Twenty-nine years ago this week, Bon Jovi's fourth studio album, New Jersey, was beginning its four-week run as the #1 album on the Billboard album charts. There was no let down for Bon Jovi after their prior breakthrough album, Slippery When Wet. In addition to topping the U.S. album charts, New Jersey hit #1 on the album charts in five other countries and was Top 10 in another five. It has gone platinum seven times in the U.S., and it holds the distinction of being the first American album every released in the USSR -- presumably leading to glastnost and the fall of the Soviet Union.
New Jersey also spawned five Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 -- "Bad Medicine" (#1), "I'll Be There For You" (#1), "Born To Be My Baby" (#3), "Lay Your Hands On Me (#7), and "Living in Sin" (#9) -- which was (and still is) the most for a hard rock or hair band album. While they're all great songs, I'm going with "Lay Your Hands On Me." It's the opening track on the album and sets the stage nicely, fading in with Tico Torres's thunderous drum beats getting louder and louder, with the band shouting "hey!" every now and then, before the drums, guitar, and bass disappear and it's just Jon Bon Jovi repeating the song title behind a church organ, set to guide you on a religious experience for the next five minutes, because before you know it, bam! The whole band kicks in and busts out a hard-rocking hit with a sing-along chorus, pleading you, begging you, commanding you to lay your hands on me. You don't have to grab anything. Just lay them on me. That said, you're also welcome to grab something, if that's your thing.
The video is a classic concert video, showing you why arena rock concerts used to rule the world. If this song doesn't get you in a good mood, then maybe you're just one of those people who isn't capable of being put in a good mood. Take a look in the mirror and think about it for a good long time. No one likes a curmudgeon.
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