Cross Road (album)

Cross Road is the first official greatest hits album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on October 11, 1994, by Mercury Records. The album contains hits from all previously released albums from their debut, Bon Jovi (1984) to Keep the Faith (1992). The album also features two new tracks: the hit singles "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night", as well as a new, updated rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer" entitled "Prayer '94" available only on the North American versions. "Runaway" was never recorded with the current band, though at that time there were plans to put a "Runaway '94" on the album but it was never recorded. The diner located on the cover of the album is the Roadside Diner in Wall Township, NJ, near the crossroads of Route 33 and Route 34.

Cross Road
Greatest hits album by Bon Jovi
Released	October 11, 1994
Recorded	1982–94
Studio	Little Mountain (Vancouver) Emerald (Nashville) A&M (Hollywood) The Warehouse (Philadelphia) Power Station (New York City)
Genre	Pop metal[1] hard rock[2]
Length	72:22
Label	Mercury PolyGram
Producer	Tony Bongiovi Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Bruce Fairbairn Bob Rock Peter Collins Danny Kortchmar Lance Quinn
Bon Jovi chronology
Keep the Faith (1992) Cross Road (1994) These Days (1995)
Singles from Cross Road
"Always" Released: September 12, 1994[3] "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" Released: February 5, 1995[4]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
NME	7/10[5]
Q
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[1]

The album's first single "Always" went top five in many countries. It spent six months in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and became Bon Jovi's biggest selling single in the United States. Its international success helped the album to peak at number one in 13 countries and made it best-selling album of 1994 in the UK.^[6] It is Bon Jovi's best selling album in many countries. It has sold over 21.5 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.^[7]

In 2005, Cross Road was re-issued as a 3-disc box set under the name "Deluxe Sound & Vision", which included the original remastered album, a bonus CD containing B-sides, rarities and fan favourites, and the Live from London DVD. The original remastered album was released in 1998. A video, also entitled Cross Road, was simultaneously released, containing 16 of the band's music videos.

Release and reception

In the United States, the album debuted and peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200 the week of November 5, 1994^[8][9] The album was certified 7× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold over seven million copies in the United States.^[10][11][12]

In the United Kingdom, Cross Road debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and spent a total of five non-consecutive weeks atop the chart,^[13] later becoming the best-selling album of 1994. The album was certified 6× platinum by the BPI.^[14] The album topped the charts in several other European countries, including Austria,^[15] Denmark,^[16] Germany,^[17] Italy,^[18] Portugal,^[19] and Switzerland.^[20] In 2007, it was also certified 8× platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry for selling 8 million copies across Europe.^[21]

The album became Bon Jovi's first number-one set in Japan, where it has sold more than 1.1 million copies.^[22] It spent two weeks at number one in Australia^[23] and in 2022 it was certified 13× platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for shipments exceeding 910,000 copies.^[24] The album also debuted at number three on the New Zealand Albums Chart, peaking at number one in its second week^[25] and later being certified 6× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.^[26]

The album itself won Metal Edge magazine's 1994 Readers' Choice Awards for "Album of the Year" and "Best Hits or Compilation Album". Its namesake home video was voted "Best Video Cassette," and the single "Always" was voted "Song of the Year" and "Best Video Clip".^[27]

Track listing

International edition^[28]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	From album	Length
1.	"Livin' on a Prayer"	Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Desmond Child	Slippery When Wet (1986)	4:11
2.	"Keep the Faith"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	Keep the Faith (1992)	5:45
3.	"Someday I'll Be Saturday Night"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	New song	4:38
4.	"Always"	Bon Jovi	New song	5:52
5.	"Wanted Dead or Alive"	Bon Jovi Sambora	Slippery When Wet	5:07
6.	"Lay Your Hands on Me"	Bon Jovi Sambora	New Jersey (1988)	5:58
7.	"You Give Love a Bad Name"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	Slippery When Wet	3:43
8.	"Bed of Roses"	Bon Jovi	Keep the Faith	6:34
9.	"Blaze of Glory" (Jon Bon Jovi solo)	Bon Jovi	Blaze of Glory (1990)	5:40
10.	"In These Arms"	Bon Jovi Sambora David Bryan	Keep the Faith	5:16
11.	"Bad Medicine"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	New Jersey	5:14
12.	"I'll Be There for You"	Bon Jovi Sambora	New Jersey	5:41
13.	"In and Out of Love"	Bon Jovi	7800° Fahrenheit (1985)	4:23
14.	"Runaway"	Bon Jovi George Karak	Bon Jovi (1984)	3:50
15.	"Never Say Goodbye"	Bon Jovi Sambora	Slippery When Wet	4:50
Total length:				77:03

