Stranger In This Town
STRANGER IN THIS TOWN (1991)
When Bon Jovi were on hold as a band in 1990, Richie wanted to pursue into new territories; make his first solo album. Richie had always been the sidekick in Bon Jovi shows and on albums, and he desired more role for himself than being only Jon's faithful little helper. No doubt he was capable of that; he had planned on fronting his own band before joining Bon Jovi, and had all it'd take to make it on his own too: he's a skilful and talented guitar player, he can write songs and sing, and is charismatic enough to be in the spotlight. So he went for it, and the result was ready nine months later: Stranger In This Town. His first solo album was produced by him and Neil Dorfsman, and released in July 1991. Richie's roots were always in the blues, and his guitar heroes and influences were the likes of Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. On Stranger Richie returned to the music he was listening to when he was growing up as the album is somewhat blues influenced. He even managed to get his big hero Eric Clapton to do a guitar solo on a song he wrote. The music on the album is a little different to the previous Bon Jovi albums; there is little hard rock but lots of atmospheric and thoughtful, slow songs. But Stranger still isn't too far from Bon Jovi, there is one originally a Bon Jovi song on the album, Desmond Child helped writing one track, and David and Tico play on the album. Unfortunately, Stranger In This Town wasn't commercially very successful. Not that being a chart topper and selling a lot of records would mean that an album is musically good quality, but as a result the general public never heard this album, which is a pity since the album includes such good music. Richie toured with Stranger too, playing clubs and theatre dates across the USA in 1991.
Rest In Peace
Written by: RS, David Bryan
Status: Album track
The album begins with a track called Rest In Peace. It is a sort of an introduction to the album, and it has an eerie and spooky sound to it. It is a pretty good piece, atmospheric and slow and it sets the mood for the album very well. You might perhaps expect this kind of intro thing to be only something to waste space if you don't have enough material for the album, but Rest In Peace works well as an introduction and mood-setter, and it's even a good song on its own right too.
Rating: ***
Church Of Desire
Written by: RS
Status: Album track
Written by Richie Sambora, this is the first song on any album that is written solely by him. He always wrote songs together with Jon but never on his own before (at least nothing that has been released), and although the lyrics of Church Of Desire aren't really bad, it's obvious that he isn't a capable songwriter on his own right. It would have been great if there were songs written by him on Bon Jovi albums but there never were any; surely there would have been if he could write songs properly, but I guess he was always more interested in playing guitar than writing songs, and he can still write some things with a songwriting partner. Anyway, Church Of Desire is a slightly bluesy and mellow rock song. It's pretty catchy, has decent lyrics, good guitars and is performed impeccably.
Rating: ****
Stranger In This Town
Written by: RS, David Bryan
Status: Second single from the album, released in November 1991
Richie's roots were always in the blues. He has rarely brought any blues elements into Bon Jovi songs, but the title track of this album is a surefire blues number. Stranger In This Town is written by Richie and David - an interesting combination that didn't happen again after this album. Stranger is good lyrically, but it's even much better musically. Filled with masterly guitar playing, wonderful blues elements and easygoing mood, this is an overwhelmingly impressive song. Far from traditional Bon Jovi stuff, this isn't about repeating endlessly some catchy hit chorus, but instead it's a genuine song, a song that was really inspired by something else than a stack of dollar bills. This is a superb song, simply put. You can enjoy it whole-heartedly no matter are you a hardcore blues fan or don't care about blues at all; either way the song has something to offer you, and it leaves me definitely impressed. You can just throw yourself into this song and let the music flow through you. Fortunately, Richie has performed this fantastic song several times in Bon Jovi concerts.
Rating: *****
Ballad Of Youth
Written by: RS, Morolda
Status: First single from the album released in September 1991, peaked at #63 in the US, at #59 in the UK
Ballad Of Youth was a single from the album. It wasn't a great success, but of course the quality of music is never interpreted by the lists, hits and sales. Ballad Of Youth is a light rock song about youth and its challenges. Lyrically it would have fitted easily on Slippery When Wet or New Jersey as this youth and difficulty of being a teenager thing seemed to be a prevailing theme on those albums. These lyrics are alright, but you'd think that Richie would have had enough of writing songs for kids by now - especially as this album isn't aimed as much for kids as the previous band albums were. But Ballad Of Youth is still a speedy, catchy and good song.
