Asia (1982)

GEOGRAPHY WEEK (JANUARY 8-14, 2012)

Note: this release was originally purchased as an LP, later replaced by a CD.

Take some prog-rockers from the '70s, form a supergroup, get the producer of Queen and Journey on the boards, tell the band not to noodle and to write pop-rock songs, and this is the result. Put a Roger Dean picture on the cover, package it, and sell it to millions. The album was #1 for most of May - July 1982 and was the best selling album of the year, so I guess somebody liked the formula (me included). To me, the only things that are prog-rock about this album are the album cover, the coda of Cutting It Fine, and the Middle Earth lyrics that probably appealed to the teenagers who thought a trip to the local Renaissance Festival was the best day of their lives. I doubt it will ever happen, but this CD could use a new remastered version. The sound on this CD isn't as good as it could be. Maybe they'll release a 30 year deluxe edition with remastered sound and the b-side Ride Easy included.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "perfect fare for AOR"
• Record World: "a hook-laden LP"
• CashBox: "the band lives up to its billing"
• Rolling Stone (★★½): "talented players rolling over and playing dead"
• Stereo Review: "highly accomplished balloon-headednes"
• Robert Christgau (C-): "schlock in the grand manner"
• Musician: "most unalloyed prostitution of instrumental ability and musical technology committed to vinyl in recent memory"

Plus, here's a humorous review of the album from the LA Times: http://yesmuseum.org/AsiaPomp1982.txt

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #1
• Billboard Rock: #1
• CashBox: #1
• Rolling Stone: #1

Tracks: This album got a lot of playing time in my life during 1982, so I have a difficult time separating the music from the nostalgia. I can't really tell anymore if the songs are any good because I've listened to them so many times. However, my favorites haven't changed in the last 30 years: Heat Of The Moment, Wildest Dreams, and Here Comes The Feeling.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: In spite of being a New Waver, I became a huge Asia fan in the spring of 1982 when I first heard a cassette tape on a friend's Walkman (having a Walkman was a HUGE deal at that time). Within a week, I had purchased the album, which had yet to hit big. Soon I had a concert poster on my bedroom wall (like the one below) and buttons on my shirts (which I still have). Looking back, I really geeked myself out.

When I finally saw the band in Dallas in 2008, most of the songs from this album were in the setlist (below). That made me happy.

1. Daylight
2. Only Time Will Tell
3. Wildest Dreams
4. Never Again
5. Roundabout
6. Time Again
7. Steve Howe - Solo
8. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (acoustic)
9. Ride Easy (acoustic)
10. Voice Of America (acoustic)
11. Open Your Eyes
12. Fanfare For The Common Man
13. Without You
14. An Extraordinary Life
15. Court Of The Crimson King
16. Video Killed The Radio Star
17. The Heat Goes On
18. Heat Of The Moment
19. Don't Cry
20. Sole Survivor

Previously revisited for the blog:
Phoenix (2008)
Fantasia: Live in Tokyo (2007)
Alpha (1983)

Blog post #500