain, Vancouver, Canada
Genre
Length43:49
Label
ProducerBruce Fairbairn
Bon Jovi chronology
7800° Fahrenheit
(1985)
Slippery When Wet
(1986)
New Jersey
(1988)
Alternative cover
Rejected wet T-shirt cover, used for the Japanese release
Singles from Slippery When Wet
  1. "You Give Love a Bad Name"
    Released: July 23, 1986
  2. "Livin' on a Prayer"
    Released: October 31, 1986
  3. "Wanted Dead or Alive"
    Released: March 2, 1987
  4. "Never Say Goodbye"
    Released: June 15, 1987

Slippery When Wet is the third studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on August 18, 1986, by Mercury Records in North America and Vertigo Records internationally. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, with recording sessions taking place between January and July 1986 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver. The album features many of Bon Jovi's best-known songs, including "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer", and "Wanted Dead or Alive".

Slippery When Wet was an instant commercial success, spending eight weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and was named by Billboard as the top-selling album of 1987.[7] Slippery When Wet is Bon Jovi's best-selling album to date, with a Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certification of 15× Platinum, making it one of the top 100 best-selling albums in the United States.[8] The album has been called the album that turned "heavy metal into a radio-friendly pop format",[9] and is also commonly seen as "a breakthrough for hair metal".[10][11]

Background

[edit]

Upon its 1985 release, 7800° Fahrenheit achieved moderate success, but Bon Jovi had not yet become superstars. The band changed its approach for the next album, with a more mainstream sound than the heavier first two albums. Hiring Desmond Child as a collaborator, the band wrote 30 songs and auditioned them for local New Jersey (including recording artist and Phantom's Opera vocalist Colie Brice) and New York teenagers, basing the album's running order on their opinions. Bruce Fairbairn was chosen as the producer for the album, with Bob Rock as the mixer. The 1985 album Without Love which Fairbairn produced for the heavy metal band Black 'n Blue, attracted Jon Bon Jovi with its sound quality, and he immediately sought out the producer.[12]

Writing and composition

[edit]

Much of the album was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, whereas "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer", "Without Love", and "I'd Die For You" were co-written with Desmond Child, and "Wild in the Streets" was by Bon Jovi alone. This was the first time Child worked with Jon and Richie. He came to New Jersey, where they worked on the four songs in Sambora's mother's basement.

Jon Bon Jovi explained, "I liked what Bryan Adams had done with Tina Turner so I suggested we do something similar: I write a song for someone like her, and then we do the song together. But that got changed, and our A&R guy came up with Desmond's name ... He hasn't tried to change what we are, but to refine it slightly; to suggest extra ways that we could wring a bit more out of what we had."[13]

Bon Jovi was initially reluctant to include "Livin' on a Prayer", believing it was not good enough. Sambora convinced him it was a hit in the making, and so the band rerecorded it, releasing the second version on the album. It is Bon Jovi's signature song.[citation needed] The first version of "Livin' on a Prayer" that was recorded was included as a hidden track at the end of one of the CDs in the box set 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong.

One of the songs written during the making of the album, "Edge of a Broken Heart", is not on the final release. Bon Jovi has since said it should have been included. In the booklet that came with 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong, Jon Bon Jovi said, "It was absolutely appropriate for the Slippery record—coulda, shoulda, woulda been on Slippery had cooler minds prevailed. Here's my formal apology." Featured on the soundtrack to the 1987 movie Disorderlies, it has since been released as the B-side for the Livin' on a Prayer single album, on the 2-CD edition of Cross Road, and on 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong. The song has never been performed live by the band, though a fan favorite.

In 1986, Bon Jovi said "There's a song called 'Love Is A Social Disease' that Aerosmith were keen to get hold of. It would be ideal for them, but they're not having it, because it's even better for us."[14]

Title and artwork

[edit]

The album's name was changed during its inception, including Wanted Dead or Alive. A proposed cover with the band dressed as cowboys[15] was later used for the single release of the track of the same name.

According to Bon Jovi, the band named the album Slippery When Wet after visiting The No.5 Orange strip club in Vancouver, British Columbia. According to Sambora, "This woman descended from the ceiling on a pole and proceeded to take all her clothes off. When she got in a shower and soaped herself up, we just about lost our tongues. We just sat there and said, 'We will be here every day.' That energized us through the whole project. Our testosterone was at a very high level back then."[16]

The cover consists of a wet black garbage bag with the words "Slippery When Wet" traced in the water. "So simple, and not very impressive", said Sambora.[17] The album originally was to feature a busty woman in a wet yellow T-shirt with the album name on the front of the shirt. This was swapped for the plastic bag cover just prior to release. The reasons given for the switch were record executives' fears that dominant record store chains at the time would have refused to carry the album with a sexist cover, and Jon Bon Jovi's dislike of the bright pink border around the photograph the band submitted.[18][19] Sambora said, "Our label freaked out a bit when they saw what we'd done. They thought it would be banned by American stores, so we had to come up with something else – fast."[17] In Japan, most releases of the album included the original cover art.

