Music from the Edge of Heaven

Last updated

Music from the Edge of Heaven
Cover art of Wham's Music from the Edge of Heaven.jpg
North America cover artwork
Studio album by
Released27 June 1986
RecordedAugust 1984 ("Last Christmas"); 1985–1986
Studio Sarm West (London)
Length45:14
Label Columbia CK-40825
Producer George Michael
Wham! chronology
Make It Big
(1984)
Music from the Edge of Heaven
(1986)
The Final
(1986)
Singles from Music from the Edge of Heaven
  1. "Last Christmas"
    Released: 3 December 1984
  2. "I'm Your Man"
    Released: 11 November 1985 [1]
  3. "A Different Corner"
    Released: 24 March 1986
  4. "The Edge of Heaven"
    Released: 9 June 1986 [2]
  5. "Where Did Your Heart Go?"
    Released: October 1986
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Rolling Stone (not rated) [4]
Stylus Magazine (Positive) [5]

Music from the Edge of Heaven is the third and final studio album by English pop duo Wham! It was released on June 27, 1986 by Columbia Records. [6]

Contents

Music from the Edge of Heaven was only released in North America and Japan. In other territories, an album called The Final was released. Both albums share some of the same songs. Music from the Edge of Heaven generally acted as a studio album from Wham! for the North American and Japanese markets. It consisted of some songs not available on The Final as well. The Final was a greatest hits album as it included a few of the same songs, but also included many of their previous hits from their two prior albums. Decades later, Music from the Edge of Heaven was not included in the CD remastering series by the duo's record company because of the album's limited release; however, The Final was included.

"The Edge of Heaven", "Battlestations", "Wham Rap! '86" and "Where Did Your Heart Go?", according to the liner notes, are newly recorded for the album, with "The Edge of Heaven", "Battlestations" and "Where Did Your Heart Go?" also appearing on The Final; the other half was slightly changed for the collection, with the exception of the Pudding Mix of "Last Christmas":

A box set of the three studio albums by the band titled Original Album Classics was released on March 20, 2015, which included Music from the Edge of Heaven.

Although it did not have a physical release in forms such as vinyl or CD in Europe, Music from the Edge of Heaven was released in Europe on iTunes for the first time to download in late 2017. [7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by George Michael, except where noted.

Hot Side
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Edge of Heaven" 4:31
2."Battlestations" 5:25
3."I'm Your Man" 6:05
4."Wham! Rap '86"6:33
Cool Side
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."A Different Corner" 4:30
6."Blue" (live in China) 5:43
7."Where Did Your Heart Go?" (Was (Not Was) cover)5:43
8."Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)" 6:44
Total length:45:14

Personnel

Technical

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Music from the Edge of Heaven
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [12] Platinum100,000^
Japan (Oricon Charts)158,000 [9]
United States (RIAA) [13] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Balance of Power</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Electric Light Orchestra

Balance of Power is the eleventh studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in 1986. It is the final album by the band to feature co-founder Bev Bevan on drums, as well as the last album to feature a significant contribution from keyboardist Richard Tandy.

<i>Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.</i> 1967 studio album by The Monkees

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. is the fourth album by the Monkees. It was released on November 6, 1967, during a period when the band exerted more control over their music and performed many of the instruments themselves. However, although the group had complete artistic control over the procceedings, they invited more outside contributions than on their previous album, Headquarters, and used session musicians to complement their sound. The album also featured one of the first uses of the Moog synthesizer in popular music. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. sold over three million copies. It was the band's fourth consecutive album to reach No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

<i>Small World</i> (Huey Lewis and the News album) 1988 studio album by Huey Lewis and the News

Small World is the fifth album by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released in 1988. It was also their last album release on Chrysalis Records in the USA.

<i>Heart of Stone</i> (Cher album) 1989 album by Cher

Heart of Stone is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on July 10, 1989 by Geffen Records. As of January 1991, the album has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. The album was supported by Cher's 1989–1990 Heart of Stone Tour.

<i>Make It Big</i> 1984 studio album by Wham!

Make It Big is the second studio album by English pop duo Wham!, released in 1984. In comparison to their earlier work, Wham! had more control over the album's production and Michael would also be credited as a producer. The album was a commercial success, hitting number one in both the US and the UK and spawning four singles, all reaching the top three in the US and the UK.

<i>Ice on Fire</i> 1985 studio album by Elton John

Ice on Fire is the nineteenth studio album by English musician Elton John, released in 1985. It was recorded at Sol Studios and his first album since Blue Moves produced by his original long-time producer, Gus Dudgeon. David Paton and Charlie Morgan appear for the first time on bass and drums respectively, replacing original band members Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson. Fred Mandel, who had played with John during the Breaking Hearts tour, also contributed guitar and keyboards.

<i>Instant Replay</i> (The Monkees album) 1969 studio album by the Monkees

Instant Replay is the seventh studio album by the American pop rock band the Monkees, released in 1969 by Colgems Records. Issued 11 months after the cancellation of the group's NBC television series, it is also the first album released after Peter Tork left the group and the only album of the original nine studio albums that does not include any songs featured in the TV show.

<i>Fantastic</i> (Wham! album) 1983 studio album by Wham!

