Live Acoustic [Import, Live]

Asia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 14, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Live
• Label: Import [Generic]
• ASIN: B00002ZZ1W
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,724 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Heat Goes On

2. Different Worlds

3. Back In Town

4. Summer

5. Don't Call Me

6. Military Man

7. Downes Solo

8. Arena

9. Only Time Will Tell

10. Feels Like Love

11. Who Will Stop The Rain

12. Sad Situation

13. Heat Of The Moment

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something different from Asia!, March 7, 2002

By 

Jeffery K. Matheus (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live Acoustic (Audio CD)

Asia's simply titled "Live Acoustic" is taken from a one-off September 1997 "unplugged"-style gig at a German "art rock" festival. Geoff Downes said in an interview that the gig was not originally booked as an acoustic gig, but because of equiptment problems and the fact that the band did not have ample time to rehearse with new drummer Bob Richards on board (as it turns out, this was to be his only recording with Asia), the gig sort of just 'evolved' into an impomptu "Asia Unplugged" show. Well, the results are better than what you'd probably expect. Other than a few spots that are a little rough around the edges, the band sounds mostly very tight and confident in this very different format, and they cover a wide variety of material, older and newer. Two of the best tracks are the notably 'mellower' versions of two tracks from Asia's 1994 release "Aria", namely "Summer" and "Military Man" - both sound quite natural and enjoyable in this plantive, piano-based setting, and both feature great soulful vocal performances from the excellent John Payne. (The rockin' studio version of "Military Man" may still the ultimate version of the song, but the acoustic version is an excellent "re-imagining" of it!) Some other tracks that really work well in the acoustic setting are "Different Worlds", "Feel's Like Love", and "Don't Call Me", performed energetically with loudly-strummed acostic guitars and some nice bongo/conga-style percussion from Richards. Guitarist Aziz Ibrahim (who was also featured on the "Arena" album) fills out the music nicely with some slick acoustic-lead picking replacing his usual "rock" riffs. The band sounds like they were really having a good time performing this show, and it's nice to hear Downes & Payne joking around with the audience, and each other. (In fact, Payne can actually be heard cracking up during the encore of "Heat of the Moment - which lends the album a definite aire of fun and spontaniety not usually associated with Asia.) The title track from 1996's "Arena" gets sort of a spanish/flamenco-flavored treatment, and "Sad Situation" adds a guest string-quartet for a version that is far more classical/new age-y than the original recording on "Aria". Granted, a few of these songs will always sound best in their electric, full-band arrangements, such as "Who Will Stop The Rain" and the classic hit "Only Time Will Tell" (Payne sang a much better version of "Only Time" on the bands "Antholgy" compilation from around this same period.) However, all in all, this is an excellent addition to the CD library of any Asia fan, particularly those who don't mind hearing the band do something new and different!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Acoustica, November 27, 2009

By 

Prog Nerd (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Acoustic (Audio CD)

Sadly this would be Asia's only show from the time period of their most underrated album, 1996's Arena. Although the group was no longer selling out stadiums or having Top 40 hits, their music was eclectic, diverse and progressive, and they were in many ways much better at this time than they ever were shortly after 1983's muddled Alpha.

The band sounds tight and focused for this acoustic show, with a great amount of classical guitar, bongos, congas, and Geoff Downes' ever-tasteful piano playing. Some songs turned out better than others in this format, in particular "Sad Situation" (with a guest string quartet), "Military Man", "Different Worlds", and "Arena".

Probably only essential for diehard Asia fans, or perhaps fans of acoustic classic rock or world music.

Note: Live Acoustic is also contained in the 3-disc boxed set Different Worlds, along with another live show and an interview DVD. Also, pro-shot footage of this show exists from German TV, although it has never been officially released in any format.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Asia '97...better than ever, July 2, 2000

By 

Sean (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Acoustic (Audio CD)

With John Payne, Geoff Downes has found a great collaborator for his increasingly brilliant work in Asia. This is not the Asia of old, although there are several of the '80's songs. Buy this cd, it will move you in ways you never would have thought Asia could. All of the John Payne-era Asia cd's are essential, and this set is no exception.