t happens more than you might think: An artist has to be talked into a song that he or she feels is not “good enough to be good,”much less “great.”

“Livin’ on a Prayer” is a prime example. IT’s one of the best-selling singles of all time—but it was almost scrapped by Jon Bon Jovi until Richie Sambora stepped in.

After Jon voiced his dissatisfaction with the initial take, Richie, who co-wrote the song with Jon and Desmond Child, convinced him the song would be great with a little tinkering. So they reworked it with a new bassline, some different drum fills and a talk box.

The new version was deemed good enough to add to the 1986 album “Slippery When Wet,” and when it was released as a single, it took off like a rocket!

“Livin’ on a Prayer” was a top 10 hit in 14 countries, reaching #1 in New Zealand, Norway, The UK, Canada, and here in The US, where it topped Billboard’s Rock Chart and Hot 100. The video was an MTV favorite, and worldwide, it sold more than 8 million copies!

And here’s a Fun Fact for you: The song tells the story f Tommy and Gina, two kids working to make it on their own despite constant hardships…and was based on Desmond and an old girlfriend of his named Gina. He was a cab driver, and she was a singing waitress who worked in a diner. Obviously, record buyers could relate to the story.

So thanks in a major way to Richie Sambora, (and Desmond Child) “Livin’ on a Prayer” became a Great Song of 1986.