Helix — Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

39 years ago today, we were “Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge” with Helix!

On this day (July 7) in 1984, Helix released their fourth full-length studio album, “Walkin' the Razor's Edge” via Capitol Records, reaching No. 27 on the Canadian RPM Album Chart, and selling 100,000 copies in Canada and 400,000 internationally.

Background:

The promotional video for the albums lead single, "Rock You", which was filmed in a quarry in Kitchener, Ontario, is perhaps best known for the image of guitar player Brent Doerner emerging from the water to play his guitar solo. "Rock You" reached No. 27 on the Canadian RMP Pop Singles Chart, although it was more popular on Canadian Rock radio stations.

The albums second single was the Crazy Elephant cover "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'", which featured a parody of the Miss America Pageant titled the "Miss Rock Fantasy" Pageant. Two different promotional music videos were filmed for the song: an uncensored version featuring semi-nude and topless women, and a censored version made available for the more mainstream media markets like MTV. The ending of both versions of the video feature comedian Rip Taylor seated on a motorcycle surrounded by the band and the models all waving goodbye. It caused some controversy several years after its initial release when it was learned that among the cast of porn stars that appear topless in the uncensored version was a then-unknown 16-year-old Traci Lords as "Miss Georgia". (This version was also featured in a pornographic video titled Electric Blue 26.) This version was aired on the Playboy Channel in the United States.

The band also made a promotional video for their A Foot in Coldwater cover, "(Make Me Do) Anything You Want", with the song reaching number 44 on the Canadian RPM Pop Chart.

Critical Reception:

Metal-Rules.com placed “Walkin’ The Razor’s Edge” in the No. 41 spot of their “Top 50 Glam Metal Albums”.

Loudwire alumni Eduardo Rivadavia’s review for AllMusic states;

“Released hot on the heels of their strong major-label debut, “No Rest for the Wicked”, 1984's “Walkin' the Razor's Edge” was Helix's fourth album and brought the hard-working Canadian quintet -- at the time already celebrating almost a decade of activity, amazingly enough -- to the very cusp of mainstream recognition. Unfortunately, it couldn't quite push them over the edge, though (peaking at number 69 on the Billboard charts), despite boasting a balanced set of muscular, self-penned heavy rockers and anthemic singles culled from outside songwriters that were seemingly tailor-made for American radio.”

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Walkin' the Razor's Edge” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/walkin-the-razors-edge-bonus-track-version/714952293

Click this link to listen to “Walkin' the Razor's Edge” via Spotify: Walkin' The Razor's Edge https://open.spotify.com/album/6bLC4Ik5DP9E0nrPCNs4Sh

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Rock You (Uncensored)”: https://youtu.be/rYvzjv2RqtE

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Rock You (Censored Version)”: https://youtu.be/ZCTcbc2a5Ik

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’”: https://youtu.be/f8D0PGsi4DI

Click this link to watch the official music video for “(Make Me Do) Anything You Want”: https://youtu.be/t_4ukR88p14

Click this link to follow Helix on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helixrockband

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Helix — Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge

Background:

Critical Reception:

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

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