Anthology

Asia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 28, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Inside Out U.S.
• ASIN: B0009LNRMI
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,808 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Asia first exploded onto the world stage in the early 1980's as the first Prog-rock supergroup. Comprised of members from bands such as Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, The Buggles and UK, Asia gave us such classics as Heat of the Moment and Only Time Will Tell. Over the decades Asia went through several personnel changes, but continued to make and release great music. Asia Anthology represents the best of 3 of those releases and serves to set the stage for the re-release of their great catalog. Anthology also features new recordings of Heat of the Moment and Only Time Will Tell and features special guest performances by Steve Howe (Yes), Al Pitrelli (Alice Cooper, Trans Siberian Orchestra) and Elliot Randall (Steely Dan).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ASIA circa 1997, July 15, 2005

By 

Jason M. Carzon (bowie, maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anthology (Audio CD)

This is a curious release. It collects some of the cream of Asia's 1990's material from the trilogy of albums they did between 1992-1996(AQUA,ARIA,& ARENA). It also has two new tracks and a few old classics redone by the new incarnation. Here's the scoop on this 1997 album:

The 90's found keyboardist Geoffrey Downes, the last original member left, reinventing Asia with new vocalist John Payne(ex-ELO). They released three albums between 1992 and 1996: the anthemic and ecological-themed AQUA(1992), the vocal-emphasized and hard-edged arena-rock ARIA(194) and the smoother, retro 'Steely Dan'-type ARENA(1996). If you don't mind hard edged songs with overlayered and powerful vocal harmonies, anthemic chorus, lush synths and melodic lead guitar lines in the classic rock mould, then this Asia is for you. If you were miffed at your favorite 'proggers' forming a 'pop' band back on that first album, or if you're stuck back in 1982 with the original band, tread carefully. Steve Howe and John Wetton are long gone, and the guitar slot seemed to have been open to anyone who Geoff and John Payne fancied at the moment. A lot of harder rock guitarists have come and gone. The image of the band had changed as well. However, the material is rather good and may grow on you. The elements of the original band are there, though they have also grown a bit too. Geoff Downes is still one of the most innovative keyboardists around, who has his own identifyable sound. There are many standout tracks: anthems like WHO WILL STOP THE RAIN, ANYTIME and the live favorite MILITARY MAN are some. The percussion-heavy ARENA and TWO SIDES OF THE MOON and the B-side REALITY are a few more.

Then there are the remakes. In actuality, Asia wanted to release a compilation of songs from all of their albums- the 80's classics plus some current material. However, contractual problems kept them from using the original material from Geffen Records. They went around this by recording a few 'new' versions of the old hits, just with John Payne singing instead of John Wetton. The band know the fans probably would have preferred the originals with the newer stuff, but what can you do. So 1997 versions of HEAT OF THE MOMENT, GO, ONLY TIME WILL TELL, DON'T CRY, and THE HEAT GOES ON appear mixed in with the other material. These are performed ridiculouly note perfect to the original versions, only Payne's voice sounding obviouly different. He even manages to ape Steve Howe's parts pretty well.

There is also two 1997 tracks in a new Asia version of THE HUNTER(originally written for Steve Howe's GTR project from 1987) and another strong anthem, DIFFERENT WORLDS. And as a bonus track you get an atmospheric and slower 'acoustic' version of TIME AGAIN from the 1st Asia album which is just voice, guitar and keyboards, recorded at XM Studios in Washington DC 2003. I was even at that show and forgotten how good it sounded, almost worth the price of this disc alone. New to 90's Asia? This is a good place to begin. Asia collector? Get it for the eight extra tracks not available on any other album. Everyone's a winner. Enjoy.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A decent collection, October 12, 2005

By 

George Dionne (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anthology (Audio CD)

A decent collection of 16 hits that focuses on the John Payne years. Asia re-recorded "Heat of the Moment" and "Only Time Will Tell" to reflect the sound of their new singer (and for legal reasons). Jeff Downes even dusted off an old track from GTR called "The Hunter". Included as part of the special edition is an acoustic version of "Time Again". However, as good as Payne is, I've always been a Wetton fan.

4.0 out of 5 stars Progressing into the 90's, November 18, 2009

By 

Prog Nerd (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anthology (Audio CD)

Anthology was my introduction to 90's Asia, and it won me over just by sheer value for what I got. Think about it...it has every Asia album (up to '97) sampled with a few songs each, plus two new cuts. What's not to like?

As others have mentioned, you do get re-recordings of 80's Asia classics ("Heat of the Moment", "Only Time Will Tell", "Don't Cry", "The Heat Goes On", "Go"), and while some bits of them are good, I still prefer the original recordings. I must say, though, Payne does a superb job with "Go". "The Hunter" is good, but again, I prefer GTR's original. The Asia version is just different. The other new track, "Different Worlds" is fantastic...one of Asia's most haunting and passionate songs, with fantastic lyrics.

The only missteps really are the lack of more tracks from the Arena album, a few typos, and a mis-printed track time for "Aqua Part I", which, by the way, is an edit. (The original had the sounds of rain and thunder at the end.) The CD booklet has small concert photos, and lyrics to all songs.

Musically, the 90's were probably Asia's mostly honestly "progressive" period. They started a little shaky on Aqua (1992), sort've bridging from their 80's to 90's sound (thankfully all of the best songs from Aqua are here on this disc), then moving to the more polished, operatic and hard-edged Aria (1994), and then doing a total 180-degree turn with Arena (1996), which was full of smooth 70's-style classic rock harmonies, Latin and Middle-Eastern rhythms, and dark 8-9 minute prog-metal mini-epics.

If you're curious about 90's Asia, pick this up. If you're new to Asia period and are on a budget, get this and Geffen's Heat of the Moment: The Very Best of Asia 1982-90, and you'll be set.

Note: This Snapper edition features bonus live tracks.