| Aqua | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 8 June 1992 | |||
| Studio | Advision, Brighton, England | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 60:16 | |||
| Label | Musidisc | |||
| Producer | Geoff Downes | |||
| Asia chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Aqua | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
Aqua is the fourth studio album by British rock supergroup Asia, released in 1992. It was the first album with longtime vocalist and bassist John Payne.
In April 1991, original vocalist and bassist John Wetton departed from Asia, discouraged by the group's lack of success in the United States. He was replaced by John Payne, who accepted an invitation from keyboard player Geoff Downes to join the group. This duo would eventually lead Asia through to 2006. Although being in an official capacity, two other co-founders, guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Carl Palmer, were involved sporadically, as Howe returned during the sessions having just left Yes again, and Palmer would leave soon, committing to a reunion of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The line-up was completed by American guitarist Al Pitrelli, who collaborated with Alice Cooper from 1989 to 1991. Several additional musicians were invited as guests, including drummer Simon Phillips.
Aqua was recorded at Advision Studios in Brighton, England, and produced by Downes. The cover artwork was designed by Rodney Matthews, known for his work with Eloy and Magnum among others, and featured the group's logotype designed by Roger Dean, who had created the covers of all previous studio recordings.
"Love Under Fire" was composed in summer 1988 by Downes and Greg Lake under the project named Ride the Tiger. The album contains four songs co-written by Johnny Warman.
Aqua was released on 8 June 1992 in the United Kingdom by Musidisc and 15 September 1992 in the United States by Great Pyramid Records. The U.S. edition features a modified cover and different track listing, in which "Little Rich Boy" is omitted.[ why? ]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Aqua Part 1" | Geoff Downes, John Payne, Steve Howe | 2:27 |
| 2. | "Who Will Stop the Rain?" | Downes, Johnny Warman, Ben Woolfenden | 4:36 |
| 3. | "Back in Town" | Downes, Payne | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Love Under Fire" | Downes, Greg Lake | 5:15 |
| 5. | "Someday" | Downes, Warman | 5:49 |
| 6. | "Little Rich Boy" | Downes, Payne | 4:38 |
| 7. | "The Voice of Reason" | Downes, Payne | 5:37 |
| 8. | "Lay Down Your Arms" | Downes, Payne, Greg Hart | 4:15 |
| 9. | "Crime of the Heart" | Downes, Warman | 5:58 |
| 10. | "A Far Cry" | Downes, Payne, Hart, Bob Mitchell | 5:30 |
| 11. | "Don't Call Me" | Downes, Warman | 4:56 |
| 12. | "Heaven on Earth" | Payne, Andy Nye | 4:55 |
| 13. | "Aqua Part 2" | Downes, Payne | 2:11 |
| Total length: | 60:16 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Obsession" | Payne, Steve Rodford | 4:57 |
| Total length: | 65:13 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Obsession" | Payne, Rodford | 4:59 |
| 15. | "Little Rich Boy" (live) | Downes, Payne | 7:00 |
| 16. | "Love Under Fire" (live) | Downes, Lake | 5:55 |
| Total length: | 78:12 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Aqua Part 1" | Downes, Payne, Howe | 2:26 |
| 2. | "Who Will Stop the Rain?" | Downes, Warman, Woolfenden | 4:36 |
| 3. | "Lay Down Your Arms" | Downes, Payne, Hart | 4:15 |
| 4. | "Heaven on Earth" | Payne, Nye | 4:54 |
| 5. | "Someday" | Downes, Warman | 5:49 |
| 6. | "Crime of the Heart" | Downes, Warman | 5:57 |
| 7. | "A Far Cry" | Downes, Payne, Hart, Mitchell | 5:30 |
| 8. | "Back in Town" | Downes, Payne | 4:09 |
| 9. | "Don't Call Me" | Downes, Warman | 4:56 |
| 10. | "Love Under Fire" | Downes, Lake | 5:15 |
| 11. | "The Voice of Reason" | Downes, Payne | 5:36 |
| 12. | "Aqua Part 2" | Downes, Payne | 2:10 |
| Total length: | 55:36 | ||
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [4] | 51 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) [5] | 21 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [6] | 20 |
Asia are an English rock supergroup formed in London in 1981. The most commercially successful line-up was its original, which consisted of four members of different progressive rock bands who had enjoyed great success in the 1970s: lead vocalist and bassist John Wetton, guitarist Steve Howe (Yes), keyboardist Geoff Downes and drummer Carl Palmer. Their debut album, Asia, released in 1982, remains their bestselling album and went to number one in several countries. Billboard listed it as the top album in the U.S. in 1982. The lead single from the album, "Heat of the Moment", remains their top charting and best-known song, reaching the top 40 in over a dozen markets. It peaked at #4 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Asia is the debut studio album by English rock supergroup Asia, released in 1982. According to both Billboard and Cashbox, it was the #1 album in the United States for the year 1982. It contains their biggest hit "Heat of the Moment", which reached #4 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
John Payne is an English musician, best known as the lead singer and bassist of Asia from 1991 to 2006, then from June 2007, with Asia featuring John Payne. He also is now in Dukes of the Orient but continues to tour with The Rock Pack and also Asia Featuring John Payne.
