Easily one of the strongest debut albums ever made. When I first heard this album it immediately latched onto me like a piranha to meat. It’s so darn catchy and melodic you’ll be singing along with the songs from the get go.

"Runaway" was the first single the band put out. I actually saw Bon Jovi perform live before I ever had the chance to hear this track. It was appropriately picked to introduce the band to the radio and has since become a staple for rock radio.

"Roulette" is my favorite track off the album and one of the band’s most underrated tunes. Richie Sambora’s distorted crying guitar is the reason for this track being one of my favorites. It’s harder edged and features background vocals/chorus that has become part of their signature sound. Sambora really stands out with aggressive riffs and tremolo bar work and I don’t think he’s ever recorded a better solo.

I dare you not to sing along with "She Don’t Know Me." I specifically remember "Shot Through The Heart" from the $3.00 (yes that is three dollars) Ratt/Bon Jovi concert in Seattle, Washington at the Paramount Theater concert in 1983. I remember this because Jon Bon Jovi proclaimed to the crowd that he’d bet that he could make the girls out in the audience want to take a piece of his heart. Then in the middle of the solo section of this fourth song, he jumped out into the audience and they sure enough tried to rip out a piece of his heart. It was something totally planned on his part and the audience went right with it. Brilliant showmanship on Jon’s part and I knew from that moment that this guy was going to be something special.

The boys kind of lay low in "Love Lies" with Jon singing dark, moody vocals that are appropriately backed by Richie’s underlining guitar and David Bryan’s tender piano/keyboards.

"Breakout" is a wicked rocking tune that will have you along for the ride. Tico Torres lays down one of his signature backbeat that will have you jamming with your head in unison. This is actually the song the band opened with during the ’83 Seattle show.

Alec John Such’s bass carries "Burning For Love" and Richie’s guitar is harder edged than you might remember or imagine. Sambora’s solo is probably the second most memorable on the debut album.

Jon pleads to "Come Back" in the eighth song. The band works flawlessly to help Jon in his cause and the backing vocals are strong.

Richie leads us to "Get Ready," which the song title could aptly foretell the successful future that this Superstar band would go on to have.

Tico Torres' beat is gigantic and classic in "Lay Your Hands On Me." Jon’s vocals slowly build from softly talking to screaming "Come On" which takes the listener into this rocking anthem. Ritchie Sambora is much more active than he was in the previous album 7800 Fahrenheit. I love the soulful churchlike chorus vocals underlining the beginning.

Speaking of anthems, I doubt there are few songs that women scream out more than "Bad Medicine." The most infectious part of this jamming tune is how much fun the band seems to be having while performing this track.

Damn, the band doesn’t hold back from going for the melodic jugular with "Born To Be My Baby." These songs are written with such amazing skill that there is literally no way you can’t get into the contagious groove.

"Living In Sin" is the first ballad on the album and the band creates a somber atmosphere with David Bryan’s keys, Tico’s exploding echoed drum and robust backing vocals.

The boys from New Jersey having a little party in "Blood On Blood." Jon sings this track in Bruce Springsteen mode. David Bryan’s takes the lead.

Ritchie Sambora’s guitar goes from sliding southern to ripping distorted fun in "Homebound Train." Sambora tags teams the solo with a harmonica. Cool.

Sambora plays beautiful Spanish Flamenco acoustic guitar in "Wild Is The Wind." I was surprised when the guitar got harder in the song because it was not expected. Tico tapping the side of his drum works beautiful with Sambora hypnotic guitar rhythm. The stop and go from soft to hard keeps this song flowing with Jon’s passionate vocals.

From the scratchy old record, to Jon’s shrunken sounding intro vocals creates the feel of the dusty "Ride Cowboy Ride."

There is no pretending that "Stick To Your Guns" is anything but a melodic anthem. Sambora’s acoustic guitar and David Bryan’s keys give Jon Bon Jovi the platform to spread his gospel.

You can’t help but envision women everywhere closing their eyes and opening their hearts in "I’ll Be There For You." What stands out the most about this song is how Jon and Ritchie sing out the vocals. This tune is definitely a winner.

I felt transported back to the 50’s with the band’s opening vocals in "99 In The Shade."

"Love For Sale" is a gritty southern charm of a tune with the band giving you the blues the best way they can.

One of the best albums from the Bon Jovi’s storied catalog.

Jon adventured out on his own to create this album, which was inspired by the film YOUNG GUNS II. Jon being a fan of Western films since he was a lad shows his passion and uses his skill as a songwriter to vocalize the tunes.

The songs are all pretty strong with "Blaze Of Glory" standing out as the album’s highlight. Jeff Beck’s southern distorted guitar solo in the title track is played in the style that has made him Famous.

I like the guitar work in the beginning part of "Justice In The Barrel."

The most interesting thing about this album is the line-up of famous musicians who guest star. Randy "Love Man" Jackson (American Idol fame) plays bass on six tracks, Aldo Nova plays guitar on nine cuts, Jeff Beck is on guitar in seven songs, Elton John plays piano on "Billy Get Your Guns" and "Dyin’Ain’t Much Of A Livin’", the late Robbin Crosby (of Ratt) plays acoustic guitar on "Never Say Die", Little Richard plays Piano and vocals in "You Really Got Me Now" and film composer Alan Silvestri (BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE ABYSS) underscores "Santa Fe" and adds the track "Guano City."