Fantastic is the debut studio album by English pop duo Wham!, released on 1 July 1983. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. It included the previously released singles "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!" and "Bad Boys". "Club Tropicana" was released as a single to coincide with the album's release. Although not on the album, "Club Fantastic Megamix" was released against the band's wishes by Innervision soon after Fantastic, and whilst they were in proceedings to leave the label.

<i>Duets</i> (Elton John album) 1993 studio album by Elton John and various artists

Duets is the first collaboration studio album by English musician Elton John, released in 1993. The album debuted at No. 7 in the UK. In the US, it peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum in January 1994 by the RIAA.

<i>The Final</i> (album) 1986 greatest hits album by Wham!

The Final is a greatest hits album released in 1986 to summarise the career of English pop duo Wham!. The album was not initially released in North America, where the album Music from the Edge of Heaven was released instead. Six songs from that album appear on this compilation. The compilation album coincided with the farewell concert of the same name on 28 June 1986, at Wembley Stadium.

<i>Storyville</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Robbie Robertson

Storyville is Robbie Robertson's second solo album. It is focused on the famous jazz homeland section of New Orleans and on that part of the South in general. He contributed one song to Wim Wenders' soundtrack to his 1991 film, Until the End of the World.

<i>Mr. Jordan</i> 1989 studio album by Julian Lennon

Mr. Jordan is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Julian Lennon, released in 1989. It was Lennon's first album in three years, after taking a hiatus from the music industry.

<i>Heaven on Earth</i> (Belinda Carlisle album) 1987 studio album by Belinda Carlisle

Heaven on Earth is the second solo studio album by American singer Belinda Carlisle. It was released on October 5, 1987, by MCA Records. Three singles reached the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, including the number-one single and Carlisle's signature song "Heaven Is a Place on Earth". The album has been certified triple Platinum in the United Kingdom and Platinum in many countries, including the United States.

<i>All Systems Go</i> (Donna Summer album) 1987 studio album by Donna Summer

All Systems Go is the thirteenth studio album by Donna Summer. It was released on September 15, 1987; it would be her final release on Geffen Records, which had been Summer's label since 1980. There were two singles released in the US, "Dinner with Gershwin" and "Only the Fool Survives", although both failed to reach the top 40 of the Hot 100. The title cut, "All Systems Go" was released as single in the UK. The album peaked at number 122 on the US Billboard 200, becoming her lowest charting studio album to date.

<i>Runaway Horses</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Belinda Carlisle

Runaway Horses is the third solo studio album by American singer Belinda Carlisle, released on October 3, 1989, by MCA Records. The album features songs written by Rick Nowels, Ellen Shipley, Charlotte Caffey and a song co-written by Carlisle herself. The album contains an array of guest artists, including George Harrison and Bryan Adams.

<i>Toto XX</i> 1998 compilation album / studio album by Toto

Toto XX: 1977–1997 is a compilation album by Toto to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The album features rare original demos, outtakes, previously unreleased recordings and live tracks from the band's 20-year career. Despite its being labeled as a compilation album, Steve Lukather in 2014 defined the album as the tenth studio album overall.

<i>Vagabond Heart</i> 1991 studio album by Rod Stewart

Vagabond Heart is the sixteenth studio album by British recording artist Rod Stewart, released on 25 March 1991 by Warner Bros. Records. The album reached No. 10 in the US, and reached No. 2 in the UK. The album features five singles, among them a cover of Robbie Robertson's song "Broken Arrow" and Van Morrison's song "Have I Told You Lately", which would become a hit two years later, and is Stewart's most recent top five solo hit in the US and the UK. The two biggest hits from the album were "Rhythm of My Heart" and "The Motown Song". The latter song features with Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro and Jeff Porcaro nearly the whole band of Toto.

<i>Aretha</i> (1986 album) 1986 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha is the thirty-first studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, originally released on October 27, 1986, by Arista Records. It is the third album with the Aretha title to be released by Franklin, following her 1961 album and 1980 album.

<i>Love Makes No Sense</i> 1993 studio album by Alexander ONeal

Love Makes No Sense is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. The album was O'Neal's final release for Tabu, and his first album made without formal production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

<i>44/876</i> 2018 studio album by Sting and Shaggy

44/876 is a collaborative album by English musician Sting and Jamaican musician Shaggy. It was released on 20 April 2018 by A&M Records, Interscope Records and Cherrytree Records.

References

  1. "BPI".
  2. "BPI".
  3. Ruhlmann, William. Music from the Edge of Heaven at AllMusic. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  4. Fricke, David (28 August 1986). "Wham: Music from the Edge of Heaven: Music Review". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007.
  5. Inskeep, Thomas (6 December 2005). "Music from the Edge of Heaven – On Second Thought — Stylus Magazine". Archived from the original on 29 March 2006. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  6. "RIAA".
  7. iTunes – Wham! – Music from the edge of heaven
  8. Library and Archives Canada. Archived 12 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 27 February 2012
  9. 1 2 Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  10. "Wham! Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  11. "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1986". RPM . Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  12. "Canadian album certifications – Wham – Edge". Music Canada . Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  13. "American album certifications – Wham – Edge of Heaven". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 26 February 2012.