Silent Nation is the ninth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in 2004. It was the last album with longtime vocalist and bassist John Payne, prior to the reunion of the original line-up in 2006.
Astra is the third studio album by British rock supergroup Asia, released on 30 November 1985 by Geffen Records. It was their last full-length studio album with co-founding vocalist and bassist John Wetton until Phoenix (2008), released after the original line-up reunited in 2006. Astra is the first of two albums from Asia—the other being Then & Now—with Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer, who replaced Steve Howe.
Aria is the fifth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in April 1994 in the United Kingdom by Bullet Proof Records and in 1995 in the United States by Mayhem Recordings. Unlike its predecessor, which was recorded with the help of several guest musicians, Aria features a stable line-up consisting of vocalist and bassist John Payne, keyboard player Geoff Downes, guitarist Al Pitrelli and drummer Michael Sturgis.
Arena is the sixth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in March 1996 by Bullet Proof Records. Recorded at Electric Palace Studios in London during 1995, it was produced by vocalist John Payne and keyboard player Geoff Downes. The album was a departure from Asia's usual sound, adopting a more acoustic production style with Latin and Middle Eastern influences.
Qango were a short-lived progressive rock band, a spin-off from Asia. In 1999, an attempt was made at a partial reunion of the progressive rock supergroup Asia involving John Wetton, Carl Palmer (drums) and Geoff Downes (keys), with Dave Kilminster to be on guitar. However, Downes withdrew from plans, choosing to stick with John Payne in their Asia line-up. Wetton and Palmer instead formed Qango with Kilminster and John Young on keys. The band's live set was based on songs by Asia and Palmer's former band Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Aura is the eighth studio album by British progressive rock band Asia. As a result of the diverse array of guest musicians, Aura had a wide mix of sounds with some songs trying to replicate Asia's earlier style, while others retained the more acoustic Latin production started by Arena five years prior.
Archiva is a two-volume collection of out-takes and previously unreleased tracks by British progressive rock band Asia. The volume one, designated as Archiva 1, was released on 3 September 1996 by Resurgence.
Archiva is a two-volume collection of out-takes and previously unreleased tracks by British progressive rock band Asia. The volume two, designated as Archiva 2, was released on 17 September 1996 by Resurgence.
Anthology is a compilation by Asia highlighting the John Payne era up to 1997. Re-recordings of John Wetton-era material were prompted by a lawsuit filed by Wetton when the original versions were used on the initial release in Japan. New versions were allowed, as well as a cover of the GTR track, "The Hunter".
Phoenix is the tenth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in 2008. It was the first studio recording with the original line-up after the reunion in 2006.
Asia featuring John Payne is a British–American rock group band formed in 2007 following a schism in the lineup of Asia. The band is a continuation of singer and bassist John Payne's career as the band's frontman, which lasted from 1991 until 2006, when Asia's original 1982 lineup reunited. In December 2017, Payne and keyboardist Erik Norlander formed a new group, Dukes of the Orient, with various members and ex-members of Asia featuring John Payne as collaborators. Asia featuring John Payne remains active as a touring stage show.
Aurora is an extended play by British rock supergroup Asia, released on 2 April 1986 exclusively in Japan by Geffen Records.
Omega is the eleventh studio album by British rock band Asia, released on 21 April 2010 in Japan by Melodious Frontier and on 23 April 2010 in Europe by Frontiers Records. It was the fourth studio recording with the original line-up and second after the reunion in 2006.
Fantasia: Live in Tokyo is a double live album by British rock band Asia, released on 21 June 2007 in Japan by WHD Entertainment and on 26 June 2007 internationally by Eagle Records.
XXX is the twelfth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in 2012. It is the fifth and final studio album with the original line-up due to guitarist Steve Howe's departure the following year and vocalist/bassist John Wetton's death in 2017.
Gravitas is the thirteenth studio album by British rock group Asia, released in 2014. It is the group's final studio album with vocalist/bassist John Wetton before his death in 2017 and the only one to feature guitarist Sam Coulson.
The Quest is the twenty-second studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 1 October 2021 by InsideOut Music and Sony Music. It is their first studio album featuring Billy Sherwood since The Ladder (1999), replacing bassist Chris Squire following his death in 2015, and their first album without any original members. It is also their first album since Talk (1994) to be produced by only one member, namely guitarist Steve Howe, and their last studio album to be released before the death of drummer Alan White in 2022.
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Extended plays | |
| Live albums | |
| Compilations | |
| Singles | |
| Related articles | |
