Richie Sambora vs. Bon Jovi? Revisiting Stranger in This Town
What happens when Richie Sambora steps out of Bon Jovi to spread his wings on his own?
In 1991, Richie released Stranger in This Town, his first solo album. 35 years later, weāre revisiting the record to talk about what we thought of it when it came out, how we feel about it today, and how well it has aged.
We also discuss Richieās recent claim that the record was sabotaged by the label so he would have to return to the āmother shipā ā Bon Jovi.
Was Stranger in This Town an overlooked solo classic, or did it deserve the reaction it received? And was there really something bigger going on behind the scenes?
Let us know what YOU think of Stranger in This Town!
#RichieSambora #BonJovi #StrangerInThisTown #HairMetal
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@JerseyDevil411
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
This album was released in September of 1991 not January I remember it well and the record label did promote it with tv advertising because I remember seeing it.
@diamondd2778
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
It sux . No interest in it . Bon jovi are very hit n miss .
@orbarnea
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
Iām with Ryan.
@stevesnvegas9040
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
I loved it then, I love it now. Takes me back to a time driving in my car with my over the top stereo that I had. One Light Burning on full blast sounds SO good!! This album and the first Beggars and Thieves were always on my rotation back then.
@NoSanctuaryNM156
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
The Truth is,
Richie was always a better singer than Jon was. "Stranger in this Town" is a better album than several of the Bon Jovi albums. I was in a band that opened for Bon Jovi on a tour way back in the day and people in the Jovi road crew would almost unanimously say Richie was the better singer. They would make sure to say it when Jon was not within earshot, but they absolutely meant it.
@onekoolmedic
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
Bon Jovi fans donāt wanna hear Richieās voice!
@dougsikes4809
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
There is a live promotional cd recorded in San Diego and the live versions blow the album away.
@JasonEubank-df8rb
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
I'm so glad that Richie Sambora didn't do a solo album that sounded like a Bon Jovi album.and Stranger in This Town is a awesome solo album it was ahead of it's time.
@Rocnrolljunkie
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
Love that album!
@wako2000
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
It is in the top 5 of the albums that I have in my discography. Richie is a great singer, and Bon Jovi's success is also due to the voices and choirs that Richie did.
@TheKongZilla
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
My best friend bought that Richie album when it came out. I had zero interest in it. But Iāve listened to it and thought it was pretty good. But I never ended up buying it. Yea it wouldāve been better to put that out now – since weāre adults now. He shouldāve rocked out back then. Iāll have to give it another listen. Maybe Iāll like it more since Iām old lol
@MrNeilphipps
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
This album wasn't going to get off the ground in 1991. Times were different.
@althazarr
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
I have to disagree Anthony. I don't think he made it for the critics, I think he made it for the love of music, and I'll take it over Slippery or NJ any day. I loved Bon Jovi's debut and 7800Ā°, and saw them open for RATT on the 7800Ā° tour and they were both fantastic. The next two albums disappointed me though because they were even more poppy than their first two so it was great change of pace to hear Richie doing his own thing in '91and it NOT sounding anything like Bon Jovi.
@toMCsh
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
Stranger In This Town is fantastic, however, I like Undiscovered Soul more. I have no problem believing that BJ and the label worked against Richie's success on his solo outing, however, I can also see that as good as it was, it was different enough not to appeal to the greater masses. Most solo outings never rise to the success of the band from which an artist gains their fame.
@ChrisPorter-il2vp
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
Patrick/Anthony – Guru, Jones/RVK – Ryan this Richie Sambora album is a Good album to me, my best friends who were brother's who had this album on CD and after listening to it so many times back in 1991/92 it made me love Richie Sambora's solo album a lot to me this is a classic just saying. I Love this channel, all of my best friends/bros, family member's on channel as well Long live Rock n' Roll & The Hair Metal Guru…. Forever from your Biggest loyal fan, follower/supporter, best friend, brother Chris '' PartyRocker '' Porter I also Love Charlie too such a cute dog..
@MetalMan73100
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
I was 18 when Stranger in This Town was released, and I loved the album. I may have been an unusual 18 year old hair metal fan, because I also loved REM and Bruce Hornsby at the same time.
@wijsneus15
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
I've always seen Richie Sambora as the engine of Bon Jovi and to hear him do his own stuff just made me happy. The album Stranger in this town will be his legacy together with his work in Bon Jovi. I saw him on a solo tour in 1999 in Amsterdam and it was an amazing night where he even did requests. A very nice guy with so much talent mixing rock & blues.