Reception

[edit]
Retrospective professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[20]
Record Mirror[21]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[22]

The album was a massive commercial success. Between 1986 and 1987, Slippery When Wet produced a string of hit songs, including three Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, two of which ("You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer") reached No. 1. The third single "Wanted Dead or Alive" peaked at No. 7. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making it Bon Jovi's first number-one album in the United States. The album spent 38 weeks inside the Top 5 of Billboard 200, including 8 weeks at No. 1. It is the best-selling album of 1987 in the United States, and eventually reached Diamond certification by the RIAA and current sales stand at 12 million copies, making it the 48th best-selling album in the United States.

In the UK, Slippery When Wet received a 3× Platinum certification by the BPI. The album also achieved Diamond status in Canada, and 6× Platinum status in Australia.

Slippery When Wet was met with generally positive reviews. Writing in The Village Voice in September 1987, Robert Christgau said, "Sure seven million teenagers can be wrong, but their assent is not without a certain documentary satisfaction. Yes, it proves that youth rebellion is toothless enough to simulate and market. But who the hell thought youth was dangerous in the current vacuum? Would you have preferred the band market patriotism? And are you really immune to 'Livin' on a Prayer'?"[23] In 1990 in Rolling Stone, Jimmy Guterman thoroughly berated the band and the album. "Jon Bon Jovi and his band serve up condescending sentiment, reducing every emotional statement to a barefaced cliché – either because they think that's all their audience can comprehend or because that's all they can comprehend. On Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi sounds like bad fourth-generation metal, a smudgy Xerox of Quiet Riot."[24] The album is ranked 44th in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the Definitive 200 Albums of all time.

2005 re-release

[edit]

In 2005, Slippery When Wet was re-issued as a DualDisc. The CD side contains a newly remastered version. The DVD side contains the same album in its original stereo mix, a slightly expanded 5.1 surround sound version, and all 5 music videos. The expanded album includes additional elements within many of the songs, in some cases increasing their runtime. The DualDisc was released on September 20, 2005, the same release date as Have a Nice Day.

Track listing

[edit]

Original release

[edit]

All tracks written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, except where noted.

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let It Rock" 5:26
2."You Give Love a Bad Name"Jon Bon Jovi, Sambora, Desmond Child3:43
3."Livin' on a Prayer"Jon Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child4:11
4."Social Disease" 4:18
5."Wanted Dead or Alive" 5:09
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Raise Your Hands" 4:17
2."Without Love"Jon Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child3:31
3."I'd Die for You"Jon Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child4:31
4."Never Say Goodbye" 4:49
5."Wild in the Streets"Jon Bon Jovi3:56

1998 special edition

[edit]
Bonus CD (PHCR-90015/6)
No.TitleLength
1."Wanted Dead or Alive" (live at Wembley 1995) 
2."Livin' on a Prayer" (live/US 1987) 
3."You Give Love a Bad Name" (live/US 1987) 
4."Wild in the Streets" (live at Wembley 1995) 
5."Borderline" (studio outtake) 
6."Edge of a Broken Heart" (studio outtake) 
7."Never Say Goodbye" (live acoustic version) 

2010 special edition

[edit]
Bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
1."You Give Love a Bad Name" (live version)4:10
2."Livin' on a Prayer" (live version)5:33
3."Wanted Dead or Alive" (live version)5:22

Personnel

[edit]

Credits partly sourced from AllMusic.[10]

Bon Jovi

  • Jon Bon Jovi – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar on "Wanted Dead or Alive"
  • Richie Sambora – harmony and backing vocals, electric and acoustic lead and rhythm guitars, guitar synths, talk box on "Livin' on a Prayer"
  • Alec John Such – backing vocals, bass
  • Tico Torres – drums, percussion, finger cymbals on "Livin' on a Prayer"
  • David Bryan – backing vocals, keyboards, "noise"

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] 6× Platinum 420,000^
Brazil 100,000[63]
Canada (Music Canada)[64] Diamond 1,000,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[65] Platinum 20,000
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[66] Platinum 73,564[66]
France 38,000[67]
Germany (BVMI)[68] Platinum 500,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[69] Gold 10,000*
Italy (FIMI)[70] Gold 25,000
Japan (Oricon Charts) 215,000[37]
Netherlands (NVPI)[71] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[72] Platinum 15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[73] Gold 50,000[73]
Singapore (RIAS)[74] Gold 5,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[75] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden 100,000[67]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[76] 2× Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[77] 3× Platinum 900,000^
United States (RIAA)[78] 15× Platinum 15,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

[edit]
Publication Country Accolade Rank
Guitar World US Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties[79] 7
LA Weekly US Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time[80] 12
Loudwire US Top 30 Hair Metal Albums[81] 5
Metal Rules US Top 50 Glam Metal Albums[82] 13
Rolling Stone US 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time[83] 3

