Stranger in This Town

Recording and Production

As his first solo album, Sambora experimented with a more blues-oriented sound. He sings lead vocals and plays guitar on the album, backed by his Bon Jovi bandmates Tico Torres on drums and David Bryan on keyboards, joined by Tony Levin on bass guitar. Eric Clapton guest stars with a guitar solo on the track "Mr. Bluesman".

"Ballad of Youth", "One Light Burning" and "The Answer" were co-written with colleagues from his former club band Shark Frenzy. "Rosie" was originally intended to be a Bon Jovi song for their fourth album "New Jersey; versions of this song with the full Bon Jovi line-up have surfaced as bootlegs.

"Ballad of Youth" was released as the lead single followed by the second single "One Light Burning". The album titled track, "Stranger in This Town" was released as the third single and "Mr. Bluesman" featuring Eric Clapton was released as a promo single. The first three singles were accompanied by music videos.

The "Answer" and "Rosie" were also released as promo singles in Japan.

Occasionally, "Stranger in This Town" has been played by Sambora on Bon Jovi's tours, most recently on their Lost Highway Tour in 2008.

Chart performance

The album charted at #36 on the Billboard 200 and #20 on the UK Albums Chart

The lead single, "Ballad of Youth", reached a high of #63 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #59 in the UK. The album titled track, "Stranger In This Town" charted at #38 on the Mainstream rock charts.

Personnel