"Blaze of Glory (Young Guns II)" – Jon Bon Jovi’s Western Rock Masterpiece (1990)

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 "A soundtrack that became an anthem: how Jon Bon Jovi’s first solo album defined the spirit of the Wild West and won global recognition"

Blaze of Glory (Young Guns II) – Jon Bon Jovi (1990)

In 1990, while Bon Jovi was on hiatus after the worldwide triumph of New Jersey (1988), Jon Bon Jovi took a bold step and released his first solo project: Blaze of Glory (Young Guns II). What started as a soundtrack commission for a western film became a rock milestone, blending cinematic spirit with timeless songwriting.

Blaze of Glory (Young Guns II) – Jon Bon Jovi (1990)


The birth of a soundtrack with soul

When Emilio Estevez approached him for songs to accompany Young Guns II, Jon Bon Jovi decided not to recycle Bon Jovi hits but to create brand-new music inspired by the story of Billy the Kid. He wrote most of the material in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the movie was filmed, infusing it with themes of freedom, camaraderie, and redemption.

The album assembled legendary musicians who gave it a unique soundscape:

  • Elton John – backing vocals (Dyin’ Ain’t Much of a Livin’)

  • Jeff Beck – lead guitar with a wild, raw edge across the record

  • Aldo Nova – keyboards and guitar

  • Little Richard – piano and vocals (You Really Got Me Now)

  • Kenny Aronoff, Randy Jackson, Benmont Tench, among others

A sound shaped by the Wild West

Far from the hard rock anthems that made Bon Jovi a stadium phenomenon, Blaze of Glory embraced a more organic and roots-driven sound. Acoustic guitars, folk melodies, bluesy undertones, and Jeff Beck’s fiery solos gave the album a cinematic, western-like atmosphere.

Each track feels like part of Billy the Kid’s journey—sometimes fierce, sometimes introspective, always evocative.

Tracklist

  1. Billy Get Your Guns

  2. Miracle

  3. Blaze of Glory

  4. Blood Money

  5. Santa Fe

  6. Justice in the Barrel

  7. Never Say Die

  8. You Really Got Me Now

  9. Bang a Drum

  10. Dyin’ Ain’t Much of a Livin’

  11. Guano City (instrumental)

Success and recognition

Released on August 7, 1990, the album became an international success:

  • “Blaze of Glory” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

  • Won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

  • Nominated for an Oscar and a Grammy.

  • Peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 and went multi-platinum worldwide.

The title track, with its desert-set video and powerful chorus, became one of Jon Bon Jovi’s defining songs outside the band.

Legacy of Blaze of Glory

This record proved Jon Bon Jovi could stand on his own as a songwriter and performer. Beyond being a soundtrack, it is remembered as one of the finest rock albums of the 1990s with western influences.

Fans continue to cherish songs like “Santa Fe” and “Miracle”, while “Blaze of Glory” remains an anthem that bridges rock energy with cinematic storytelling.

Blaze of Glory (Young Guns II) is not just a movie soundtrack—it is Jon Bon Jovi’s declaration of artistic independence, a timeless western rock masterpiece that still inspires fans worldwide.

Click to buy. LP Format Vinyl

Access Bon Jovi's complete discography at the following link https://bonjoviforever2025.blogspot.com/search/label/Discography

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