Book review: Let It Rock: The Making of Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet by Neil Daniels

Let It Rock: The Making of Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet

Soundcheck Books [Published 2014] www.soundcheckbooks.co.uk

A compact little tome that looks at Bon Jovi’s biggest selling album (a mere 28 million copies plus) ‘Slippery When Wet’ with a track by track review by the author, fellow rock journalist recollections of the band’s tour at the same time and a brief look at what the band did before and after this landmark album in their career.

As it is unofficial it does allow freer rein on opinions and Jeb Wright of Classic Rock Revisited gives some balance with a must read piece on why he is no fan of the band or the album.

The album is their best, with the follow-up ‘New Jersey’ not far behind and personally I stopped enjoying their new releases after ‘These Days’. Nowadays they are a safe musical beast but they still play stadiums around the world and if their record sales are in decline, their live pulling power is bigger than ever.

I enjoyed the book as you can see what fellow rock fans thought of the album when they first heard it and their live recollections. For me I have seen them four times live but their headlining show at Hanley’s Victoria Hall on the ‘Slippery When Wet’ tour was by far the best show. Mainly as you were so close to the band unlike now when you’d be in a field or so away unless you could mortgage the second home to get a VIP ticket.

There is a selected discography and a list of the ‘Slippery When Wet’ tour dates, perfect to jog the memories of fans who were at one of these shows. Maybe a few more pictures of tour and fan memorabilia would have been good, otherwise the book is perfect for fans of the album and band.

Review by Jason Ritchie

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