North America release

No.	Title	Writer(s)	From album	Length
1.	"Livin' on a Prayer"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	Slippery When Wet	4:11
2.	"Keep the Faith"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	Keep the Faith	5:45
3.	"Someday I'll Be Saturday Night"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	New song	4:38
4.	"Always"	Bon Jovi	New song	5:52
5.	"Wanted Dead or Alive"	Bon Jovi Sambora	Slippery When Wet	5:07
6.	"Lay Your Hands on Me"	Bon Jovi Sambora	New Jersey	5:58
7.	"You Give Love a Bad Name"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	Slippery When Wet	3:43
8.	"Bed of Roses"	Bon Jovi	Keep the Faith	6:34
9.	"Blaze of Glory"	Bon Jovi	Blaze of Glory	5:40
10.	"Prayer '94"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	New song	5:16
11.	"Bad Medicine"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	New Jersey	5:14
12.	"I'll Be There for You"	Bon Jovi Sambora	New Jersey	5:41
13.	"In and Out of Love"	Bon Jovi	7800° Fahrenheit	4:23
14.	"Runaway"	Bon Jovi Karak	Bon Jovi	3:50
Total length:				72:11

2005 Deluxe Sound & Vision Bonus CD (also included the DVD Live from London).^{[29] [30]}

No.	Title	Writer(s)	From album	Length
1.	"The Radio Saved My Life Tonight"	Bon Jovi Sambora	100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong (2004)	5:08
2.	"Wild in the Streets"	Bon Jovi	Slippery When Wet	3:55
3.	"Diamond Ring"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	These Days (1995)	3:46
4.	"Good Guys Don't Always Wear White[fn 1]"	Bon Jovi Sambora	The Cowboy Way Soundtrack (1994) and 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong	4:30
5.	"The Boys Are Back in Town" (Thin Lizzy cover)	Phil Lynott	Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell and New Jersey: Deluxe Edition	4:04
6.	"Edge of a Broken Heart"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	Disorderlies Soundtrack (1987) and 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong	4:35
7.	"Postcards from the Wasteland" (Demo)	Bon Jovi Sambora	"All About Lovin' You" CD single	4:24
8.	"Blood on Blood" (Live)	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	"Living in Sin" CD Single	6:49
9.	"Let It Rock"	Bon Jovi Sambora	Slippery When Wet	5:23
10.	"Starting All Over Again"	Bon Jovi Sambora	Alternate take of Keep the Faith Japan bonus track, taken from 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong	3:44
11.	"Blood Money" (Live)	Bon Jovi	"Dry County" CD single	2:27
12.	"Save a Prayer"	Bon Jovi Sambora	Keep the Faith international bonus track	5:56
13.	"Lucky" (Demo)	Bon Jovi Sambora Marti Frederiksen	"Everyday" CD single	3:47
14.	"Why Aren't You Dead?"	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong	3:32
15.	"Raise Your Hands"	Bon Jovi Sambora	Slippery When Wet	4:15

1998 Special Edition bonus CD PHCR-90021/22

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Always" (live from St. Denis Theater, 1994)	Bon Jovi	5:44
2.	"Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (live from Fox Theater, 1994)	Bon Jovi Sambora Child	4:44
3.	"With a Little Help From My Friends" (The Beatles cover; live at St. Denis Theater, 1992)	Lennon–McCartney	6:17
4.	"Good Guys Don't Always Wear White" (Studio outtake)	Bon Jovi Sambora	4:31
5.	"Blaze of Glory" (live at Count Basie Theater, 1992)	Bon Jovi	5:44
6.	"Stranger in This Town[fn 2]" (live at Count Basie Theater, 1993)	Sambora Bryan	6:40

1. Featured in the 1994 film The Cowboy Way. Although Bon Jovi also released a music video to the song, it was never released as a single.
2. From Richie Sambora's 1991 solo album Stranger in This Town.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Cross Road's liner notes.

