The Babys - On the Edge
#424
by Chris Kouzes
October 1980
The Babys
On the Edge
Genre: Rock
Allen’s Rating: 4 out of 5
Chris’ Rating: 1.5 out of 5
Highlights
Turn and Walk Away
Postcard
Darker Side Of Town
Those first four Babys albums are all very-good-to-fantastic. Songs like “Isn’t It Time,” “Wrong or Right,” Every Time I Think of You,” “Back on My Feet Again,” and “Midnight Rendezvous” are all among the best rock/pop had to offer in the `70’s. Oh, for anything that strong to be included on this album. This, their last album, ain’t so good. Adding pre-Journey Jonathan Cain to line up for this album was probably their death knell. Not a fan…he’s the male version of Diane Warren. The Queen and King of middle of the road horsehit.
Things start off promising with “Turn and Walk Away.” Even that feels like it could veer off into pabulum, but hangs in there and is actually decent enough. But it’s largely downhill from there. Of the rest, “Darker and Walk Away” has a cool vibe due to its reliance on the electric piano and “Postcard’ has a hooky chorus. Seven of the ten songs are co-written by Cain; worse is that he sings lead on two of them. Why?? Did you ever have a fever dream where Sammy Hagar was fronting latter day Bad Company? Wanna know that sounds like? Listen to the other seven tracks.
The worst though? Title: “Sweet 17.” Do you hate it? Me Too.
“I wouldn't say she's easy
But she's the kinda girl that won't say no
She's always getting into trouble
Though she's only got a year to go
She's got a record with the local sheriff
And a reputation coast to coast
(Fifteen sixteen seventeen)
Sweet seventeen
Sixteen going on seventeen
And she acts like she's twenty-one
Counting days til she's eighteen”
Who knew someone could make Gene Simmons’ lyrics seem Dylanesque?
John Waits was a hell of a vocalist and front man. Unfortunately he’s probably best remembered now for his solo hit “Missing You” or as part of the Bad English supergroup. Shame he had to go out on an album like this with The Babys. I’d have given this a 1, but gave a bit more due to Waits’ superior vocals.
https://open.spotify.com/album/4GYMsv818WDk1oXX7KR5NR?si=cwHbwwH8RDmHpyNXq8bMig
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