AXE – Axeology 1979-2001 – Remastered [Full 2-CD digipak]
Cleopatra / Deadline Records has given us an excuse to revisit AXE’s back catalogue with “Axeology“, a remastered two-disc retrospective that spans the band’s career from 1979 though 2001. All housed in a deluxe digipak, the huge history of AXE written by founder Bobby Barth, plus tons of additional photos and memorabilia spread out over a full colour booklet.
There are 36 songs total – six from 1979’s Axe, six from 1980’s Living On The Edge, seven from 1982’s Offering, six from 1983’s Nemesis, five from 1996’s Five, and four from their 2000 album The Crown.
Rounding out the collection there’s a pair of previously unreleased ‘80s era songs – “Bad Sometimes” and “No Heroes.”
Some of these great songs have been re-recorded with modern technology, while the original recordings have been remastered with a 24-bit process.
There are a lot of ‘should have made it’ stories from the ’80s, but one that really stands out is the American melodic rock band AXE. If you remember them at all, it’s probably from their anthemic hit – 1982’s “Rock n’ Roll Party in the Streets.”
Aside from that, the band never really caught on the major leagues, despite they fact that their hard rocking (yet always melodic) sound was tailor made for AOR radio in the ‘80s.
Maybe their ‘heavy metal’ band name and album covers were at odds with their overall sound? Whatever the reason, AXE remains one of the more overlooked bands from the Eighties Melodic Rock scene.
“Axeology” is the perfect AXE anthology, packaged in a deluxe 8-panel digipak with full liner notes written by Axe leader Bobby Barth, original LP sleeve artwork, rare photos, and more.
It not only covers their best albums, but you get a hefty chunk of their long out of print first two albums as well as some of their later material.
Honestly, the remastered tracks from the first two albums “Axe” and “Living on the Edge” worth the price of admission alone.
But we have more, as the songs from “Nemesis” and “Offering” are newly re-recorded versions done specifically for this compilation, showing that AXE got the fire intact and still rocks!
If you’re new to AXE, “Axeology” really is a fantastic starting point, and longtime fans will probably want to check it out just to hear the remastered versions of the early songs and the bonus tracks.
Awesome double CD-set. Highly Recommended
DISC 1
01. Life’s Just An Illusion
02. Hang On
03. Sympathize
04. Forever
05. Back On The Streets
06. Battles
07. Living On The Edge
08. Fantasy Of Love
09. First Time, Last Time
10. Carry On
11. Running The Gauntlet
12. For A Little While
13. Rock ‘n’ Roll Party In The Streets*
14. Steal Another Fantasy*
15. Jennifer*
16. Burn The City Down*
17. Now Or Never*
18. Holdin’ On*
19. Silent Soldiers*
20. BONUS TRACK: Bad Sometimes [prev. unreleased]
DISC 2
01. Heat In The Streets*
02. Young Hearts*
03. All Through The Night*
04. Eagle Flies Alone*
05. Let The Music Come Back*
06. Masquerade*
07. Magic (In Our Eyes)
08. Heroes and Legends
09. Burn Me Once Burn Me Twice
10. Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire
11. Any Place On This Highway (Is Home)
12. The Crown
13. Good Times
14. Torturous Game
15. Foolish Deception
16. BONUS TRACK: No Heroes [prev. unreleased]
*Re-Recorded Versions
Bobby Barth – guitars, lead and backing vocals
Bob Harris – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Edgar Riley, Jr. – keyboards, backing vocals
Wayne Haner – bass
Teddy Mueller – drums
Michael Osbourne – lead guitars, vocals
Michael Turpin – bass, vocals
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www.amazon.com/Axeology-1979-2001-Axe/dp/B006PNQPXM
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