Bon Jovi

• Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar, additional guitars
• Richie Sambora – lead guitars, backing vocals
• Alec John Such – bass, backing vocals
• David Bryan – keyboards, backing vocals
• Tico Torres – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Hugh McDonald – bass, backing vocals
• Kenny Aronoff – drums and percussion on "Blaze of Glory"^[31][32][33]
• Jeff Beck – lead and slide guitars on "Blaze of Glory"^[31][32][33]
• Peter Berring – background vocals arrangements
• Roy Bittan – keyboards on "Runaway"
• Carole Brooks – background vocals on "In and Out of Love"^[34]
• Jeanie Brooks – background vocals on "In and Out of Love"^[34]
• Joanie Bye – background vocals
• Randy Cantor – synthesizer programming (credited as "synth programs") on "In and Out of Love"^[34]
• Lovena Fox – background vocals
• David Grahamme – background vocals on "Runaway"
• Phil Hoffer – background vocals on "In and Out of Love"^[34]
• Linda Hunt – background vocals
• Michael Kamen – strings orchestration, arrangement and conduction
• Randy Jackson – bass on "Blaze of Glory"^[31][32][33]
• Frankie La Rocka – drums on "Runaway"
• Cecille Larochelle – background vocals
• Sue Leonard – background vocals
• Tommy Mandel – synthesizers on "In and Out of Love"^[34]
• Myna Matthews – background vocals
• Guoudin Morris – percussion
• Aldo Nova – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, keyboards
• Tim Pierce – guitar on "Runaway"
• Jim Salamone – synthesizer programming (credited as "lynn programs") on "In and Out of Love"^[34]
• Mick Seeley – background vocals on "Runaway"
• Joanie Taylor – background vocals
• Benmont Tench – organ on "Blaze of Glory"^[31][32][33]
• Rick Valenti – background vocals on "In and Out of Love"^[34]
• Oren Waters – background vocals
• Julia Waters – background vocals
• Maxine Waters – background vocals
• John Webster – keyboards

Production credits

• Bruce Fairbairn – producer
• Bob Rock – engineer, mixing, producer
• Tim Crich – assistant
• Randy Staub – engineer, mixing
• Obie O'Brien – engineer,^[34] additional recording
• Peter Collins – producer
• Kevin Shirley – engineer
• Bob Clearmountain – mixing
• Chris Taylor – assistant
• Danny Kortchmar – producer
• Jon Bon Jovi – producer
• Rob Jacobs – recording, mixing
• Brian "Mutt" Scheuble – recording, mixing
• Chad Musey – assistant
• Greg Goldman – assistant
• Rick Plank – assistant
• Richie Sambora – producer
• Lance Quinn – producer ("Runaway" and "In and Out of Love")^[34]
• David Thoener – mixing ("In and Out of Love")^[34]
• Fernando Kral – assistant
• Larry Alexander – engineer ("Runaway" and "In and Out of Love")^[34]
• Mal – engineer
• Bill Scheniman – engineer ("In and Out of Love")^[34]
• John Cianci – assistant ("In and Out of Love")^[34]
• Big Al Greaves – assistant
• Tony Bongiovi – producer ("Runaway")
• Arthur Mann – executive producer ("Runaway")
• Scott Litt – engineer
• Jeff Henderickson – engineer ("Runaway")
• John Babich – assistant
• Gary Rindfuss – assistant
• Bruce Lampcov – assistant
• Dave Greenberg – assistant
• Barry Bongiovi – assistant
• George Marino – mastering, remastering,^[34] digital remastering^[34]
• Dave Collins – mastering
• Greg Calbi – mastering ("In and Out of Love")^[34]
• John Kalodner – A&R co-ordination
• Anton Corbijn – photography
• Mark Wiess – additional photography
• Margery Greenspan – art direction
• Lili Picou – design