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0.
  2. ^ Slaughter, Matthew (June 30, 2014). "Album Review: Bon Jovi - New Jersey (deluxe edition)". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  3. ^ "Pop Metal". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012.
  4. ^ Reesman, Bryan (August 18, 2016). "How Bon Jovi Changed the World With 'Slippery When Wet'". Observer. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". This Day in Music. January 13, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Harrison, Thomas (2011). Music of the 1980s. ABC-CLIO. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-313-36600-0.
  7. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums : Nov 24, 2016 - Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Top 100 Albums". RIAA. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  9. ^ Bukszpan, Daniel (2003). The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal. Barnes & Noble Publishing. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-7607-4218-1.
  10. ^ a b c Leahey, Andrew. "Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  11. ^ "Pop-Metal Music Genre Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "Obituary: Bruce Fairbairn". Independent.co.uk. May 31, 1999.
  13. ^ Dome, Malcolm (July 2006). "We'll make it, I swear...". Classic Rock #94. p. 44.
  14. ^ Dome, Malcolm (July 2006). "We'll make it, I swear...". Classic Rock #94. p. 47.
  15. ^ "How Bon Jovi Changed the World With 'Slippery When Wet'". Observer. August 18, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  16. ^ Giles, Jeff (August 18, 2016). "30 Years Ago: Bon Jovi Release 'Slippery When Wet'". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  17. ^ a b Dome, Malcolm (July 2006). "We'll make it, I swear...". Classic Rock #94. p. 45.
  18. ^ jason (May 29, 2008). "Top 10 Banned Metal Album Covers". The Gauntlet. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  19. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (July 7, 2011). "Bon Jovi – Most Shocking Album Covers". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  20. ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "B". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved August 17, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
  21. ^ Gardner, Mike (September 20, 1986). "Review: Bon Jovi — Slippery When Wet // FM — Indiscreet" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 11. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  22. ^ "Rolling Stone Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011.
  23. ^ Christgau, Robert (September 1, 1987). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved August 17, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
  24. ^ Guterman, Jimmy (November 7, 1990). "Slippery When Wet". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  25. ^ Brodén, Victor (July 23, 2014). "On Bass: The Song Guys". Premier Guitar. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  26. ^ Setaro, Shawn. "Inside The Business Of Bon Jovi With Bryan Reesman". Forbes. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  27. ^ McDonald, Hugh. "Hugh McDonald Official Website – Discography". www.huey-mcdonald.com. Archived at the Wayback Machine of Internet Archive. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  28. ^ a b "What Makes This Song Great? Ep.111 BON JOVI "Livin' on a Prayer"". YouTube. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  29. ^ "Loverboy's Mike Reno Reveals Backing Vocal on Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer'". Loudwire.
  30. ^ Thompson, Bronwyn (January 29, 2008). "On A Steel Horse Bon Jovi Rides To Top Of The Charts". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2017. Slippery When Wet reached No. 1 in Australia when it was originally released and went on to sell six times platinum. It has sold 28 million copies worldwide.
  31. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  32. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0786". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  33. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  34. ^ "Sisältää hitin - Finnish Chart Archive". Suomenlistalevyt / Timo Pennanen. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  35. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  36. ^ "Greekcharts.com – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  37. ^ a b Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  38. ^ "Charts.nz – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  39. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  40. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  41. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  42. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  43. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  44. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  45. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  46. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  47. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  48. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  49. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8824". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  50. ^ "European Top 100 Albums – 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 35. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via World Radio History. Digit page 17 on the PDF archive.
  51. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  52. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 1987". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  53. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0918". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  54. ^ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1987" (in Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  55. ^ "European Top 100 Albums – 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 35. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via World Radio History. Digit page 37 on the PDF archive.
  56. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  57. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1987 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  58. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1987". hitparade.ch. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  59. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  60. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  61. ^ "Top 100 Metal Albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  62. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1993 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  63. ^ Serpa, Paulo Ernesto (January 2, 1990). "A parada de sucessos do Hollywood Rock". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese). p. 28 – via National Library of Brazil.
  64. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". Music Canada. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  65. ^ "Danish album certifications – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  66. ^ a b "Bon Jovi" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  67. ^ a b "The Success Story Of Bon Jovi" (PDF). Music & Media. July 11, 1987. p. 10. Retrieved June 4, 2020 – via American Radio History.
  68. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bon Jovi; 'Slippery When Wet')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  69. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1988". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  70. ^ "Italian album certifications – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 17, 2022. Select "2022" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Slippery When Wet" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  71. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Bon Jovi – Slippery" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved June 16, 2012. Enter Slippery in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1994 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  72. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  73. ^ a b "The European Best Sellers of 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. pp. 42–46.
  74. ^ "Singapore album certifications – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". Recording Industry Association Singapore. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  75. ^ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1979–1990". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
  76. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Slippery When Wet')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  77. ^ "British album certifications – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  78. ^ "American album certifications – Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  79. ^ "Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of the Eighties". Guitar World. December 2, 2008. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  80. ^ "Top 20 Hair Metal Albums of All Time: The Complete List". LA Weekly. December 9, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  81. ^ Divita, Joe (November 9, 2016). "Top 30 Hair Metal Albums". Loudwire. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  82. ^ "Top 50 Glam Metal Albums". Metal Rules. December 2003. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  83. ^ Beaujour, Tom; Bienstock, Richard; Eddy, Chuck; Fischer, Reed; Grow, Kory; Johnston, Maura; Weingarten, Christopher R. (August 31, 2019). "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
[edit]