BON JOVI – CINCINATTI 1987 (CD)

Description

Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, OH, USA 19th March 1987

　The “SLIPPERY WHEN WET Tour” was in the midst of their astronomical success. Now, a new, top-quality master recording of that classic FM soundboard recording has been released. It will be released on a permanently preserved pressed CD!

　This release captures the “Cincinnati concert on March 19, 1987.” It’s a stereo soundboard recording broadcast on the prestigious Westwood One radio program “Superstar Concerts.” As such a famous program, the broadcast itself has been widely known for a long time and has spawned countless aircheck bootlegs—a true classic. While this release is also a well-known broadcast, the quality is anything but familiar. This is a top-of-the-line, digitally updated version directly from Westwood One’s treasured broadcast master LP, “Show #88-D.”

　Before we get to the quality, let’s first look at the show’s position within the context. Let’s take a bird’s-eye view of the “SLIPPERY WHEN WET Tour,” which conquered the entire globe.

●1986
– July 14-26: North America #1 (8 shows)
– August 11-25: Japan #1 (10 shows)
《August 18: “SLIPPERY WHEN WET” released》
– August 30-31: West Germany (2 shows) – September 9 –
October 18: North America #2 (21 shows)
– November 7 – December 8: Europe (23 shows) ← *LEICESTER 1986 and others
– December 19-31: North America #3a (8 shows)
●1987
– January 2 – August 9: North America #3b (134 shows) ← ★HERE★
– August 22: Appearance at MONSTERS OF ROCK
– September 5-19: Oceania (12 shows)
– September 24 – October 7: Japan #2 (10 shows) ← *BUDOKAN 1987 FINAL NIGHT
– October 15-17: Honolulu (3 shows)

[Ultimate sound directly digitized from newly discovered broadcast master LP]
　This is Bon Jovi in ​​1986/1987. The world tour, spanning approximately 220 shows, was truly the peak of its power in terms of scale and scope. Among them, the Cincinnati show featured in this release is part of “North America #3,” the largest leg of the tour. This was the 56th concert of that leg. Speaking of superb soundboard recordings of the “SLIPPERY WHEN WET Tour,” our store’s classic pressing, “LANDOVER 1987 SOUNDBOARD (Zodiac 626),” is also a well-known classic, but this release is from about four months earlier.

　This recording, which captures such a show, is the ultimate “official substitute.” While “LANDOVER 1987 SOUNDBOARD” was a masterpiece praised as “completely official-grade” despite being a direct mixboard recording, the sound of this album surpasses it even further. After all, it’s a genuine FM broadcast soundboard recording finished by the prestigious WESTWOOD ONE, so the stability and mix balance are absolutely perfect. Only the commercials have been cut, but other than that, it’s a flawless sound that needs no further editing.

　As mentioned earlier, this broadcast itself is extremely famous, but what has been unearthed this time is the ultimate master. It is a top-of-the-line updated version that has been directly digitized from the original LP broadcast of the pre-FM station. Not only are there no signs of dubbing, but the freshness before it was broadcast is on a completely different level from the countless airchecks. John’s soaring vocals, Ritchie’s rich guitar, the depth created by David’s keyboards, the crispness of the groove laid down by the rhythm section—all of it resonates with the balance that the engineers of the prestigious radio station intended.
If “LANDOVER 1987 SOUNDBOARD” is “officially-grade,” then perhaps this album could be called “officially-masterpiece-grade.” To be honest, the sound is far superior in quality to many unearthed official releases.

[A top-notch live album that serves as an official alternative, offering approximately 79 minutes of enjoyment]
　Of course, since it’s tailored to the broadcast schedule, it doesn’t have as many songs as “LANDOVER 1987 SOUNDBOARD,” which contains the complete show. However, its approximately 79 minutes of content is far more satisfying than most official live albums. Let’s summarize its contents here.

● Wild in the Streets (5 songs)
– You Give Love A Bad Name / Wild In The Streets / Wanted Dead Or Alive / Let It Rock / Livin’ On A Prayer
● Others (5 songs)
– Runaway at Dawn: Get Ready (★) / Runaway
– 7800° Fahrenheit: Silent Night (★) / In And Out Of Love
– Cover: Drift Away
*Note: Songs marked with “★” were not included on the classic pressing album ‘LANDOVER 1987 SOUNDBOARD’.

…And that’s how it is. It’s natural that there are five songs from ‘SLIPPERY WHEN WET’, but what’s noteworthy are “Silent Night” and “Get Ready”. Both are early songs that cannot be heard on ‘LANDOVER 1987 SOUNDBOARD’, and “Silent Night” in particular is a valuable repertoire that has hardly been played since the “SLIPPERY WHEN WET Tour”. This release includes the entire program, including the intro and outro by the legendary DJ Steve Downs, and the sense of its heyday is a unique pleasure that only a broadcast master can offer.

　This soundboard album captures the live performance from their astronomical hit era with the ultimate quality of an “official masterpiece.” While it may not quite match the raw energy and the sheer power of a full show recording like the classic “LANDOVER 1987 SOUNDBOARD,” if you’re looking for an “official alternative,” this polished and beautiful album is the clear winner. It fulfills the eternal dream of wanting an official live album from their peak. A new cultural heritage album is proudly born here.

★Stereo soundboard recording of the “Cincinnati performance on March 19, 1987.” This is a top-of-the-line, digitally updated version directly from the broadcast master LP of the prestigious WESTWOOD ONE, offering the ultimate sound of an “official masterpiece.” This is the ultimate quality album that serves as an official alternative to the “SLIPPERY WHEN WET Tour,” which took place in the midst of their astronomical success.

(78:57)
1. Steve Downes intro
2. You Give Love A Bad Name
3. Wild In The Streets
4. Wanted Dead Or Alive
5. Silent Night
6. Let It Rock
7. Guitar Solo
8. In And Out Of Love
9. Drift Away
10. Get Ready
11. Livin’ On A Prayer
12. Runaway
13. DJ outro

STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING