Asia (Asia album)

Last updated

Asia
Asia - Asia (1982) front cover.jpg
Cover art by Roger Dean
Studio album by
Asia
Released18 March 1982 (US) [1]
2 April 1982 (UK) [2]
RecordedJune–November 1981
Studio
Genre
Length44:22
Label Geffen
Producer Mike Stone
Asia chronology
Asia
(1982)		 Alpha
(1983)
Singles from Asia
  1. "Heat of the Moment"
    Released: April 1982
  2. "Only Time Will Tell"
    Released: July 1982
  3. "Sole Survivor"
    Released: October 1982

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. [4] It contains their biggest hit "Heat of the Moment", which reached #4 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. [5]

Contents

Recording

Asia included keyboardist Geoffrey Downes and guitarist Steve Howe from Yes; King Crimson singer-bassist John Wetton, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer drummer Carl Palmer. [6]

"The production was a bit Journey-esque," Howe noted. "That was down to Mike Stone, who'd co-produced Escape , which was a huge album for Journey. But "Heat of the Moment" was the last song we recorded for the Asia album. By then we'd already done stuff like "Time Again" and "Wildest Dreams", which were very progressive. There was also this sweetness in "[Only] Time Will Tell". But as soon as I stacked up the guitar and John started singing, we knew we had something special in "Heat of the Moment"." [7]

"People said, 'No, that's not going to work. It's all keyboards now. It's all synthesizers.' I think A Flock of Seagulls was No. 1," Wetton commented. "Actually, what we did was make a sound that blew synthesizers out of the water. Everyone said, 'Oh, no, no, no. A prog-guitar band ain't gonna work.' But it did." [8]

The album's concluding track, "Here Comes the Feeling" (credited to Wetton and Howe) was a reworking of a song written by Wetton and recorded with French progressive rock band Atoll in 1979: the original version was released as a bonus track on Atoll's 1993 reissue of their 1979 album Rock Puzzle. [9]

Artwork

Asia's logo and cover artwork were created by Roger Dean, known for his work with Yes (of which guitarist Steve Howe and keyboard player Geoff Downes were previous members) and Uriah Heep (of which bassist/vocalist John Wetton had previously been a member). The debut album's art depicts a sea serpent gazing into a crystal orb.

There was a concern that having Dean do the cover would produce something that looked too much like his famed artwork for Yes, but Howe and Downes pushed for his involvement. Geffen's John Kalodner did not initially like Dean's logo for the band. [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [11]
Christgau's Record Guide C− [12]

Robert Christgau blasted the album, and particularly its lyrics. He stated that it had been a rare occasion that "a big new group is bad enough to sink your teeth into any more" and called the album "pompous – schlock in the grand manner". [12] Melody Maker's Adam Sweeting similarly lambasted the band: "Designed by computer, hand-built by robots...Completely calculated, thoroughly contemptible, Asia is every bit as hollow, shallow and nasty as anyone had a right to expect." [13] On the other side, in a Billboard review, it was favourably noted that "the caliber of the [band's] playing is superb and the music sounds fresh and perfect fare for AOR". [14]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Tom Demalon awarded Asia four-and-a-half out of five, saying that "there's no denying the epic grandeur of the music, which provided some much-needed muscle to radio at the time, and did so with style". [11]

Commercial performance

Upon its release in March 1982, Asia reached #1 in the US and spent nine weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart. [5] Asia was certified 4x-platinum in the US by the RIAA on 10 February 1995. [15] It was the best-selling album of 1982 in the US.[ citation needed ]

In the band's native UK, Asia did not perform as well as in the US, peaking only at #11 and spent a total of 38 weeks in the UK Albums Chart. [16] The record received a gold status in Britain on 18 October 1982. [17] "Heat of the Moment" climbed to No. 46. [16]

Asia's total worldwide sales are estimated at over ten million copies. [18]

2010 Audio Fidelity remastered edition

In 2010, Audio Fidelity released a 24 Karat Gold CD (AFZ 068) remaster of the album, mastered by Kevin Gray. [18]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Heat of the Moment" John Wetton, Geoff Downes 3:48
2."Only Time Will Tell"Wetton, Downes4:44
3."Sole Survivor"Wetton, Downes4:48
4."One Step Closer"Wetton, Steve Howe 4:16
5."Time Again"Downes, Howe, Carl Palmer, Wetton4:45
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Wildest Dreams"Wetton, Downes5:10
7."Without You"Wetton, Howe5:04
8."Cutting It Fine"Wetton, Downes, Howe5:35
9."Here Comes the Feeling"Wetton, Howe5:42
Total length:44:22
Bonus Track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Ride Easy"Wetton, Howe4:35
Total length:48:57

