HELIX – 50: The Best Of (2025 Crown X CD/LP)

In 2024, Helix celebrated their 50th anniversary as a band.  In 2025, they marked it with a new compilation album, at least their 11th to date.  Much like the legendary Rush, they went with a simple title for this milestone:  Helix 50.

This was a frustrating set to finally buy.  All I wanted was the CD, which has three extra tracks on top of what the vinyl has.  I don’t know if the CD was ever available separately but I never found one.  Then I waited and waited for the CD/LP combo set to show up at one of my preferred retailers and it never did.  I decided to order it from the Helix store with some Christmas money, and it took a month to arrive.  Weirdly, it was “in stock” when I ordered it, but when I emailed to ask about my order after almost a month, I was told they were awaiting more signed stock.  Then, it arrived three days later at my house.  Brian Vollmer’s autograph is in silver pen on top.  (Gold pen would have looked amazing!)

This CD/LP combo of Helix 50 has a gorgeous looking record inside, but is bare-bones packaging-wise.  The set came with a Helix guitar pick and a turntable mat, but lacks the booklet and liner notes that a 50th anniversary compilation deserves.  (I’m always available to write guest liner notes, boys!)  It comes housed in a gatefold sleeve, with the CD tucked inside the front cover.  There are roughly 45 monochromatic photos in the inner sleeve, celebrating the classic era of the band.  The album itself consists of 11 tracks, plus three bonus from the 1993 It’s A Business Doing Pleasure album.  (The first of several mistakes on the liner notes:  the songs are credited to ‘It’s A Pleasure Doing Business (1993)’, but that re-issued title actually came out in 2024, while the original It’s A Business Doing Pleasure was 1993.)  Of the songs, here is how they break down:

• Seven are re-recordings of classic hits from the EMI years 1983-1987.  Two of these are unplugged re-recordings.  Only “Rock You” is new.
• One track is from 1990’s Back For Another Taste unaltered.
• Another track is a single mix from Back For Another Taste, previously released on other compilations.
• One song is from 2009’s Vagabond Bones, unaltered.
• Four are from 1993’s It’s A Business Doing Pleasure.
• One is a “Radio Remix” of 2025’s download-only single “Stand Up”.  (At least we think so – on the back cover it says “Radio Remix”, but in a misprint, on the label it simply says “Remastered”, not “Remix”.)

In some more mis-prints, on the back cover “Heavy Metal Love”, “Deep Cuts the Knife”, “Wild in the Streets” “Make Me Do Anything You Want”, “Dream On” and “The Kids Are All Shakin'” are listed as “2025” versions, but these appear to be the previously released 2006, 2010 and 2011 recordings.  Only “Rock You” appears to be a new 2025 version.  The other versions were only “remastered” in 2025.  Some of the remasters leave something to be desired.  “Good to the Last Drop” sounds blunted compared to other offerings of it.

According to the internet, “Rock You” includes three special guests: Phil X (Bon Jovi) on guitar, Todd Kerns (Slash) on guitar and Brent Fitz (Slash) on drums.  In a tragic omission, none of this information is included in the Helix 50 package.  The only way you’d know is by Googling it.

The acoustic songs have been released before.  Of these re-recordings, it is the power ballad “Deep Cuts The Knife” that packs the most punch.  They went to great effort to replicate the keyboards and backing vocals of the original.  The songs also stay faithful to the original Doerner/Hackman solos.  This acoustic version of “(Make You Do) Anything You Want” is breezy and lighter, and Brian Vollmer absolutely nails everything about the vocals.  It’s a different, slightly softer take on the old classic.  It must also be pointed out that bassist Daryl Gray is an articulate musician with chops, who always finds the right notes.  An under-appreciated bassist.

The remix of “Stand Up” is the first physical release of this standalone download-only single.  The new mix sounds muffled compared to the 2024 version, which is still unreleased on CD or vinyl.  It’s a good song with blazing guitars and a melodic chorus.

Standouts include “The Animal Inside” from Vagabond Bones, which snarls out of the gates.  The acoustic numbers offer subtlety, but there are too many soft moments that don’t really reflect the full gestault of 50 years of Helix.

There are no songs representing the legendary first two albums (Breaking Loose and White Lace & Black Leather) which really takes the bite out of the Helix 50 concept.  “Billy Oxygen” would have been more than welcome.  Only two songs come from the last 30 years of the band, a period in which Helix released plenty of great unrepresented albums and singles.  Notably missing from this period:  Standalone download singles “Brother From A Different Mother” and “Not My Circus, Not My Clowns” which should have been included as bonus tracks.  As of 2025, there is no physical release with those two songs.  Helix 50 easily could have been a double!

One final mis-print:  “The Kids Are All Shakin’ Unplugged (2025 Unplugged)”.  Not only is it actually the 2010 version, but “Unplugged” is printed twice.  Not quite a misprint, but it is weird that guest players Lee Aaron and Kim Mitchell are not credited on the back cover.  (A booklet with credits would fix this issue.)

The classy cover art, with the Helix 50 logo and sparks, is perfect to represent this golden anniversary.  The track listing offers less value to the fans who have been here for 50 years.  The band is limited by what versions of what songs they have access to, and vinyl is limited by run time, but the CD has room for at least five more songs.  Had the full length of the disc been utilized, a more well-rounded representation of the last 50 years of Helix could have been realized.  Ultimately, Helix 50 will please most casual fans who don’t have any Helix on vinyl (which is stunningly gorgeous in black and gold), but leaves a taste of disappointment for those of us who have been here the whole time.

3/5 stars