TIPTON, ENTWISTLE & POWELL – Edge Of The World [Japanese Edition]

“Edge Of The World” is the album recorded by Judas Priest guitarist Glenn TIPTON, The Who bassist JOHN ENTWHISTLE, and renowned drummer Cozy POWELL, recorded between 1994-95 but not released as Atlantic Records considered ‘too old fashioned’ for the mid-90s
However, after the passing of Entwistle and Powell, this recording was finally released. Glenn presented the tracks to Rhino/Warner and they agreed this album had to be heard.
Tipton stated, “this album is a tribute to these musicians unique styles and skills and a small part of the immense legacy they have left behind which will continue to inspire people all over the world for many years to come.”

Often when you get those “too good to be true” super-group recordings, they usually turn out crappy. Thankfully this isn’t the case.
What we have here is a very solid album, with all the sensibilities and technical excellence of the 70s and 80s with the no-bullshit production of the 90s.

The album opens with a short interlude called “Unknown Soldier”, before going into “Friendly Fire” a granite classic metal opening, setting a somber and dramatic tone for what is to come. Next up, “The Holy Man”, another great song plenty of dynamics and some Deep Purple feel.
The rest of the album follows in this footstep, highlights further down the track list being the title track, the vintage ballad “Searching”, a fine and emotional acoustic piece, and the glammy hard rocker “Give Blood”, the latter with a great funky guitar intro.

There’s commercial, arena rock tunes as well like ‘Resolution’, the AORish “Never Say Die” (with some Hughes/Thrall on it), then for “Crime of Passion” the trio switches to some kind of a Seventies sounding midtempo.The style on “Walls Cave In” is similar to some Glenn Hughes solo material, and for the end ‘Stronger Than the Drug’ again delivers something different, some kind of a mix of 1985 Purple with added synths.

As mentioned above, ”Edge Of The World” indeed was the “original” Tipton solo album back in the mid-90’s before the eventual creation of ‘Baptizm Of Fire’. Comparatively, they are albums with similarities, yet different personalities. ‘Edge’ has a noticeable groove to it, and displays Tipton (and Co.) in more of a a ‘band sound’.

Overall, ”Edge Of The World” is a very solid effort, featuring 3 very familiar names in Heavy Rock music. This album sound is timeless, featuring plenty of variation and originality. The CD as a whole generates a feeling when listening that these Rock icons were indeed having a great time when they put these songs together, and that energy translates to a successful end product that fans of Metal, Hard Rock, and Classic Rock should definitely enjoy.

01 – Unknown Soldier
02 – Friendly Fire
03 – Holy Man
04 – Never Say Die
05 – Resolution
06 – Searching
07 – Give Blood
08 – Crime of Passion
09 – Walls Cave In
10 – Edge of the World
11 – Stronger Than the Drug

Glenn Tipton – guitars, vocals
John Entwistle – bass
Cozy Powell – drums
Don Airey – keyboards
Neil Murray – additional bass on track 11

Out Of Print