Fantasia - Live In Tokyo: 2007 (2CD)

Asia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Eagle Records
• ASIN: B000QFCD5O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Blu-ray  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,883 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Asia, featuring members of Yes, ELP and King Crimson, was the first "supergroup" of the eighties. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1982, was a huge success racking up global sales in excess of 15 million copies. In 2006 the original four members reunited for the first time in over 20 years for a series of concerts in the US and the UK. The success of this tour led to a full-blown world tour running throughout 2007 in celebration of their 25th anniversary. This CD was recorded in Tokyo in March 2007 on the Japanese leg of the tour.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome Back, Steve Howe!!, June 26, 2007

By 

Tony Howard (Fort Walton Beach, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fantasia - Live In Tokyo: 2007 (2CD) (Audio CD)

Asia has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, so when I heard the original quartet reunited and recorded a live album, this attracted my interest. I've heard live CDs from other incarnations of Asia and the sound quality was lacking. For a live CD, the sound is good here. It could be better, but it could be a whole lot worse. Rather than a rehash of the first album, the band also decided to record one song from each of the band members' pasts. They do so with satisfying results. I wondered how Asia was going to pull off "Roundabout" since John Wetton doesn't "communicate with bats" like Jon Anderson can, nor does Jon Anderson have to play Chris Squire's bass lines, but John Wetton handled both vocals and the bass parts seemingly without effort. Geoff Downes is no Rick Wakeman, but he doesn't need to be. He held up his end. Sometimes Steve Howe gets lost in the mix, but the song sounds ok. The band delivered very well.

As the first reviewer mentioned, the acoustic versions of "Ride Easy" and "Don't Cry" are well done. I actually prefer the version of "Don't Cry" here to the original from "Alpha." Steve Howe plays the mandolin while John Wetton handles the acoustic guitar. The band also plays an acoustic version of "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" (also better than the original) with Steve Howe on dobro. Take away the studio gloss of their first three albums and you discover these guys are very good musicians. Steve Howe plays a variety of stringed instruments, John Wetton unplugs with an acoustic guitar, and Geoff Downes does very well with the piano. Carl Palmer plays flawlessly throughout as always. I don't think he ever has an off night.

Also noteworthy is the band's rendition of "In the Court of the Crimson King." Greg Lake was a fine singer in his day, but John Wetton outdoes him here. The thought of a four-piece band playing "Fanfare for the Common Man" intrigued me since ELP recorded it without guitars, but Asia makes it work. It's a bit ragged, but it doesn't suck. "Video Killed the Radio Star" is a fun listen, especially with John Wetton using a megaphone in places. Steve Howe gets a solo turn with "Intersection Blues" from his "Natural Timbre" solo CD. Good stuff.

Overall, a good CD well worth every penny spent. It's good to have the original quartet back.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, July 15, 2007

By 

S. Armeson "Sleeve51" (San Diego, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fantasia - Live In Tokyo: 2007 (2CD) (Audio CD)

I was a bit more than pleasantly surprised upon my first listen of this fantastic album. Meticulous in every respect, you'd be hard pressed to find four musicians that top these gentlemen. I love their rendition of "video killed the radio star". And truly the finest rendition of "the smile has left your eyes" they've done to date. I too consider John Wetton one of the finest vocalists on earth. And Steve Howe's guitar and mandolin playing never sounded better.

The press and public did them "dirty" a few decades ago, but Asia has staying power and excellent material to see them through. I'm ecstatic that they're back again. I met John Wetton in May 1996. You won't find a finer gent anywhere. And his guitar and bass playing coupled with Downes and Palmer move like a well-oiled music machine. Great album (er`oops CD). Buy it and ride easy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprising & Enjoyable...., July 26, 2007

By 

njrobbo "Classic, Progressive, & Heavy" (Bayonne, NJ) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Fantasia - Live In Tokyo: 2007 (2CD) (Audio CD)

The vintage tracks from Yes, ELP, & King Crimson alone were nearly worth buying the record. I never thought the Buggles were anything to brag about since their only claim to fame was being the first video.. you know the rest. They played that tune just to appease Geoff Downes who really never had any success on his own. It was evident when he tried to hold Asia together after everyone split. Anyway.... wish they would have recorded a show in the states somewhere, probably wouldn't have drawn what they did in Japan though. Wish they would have put Starless & Bible Black on here. Like I said up top, they earned some serious cool points for Roundabout, In the Court, etc... & did Steve Howe a solid by letting him do his virtuoso thing. Should have went all out on Don't Cry... forget doing the acoustic version.