Written by Hughes, Roxanne Seeman, and Dominic Messinger, the single was released in Japan by Pony Canyon on May 15, 1991, under the title "Todokanu Omoi" (とどかぬ想い, lit.

[1] "Welcome to the Edge" was written by Hughes and Seeman with Messinger, music director and composer of the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara, after a previous song, "Turn it All Around", that Messinger had selected in 1988 to use in connection with a love triangle between the character Julia and Father Michael, became a popular love theme, prompting viewer requests.

[7] In 1990, the Japanese duo Wink recorded a version of "Welcome to the Edge" titled "Omoide made Soba ni Ite" (想い出までそばにいて, lit.

Billboard journalist Kaz Fukatsu remarked: "That's an impressive figure, since most karaoke fans can't sing along in English.

[20][21] Santa Barbara aired on RTL under the title California Clan, with a soundtrack album released by Intercord including a cover version of "Welcome to the Edge".