These are some of the songs, date wise, according to BJ.com that were written at between 1996-1999 that may have been included:

THESE ARMS ARE OPEN ALL NIGHT (Unreleased demo circa 1998 recorded with the Big Dogs in New Jersey.)
I GET A RUSH (Unreleased demo circa 1996.) Recorded in New Jersey.
SOMEDAY JUST MIGHT BE TONIGHT (Unreleased demo circa 1996.) Recorded in New Jersey.
GARAGELAND (Unreleased demo from 1999.) Recorded in New Jersey.
MAYBE SOMEDAY (Unreleased demo from 1999.) Recorded in New Jersey.
LAST CHANCE TRAIN (Unreleased demo from circa 1998.) Recorded in Los Angeles with Aerosmith's Joe Perry on guitar.
RICH MAN LIVING IN A POOR MAN'S HOUSE (Unreleased demo from 1998.) Recorded in New Jersey and Los Angeles with Dave Stewart.
ONE THAT GOT AWAY (Unreleased demo from 1999.) Recorded in New Jersey.
YOU CAN SLEEP WHILE I DREAM (Unreleased demo circa 1999.) Recorded in New Jersey.
SHUT UP AND KISS ME (Unreleased demo from 1997.) Recorded in New Jersey with the Big Dogs.
CRAZY LOVE (Unreleased demo from 1998.) Recorded in Los Angeles and New Jersey.
ORDINARY PEOPLE (Previously released b-side from 2000's CRUSH album.) Recorded in New Jersey.
SATELLITE (Unreleased demo from 1999.) Recorded in New Jersey.
REAL LIFE (Movie soundtrack from 1999's EDTV.) Recorded in New York City (at Avatar Studios, which had originally been the Power Station where Jon Bon Jovi had started his music career as a gofer) and New Jersey. It was remixed for inclusion in the box set.
TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING
(Unreleased demo from 1999 prior to CRUSH album.) Recorded in New Jersey.
RIVER RUNS DRY (Unreleased demo from 1996.) Recorded in New Jersey.
KIDNAP AN ANGEL (Unreleased demo from 1999.) Recorded in New Jersey.
TEMPTATION (Int'l b-side from CRUSH album in 2000.) Recorded in New Jersey.
ALL I WANNA DO IS YOU (Unreleased demo from 1997.) Recorded in New Jersey.

On top of that there are other B sides on the singles from Crush.

Looking at some of these songs I feel there could have been a much stronger overall album.

Can't say for sure but I would doubt it......

In my personal opinion, Sex Sells would have had a more rootsy telecaster heavy feel to it. I think the earlier tracks written for Crush where Ain't no cure or love, Too much of a good thing, Garageland. Songs like that coupled with Older and out takes from Jon's "third" solo album (Hush, Rich man, Gimme some) for instance, wouldn't have made it the all out rock album Jon was talking about but it certainly would have had more swagger than Crush. That being said, I wouldn't be here saying all this if it weren't for It's my Life so I got nothing. I do wish Crush had more of a bar band element though, that would have been great.

Aloha !

Jon doesn't have a clue what a rock album is. He said Crush was a rock album and that Kid Rock made good rock albums as well. That certainly proves that he's just talking out of his arse.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

...or that he has a different opinion to you. That could be possible, ya know.

Good point. You'd never believe it would ya?

I think Just Older would have been a good first single. The only problem with that though is it wouldn't have had the wow factor with the younger generation.

Nah. I definitely agree with Neurotica33. If it wasn't for IML, well...I'm not sure what would have happend really. I don't think it would have been pretty though. And that's coming from someone, that doesn't like Crush much. And I'm dissapointed Jovi aren't as rocky as they used to be, and I wish they'd go back to it. But Crush-ish Bon Jovi is loads better than no Bon jovi. :p They definitely needed IML, and to wow the younger generation. Kids were like (and still are) "wow this song's sooo good!!!" But I had already loved Jovi for years. And I was like "that's not even one of their best songs!" But for the more Pop Rock type lovers, and a lot of people, that were my age back when it came out - it was perfect, and it made them go out and buy Jovi albums. Or a lot of them did, at least. I think if Just Older were the first single, it probably would have sunk badly. But I guess you never know. We will never know! lol

I was so in love with IML when it came out.

But back then I thought some new band like Nickleback or summit sung it so the impact it did have on me was totally wasted.

I agree witht the ones who are saying without IML, Crush would've bombed big time.

Even worse, if IML wasnt' the first single, as originaly Say it isn't so was supposed to be the 1st single, then it would've bombed also big time.

The thing is, IMO, it's not a classic either as Prayer / Faith etc. In a few years time, if not already, the general public will see it as a poppy-sorta-boyband-song-but-done-by-a-so-called-rockband.....