This is Richie’s first solo album, released back in ’91. The one thing that this album showed is that he could step out of the Bon Jovi shadow and have his own voice and sound.

There is a lot more R’n’B and gospel vibes here than on any BJ record, as the title track shows. I would say there is not much rock n’ roll here at all really. Ballad Of Youth is the only song that remotely sounds like Bon Jovi. My favourite track is Church Of Desire. A super smooth classy chunk of AOR with Richie flexing his chops.

This is a Music On Vinyl reissue, it sounds superb and is a great record to test out the old hi-fi.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.