Asia
When they appeared in the early '80s, Asia seemed to be a holdover from the '70s, when supergroups and self-important progressive rockers reigned supreme. Featuring members of such seminal art rock bands as King Crimson (John Wetton), Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Carl Palmer), and Yes (Steve Howe), as well as Geoff Downes from the Buggles, Asia did feature stretches of indulgent instrumentals on their records. However, they also could be surprisingly poppy, and that is what brought them to the top of the charts with their debut album, Asia, and its hit single, "Heat of the Moment." Alpha, their second album, also had a couple of hits ("Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes") but its follow-up, Astra, was a flop. The group disbanded in 1985, only to reunite in 1990 without John Wetton; John Payne took his place. After churning out a couple of new songs for a greatest-hits collection, the band hit the road, including two sold-out dates in front of 20,000 fans in Moscow. Thereafter, they toured sporadically and released Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Aura (2001), and Silent Nation (2004). The band's lineup reverted to its original form featuring Wetton, Palmer, Howe, and Downes for Phoenix (2008) and Omega (2010). In 2012, the original Asia lineup returned with the studio album XXX, featuring the single "Face on the Bridge." The following year, Howe announced his amicable departure from the group to pursue other projects, and in 2014 Asia released the album Gravitas, featuring new guitarist Sam Coulson. In January 2017, a month and a half before the scheduled beginning of an extensive U.S. tour by the band, John Wetton died from colon cancer at the age of 67.© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo Read more
When they appeared in the early '80s, Asia seemed to be a holdover from the '70s, when supergroups and self-important progressive rockers reigned supreme. Featuring members of such seminal art rock bands as King Crimson (John Wetton), Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Carl Palmer), and Yes (Steve Howe), as well as Geoff Downes from the Buggles, Asia did feature stretches of indulgent instrumentals on their records. However, they also could be surprisingly poppy, and that is what brought them to the top of the charts with their debut album, Asia, and its hit single, "Heat of the Moment."
Alpha, their second album, also had a couple of hits ("Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes") but its follow-up, Astra, was a flop. The group disbanded in 1985, only to reunite in 1990 without John Wetton; John Payne took his place. After churning out a couple of new songs for a greatest-hits collection, the band hit the road, including two sold-out dates in front of 20,000 fans in Moscow. Thereafter, they toured sporadically and released Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Aura (2001), and Silent Nation (2004). The band's lineup reverted to its original form featuring Wetton, Palmer, Howe, and Downes for Phoenix (2008) and Omega (2010). In 2012, the original Asia lineup returned with the studio album XXX, featuring the single "Face on the Bridge." The following year, Howe announced his amicable departure from the group to pursue other projects, and in 2014 Asia released the album Gravitas, featuring new guitarist Sam Coulson. In January 2017, a month and a half before the scheduled beginning of an extensive U.S. tour by the band, John Wetton died from colon cancer at the age of 67.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Asia in Asia: Live at The Budokan, Tokyo, 1983
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd on May 27, 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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XXX
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd on Jun 20, 2012
Celebrating 30 years since the release of their 1982 debut album, Asia's 2012 full-length XXX is also the third release to feature the original line-u ...
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Gravitas
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd on Mar 19, 2014
After reuniting for 2008's Phoenix, the original four members of prog-pop supergroup Asia (bassist/vocalist John Wetton, keyboardist Geoff Downes, gui ...
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Omega
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd on Apr 21, 2010
With the release of 2010's Omega by the reunited original lineup of Asia, the supergroup matches its output of two studio albums from its first go rou ...
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Heat Of The Moment: The Very Best Of Asia
Rock - Released by Geffen on Jan 6, 2000
Why Asia was the recipient of so much venomous criticism from the so-called hip music press is baffling. Okay, the original supergroup's members, voca ...
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Then & Now
Rock - Released by Geffen on Jan 1, 1990
Despite its sometimes bombastic nature, the debut record by '80s supergroup Asia was a strong collection of melodic, sweeping, muscular arena rock. Th ...
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Phoenix
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd on Apr 11, 2008
Like the Phoenix of the title of their 2008 album, Asia has risen from the ashes and made their first studio album with their original lineup in a qua ...
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Phoenix: Special Edition (Includes THE US MIXES)
Rock - Released by ASIA Music Ltd on Apr 11, 2008
Like the Phoenix of the title of their 2008 album, Asia has risen from the ashes and made their first studio album with their original lineup in a qua ...
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Here Comes the Feeling ((Asia In Asia: MTV Satellite Telecast To America, Budokan Arena, Tokyo, Japan, 6 December 1983) [USA Time] [2022 Remix])
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited on Mar 18, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Definitive Collection
Rock - Released by Geffen on Sep 12, 2006
At its best, Asia was the majestic, arena-sized tonic to the increasingly goofy end of the new wave movement, a last gasp from the near dormant volcan ...
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Official Live Bootlegs, Vol. 1
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd on Nov 26, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Recollections: A Tribute To British Prog
Rock - Released by Water Music Records on Mar 24, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sole Survivor (Asia In Asia: MTV Satellite Telecast To America, Budokan Arena, Tokyo, Japan, 6 December 1983) [USA Time] (2022 Remix)
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited on Apr 20, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Only Time Will Tell (Asia In Asia: MTV Satellite Telecast To America, Budokan Arena, Tokyo, Japan, 6 December 1983) [USA Time] (2022 Remix)
Rock - Released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited on May 11, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo