Astra (album)

Astra
Studio album by Asia
Released	November 20, 1985
Recorded	1984–85 at Westside Studios, The Townhouse Studios and Sarm West Studios, London, UK
Genre	Art rock, progressive rock, hard rock
Length	44:47
Label	Geffen
Producer	Mike Stone Geoffrey Downes
Asia chronology
Alpha (1983) Astra (1985) Then & Now (1990)

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Allmusic

Astra is the third studio album by rock band Asia. It marked a change in musical direction for the band to a more edgy, slightly metal sound. It performed the least successfully, on the album charts, of their first three records.

Started in 1984, it marked the return of singer/bassist John Wetton to the band's lineup, after his departure in September 1983. Wetton had been replaced by Greg Lake, temporarily, for their Tokyo concerts at the Budokan, December 1983. The first night of these shows was advertised as 'Asia In Asia', and was broadcast over MTV and on Westwood One radio. Wetton had come back, but Howe departed the Astra sessions and was replaced by Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer, formerly of the band Cobra and Krokus. The album was released in late November 1985. It charted at #67, on the Billboard Top 200 albums. Strangely, although the album itself missed the top 50, two songs charted successfully on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart, receiving radio airplay in various markets: "Go" (#7) and "Too Late" (#30). Despite the album selling over 500,000 units, the planned tour was canceled.

Astra was originally intended to be named "Arcadia," but was changed when it was learned a Duran Duran side project of the same name was being recorded at the same time.

Track listing

All songs by John Wetton and Geoff Downes except where noted.

1. "Go" – 4:06
2. "Voice of America" – 4:26
3. "Hard on Me" (Wetton, Downes, Carl Palmer) – 3:35
4. "Wishing" – 4:15
5. "Rock and Roll Dream" – 6:51
6. "Countdown to Zero" – 4:14
7. "Love Now Till Eternity" – 4:10
8. "Too Late" (Wetton, Downes, Palmer) – 4:11
9. "Suspicion" – 3:46
10. "After the War" – 5:09

Singles

• "Go"

• • NE 7" single (1985) Geffen GEFA 6737
  1. "Go" (Radio Edit) - 3:40
  2. "After The War" - 5:09
  • UK 12" single (1985) Geffen TA 6737
  1. "Go" (Remix)
  2. "Go" (Instrumental)
  3. "After The War" - 5:09
  • US 12" promo (1985) Geffen PRO-A-2375
  1. "Go" - 4:06
  2. "Go" - 4:06

• "Too Late"

• • US 12" promo (1985) Geffen PRO-A-2419
  1. "Too Late" - 4:11
  2. "Too Late" - 4:11

• "Wishing"

• • CA 7" promo (1986) Geffen 92 87457
  1. "Wishing" - 4:15
  2. "Too Late" - 4:11
  • US 12" promo (1986) Geffen PRO-A-2449
  1. "Wishing" - 4:15
  2. "Wishing" - 4:15

Personnel

• Geoff Downes - keyboards, vocals
• Mandy Meyer - guitar
• Carl Palmer - drums
• John Wetton - vocals and bass guitars

Credits

• Mastered by Bob Ludwig & Greg Fulginiti at Masterdisk
• John Kalodner : John Kalodner