SATURDAY'S SINGLES : SUZANNE VEGA and BON JOVI

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Good morning gang and welcome the the return of Saturday's Singles, a Birthday Edition. Our first cake of candles goes to 61 year old New York, New York singer-songwriter and producer, Suzanne Vega. Happy Birthday Suzanne ! With her in mind, we spotlight the 1987 A&M release, "Luka". The track was produced by  Steve Addabbo any Lenny Kaye. The earworm, from her second record, Solitude Standing,  was a mighty success, peaking at #3 on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, #2 in Sweden, and #1 in Poland. The song takes on what was more of a taboo subject, back then, child abuse. In the music video, the title character was played by actor Jason Cerbone, known for the role Jackie Aprile, Jr. on the HBO series The Sopranos. The 45 boasts the song "Night Vision", inspired by the poem "Juan Gris" by French surrealist Poet, Paul Éluard. When our kids were young I would commonly sing the beginning verse of the song on raod trips and such.  Back then my kids thought I was cool so even though they had never heard the song, they learned the lyrics to the first verse and we'd sing it together as a trio. In recent years our oldest has heard the song, (maybe when we featured Solitude Standing on this page) and exclaimed, "There were more words to the song !?'

Suzanne Vega – vocals, acoustic guitar
Marc Shulman – electric guitars
Anton Sanko – synthesizers, classical guitar on "Night Vision"
Michael Visceglia – bass guitar
Stephen Ferrera – drums, percussion

With 

Shawn Colvin – backing vocals on "Luka"
Jon Gordon – guitar solo on "Luka"

Steve Addabbo – producer, engineer
Lenny Kaye – producer
Ronald K. Fierstein – executive producer
Rod O'Brien – engineer
Shelly Yakus – mixing
Jeffrey Gold – art direction
Melanie Nissen – art direction, design
Paula Bullwinkel – cover photography

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Our second Birthday guest, from the very same date as our first is former Bon Jovi guitarist, Richie Sambora. Happy 61st Birthday Richie.  The Perth Amboy, New Jersey native started playing  accordion at age six, guitar by 12, and by age 24,  had replaced Dave "The Snake" Sabo (who would go on to co found another New Jersey band, Skid Row) as guitarist in Bon Jovi. Today we wish him well by spinning Bon Jovi's 1986 Mercury release, "Living On A Prayer". The tune, from their third studio album, Slippery When Wet, reached #1 on the Hot 100, Mainstream Rock, the Cash Box, UK Rock and Metal, Canada, Norway, and New Zealand. The song tells the tale of Tommy and Gina and the real life problems they face, as a young couple. It's B-side is  "Wild In The Streets", also from Slippery When Wet. Sambora left the band in 2013, to spend more time with family. He has released an album as RSO, a duo with Australian guitarist and girlfriend,  Orianthi. He performed with Bon Jovi once more in 2018, when they were induced into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Richie Sambora – electric lead guitar, backing vocals, talk box on "Livin' on a Prayer"
Alec John Such – bass guitar, backing vocals
Tico Torres – drums, percussion, finger cymbals on "Livin' on a Prayer"
David Bryan – keyboards, backing vocals, horns (horns credited as Lema Moon)

With :

Tom Keenlyside – saxophone
Hugh McDonald – bass guitar on "Livin' on a Prayer" (wrote and recorded the bass parts, uncredited)

Bruce Fairbairn – producer
Bob Rock – engineering, mixing
Tim Crich – engineering assistance
George Marino – digital remastering
Bill Levy – artwork
Mark Weiss – photography

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