These Days (stylized as (these Days)) is the sixth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on June 27, 1995, by Mercury Records. This was the first album Bon Jovi released after the dismissal of original bass guitarist Alec John Such, who was unofficially replaced by Hugh McDonald. McDonald's tenure as an unofficial member ended in 2016, when he officially replaced Such. The album, produced by Peter Collins, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, is praised by many critics and fans as their best album. These Days is overall a darker album in contrast to the band's usual brand of feel-good, inspiring rock songs and love ballads.
At the time of release, the album was a huge commercial success, especially in the European and Asian markets. It became the band's fifth and fourth consecutive number one album in Australia and the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, These Days replaced Michael Jackson's album HIStory at number one on the UK Albums Chart and spent four consecutive weeks at No. 1. The album spawned four Top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart, the band's highest number of Top 10 singles from one album in the UK. The high sales of the album in Europe warranted a re-issue of the album under the name of These Days Special Edition a year after its original release. The album was ranked number two on Q magazine's list of the "Top 50 albums of 1995". The album was also voted the album of the year in British magazine Kerrang!'s readers poll in 1995. In 2006, the album featured in the Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The "200 Greatest Albums of the 90's". In the U.S., despite selling 1 million copies and certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the album was not as successful as it was overseas and the album peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200.
- Disc 1 -
1 Hey God
2 Something for the Pain
3 This Ain't a Love Song
4 These Days
5 Lie to Me
6 Damned
7 My Guitar Lies Bleeding in My Arms
8 Hearts Breaking Even
9 If That's What It Takes
10 All I Want Is Everything (Bonus Track on International Versions)
11 Bitter Wine (Bonus Track on International Versions)
- Disc 2 -
1 (It's Hard) Letting You Go
2 Something to Believe in
3 Diamond Ring