Then & Now | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 14 August 1990 | |||
Recorded | 1981–1985 (tracks 1–5 and 10), 1989–1990 (tracks 6–9) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:29 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Producer |
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Asia chronology | ||||
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Singles from Then & Now | ||||
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Then & Now is a compilation album by British rock supergroup Asia, released on 14 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 (including "Voice of America" from the band's third album, Astra ).
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | C [2] |
Select | [3] |
Then & Now has received negative reception from music critics. Greg Sandow in his review for Entertainment Weekly gave the album a rating of C. He wrote that the old hits such as "Heat of the Moment" and "Don't Cry" "are empty symphonic rock, full of strings and predictable melodic hooks", while the new songs "aren’t as lush", "hit the beat a little harder, but in essence [they’re] just as bland". [2] Tom Demalon has given the compilation a retrospective rating of one-and-a-half stars out of five on AllMusic. He has noted that Asia were not able to repeat their early success with the new material, which has been described as "flaccid musically and insipid lyrically". "Days Like These", written by Steve Jones (the past leader for The Unforgiven), has been singled out as an exception, "which nearly matches the band's strong debut material". [1]
The album only peaked at number 114 on the Billboard 200 [4] and did not reach UK Albums Chart at all. However, it sold steadily over years and was certified gold on 23 July 1998 for over half a million copies shipped in the United States, where remains the group's third best selling album, trailing Asia and Alpha . [5] To promote Then & Now, "Days Like These" was released as a single. The song gained substantial airplay during the summer of 1990 and was a number two hit on the Mainstream Rock chart. [6] Despite this, the single stumbled at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 [7] and has been the last to date chart entry for Asia in the United States.
All tracks are written by John Wetton and Geoff Downes, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Only Time Will Tell" | 4:46 | |
2. | "Heat of the Moment" | 3:52 | |
3. | "Wildest Dreams" | 5:10 | |
4. | "Don't Cry" | 3:40 | |
5. | "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" | Wetton | 3:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Days Like These" | Steve Jones | 4:05 |
7. | "Prayin' 4 a Miracle" | Wetton, Sue Shifrin, David Cassidy | 4:22 |
8. | "Am I in Love?" | 4:24 | |
9. | "Summer (Can't Last Too Long)" | 4:16 | |
10. | "Voice of America" | 4:18 | |
Total length: | 42:29 |
Chart (1990) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [8] | 82 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [9] | 24 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [10] | 39 |
US Billboard 200 [4] | 114 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [5] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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 debut album, Asia, 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.
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 Kenneth Wetton was an English musician, singer and songwriter. Although he was left handed he was known as a dexterous right handed bass player and had a booming baritone voice Wetton joined 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 spent the next seven years as a member of other progressive rock and hard rock bands which included Roxy Music (1974–1975), Uriah Heep (1975–1976), U.K. (1977–1980) and Wishbone Ash (1980–1981).
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