Bon Jovi's album New Jersey, released on September 19, 1988, was the band's fourth studio album and the direct follow-up to Slippery When Wet, which had catapulted them to superstardom.
Recorded quickly between May and July 1988 in Vancouver, Canada, with producer Bruce Fairbairn, the band wanted to prove they werenโt just a one-hit wonder following their previous massive success. They worked on nearly 30 songs and had a double album in mind, but the record label preferred a more commercial 12-track format.
Named after their home state, the album maintained the melodic hard rock and arena rock style with epic choruses, emotional ballads, and powerful riffs. Five singles reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, a record for a hard rock album at the time.
New Jersey debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and rose to No. 1 the following week, where it remained for four consecutive weeks. It sold over 7 million copies in the U.S. alone and approximately 15โ19 million worldwide. The โJersey Syndicate Tourโ (1988โ1990) was massive, with over 230 shows in 22 countries, including a historic concert at Giants Stadium and the Moscow Music Peace Festival in the USSR.
Although it cemented Bon Joviโs status as one of the greats of 1980s rock, the pressure of success and the endless touring nearly destroyed the band through exhaustion. Today it is remembered as one of their most iconic works, filled with anthems that still resonate in stadiums.