Slippery When Wet - The Videos

Tracklist
- Wild In The Streets
- Livin' On A Prayer (live)
- You Give Love A Bad Name
- Never Say Goodbye
- Livin' On A Prayer
- Wanted Dead Or Alive

Release Note : The Late 1980's have been marked by the meteoric arrival of Bon Jovi as the world's most popular rock band. The six videos included in this programme (two of which are exclusive, a third (second, huh?) of which has only aired as part of MTV's 1987 Video Music Awards) tell most of the story.

Via international interviews, press conferences, behind-the-scenes footage and one-on-one confessions. "Slippery When Wet - The Videos" provides insight into the work, passion and excitement that has accompanied BON JOVI's ascent to the top.

Review on Movie Mirror (US) : The 60-minute tape captures the band at the exciting moment in the late 1980s when Bon Jovi had exploded onto the scene to become the most popular rock'n'roll band in the world. Mixing both concert footage, videos and behind-the-scenes stuff, Slippery When Wet is a fascinating view of the self-sufficient unit bands can become when they're on the road. The guys in Bon Jovi are like the eye of a huge storm - they just do what they do, so much at the center of their phenomenal success that they can't really get enough distance from it to really take it in.

The video includes the songs "Wild In The Streets", "Livin' On A Prayer", "You Give Love A Bad Name", "Never Say Goodbye", and "Wanted Dead Or Alive". The Tape opens with some backstage joking around which segues into a live version of "Wild In The Streets" followed by a press conference where the possibility of John's cutting his hair and getting married come up (he demurs on both counts), then Bon Jovi's triumphant appearance on the MTV Awards Show (Jon arrives onstage via a wire, a' la Captain Kid). Next we see Richie acting crazy backstage in Tokyo with some Japanese fans and a couple of confused looking dignitaries, then the "You Give Love A Bad Name" vid, which is highlighted by the classic Jon/Richie stage interaction that show both how much fun they have onstage and how tight they are as a band.

One aspect of the video that is remarkable begins with the next section, in which the members pay tribute to their tour manager and crew people. A lot of stars pay lip service to the old "we could never have done it without..." idea, but by dedicating a whole segment of the video to these hardworking men and women who keep the show going, Bon Jovi is truely putting their money where their mouth is - a nice touch.

The clip for "Livin' On A Prayer" follows - a black and white, behind-the scenes, pre-show look at the band culminating in a fullcolor, full house finale. "Wanted Dead Or Alive" is the last clip. Jon prefaces it by saying that the video is his favorite because years from now he can show it to his kids and they'll know what it was like to be an old-fashioned rock'n'roll star (note: this was before his kids were even glimmers in his eye). The clip features the band, in grainy black and white, in hotels, on the plane, with fans and onstage, really giving an idea of the glory and the grind of life on the road. Finally, the band - true to their Jersey, good-guy roots- thank their fans. With this band, you know they're sincere. - Alice King - Movie Mirror