AXE - Living on the Edge 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Raging guitars polished hooks and 80s American hard rock attitude pressed into pure vinyl fury

large album front cover photo of: Living on the Edge

“Living on the Edge” is the second full-length album by American hard rock band AXE, released in 1980 in the USA on MCA Records. Issued as a classic 12" Vinyl LP, it captures the band at the peak of their melodic hard rock power. With driving guitar riffs, soaring vocals, and polished production by Tony Reale for Mike Curb Productions, the record blends radio-friendly hooks with raw energy. This release not only solidified AXE’s reputation in the late 70s and early 80s rock scene but also stands as a collectable piece of American hard rock history.

"Living on the Edge" Album Description:

The 1980s were a significant era in the music industry, as a new wave of rock music emerged, which would later be referred to as the "hair metal" era. The AXE band was one of the leading bands of this genre, and their Living on the Edge album was an instant hit among the rock music enthusiasts. The album was released on 12" vinyl LP format in 1980, and it became an iconic piece of rock music history.

Living on the Edge was the second album released by AXE, which was formed in 1979. The album was produced by Michael Wagener , who was known for his work with renowned rock bands like Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, and Alice Cooper. The album was released on the MCA Records label, and it was distributed worldwide.

The AXE band was known for their unique sound, which was a blend of classic rock, hard rock, and heavy metal. The band drew inspiration from several prominent rock bands of the 1970s, such as Aerosmith, Kiss, and Led Zeppelin. T

Living on the Edge was a landmark album in the hair metal genre, as it helped to establish AXE as one of the leading bands of the genre. The album's success paved the way for several other bands that would emerge in the 1980s and become successful in the genre. The album's influence can also be seen in the music of several modern rock bands that draw inspiration from the hair metal era.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Melodic Hard Rock

Melodic Hard Rock blends powerful guitar riffs and strong rhythms with catchy melodies and polished arrangements. Emerging in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it bridges heavy rock energy with a more radio-friendly, accessible sound.

Label & Catalognr:

MCA Records – MCA-3224

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

1980 – Made in the USA

Producers:
  • Tony Reale – Producer
    Produced for Mike Curb Productions.

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • Edgar Riley Jr – Lead Vocals, Keyboards
    American singer and keyboard player who began in Babyface and continued through Alien and Axe — essentially the same group under evolving names.
  • Bobby Barth – Guitars
    American singer, guitarist, and producer. He began in the band Wakefield before founding Babyface, which later evolved into Alien and then Axe. Barth also worked as a studio musician and performed with Blackfoot during 1984–1985.
  • Michael Osborne – Guitars
    Guitarist in Alien and Axe. Tragically died in a car accident in 1985, leading to the band’s dissolution.
  • Michael "Mike" Turpin – Bass
    Bass guitarist with Babyface, Alien, and Axe. "Living on the Edge" was his final album with Axe.
  • Teddy Mueller – Drums
    American drummer who started in Prism (1968). Joined Alien/Axe in 1977, anchoring their rhythm section.

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Living On The Edge (2:58)
  2. Fantasy Of Love (3:14)
  3. First Time, Last Time (3:56)
  4. Carry On (2:58)
  5. Running The Gauntlet (2:50)
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) (2:57)
  2. Just Walk Away (3:01)
  3. Let Me Know (3:22)
  4. Save Our Love (3:13)
  5. For A Little While (4:20)

Sound Section – Listen to the Music

Enjoy highlights from AXE’s “Living on the Edge” together with their hard rock cover of “I Can’t Help Myself”, and the original Four Tops classic for comparison.

Axe – "Living On The Edge"
Axe – "I Can't Help Myself"
The Four Tops – Original
Album Front Cover Photo
The front cover of AXE’s 1980 album Living on the Edge. The artwork presents a surreal, futuristic knight’s armored helmet and lance-like shape, exaggerated into sharp metallic forms. The gleaming silver surface is accented by streaks of reflected light, with hints of purple and pink neon glow. Below, the form merges into the grooves of a vinyl record, suggesting speed and mechanical power. Behind it, a dramatic cloudy sky at sunset fades from deep purples to glowing orange, creating a sense of storm and movement. The AXE logo, metallic with a beveled X, is in the upper left corner, while the album title Living on the Edge sits in crisp white letters at the top right.