@brianschmidt6134
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
To edit my previous comment. I wanted Father Time, but her mom vetoed it because it "rocked" to much. So we went with All That Really Matters.
This album is genius. Ritchie did what he wanted. No different than Tina Turner, Cher, Phil Collins, Don Henley, Lionel Ritchie… who stepped away from what they did in a group, and showed how good they are on their own. Music is a universal language with so many genres. Love it, like it or hate it, its all up to the person.
@ghurley2269
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
This slbum was a gem in '91, was just knocked out by its quality. And 35 years later it is still a diamond – I listen to 'Stranger' far more than Bon Jovi. The prime Jovi era '86-'96 I still revisit, whereas I would rarely put on post 2000 albums. Richie's solo stuff has aged so well; bluesy, soulful, rootsy, with touches of gospel and cool rock'n'roll swagger.
Particularly 'Stranger' though – for me its up there with 'These Days' and 'Noo Joisey' as his best work.
@bigdawg7262
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
This was a great album. It received a lot of airplay in the Southeast, and was an outlier in 1991 as the grunge invasion did not hurt it on radio here, and it was also getting some airplay on the classic rock stations in the Carolinas/Georgia. As a retail music store manager of some chain stores, the album was selling well and I can tell you for certain that the album was getting pushback from the Bon Jovi camp. I had a great relationship with label reps, and Jon Bon Jovi was not wanting this to take off at all. He was already writing songs that would appear on KTF, and the reps at Polygram were saying that at one point JBJ privately stated through John Kalodner he wanted no more singles or promotion done for the Stranger album. KTF would end up coming out on Mercury, but Polygram retained all the big cards in the hand.
@PapaToneWV
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
To me, John and Richie are mediocre at best on their own. Itās the chemistry between those two that made Bon Jovi special. I really wanted to like Richie Solo work, but I have to be honest. I find it boring as hell.
@maxdokdok8712
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
One light burning hits right in the feelings eeeevery time.
@NecesaryEvil
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
I appreciate you guys and your passion for this band but Bon Jovi is still pretty gay.
@johnnilsson1311
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
Always thought Richie was the talent in the band. Jon consistently screamed lyrics live. I wasn't a fan my wife was. I seen them on the Slippery tour. Skids were the openers and if you ask me blew them away. Richie to me was always on point. His backing vocal on Wanted was far superior to Jon's imo. I heard Richie do I'll be there for you, live he sounded much better than Jon. Did Jon sabotage Richie, it would not surprise me one bit. I knew a guy that was from a town in Jersey one town over from where they started in clubs. He said they were hated specifically because of Jon. They would spit and throw things at him. Not condoning it just pointing out he wasn't liked much. He seems pompous even today! I wish him ill will but even my wife has a distaste for him today.
@SKitty6
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
I tried this album after you guys mentioned it and I couldn't get through 3 songs. š«¤ I doubt there was sabotage, but I wouldn't put anything past JBJ after learning what they did to Snake & Skid Row.
@Sylv1ception71
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
I'm amazed by people who were expecting a "Bon Jovi record"… I mean what would have been the point ???š¤
"Rosie" was used as a "link" to BJ but that's it.
@jasonmcdougall3609
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
I first heard this album when it came out as I was 21 at the time. I was not a huge Bon Jovi fan. I did recognize the talent in Richie Sambora. I liked the first two Bon Jovi album but kinda fell off at āSlippery When Wetā.
Way to poppy. Too slick.
I was raised on many different types of music.
I loved the Richie solo album. Still love it. If it would have been a Richie āJoviā album I would have hated it. I wanted something different.
Anyway, I still listen to it, but I am not the GURU!
You rock my friends! š¤š¼
@Sylv1ception71
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
SITT is a timeless classic, lift by the awesome voice/guitar/writing skills of Richie.
Rock, blues, hard rock, soul… you got all wrapped in this gem.
@jeffmcpeek2526
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
"The Answer" still hits me in the feels.
@bingram1973ify
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
Grunge killed the album, not Jon. Also, a blues record was never going to be a huge album, and I like the blues.
@robertlame698
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
This was known at the time by his inner circle. That album was amazing. It showed what an amazing talent he was.
@RolandDeschain1
August 15, 2026 at 6:56 am
Damn good album, but it needed a bit more grit and teeth to the production. it was a bit soft.