Song#: 1657
Date: 10/22/1983
Debut: 98
Peak: 94
Weeks: 2
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: This hard rock band had a bit of a breakthrough when their third album, Offering, spawned the Rock radio track "Rock 'N' Roll Party in the Streets" (#23) and the #64 Pop entry "Now or Never." It set them up well for their next album, Nemesis, but the only track to make any headway was this single that got to #36 at Rock and spent two short weeks near the bottom of the Pop chart. It wasn't great news, but it got far worse for them when two band members, Bobby Barth and Michael Osborne were involved in a car wreck. Barth would survive, but sadly Osborne would not. The band would fold soon after Osborne's death. A reformed version of the band would appear in 1997.
ReduxReview: This tune starts off with a terrific, mysterious groove, but the chorus is a bit of a letdown. Although I like the Hammond organ part, it seems a bit out of place for a band that is billed as being hard rock. This is definitely not hard rock. It's more in line with Michael Stanley Band or some other Midwest rock outfit. The rest of the album kind of shifts around from harder rocking tunes a la 38 Special to more pop-oriented rock via Survivor or even the more keyboard oriented tracks from Styx. There are some good songs on the LP with several (like this one) that seemed to have been written with a more commercial slant. It's all good, just not outstanding.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: The lineup of Axe in 1997, which featured original members Barth and drummer Teddy Mueller, also included vocalist Bob Harris. Harris had been a part of Frank Zappa's band for a few years beginning in 1981. He played keyboards and trumpet and provided vocals. He became lead singer of Axe when they reformed. Axe is still in existence as of this date with Harris at the helm. All other original members have either moved on to other projects or have passed away.
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