"She Don't Know Me" by Bon Jovi

Song#:  1913
Date:  05/26/1984
Debut:  90
Peak:  48
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The New Jersey band's self-titled debut album was shaping up to be a good seller due to the lead single, "Runaway," getting to #5 at Rock and #39 at Pop. This next single nearly became their second Pop Top 40 entry, but it stopped a little short. It probably didn't help that it only got to #44 at Rock. Regardless, the album certainly did it's job in helping to establish the new band.

ReduxReview:  There are definitely some good things going on with this song. The verse and main part of the chorus is quite good, however there is a weird transition from the chorus back to the verse that almost brings the song to a halt. It's very odd and probably could have been handled better. In general, this is a solid song even if it is not quite as catchy as "Runaway" or the band's future hits.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This song has a bit of a long history. Written by Mark Avsec (Donnie Iris' co-writer and bandmate), it was originally intended for the disco band LaFlavour's second album. However, LaFlavour decided to scrap the disco, make a move towards rock, and change their name to Fair Warning. As the dust settled, this track was still pegged for Fair Warning's debut album and would most likely be the lead single. However, the band encountered issues and in the end their album was shelved. Bon Jovi was on the same label and were looking for another strong song for single contention. This one ended up in their lap and they got it recorded. But before it got issued on Bon Jovi's debut LP, the song did get released by two other artists. The 60s band The Grass Roots ("Midnight Confessions," #5, 1968) took a swing at the song for a 1982 comeback album. The song was released as a single, but it and the album failed to do any business. Then Peter Emmett (aka Sonny Geraci, lead singer of Climax who hit #3 in 1972 with "Precious and Few") recorded the song, which featured backing by Avsec and others from Donnie Iris' band. Again, it went nowhere. Finally, Bon Jovi's version came out and the tune found its way to the Pop chart. It was the only song on their debut album not written by a band member.

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