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Cross Road Chart (1994–2007) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] 1 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15] 1 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[35] 14 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[36] 14 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[37] 1 Chilean Albums (IFPI)[38] 2 Danish Albums (Nielsen Marketing Research)[16] 1 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[39] 2 European Albums (Music & Media)[40] 1 Finnish Albums (Seura)[41] 1 French Compilations (SNEP)[42] 3 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 1 Hungarian Albums Chart[43] 4 Irish Albums (IFPI)[44] 2 Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)[18] 1 Japanese Albums (Dempa Publications, Inc)[45] 1 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[25] 1 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[46] 2 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[19] 1 Scottish Albums (OCC)[47] 1 Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[48] 2 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[49] 2 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 1 UK Albums (OCC)[50] 1 UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[51] 1 US Billboard 200[52] 8 US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)[53] 1 US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[54] 7

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Cross Road Chart (1994) Position Australian Albums (ARIA)[55] 3 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[56] 17 Canadian Albums (RPM)[57] 29 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[58] 9 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[59] 21 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[60] 28 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[61] 37 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[62] 47 UK Albums (OCC)[14] 1 Chart (1995) Position Australian Albums (ARIA)[63] 26 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[64] 8 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[65] 30 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[66] 22 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[67] 15 Europe (European Top 100 Albums)[68] 3 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[69] 11 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[70] 31 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[71] 11 UK Albums (OCC)[72] 38 US Billboard 200[73] 41 Chart (2002) Position Canadian Metal Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[74] 40 Chart (2006) Position UK Albums (OCC)[75] 189 Chart (2007) Position UK Albums (OCC)[76] 158 Chart (2008) Position UK Albums (OCC)[77] 175 Chart (2009) Position UK Albums (OCC)[78] 156 Decade-end charts Decade-end chart performance for Cross Road Chart (1990s) Position Austrian Albums Chart[79] 9

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Cross Road

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[80]	4× Platinum	240,000^
Australia (ARIA)[24]	13× Platinum	910,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[81]	3× Platinum	150,000*
Belgium (BEA)[82]	2× Platinum	100,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[83]	Platinum	320,000[84]
Canada (Music Canada)[85]	Diamond	1,000,000^
Chile[83]	Platinum	25,000[86]
Czech Republic[83]	Platinum	50,000[87]
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[88]	3× Platinum	150,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[89]	2× Platinum	123,354[89]
France (SNEP)[90]	Platinum	300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[91]	2× Platinum	1,000,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[83]	3× Platinum	60,000*
Hungary (MAHASZ)[92]	Gold
India[83]	Gold	10,000[93]
Indonesia[83]	5× Platinum	250,000[93]
Ireland (IRMA)[83]	3× Platinum	45,000^
Italy (FIMI)[94]	5× Platinum	500,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[95]	Million	1,150,000[96]
Malaysia[83]	4× Platinum	100,000[93]
Mexico (AMPROFON)[83]	2× Platinum	500,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[97]	2× Platinum	200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[26]	7× Platinum	105,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[83]	2× Platinum	100,000*
Philippines (PARI)[83]	3× Platinum	90,000[93]
Poland (ZPAV)[98]	Gold	50,000*
Portugal (AFP)[83]	3× Platinum	120,000^
Singapore (RIAS)[83]	4× Platinum	60,000[93]
South Africa (RISA)[83]	2× Platinum	100,000*
South Korea (KMCA)[83]	2× Platinum	60,000[93]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[99]	4× Platinum	400,000^
Sweden (GLF)[100]	Platinum	100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[101]	3× Platinum	150,000^
Taiwan (RIT)[83]	6× Platinum	300,000[102]
Thailand[83]	Platinum	50,000[93]
United Kingdom (BPI)[103]	6× Platinum	1,867,427[104]
United States (RIAA)[105]	7× Platinum	7,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[106] video	Gold	50,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[21]	8× Platinum	8,000,000*
Worldwide	—	21,000,000[107]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

• Cross Road (videos)
• List of best-selling albums in Australia
• List of best-selling albums
• List of diamond-certified albums in Canada