Realistically, what would Richie have brought to THINFS?
 

This album is getting a good reception from fans so far. We as a collective generally seem to like the lyrical content, the song structure, and even seem to be on board with the production for the most part. Heck, we are even happy with the marketing output this time.

So, I have been thinking that Richie would not have brought anything else to this album. I don't think it misses his guitar because the parts that are on the album could have been played by anyone, just like everything of WAN and The Circle. I also don't believe we would have had more solos if Richie was there.

I admit that I often wonder what Richie's backing vocals (his true vocal skill for all his "frontman" assertions), but I am not desperate for it.

My verdict of this album was 8.5 out of 10, I don't see how Richie co-writing would have elevated the songs any further.

What would Richie have brought to this project for you?

If Richie was in this album it would be another shitty-WAN type album....
Period.

Why do you think that?

I am not so sure as that implies Richie was the one driving the Bon Jovi sound. Or do you mean because Jon would not have left his comfort zone?

Τhis ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Yup, I agree.

This album once again proves that music is no zero sum game.

I'm sure if Richie was given his album with the task to play guitar on it, perhaps tweak some solos or even some melodies; sing backing vocals and do what he normally does on the more recent albums, it would've been some incremental improvements. However, if Richie was still in the band, Jon probably doesn't suffer as much pain, and some of these songs don't get written. So in some ways, this makes me happier about Richie's departure.

I'd be just as happy if Richie is just as successful in realizing his creative force and makes a renaissance record of his own. Can't say I'm overly optimistic given recent RSO performances, but I also thought Bon Jovi should retire and yet Jon proved he has still left plenty in the tank, at least album-wise.

The writing process was helped by Richie leaving. Living With The Ghost specifically deals with that.

His backing vocals would undoubtedly have elevated certain songs. No idea if his guitar work would have differed much from what we have except maybe on Scars. I think he might have spiced that up a bit.


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Realistically, what Richie would have brought to THINFS would have been what Jon would have let him bring -as usual.

Yeah sure...and Aftermath proved that...lol xD :p

Jon still would have been working with Shanks, and Falcon, so his influence in the songwriting probably wouldn't be felt. He is mostly missed in the live performances.

There was more guitar playing on Aftermath than the last couple of Jovi records put together. Anyone that says there isn't clearly hasn't listened to it properly. Also, guitar parts that sound like Richie, not some generic U2/Killers guitar sound like the last few Jovi records (which I blame Shanks for)

The only thing that I feel the new album misses, regarding Richie, is backing vocals...Scars on This Guitar particularly would have sounded amazing with his BVs...