All of Bon Jovi's Albums, Ranked

For many artists, the first album is always something comparable to an “experimental” phase as it’s the world’s introduction to who you are. While not the most commercially successful album in Bon Jovi’s discography, the record did feature the Top 40 hit “Runaway.” Since the group was still in its very early phases and they were “beginners” who didn’t have as much creative input as what would be granted to them later, their debut stands out as being the only album that wasn’t written or co-written by the band. Bon Jovi’s eponymous album would go on to chart at number 43 on the US Billboard 200. Not bad for their very first effort.

Let’s not get it twisted, What About Now did some serious numbers as it debuted at No. 1 in the U.S. with over 100,000 copies sold its first week. The album, which is the band’s twelfth studio album, is notable because it is the last to feature Richie Sambora who at the time was busy with his solo efforts. As a result, Sambora’s absence can definitely be felt and is certainly missed on the record. Nonetheless, What About Now is a solid album that deserves its props, and you should definitely give a little extra attention to “Pictures of You” and “Because We Can.”

As we just mentioned, What About Now was the last album to feature guitarist Riichie Sambora, which means This House Is Not for Sale is the first to officially mark his absence. The best way to describe This House Is Not for Sale is that it’s a bit of a reinvention so to speak. So much of this album is the group playing around with musical directions that they hadn’t really experimented much with before. If you are a classic Bon Jovi fan that’s used to their signature sound, then this may not be your favorite album. However, if you are willing to set aside those preconceived notions and vibe with the music, you can definitely rock with it.

Originally scheduled to be released prior to the onset of the COVID pandemic, 2020 made its way into our hands in October of that same year, providing a welcomed sense of escapism from our unfortunate reality at that time. The interesting thing about 2020 is the fact that the album is a much different one than originally conceived due to the world events happening at that time. For example, the song “American Reckoning” was written and inspired by the events of George Floyds murder, and “Do What You Can” came about due to Bon Jovi having extra time from being at home due to the pandemic. The album is one of the group’s most poignant if you ask us.

Heavily influenced by the September 11th attacks the previous year, Bounce is a reference to the United States being able to bounce back after such widespread tragedy. You had songs like “Everyday” and “Misunderstood,” and then songs that were presumably written in September 2001 such as “Standing” and “Another Reason to Believe.” Some may find the album to have a bit of a sad theme compared to their previous albums, but Bounce is a reflection of that time period and everything America was going through as a whole. Our only issue is that some of the songs are just simply too short.

If we go back to the year 2000, there were serious doubts about the future of Bon Jovi from a commercial success standpoint. We were officially in the new millennium with a new era of acts, and many believed that the group’s heyday was over. Well, Crush put an end to all of those doubts as it proved to be just as successful as some of their previous efforts. If you are looking for some tracks to check out right away, we suggest “Mystery Train” and the obvious “It’s My Life.”

Burning Bridges was essentially released as a “contractual obligation” album as it wound up being the group’s final on Mercury, which marked the end of their 32 year relationship. While Burning Bridges could have just been any old album to “satisfy your debts” so to speak, the record is actually quite strong as it has some of their throwaway tracks that didn’t make previous albums along with some new songs thrown in there. 

Blending together their classic rock sound with country after the success of their “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” duet with Jennifer Nettles, you could very well make the argument that Lost Highway was an album made specifically for country music lovers, so as a result there’s kind of mixed emotions about it from their die hard fans when it comes to how the record is remembered and ranked amongst their personal favorites. Some see Lost Highway as a way to jump on the country trend at that time, while others enjoyed it. Our suggestion is to listen for yourself to come to your own conclusion.

If we go back to the year 1985, Bon Jovi was still very much a young band trying to establish their footing in the music world. Following their debut the previous year, 7800° Fahrenheit is an interesting reference to the supposed melting point of rock, which is equivalent to 4313° Celsius. The album’s artwork was also the first to use the official Bon Jovi logo which was another turning point, and even more interesting is the fact that the album was recorded in less than five weeks. All-in-all, 7800° Fahrenheit spent 104 weeks on the Billboard 200 albums chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA. 

Full of ballads and power anthems, Keep The Faith was all about Bon Jovi going left when everybody else was going right, and memorable for a few reasons. First of all, the record was the last studio album to feature all five original band members. Second of all, it was their first album since 7800° Fahrenheit to not be produced by Bruce Fairbairn. And lastly, the change in musical direction also meant a more subdued laidback sound for the group which was warmly welcomed by their fans.

The Circle is an evolved Bon Jovi arguably at their best. You had the singles “We Weren’t Born to Follow,” “Superman Tonight,” and “When We Were Beautiful” amongst others, but then there’s underrated tracks like “Fast Cars” and “Learn to Love.” The album addressed themes such as the 2008 recession in which a lot of people struggled financially, and was/is an absolute banger live we might add.

Angry smile alert. The multiple delays were well worth it as there is a certain raw edgeness to the record that is slightly reminiscent of the band’s early days but with a little more maturity. You can’t argue against the record that helped the band achieve the best first-week sales in the band's history at that time. Point blank.

It’s hard to top an album like Slippery When Wet, and as a matter of fact, this record was made specifically to prove the point that they weren’t one hit wonders. And with that being said, New Jersey delivered as it produced five Billboard Hot 100 top ten hits including “I’ll Be There For You,” “Living in Sin,” and “Born to Be My Baby.” You could also say New Jersey officially solidified their place in rock history.

These Days is a standout in Bon Jovi’s catalog, as the album was voted one of the best albums of the 1990s. The album was darker compared to their previous records up to that point with darker themes and challenging topics. There was also a sense of intimacy with this album that was more prevalent in the sense that it seemed like they were really talking to you through your music. 

It may sound cliche, but Slippery When Wet has to be the undisputed number one on our list. “Livin on a Prayer,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and “Never Say Goodbye.” Eight weeks at No. 1 and the top selling album of 1987. The best selling in their discography. Nuff said.