Ok, this is the way I see it, ive been following this thread from the beginning, I am no music expert, I can make assumptions to why I think certain markets react to Bon Jovis albums but this is simply my opinion I live in New Zealand where Bon Jovi debuted number 2, and the advert for greatest hits is one of Jon singing all the studio recording from the 80's 90's etc as he is today walking from one white room to another hardly inspiring.

Needless to say this album is a fans collection.
Having brought every new release of Jovis since Bounce, there have been good periods and bad.
Bounce I thought was a great album, I would of chosen the lead single as Undivided, or All about loving you, instead Everyday was chosen which was a flop.

I have only followed the charts post lost highway era but have gone through all the sales of all the albums now, sales of 87 odd thousand in the first week in the US wasn't bad just a year after there release of the circle which I must say even though I am a great optimist that every bon jovi single has the potential to be a hit, WWBTF, WWWB and ST, were never going to be hits.

I would of released BPL and Happy now, think about the likes of MUSE, One republic etc, not my favourite bands but their singles sell well because they stick to the sound which is currently popular, also I believe since lost highway lyrically the bands standards have dropped, I love bon jovi lyrics always have always will, but most of the circle was not bon jovi standard.

Short but sweet love ballads are in, and so are songs tht play on the worlds current situation but songs such as WFTWM are not going to be hits for bon jovi as no ones believes the sincerity of a song like it,

I am a fan that got into jovi in the early 2000's but was quick to realise having all of the albums that from Bon Jovi to These days have been Bon Jovis best years.

When I brought TC im sure like many it was loved, and played for many weeks on end, but after tht period I have hardly listened to it at all, and tht is very much the same as lost highway, whilst HAND and Bounce are frequent albums to hear out of my house or car.

November 10 I brought the Ultimate Collection, Put the first disc on, most of my favourites there, plus What do you got and No Apologies, Both reasonable songs, WDYG is a real song you can sing along to, and No Apologies I dnt know why just feels like WFTWM all over, 2nd disc very enjoyable I do wish a couple more these days songs were there, but really they are never going to release a album tht has all my favourites on it, I read tht Jon Agreed to a greatest hits so he could explore with lost highway, perhaps it would of sold better in the US had say there been a gap since lost highway to it.

However I think its sales are reasonable, considering Bon Jovi don't seemed to be as loved over there as the rest of the world at present other than ticket sales.

First platinum album since Crush in the UK, No1 in Ireland, Australia, up in all the European markets that matter (Excluding France) so you would have to say its a success for a album tht without the 2nd disk is like crossroads just with WWBTF HAND and IML on it plus damn WSYCGH, which made 23 in the hot 100 compared to 27 for YWMAM, even worst when you think HAND made 59 and WWBTF 68, I know now this doesnt have great relevance to the chart conversation, but as said you cant expect this album to do amazing things in a time where cd sales are down, and there is not alot of promo nor a good lead single to promote the album, why didnt they say push a big re-release of living on a prayer or IML etc to boost sales.....

My Apologies for the rushed post all together earlier wrote it on my lunch break hope this is easier for all to understand albeit not perfect as I am correcting it at 1am lol...