11032014 - The Babys "On the Edge"

This is the fifth album by the John Waite-fronted band The Babys, released in 1980. As with all other releases by this group, we're talking slick melodic rock, tailor-made for radio. Waite is on top form and the band, including keyboard maestro Jonathan Cain (Journey, Bad English) and bassist Ricky Phillips (Styx, Bad English), are tight and inspired. Unfairly, the big breakthrough hit never arrived for The Babys, so this was to be their last studio album. A shame really, as songs like "Sweet 17" and "Rock 'N' Roll Is (Alive And Well)" would have been stadium fodder had there been any justice in the world. Which there isn't. Oh well, if the band had never disbanded we might never have had John Waite's hit "Missing You". Or would we?