By the time 1987 rolled around, hair metal was all the rage. Rock was still prevalent, but the legacy acts who initially led the 80's charge, such as Journey, Foreigner, and Toto were quickly disappearing. Loverboy would make a final stand that year with Wildside, which would become the band's last studio album before disbanding.
While the album was noteworthy for the number thirty-eight Billboard Hot 100 hit, Notorious, co-written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, as a whole, it was another disappointing performance for the guys. While sales had been in a steady decline since 1983's Keep It Up, this record would tank in comparison. The album not only performed poorly sales wise but failed to chart in most countries. It didn't even crack the top twenty in the limited locations it did chart.
In addition to credits to Jovi and Sambora, as noted above, Wildside also features writing credits from Bryan Adams. Though his contribution, Hometown Hero, would not become a charting single. Further, if you purchased the album on CD, you would also get a bonus track, Don't Keep Me In The Dark. This tactic of additional materials on CD's was becoming a mainstay on the format in an effort to prompt consumers into adopting the format.
Despite only providing the above noted single, you can definitely see Bon Jovi's fingerprints all over this album. Loverboy took a page straight out of their book, howling screams and all. This is very much so prevalent on the hidden gem, Love Will Rise Again.
All of this makes sense considering the album was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, who not only worked with Bon Jovi on 1986's Slippery When Wet, but again with them for 88's New Jersey. His impressive credits also include Aerosmith's Permanent Vacation (1987), Pump (1989), Get A Grip (1993), and AC/DC's The Razor's Edge (1990), just to name a few.
I can also give a nod of approval to Can't Get Much Better, the title track, Wildside, and Don't Let Go. Mind you, they're not mind blowing, but they're pretty okay. As for the single Notorious, yes, you can hear the writing style of Jovi and Sambora, but it's not a very good song. I can definitely understand why they didn't personally record it for any of their albums. Adam's Hometown Hero is slightly better, but still nothing to get excited about.
Overall, it was a better album than the previous two, but I think this is more so from the band adopting a more "Jovi" style. It sounds relatable to the timeframe in which it was released, and familiar to the ears, which makes it easier to get into. Don't misunderstand though. It's no opus by any means. Further, there's no reason to settle for Loverboy trying to sound like Bon Jovi when you can just listen to Jovi.
By 1988, their popularity had waned to the point that the band was no longer performing at arenas. Ticket sales simply didn't necessitate such a large venue. Their formidable years were most definitely behind them.
1989 closed with the compilation album, Big Ones, which featured the song, Too Hot, which was recorded specifically to be included on the album. It would become their last Billboard Hot 100 hit and peaked at number eighty-four.
Led by ongoing poor sales, compounded by fighting between Mike Reno and Paul Dean, the band disband. Though it's noted as occurring in 1988, this timeline doesn't seem to correlate, considering that Big Ones was released in October of '89, and included a newly recorded track. But the bottom line is that they broke up.
In 1991, the band joined fellow rockers Bryan Adams, Colin James, Chrissy Steele, and Bill Henderson of Chilliwack at a benefit show at Vancouver's 86 Street Music Hall. After the event, they noted it was the most fun they'd had in years and decided to reform. However, a new studio album would not be released until 1997's Six.
One of the greatest aspects about Loverboy is that the lineup that started it all in 1978: Mike Reno, Paul Dean, Doug Johnson, Scott Smith, and Matt Frenette, not only stuck it out until their initial breakup in 1988 (or 1989) but then came back together to do it all again. I don't think they'd have made any changes to the lineup had it not been for the tragic death of Smith in 2000 who was lost at sea during a boating accident.
They would bring in Ken Sinnaeve to ultimately replace him, but not before embarking on a massive dedication tour to Smith. Since then, this revised lineup has released three additional albums (between 2007 and 2014). They remain together to this day, touring periodically.
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