Keep the Faith (1992)

3 After recovering from a two-year world tour that almost killed them, the band returned to the stage with an accomplished release that reinforces their ability to both bulldoze and seduce in equal measure. Bed Of Roses is surely up there with American rock’s greatest ballads with Sambora wringing floods from his neck pickup, while the desperation evident in both the lyric and guitar lines of Dry Country is harrowingly real. The title track blatantly flicks a middle finger to those who doubted their survival and the stomp-along chorus of Sleep When I’m Dead, which would get any party started, is coloured by a wah and laced with plenty of feel-good fun. Bon Jovi were back and yet more global success ensued.

Recommended track: Bed Of Roses