Personnel

Asia

Technical personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [38] Gold20,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [39] 3× Platinum300,000^
France (SNEP) [40] Gold100,000*
Japan (RIAJ) [38] Platinum200,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [41] Gold25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [42] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [43] 4× Platinum4,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asia (band)</span> English rock band

Asia are an English rock supergroup formed in London in 1981. The most commercially successful lineup 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 self-titled debut album released in 1982, remains their best-selling 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.

<i>We Sold Our Soul for Rock n Roll</i> 1976 compilation album by Black Sabbath

We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll is a compilation album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, originally released in January 1976 in the UK and 3 February 1976 in the US.

<i>Larks Tongues in Aspic</i> 1973 studio album by King Crimson

Larks' Tongues in Aspic is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson, released on 23 March 1973 through Island Records in the UK and Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. This album is the debut of King Crimson's third incarnation, featuring co-founder and guitarist Robert Fripp along with four new members: bass guitarist and vocalist John Wetton, violinist and keyboardist David Cross, percussionist Jamie Muir, and drummer Bill Bruford. It is a key album in the band's evolution, drawing on Eastern European modernist classical music and European free improvisation as central influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wetton</span> English musician (1949–2017)

John Kenneth Wetton was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Although he was left-handed, he was known as a skilled right-handed bass player and had a booming baritone voice. He was a member of the band Family in 1971 for a short time, before joining King Crimson in 1972. After the breakup of King Crimson at the end of 1974, Wetton played in a number of progressive rock and hard rock bands, including Roxy Music (1974–1975), Uriah Heep (1975–1976), U.K. (1977–1980), and Wishbone Ash (1980–1981).

<i>Going for the One</i> 1977 studio album by Yes

Going for the One is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 15 July 1977 by Atlantic Records. After taking a break in activity in 1975 for each member to release a solo album, and their 1976 tour of the United States and Canada, the band relocated to Montreux, Switzerland to record their next studio album. During rehearsals, keyboardist Patrick Moraz left the group, which marked the return of Rick Wakeman who had left to pursue a solo career after differences surrounding Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973). In a departure from their previous albums, Going for the One, with the exception of the fifteen-minute "Awaken", features shorter and more direct songs without an overarching concept, and saw Yes record with new engineering personnel and cover artists.

<i>Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe is the only studio album by English progressive rock band Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, released in June 1989 on Arista Records.

<i>Drama</i> (Yes album) 1980 studio album by Yes

Drama is the tenth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 22 August 1980 by Atlantic Records. It was their only album to feature Trevor Horn on lead vocals and the first with Geoff Downes on keyboards. This followed the departures of Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman after attempts to record a new album in Paris and London had failed. Drama was recorded hurriedly with Horn and Downes, as a tour had already been booked before the change in personnel. The album marked a development in Yes' musical direction, combining the band's progressive signature with Horn and Downes' new wave sensibilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heat of the Moment (Asia song)</span> 1982 single by Asia

"Heat of the Moment" is the first single released by English progressive rock supergroup Asia from their 1982 eponymous debut album. It was written by singer and bass guitarist John Wetton and keyboardist Geoff Downes. It was named by Lee Zimmerman of Paste as Asia's signature song.

<i>Alpha</i> (Asia album) 1983 studio album by Asia

Alpha is the second studio album by British rock supergroup Asia, released on 12 August 1983 by Geffen Records. It was recorded at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec, and Manta Sound in Toronto from February to May 1983. Alpha adopted a notably more polished sound with radio-friendly elements and less emphasis on progressive rock sections. Like its multi-platinum predecessor, the album was produced by Mike Stone. It was also the last album to feature the band's original line-up for twenty-five years until Phoenix, which was released in 2008.

<i>Astra</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Asia

Astra is the third studio album by British rock supergroup Asia, released on 25 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.

<i>Fragile</i> (Yes album) 1971 studio album by Yes

Fragile is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released in the UK on 12 November 1971 and in the US on 4 January 1972 by Atlantic Records. It was the band's first album to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced Tony Kaye after the group had finished touring their breakthrough record, The Yes Album (1971).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Downes</span> English keyboardist (born 1952)

Geoffrey Downes is an English keyboardist who gained fame as a member of the new wave group the Buggles with Trevor Horn, the progressive rock band Yes, and the supergroup Asia.