The front cover of Living on the Edge by AXE is dominated by a striking piece of futuristic fantasy artwork. At the center is a massive steel-gray form resembling a knight’s helmet or armored figure, its pointed projection like a lance aimed forward.

The polished metal surface is rendered with high detail, streaked with vertical glimmers of light and touched with subtle shades of violet, blue, and pink. Along its edge, a glowing neon pink highlight cuts across the darkness, intensifying the surreal effect.

At the bottom, the metallic form flows into the grooves of a black vinyl record, which spins like a giant wheel, complete with a visible spindle hole. The record’s sheen catches light in a spectrum of colors, further blurring the line between music and machinery.

In the background, a stormy sky glows with a dramatic sunset, shifting from deep purples and smoky grays to a radiant orange horizon. The band’s metallic AXE logo sits in the upper left corner, with the album title Living on the Edge written in sharp white text at the top right, balancing the scene.

Album Back Cover Photo
The back cover of AXE’s 1980 album Living on the Edge. The image shows the five band members posed against a stark black background, their figures outlined with glowing neon pink light. Michael Turpin stands on the left with his bass, Teddy Mueller is behind a white drum kit in the center, Bobby Barth sits cross-legged at the lower left with a guitar, Edgar Riley Jr. sits on the ground with long blond hair and sunglasses, and Michael Osborne rests on the right with his guitar and a large silver prop resembling the armored motif from the front cover. Above them in yellow text is the full track listing of the album. The metallic AXE logo is positioned prominently in the upper center. Production credits and the MCA Records logo appear at the bottom edge.

The back cover of Living on the Edge by AXE presents a dramatic band portrait framed in neon pink glows. Against a deep black backdrop, each musician is sharply outlined as if illuminated by electric light.

Bassist Michael Turpin stands on the left with his instrument, while drummer Teddy Mueller is seated at a gleaming white drum kit in the center. In front, guitarist Bobby Barth sits cross-legged with his guitar resting nearby, and Edgar Riley Jr. reclines with long blond hair and sunglasses, adding a relaxed attitude. To the right, guitarist Michael Osborne leans on his guitar, beside a metallic sculptural element echoing the futuristic armored imagery of the front cover.

Above them, the album’s track listing appears in bold yellow text, crowned by the metallic AXE logo at the center. At the bottom, production credits and the MCA Records logo complete the presentation.

Close up of Side One record’s label
Side One record label of AXE’s 1980 album Living on the Edge, released on MCA Records. The circular label design features the signature MCA sky motif with soft blue background and fluffy white clouds, crossed by a vivid rainbow running diagonally from upper left to center. Text is printed in black with 'MCA RECORDS' in purple across the middle. The catalog number MCA-3224 is displayed on the left, alongside the Curb Records logo. The track listing is centered: Living on the Edge (Michael B. Osborne), Fantasy of Love (Edgar Riley Jr.), First Time, Last Time (Bobby Barth), Carry On (Bobby Barth), and Running the Gauntlet (Bobby Barth). Production credits note Tony Reale for Mike Curb Productions, with publishing and copyright info at the bottom edge.

Side One record label of Living on the Edge by AXE showcases MCA Records’ classic sky-and-rainbow design. A soft blue background with drifting white clouds is split by a diagonal rainbow, instantly recognizable as the label’s trademark.

The catalog number MCA-3224 and the Curb Records logo appear to the left, while “MCA RECORDS” is printed boldly across the middle in purple. The track listing is detailed beneath the album title: Living on the Edge, Fantasy of Love, First Time, Last Time, Carry On, and Running the Gauntlet, with songwriter credits.

At the bottom, production credits for Tony Reale and Mike Curb Productions are noted, alongside publishing rights and MCA Records’ legal text from 1980.

Index of AXE band Vinyl Album Discography and Album Cover Gallery

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