The working title was Tough Talk, but the name was rejected by the record company, who insisted it should be a self-titled album so people would know it was the band's first album.However, Alec John Such's later replacement Hugh McDonald does play on the track. The first single to feature lead guitarist Richie Sambora, original bass guitarist Alec John Such, drummer Tico Torres, and keyboardist David Bryan was She Don't Know Me. Runaway was the first single under the band's name Bon Jovi however, other than Jon Bon Jovi none of the other members of the band played on the song.Leslie Mathew, who reviewed the album, said: "The songs may be simple and the writing prone to all clichés of the form, but the album boasts a pretty consistent hard rock attack, passionate playing, and a keen sense of melody." Track listing Dave Sabo was eventually replaced by Richie Sambora.ĪllMusic has retrospectively rated Bon Jovi three-and-a-half out of five stars. At that time Bon Jovi's lead guitarist was Dave Sabo, who later formed the band Skid Row. In March 1983 Bon Jovi called David Bryan (then Rashbaum), who in turn called bass guitarist Alec John Such and an experienced drummer named Tico Torres. He wanted a band name and the A&R staff at PolyGram came up with Bon Jovi. Jon signed to Mercury Records, part of the PolyGram company. The song began to get airplay around New York. McDonald would later replace Alec John Such as Bon Jovi's bass guitarist.
They were: guitarist Tim Pierce, keyboardist Roy Bittan, drummer Frankie LaRocka, bass guitarist Hugh McDonald, and additional singers David Grahmme and Mick Seeley (supposedly, Seeley also composed the distinctive keyboard riff that opens the song). The studio musicians who helped record "Runaway" were known as The All Star Review. DJ Chip Hobart listened to Jon's demos and loved "Runaway", deciding to include it on the station's compilation album of local homegrown talent.
In 1982, Jon went to local radio station WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple". Jon made several demos and sent them out to many record companies, but failed to make an impact. In 1980, Jon Bon Jovi started to work at Power Station Studios, a Manhattan recording facility where his cousin, Tony Bongiovi, was a co-owner.