ASIA

Asia - Asia - 1982

1. Heat of the Moment (Downes/Wetton) - 3:54
2. Only Time Will Tell (Downes/Wetton) - 4:48
3. Sole Survivor (Downes/Wetton) - 4:52
4. One Step Closer (Howe/Wetton) - 4:18
5. Time Again (Downes/Howe/Palmer/Wetton) - 4:47
6. Wildest Dreams (Downes/Wetton) - 5:11
7. Without You (Howe/Wetton) - 5:07
8. Cutting It Fine (Downes/Howe/Wetton) - 5:40
9. Here Comes the Feeling (Howe/Wetton) - 5:43

allmusic.com
This marriage of four players with impressive pedigrees proved to be the success story of 1982 when Asia's debut lodged itself at the top of the U.S. album charts for two months. The album spawned a massive number four single in "Heat of the Moment," a follow-up Top 20 hit in the sweeping "Only Time Will Tell," and a handful of other tracks that received heavy radio play despite going against the grain of the new-wave styling of the day. Produced by Mike Stone, Asia's strengths were the powerful vocals of John Wetton, the nimble, classically tinged guitar work of Steve Howe, Geoff Downes' majestic keyboard playing, and anchoring the band, Carl Palmer's propulsive drumming. The lyrics are overwrought at moments, but 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.

---

Asia - Alpha - 1983

1. Don't Cry (Downes/Wetton) - 3:38
2. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (Wetton) - 3:13
3. Never in a Million Years (Downes/Wetton) - 3:47
4. My Own Time (I'll Do What I Want) (Downes/Wetton) - 4:49
5. The Heat Goes On (Downes/Wetton) - 4:56
6. Eye to Eye (Downes/Wetton) - 3:12
7. The Last to Know (Downes/Wetton) - 4:41
8. True Colors (Downes/Wetton) - 3:52
9. Midnight Sun (Downes/Wetton) - 3:48
10. Open Your Eyes (Downes/Wetton) - 6:26
11. Daylight (Downes/Wetton)

allmusic.com
The eagerly awaited follow-up to the supergroup's debut, Alpha landed with a resounding thud a year later. The album still managed to be a platinum selling Top Ten hit, as did the lead-off single "Don't Cry," but where Asia managed to make old sounds fresh, Alpha fails miserably. Nothing on Alpha packs the sheer sonic force of the band's debut. Instead, much of the record is lightweight both lyrically and musically leaning heavier on keyboard-laden ballads like "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes," which managed to scrape into the Top 40, and "My Own Time (I'll Do What I Want)." The only real meat on the record comes during the last cut, "Open Your Eyes" (and only at the end of the song). Rumored creative differences, the album's lukewarm reception and flagging ticket sales for the ensuing tour led to lead singer John Wetton leaving the band before the year was out. Alpha is sorely disappointing, especially coming on the heels of a promising debut.


PN

mfg cntr