99: Bon Jovi receive a lot of unnecessary stick from music critics for their outrageous cheesiness and cliched lyrics, yet a fiercely loyal fan base has seen them flourish despite the naysayers.
However, look beyond the poodle hair and spandex trousers of their 1980’s output and there is much to enjoy, particularly from their 1990’s range.
Dry County from 1992’s Keep The Faith is arguably the unknown jewel in their crown. It is a 10 minute epic about a town that has become desolate following the decline of the American oil industry, but, as is often the case with Bon Jovi, it is not the content but the form that is worthy here.
The fantastic opening slowly builds into a soaring chorus that is topped off with one of the greatest guitar solos of all time from Richie Sambora and makes for one of the most worthwhile album tracks not just of the 1990’s, but perhaps of all time. A song that all must own.