Flashback CD Review #85 - Tipton, Entwistle & Powell - Edge of the World

[TageRyche]

This review was originally written for the Rock Is Life.com website back in 2006.

Tipton, Entwistle & Powell
Edge of the World
Rhino Records - 2006
http://www.glenntipton.co.uk

What's The 4-1-1?

The Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton has dug into the archives to unleash 11 previously unreleased tracks featuring collaboration with bassist John Entwistle (The Who) and drummer Cozy Powell (Rainbow, Whitesnake).

Genre

Hard Rock / Heavy Metal

The Good

I really enjoyed the heavy rhythm section pounding away in "Friendly Fire". Glenn Tipton's guitar work throughout the CD is fantastic. He shows range with his material going from the hard and heavy sound of "Resolution" to the starkly delivered acoustic ballad "Searching."

To be honest, I really enjoyed all songs on this album. My favorites besides the songs I already mentined include "Never Say Die", "Walls Cave In", and "Stronger than the Drug". Tipton, Entwistle and Powell combine on all these songs to form one very cohesive unit.

I complained about bad Tipton's vocals were on his solo re-release Baptizm of Fire. The vocals and their delivery on Edge of the World are vastly improved and dare I say give a more soulful feel to the music.

The Bad

The vocals are still a problem in general at times. They range from sounding overproduced to the rather obvious straining to hit notes out ot Tipton's vocal range. The music mix on "The Holy Man" swallows up some of Tipton's vocals to make them barely audible.

The Verdict

After I reviewed Baptizm of Fire and having it turn out to be something I hated, I was kind of dreading the idea of reviewing this album. This writer is very happy to report that Edge of the World is an album that demonstrates just how hard someone can rock, age be damned! The band never got to do more than this one album and never toured, but if they played anythign close to what they turned out on the CD, they'd have taken the rock/metal scene by storm. Edge of the World is an excellent piece of rock history, despite a flaw with the vocals.

Did You Know?

The material on Edge of the World was recorded at the same time as the Glenn Tipton solo CD Baptizm of Fire.

John Entwistle died in 2002 from a drug overdose. Cozy Powell died in a car crash in 1998.

Keyboardist Don Airey (Deep Purple) plays on this album.

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5

[RJhog (Admin)]

Nice review TR.  I have this one, but I have only listened to the first couple of tracks.  I need to get it out and give it a thorough listen.  Maybe your review will be my inspiration.

[Jon]

A far, far, far, far, far, far, far and far cry from Baptizm of Fire. It's astounding how one can suck so bad while the other is so good.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I got both of 'em for 1 dollar each.  I'm scared to listen to BOF.

[Jon]

And yet, you must.