Blaze of Glory (Jon Bon Jovi album)

Blaze of Glory is the debut solo studio album by Jon Bon Jovi, the frontman of Bon Jovi. The album was released on August 7, 1990, through Mercury Records. It includes songs from and inspired by the movie Young Guns II. Emilio Estevez originally requested Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" as the theme song for his upcoming Billy the Kid sequel, but Jon Bon Jovi didn’t think it was a fit lyrically and ended up composing an all-new theme song for the film's soundtrack instead.

The album featured guests such as Elton John, Little Richard, and Jeff Beck, was awarded a Golden Globe and received Academy Award and Grammy nominations.

Emilio Estevez originally approached Bon Jovi to ask him for permission to include the song "Wanted Dead or Alive" on the soundtrack.

Chart performance
The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart.

The title track "Blaze of Glory" was released as the first single and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Mainstream rock charts. "Miracle" was released as the second single and charted at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the Mainstream rock charts and the third single "Never Say Die" charted in Australia, Canada and Poland but was not released in the US. "Dyin Ain't Much of a Livin' featuring Elton John and "Santa Fe" were released as promo singles.

In 1998, a country duet version of "Bang a Drum" was released with country singer Chris LeDoux, the track was released as a single with a music video and reached number 68 on the US Hot Country Songs chart.

Personnel
Musicians (adapted from CD liner notes). Credits also from other sources.


 * Jon Bon Jovi – vocals, acoustic guitar (2, 6-8), acoustic piano (3), electric guitar (3, 5), 12-string acoustic guitar (3, 9), harmonica (4), guitar solo (5), guitars (10)
 * Elton John – acoustic piano (1, 10), backing vocals (10)
 * Benmont Tench – organ (1-3, 5-7, 9, 10), acoustic piano (5, 8)
 * Phil Parlapiano – accordion (2, 4)
 * Little Richard – acoustic piano (8), vocals (8)
 * Aldo Nova – guitars (1, 2, 6, 7), keyboards (2, 3, 6, 9, 10), acoustic guitar (3-5, 9, 10), electric guitar (3), string arrangements (5), acoustic guitar intro (6), tambourine (8)
 * Danny Kortchmar – guitars (1, 2, 6, 7, 9), acoustic guitar (4, 5, 8)
 * Jeff Beck – guitar solo (1-3, 6, 7, 9), lead guitar intro (6), guitars (10)
 * Robbin Crosby – acoustic guitar (7)
 * Waddy Wachtel – slide guitar (8), guitars (9)
 * Randy Jackson – bass (1-3, 6-9)
 * Bob Glaub – bass (5, 10)
 * Kenny Aronoff – drums (1-3, 5-10), percussion (3, 4, 6)
 * The "Runners" – handclaps (1)
 * Alan Silvestri – string arrangements (5), composer and conductor (11)
 * Myrna Matthews – backing vocals (2, 6, 9, 10)
 * Julia Waters – backing vocals (2, 6, 9, 10), vocal intro (6)
 * Maxine Waters – backing vocals (2, 6, 9, 10)
 * Lou Diamond Phillips – vocal intro (6)

Production
 * Jon Bon Jovi – producer (1-10)
 * Danny Kortchmar – producer (1-10)
 * Alan Silvestri – producer (11)
 * Rob Jacobs – recording, mixing
 * Brian Scheuble – recording, mixing
 * John "Obie" O'Brien – additional recording
 * Greg Goldman – assistant engineer
 * Chad Munsey – assistant engineer
 * Rick Plank – assistant engineer
 * Dave Collins – mastering
 * Jon "J.D." Dworkow – production coordinator
 * Margery Greenspan – design
 * Timothy White – back cover photography
 * Mark Weiss – inner sleeve photography