7800° Fahrenheit

7800° Fahrenheit is the second album on which Bon Jovi, while keeping the debut’s momentum, foregrounds harder guitar and higher-intensity choruses. Jon Bon Jovi’s straight singing and Richie Sambora’s guitar give the songs a sure urgency particular to a young band. A record capturing the band’s hot energy, mid-growth just before great success. From the momentum of the opener “In and Out of Love” and the lyrical ballad “Only Lonely” to the classic “Tokyo Road,” which holds special meaning for Japanese fans, the songs already hold a sure melodic strength leading to the later worldwide success, while cuts like “The Hardest Part Is the Night” and “Silent Night” convey the work’s appeal. In particular, “Tokyo Road,” as a song imbued with affection for Japan, is still loved. Its appeal is that one can feel the hot breath particular to being mid-growth, including passages where raw momentum born of youth leads over refined polish. Though still developing, it surely foreshadows the explosive leap of the next Slippery When Wet. Showing Bon Jovi’s early fullness and its process of growth, it is a powerful record.