Rating: ***
One Light Burning
Written by: RS, Foster, Morolda
Status: Album track
One Light Burning is a perfect example of these really atmospheric and stylish songs on this album. I guess the best way to get the most out of this song is to follow Richie's "listening instructions" on the album sleeve: "Turn down the lights, light a candle... welcome...". That guideline works as perfectly as ever to this beautiful song, and the slightly ambiguous lyrics fit well with the music. There is real solemnity and sophistication in this song, and of course talented guitar playing by Richie. This elegant, almost romantic song is easily on of the best songs on the album.
Rating: ****
Mr. Bluesman
Written by: RS
Status: Album track
Richie wrote Mr. Bluesman about a blues player from the point of view of a fan and admirer. There's an important guest appearance in the track: Eric Clapton plays the guitar solo of the song. Unsurprisingly this is a very guitar orientated song, and the lyrical content makes this the perfect song for Clapton to lay down his solo. And sure, Clapton does a fine guitar solo. This is another very good song, featuring skilled guitar playing and Richie's simple but nice lyrics that tell a good story of the inspirational, vagabond-like blues musician.
Rating: ***
Rosie
Written by: RS, JBJ, Desmond Child, Diane Warren
Status: Album track
Rosie was originally a Bon Jovi song, a New Jersey song that was recorded but not used for the album and instead ended up here. It's a definite rocker, and it's actually the only real rock song on this album. It does perhaps stick out a little from the rest of the material as Richie's own stuff here isn't as plain rock as the Bon Jovi stuff is on New Jersey. The Bon Jovi version (of which a demo version is available on bootlegs) is harder, while Richie's version is a little more soulful and easygoing. Rosie is about a woman who's become a stripper, and the speaker who is her old boyfriend is bewailed by her "career move" and would like to take her away from her present life and make her his own again. Rosie is a good rocker. It's a bit ordinary and as such nothing really special, but it's a fine, gripping rock song.
Rating: ***
River Of Love
Written by: RS
Status: Album track
The third song written solely by Richie, River Of Love is a playful, almost jam-like song. There's a slight feeling of improvisation in this lyrically love - or more like lust - orientated and lightweight song. The song is pretty frivolous and the lyrics are obviously very weak. It's quite bad in the light of the next song, trifling and very filler-type. Not awful but easily the weakest song of the album.
Rating: ***
Father Time
Written by: RS, DC
Status: Album track
The very first string arrangements in the beginning of Father Time tell of a majestic, powerful song, and that's exactly what Father Time is. And when the first drum beats hit the air you are thoroughly impressed; this is an incredibly powerful, epic song. This is lyrically a love song, a prayer to time to heal the speaker's heartaches or give him more time with his woman. I like the lyrics, although they aren't really any more special than the lyrics of any average Bon Jovi love song. But it's really the velvety string arrangements (by Richie and David) and the song's power that make this an amazing song. Father Time is very memorable and beautiful, it's a real spectacle of a song. If it was a Bon Jovi song it'd be one of the best Bon Jovi songs ever, and it proudly stands up to almost any song around. Stunning.
Rating: *****
The Answer
Written by: RS, Foster
Status: Album track
Solemn and atmospheric are two words fit to describe many songs on this album, and here's another song of that kind: The Answer is a slow, soothing, peaceful acoustic song. It's great lyrically; surprisingly about religion, the speaker probably searches for God and the meaning of life. The lyrics are somewhat figurative and ambiguous - they're pretty impressive actually, I'd say that they are the finest lyrics on any Bon Jovi or solo album up to this point. Richie plays acoustic guitar in the song; finely, again, he is after all as good with acoustic guitar as he is with electric. He also sings passionately and again creates a very beautiful and atmospheric mood to the song. The Answer is brilliant, an acoustic song of unwavering quality, magical lyrically and musically, and better than most Bon Jovi songs the band ever did.
Rating: *****
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02-17-2007, 08:50 PM
