10 Albums Saved By Ridiculously Last Minute Changes
3. Bon Jovi Almost Ditches "Livin On A Prayer" - Slippery When Wet
Slippery When Wet was an album that became the blueprint for all hair metal. Together with songwriter Desmond Child, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora created a high energy rock sound that would be copied by countless artists for many years. On the other hand, the sound of the record would have been much different had the frontman had his way.
Though many would admit "Livin on a Prayer" is the best track on the record, Bon Jovi never thought the song had the musical strength to be a true hit. After a bit of convincing on the part of Sambora and adding in a new bassline, the song went from barely in the running to one of the album's standout moments.
Additionally, Bon Jovi's instincts almost made him lose an additional hit from the record: "You Give Love a Bad Name." Songwriter Desmond Child had already written the tune for songstress Bonnie Tyler under a different name, but Sambora and Bon Jovi quickly rewrote the lyrics to reflect the pain of a jilted lover. Once the tracks were all lined up, it seemed that all the stars were aligned for Bon Jovi to become the new kings of rock.