One of the first Jon Bon Jovi bands was called ‘The Rest’, but despite promotion by other successful New Jersey musicians such as Southside Johnny, members of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, and a demo produced by Billy Squier, did not obtain a recording contract and split up. The guitarist and one of the songwriters of ‘The Rest’ was Giacomo Pontoriero, aka JACK PONTI.
While Jon become a superstar with his own band, Ponti found a job as songwriter & producer for other rock bands. The late music business legend Ahmet Ertegun gave Ponti his first production job and the two grew close.
Jack Ponti co-wrote songs for Alice Cooper, Keel, Trixter, Nelson, Kane Roberts, Joe Lynn Turner, Bonfire, and of course, Bon Jovi, among dozens more. He also produced Babylon A.D., Baton Rouge, Doro, and his excellent own band Surgin, which he had created in 1985 at the insistence of his then managers. Ponti also was deeply involved with Skid Row and Nelson road to success.
JACK PONTI left us a few months ago, passing away at 66. Ponti is a classic “behind the scenes” character in the history of the music business, but the man just wrote some of the greatest rock n’ roll song in history.
As record labels / publishing agencies did all over the ’80s, countless Jack Ponti songs were demoed for being offered to artists / producers. Unknown musicians & vocalists were hired for the performances, and many of them later found fame & fortune.
Titled ”JACK PONTI Presents Volume 1”, this album compiles a bunch of great Ponti songs performed by the likes of Stan Bush, Kelly Keeling (Baton Rouge), Matt & Gunnar Nelson, Richard Black (Shark Island, Contraband), Dave “The Snake” Sabo, Fiona Flanagan, Glen Burtnik, and more. Also we can hear an almost unrecognizable Sebastian Bach before his Skid Row glory days.
”JACK PONTI Presents Volume 1” is an official release, and sure, these are demos, but the songs and musicians are so good that deserved to be on CD. We don’t know if there was a second pressing, but the sound quality of this disc is much better than the other copy a 0dayrox team member has. So if you already have ”JACK PONTI Presents Volume 1”, better compare yours with this one.
Unfortunately a ”Volume 2” never was done, but don’t worry, 0dayrox will feature more Jack Ponti unreleased stuff pronto.
HIGHLY Recommended
01 – Sebastian Bach – She’s On Top
02 – Matt Nelson, Gunnar Nelson – Before Tonight Is Over
03 – Kelly Keeling – Monkey House
04 – Glen Burtnik – Racing Time
05 – Richard Black – Desire
06 – Eric Gales – All The Kings Horses
07 – Fiona – Lose The Night
08 – Matt & Gunnar Nelson, Dave “The Snake” Sabo – Don’t Turn Away
09 – Baton Rouge – Who Do You Run To
10 – Stan Bush – How Many Tears
11 – Will Sexton – Further Down The Line
12 – Kelly Keeling, Lance Bulen – Written In Fire