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All tracks produced by Tony Bongiovi.
The recordings on the album aren't affiliated with Mercury records and Jon Bon Jovi.
Malcolm Dome (TotalRock Radio/Classic Rock Magazine), written for the CD inlay:
Everyone knows Jon Bon Jovi these days. Whether through his near 20 years of chart topping, global hopping with the band who bear his name (Bon Jovi, not Jon!). Or through an increasingly successful and acclaimed film acting career. Jon Bon Jovi has turned himself into a household name, as likely to be known to little old ladies standing at the bus stop as to the screaming hordes of devoted, dedicated fans who've kept the faith with the man whose always kept the faith with them. He became an overnight sensation in 1986 with hit singles like 'You Give Love A Bad Name' and 'Livin' On A Prayer', and became a superstar able to ride through any, and all, changes in trend. Amazingly, Jon Bon Jovi has always defied the laws of the music business, because he became fascionable, and has never really become unfascionable. More than 15 years on from that first flush of real success, Bon Jovi is a man still driven and driving.
But like all good 'overnight sensations', that initial burst of chart action was theresult of years painstakingly plotting and planning, constantly being knocked back by record label moguls who didn't see any lasting worth or potential in the young John Bongiovi - to give him his real name - the eldest of three sons born into a family of Italian origins. His parents, John Sr. and Carol, encouraged him from an early age to give fill reign to his obvious musical talents and his latent charisma - a potent combination in the world of rock 'n' roll. So in the 1970s, the young Bongiovi started to experiment in local bands, associating himself with the series of hopefuls who were never to make it. These included names like Raze (the man's first band), Atlantic City Expressway (a ten-piece r& b-style band who also featured a certain David Rashbaum on keyboards; he's known these days as David Bryan of Bon Jovi!) and The Rest (who got to open locally in New Jersey for Hall & Oates and Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes) and The Lechers.
His big break came with Wild Ones, with whom he wrote the song 'Runaway', entering it for a local radio competition, and thereby finally opening the door to national recognition in America, and ultimately to international acclaim.
However, the young John Bongiovi did have one advantage over many of his peers - a cousin called Tony Bongiovi. A top producer in his right, the elder Bongiovi owned a studio in New York called The Power Station, where many of the biggest names in music would record. Family influence got John a job down at the studio - nothing grand, you understand, but it allowed him to get to acquaint himself with some of the top artists who were down at the studio, while he swept the floors and did other menial tasks. Tony also started to take an active interest in his young, good looking cousin's career - or at least in what he hoped would be a career. So when the studio wasn't in use, the pair would go in and work on songs which both belived would open up the doors to fame and fortune. It was a lengthy process that at first didn't actually seem to be leading anywhere. Despite the name of Tony Bongiovi being linked with the New jersey engenue, most labels felt that John Bongiovi wasn't the next Bruce Springsteen. Eventually, of course, the aforementioned 'Runaway' did the trick, turning apathy into activity and leading to Bon Jovi - as the man and his band were now known - into credible 1980s contenders. Tony worked as producer on the band's 1984 selftitled, debut album, one which did well enough to establish a niche for Bon Jovi, not only in AMerica, but also in Europe, where they toured with the redoubtable Kiss. However, the relationship between the relations became strained and stretched after this, eventually snapping altogether and causing a family rift that exits to this day. What seem to have happened is that Tony demanded alot more credit - financially and emotionally - as to his part in John Bongiovi's career than the newly streamlined Jon Bon Jovi was prepared to give him. Result? An acrimonious parting. Over the past 16 years or so, not only have they not worked together, but they haven't even communicated. A shame, because one can only speculate on what they might have achieved together. Still, we always have the past...
This album features 14 tracks written and recorded between 1980 and 1983. Nobody would be dumb enough to suggest you can hear fully fledged genius at work. But there's no doubting that, given the circumstances under which these recordings were made, they offer an insight into a raw talent slowly feeling his way forward. 'The Power Station Sessions' is a crucial historical document for all Bon Jovi fans, because it does showcase the man very much in his formative years - but with a real sense of excitement and edge.
What's more, these songs have remained untouched in terms of remixes and re-recordings. This is to say this represents a time when John Bongiovi had hopes and ambitions yet to be fulfilled, a man with a fire burning bright. When you hear these songs you're hearing the true birth of a legend... and you might also be left scratching your head as to why label after label failed to hear the latent potential in this young man.
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