• AllMyVinyl #19
• Band: Asia
• Album Title: Asia
• Release Date: 18 Mar 1982
• Date purchased: 8 Nov 2022
• Location purchased: Amazon
• Color of vinyl: black
• Number of discs: 1
• Links: [ Wikipedia | Discogs | Band Website | Complete album on Youtube ]

I was 17 years old when Asia released this, their debut album in 1982.  It was stupid popular at the time, and of all the studio albums Asia has released in any version, it remains their best.  It sold a crap ton of copies, and a couple of songs from it were massive MTV staples.

I bought this album on vinyl back in 1982 as did most people who were into rock music at the time, it sold millions.  When I got to 2020 with vinyl again, I looked around for it, and at the time it was out of print.  However, later in 2022, I saw they reprinted the album again, so I picked up a new copy.  It was just as good now as it was then.  I then found in 2023 my original 1982  copy still existed (rescued from my mom’s basement).  When I got the 1982 original, I discovered it wasn’t in the greatest shape, so I made the decision to keep the 2022 reprint, and sold off my 1982 for a couple of bucks to Half Price Books.  I also have a vague memory of owning this on cassette tape as well, but I definitely don’t have that anymore, nor do I have any idea what might have happened to it.

The Yes lineage is strong here.  The band that’s on this album has two ex Yes members, an ELP member, and a King Crimson member.  The artwork was also done by long time Yes artist Roger Dean.  It doesn’t particularly sound like Yes straight up, but you can tell it’s in that neighborhood.   I listened to the album twice today as I had forgotten some parts of it, and really enjoyed them.  Those who know me and my Black Sabbath site know I love a good band lineup story, and Asia has a doozy of a band history.  Officially the band has never broken up since it was formed in 1982.  The original lineup of Wetton, Palmer, Downes, & Howe recorded this album and toured it.  During production of the second album in the following year, the guys started to squabble over success from the first.  They did put out that album, but when it came time for the third, the first lineup change happened (Howe left). But then Howe would guest on an EP, appear on the fourth album when there was another guitarist already in there (Al Pitrelli). But most important, the new vocalist was John Payne, a name that will be important later. By the time the fifth rolled around in 1994, Downes was the only original left, but Asia carried on.  The sixth (1994), seventh (1999), eighth (2001), & ninth (2004) were all lead by Downes & Payne with an array of other musicians over these releases.  In 2006, the original lineup wanted to get back together, but given the original lineage was still together, they had to strike a deal with John Payne.  The original Asia lineup caused a split between Downes & Payne when the rights to the original Asia name and branding were purchased.  However, John Payne retained rights to carry on as “Asia Featuring John Payne” in 2007.  This band continues to this day.   The original lineup toured in 2007, put out a live album, and then the same lineup that is on this 1982 original put out a new album called Phoenix in 2008.  It was meh, showing you can’t always recapture past glories.  This lineup also put out two other studio albums (Omega – 2010 & XXX – 2012 for the 30th anniversary of the original).  When it came time for the overall 13th Asia album (2014’s Gravitas – and to date the most recent studio album and the last one before John Wetton’s death)), Steve Howe had left already.  The band continues to tour to this day, but the current iteration of Yes is down to just Geoff Downes as the only original with a bunch of other guys I don’t know who they are.   I actually saw Asia in 2019 when they toured with Yes, and Steve Howe came out on stage and played a handful of tracks with Asia – which at that point was fairly genuine – that lineup was 3/4 of the original and the fourth had died.  That’ll work from an “authentic” lineup.  I’ll put a video or below from that show.

Why am I writing all this about Asia’s history?  Well, I like a good band history as I said – and it’s the only time I’ll write about Asia, as the original 1982 album is the only Asia I own on vinyl.  I bought several of the albums I mentioned above, but on CD mostly.  This is it for Asia vinyl, and if you’re going own just one Asia album, make it this first one – it’s by far their best.  Speaking of the music, here’s some thoughts on the songs I wrote when listening today.

Heat of the Moment – This was a massive hit. And now you find yourself in 82.. Those lyrics felt dated when I first heard them 42 years ago, mostly because I thought “Hang on, you’re putting the year IN the lyrics?”  It definitely does.  As I listen to it several decades down the line, I find it not something that makes the song sound old – it brings me back to a time in my life when shit was more simple.

Only Time Will Tell – The second most well known song. Good solid pop rock song from this era. Honestly, after this, I wonder how many people will know tracks off this album.

Sole Survivor – A track I thought should have gotten more attention. It was popular, but not like Heat was.

One Step Closer – the sound of this song deviates a bit from the first three. Not that they sounded the same, but were borne of the same musical pool. This is slightly different. Still the same band, but has a different sound I liked. I love the chorus “One. Step closer…”

Time Again – Asia will never be a hard rock band, but this song has a harder edge than most of the stuff on the album. I had forgotten about this track, so it was a very pleasant surprise when I listened today.

Wildest Dreams – Side 2 starts off with another faster/harder song, but I wouldn’t call it “hard rock”. Harder for Asia, I suppose. :)

Without You – … and we get to the slow, ballad-y song. At least that’s what they want you to think at the start. :) Has that 80’s power ballad feel to it once it gets going.

Cutting it Fine – Another song that has a harder edge to it. I also don’t remember this one, honestly. Not a bad track, just one that hasn’t stuck in my head over the years. Towards the end it has an orchestrated feel to it which was nice.

Here Comes the Feeling – Another one I heard a bunch on the radio back in the day. Immediately rang a bell from that fun place in one’s mind from the past. It also has the same vibe that Heat & Time (the first two songs) do, borne out of that “hit single” cauldron of music.

So to sum up – I wrote more about the history of the band then this album, but it’s an amazing piece of 80’s rock.  Not too hard, not too soft, and I recall at the time thinking it was a fresh new sound.  It didn’t last long term (in this version), but the album remains.  If by some chance you’re reading this and don’t know the self titled Asia album, you really should check it out.  There’s some great stuff here.