<i>Then & Now</i> (Asia album) 1990 compilation album

Then & Now is a compilation album by British rock supergroup Asia, released on 13 August 1990 by Geffen Records. It consists of two parts titled as Then and Now. Then comprises songs from the band's first two albums, Asia and Alpha, which featured the band's original line-up of Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and John Wetton. Now comprises songs recorded by the band after Howe's departure.

<i>Phoenix</i> (Asia album) 2008 studio album by Asia

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.

<i>Omega</i> (Asia album) 2010 studio album by Asia

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.

<i>XXX</i> (Asia album) 2012 studio album by Asia

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.

<i>Gravitas</i> (Asia album) 2014 studio album by Asia

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.

<i>Heaven & Earth</i> (Yes album) 2014 studio album by Yes

Heaven & Earth is the twenty-first studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes. It was released on 16 July 2014 on Frontiers Records and is the first album with lead vocalist Jon Davison and the final album to feature founding bassist Chris Squire before his death in 2015. The group started preparing new material for an album during the 2013 leg of their Album Series Tour. Davison took an active approach with the songwriting, travelling to the homes of the other band members to collaborate on songs. Yes enlisted producer Roy Thomas Baker and future Yes bassist Billy Sherwood to complete the mixing.

<i>The Quest</i> (Yes album) 2021 studio album by Yes

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, making this Yes' first studio album without any original members. It is also their first studio album since Talk (1994) to feature a single producer, guitarist Steve Howe, and their last to feature drummer Alan White before his death in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "RIAA".
  2. ↑ "BPI".
  3. ↑ Deggans, Eric (1998). "Asia". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 44–45.
  4. ↑ "The Billboard 200 – Year-end albums – 1982". Billboard. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Asia chart positions in the US". Billboard .
  6. ↑ Jason Bracelin (24 July 2019). "Despite prog rock's critics, Yes, Asia keep genre going strong" . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Martin Kielty (28 April 2020). "Steve Howe Says John Wetton Struggled With Asia's Success" . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  8. ↑ Jeff Giles (18 March 2017). "How Asia Mixed Prog and Pop on Their Self-Titled Debut" . Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  9. ↑ Atoll – Here Comes the Feeling. youtube.com. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "Roger Dean and Geoff Downes in Conversation" . Retrieved 26 March 2023– via www.youtube.com.
  11. 1 2 Demalon, Tom. Asia: Asia > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  12. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (1990). "A". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s . Pantheon Books. ISBN   0-679-73015-X . Retrieved 16 August 2020– via robertchristgau.com.
  13. ↑ "Asia: Asia (Geffen)". rocksbackpages.com. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "Top Album Picks: Asia – Asia". Billboard . Vol. 94, no. 12. 27 March 1982. p. 98.
  15. ↑ "RIAA's Gold & Platinum Program searchable database". RIAA. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
  16. 1 2 "Asia chart positions in the UK". The Official Charts Company.
  17. ↑ "BPI's certified awards search". BPI.
  18. 1 2 "Asia::Asia". Audio Fidelity. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012.
  19. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 19. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  20. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Asia – Asia" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6528". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Asia – Asia" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  23. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  24. ↑ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – A". Infodisc.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2012.Select Asia from the menu, then press OK.
  25. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Asia – Asia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2024. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Asia".
  27. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  28. ↑ "Charts.nz – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Asia Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1982". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  34. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  35. ↑ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Jones, Alan (1983). "The Top 100 UK Albums". Chart File, Volume 2. London: Virgin Books. pp. 82–83. ISBN   0-907080-73-1.
  36. ↑ "Top Pop Albums". Billboard . Vol. 94, no. 51. 25 December 1982.
  37. ↑ "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard . Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  38. 1 2 "Asia strikes it rich" (PDF). Cash Box . 11 November 1982. p. 28. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  39. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Asia – Asia". Music Canada . Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  40. ↑ "French album certifications – Asia – Asia" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 9 September 2021.Select ASIA and click OK. 
  41. ↑ Bonhams : Carl Palmer: Album cover artwork and a 'gold' sales award, 1982 at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 November 2021)
  42. ↑ "British album certifications – Asia – Asia". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  43. ↑ "American album certifications – Asia – Asia". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 28 October 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.