Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze Of Glory (Soundtrack Young Guns II (1990)

"Blaze Of Glory" is Jon Bon Jovi's first solo album, released in 1990. It includes songs from and inspired by the movie Young Guns II. Emilio Estevez asked for Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" as the theme song for his upcoming Billy the Kid sequel, but Jon Bon Jovi ended up composing an all new theme song for the film's soundtrack instead.

Abandoning his rough-and-ready rock & roll band, Jon Bon Jovi took a stab at respectability with this non-soundtrack to the film Young Guns II. Given his cowboy songs on Bon Jovi albums, it made sense that he'd be "inspired" by the Western, and he filled these songs (written without the help of bandmate Richie Sambora or hired hack Desmond Child) with references to shoot-'em-ups. Mainstream rock producer Danny Kortchmar put together the studio band, along with guest stars Jeff Beck, Elton John, and Little Richard, and the sound had more space and less drive than the lite-metal of Bon Jovi. Unfortunately, that kind of approach put the spotlight squarely on the singer/songwriter, and Jon Bon Jovi wasn't quite up to the scrutiny, writing dumb lines like "Tell my guns I'm coming home" and "I been broke and hungry/I think they're both my middle name" in a context in which you could actually make them out without the lyric sheet. The New Jersey cowboy tried to howl his way through, and his still faithful fans dutifully bought the record, but Jon Bon Jovi wasn't really ready to carry off a starring role without his usual supporting cast.

Track listing

01.  Billy Get Your Guns  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 4:49

02.  Miracle  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 5:09

03.  Blaze of Glory  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 5:40

04.  Blood Money  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 2:34

05.  Santa Fe  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 5:41

06.  Justice in the Barrel  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 6:49

07.  Never Say Die  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 4:54

08.  You Really Got Me Now  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 2:24

09.  Bang a Drum  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 4:36

10.  Dyin' Ain't Much of a Livin'  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 4:46

11.  Guano City  (Alan Silvestri)  - 1:00

Released:  July 1990

Label:  Mercury Records

Genre:  Rock

Length:  48:43

Producer:  Jon Bon Jovi, Danny Kortchmar

Personnel

Jon Bon Jovi – Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Harmonica

Lou Diamond Phillips – Vocals

Kenny Aronoff – Drums, Percussion

Jeff Beck – Electric Guitar

Robbin Crosby – Guitar

Bob Glaub – Bass

Randy Jackson – Bass

Ron Jacobs – Engineer

Elton John – Piano, Backing Vocals

Danny Kortchmar – Guitar

Dale Lavi - Hand Claps

Myrna Matthews – Backing Vocals

Aldo Nova – Guitars, Keyboards, Piano, Tambourine

Phil Parlapiano – Accordion

The Runners – Hand Claps

Little Richard – Piano, Vocals

Benmont Tench – Organ, Piano

Julia Waters – Vocals, Backing Vocals

Maxine Waters – Backing Vocals

Waddy Wachtel - Guitar, Slide Guitar