THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

959-Bon Jovi-Dry County.

1994-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 5.57. I used to joke that Jon Bon Jovi was the equivalent of Barry Manilow (see also best songs 750) with an electric guitar, and a big set of drums, but after hearing this I’m eating humble pie.

Bon Jovi (see also best songs 325) were formed in Sayreville, New Jersey, United States, in 1983, by Jon Bon Jovi, (vocals) David Bryan, (keyboards) Tico Terres, (drums) Alec John Such, (1951-2022) (bass) and Dave Sabo (guitars.) Sabo left soon after their formation, and in 1986 he became a founding member of the American Rock band ‘Skid Row.’ Sabo was quickly replaced by Richie Sambora, (guitars) who would stay with the band through until departing in 2013. Another founding member of the group, Alec John Such would remain a member until 1994, having played on the bands first five studio Albums. In total there have been eight different members of Bon Jovi, and at the time of writing they remain active.

Bon Jovi are one of the worlds best selling acts with sales in excess of 100 million records sold. Their discography includes 15 studio Albums released between 1984-2020, and 66 singles issued between 1984-2021, there are also five official compilations available, and three live Albums. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles chart they have achieved 16 hits, with three of those songs reaching Number 1, ‘You Give Love a Bad Name,’ (1986) ‘Livin’ on a Prayer,’ (1986) and ‘Bad Medicine,’ (1988) while on the UK top 40 they have charted on 37 occasions, with ‘Always,’ from 1994, charting the highest at Number 2.

‘Dry County’ was written by Jon Bon Jovi, with the production being by Bob Rock, the songs guitar solo which has been critically acclaimed was played by Richie Sambora. At 9 minutes and 52 seconds it remains the longest song that Bon Jovi have released to date. ‘Dry County was never issued as a single in America or Canada, but in parts of Europe, excluding the UK, it was issued to radio stations as a 6 minutes and 37 seconds edit. The song was the sixth and final single released from Bon Jovi’s fifth studio Album ‘Keep the Faith’ from November 1992. The Album was a turning point for Jon Bon Jovi, who felt that if the group were going to continue then a change of musical direction was essential, he has said,’We closed the door and ignored what had happened to our genre of music. We’d been kicked in the teeth by Nirvana, (see also best songs 788 and 9) but we didn’t pay attention to that. We got rid of the clichés, wrote some socially conscious lyrics, and got a haircut. I didn’t do a ‘Grunge’ thing, and I didn’t do a ‘Rap’ thing, but I knew I couldn’t re-write ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ again, so I didn’t try, and it paid off.’

A change of musical direction also brought about a change in producer, with Bob Rock being brought in. Bob Rock was born Robert Jens Rock, on April 19th, 1954, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Rock began his music career when co-founding the Canadian Rock band ‘Payolas,’ stylised as ‘Payola$,’ in 1978. The group had great success in their native Canada with six of their singles reaching the Canadian top 40 chart, but it is as a music producer that Bob Rock has become critically acclaimed. He has worked as a producer with dozens of artists of varying genres including Michael Buble, Bryan Adams, and Metallica (see also best songs 730.)

Although ‘Dry County’ is a fans favourite, it was only played regularly on the ‘Keep the Faith’ tour, and was not played at all from 1996, until Jon Bon Jovi reintroduced it in 2006, since when it has become more of regular, with fans often displaying signs requesting the song at concerts. When playing the song live during the build up to the second guitar solo, Jon Bon Jovi often includes a monologue about the struggles of life generally. ‘Dry County’ is about the decline of the United States domestic oil industry. The lyrics tell of the struggle of someone who is living and working in what was once a thriving environment, now facing up to the reality of economic decline.

‘Across the border, they turn water into wine. Some say it’s the devil’s blood They’re squeezing from the vine. Some say it’s a saviour In these hard and desperate times. You see, it helps me to forget that we’re just born to die.’