Asia (Asia album)
Asia | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 18 March 1982 | |||
Recorded | June–November 1981 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 44:22 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Producer | Mike Stone | |||
Asia chronology | ||||
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Singles from Asia | ||||
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Asia is the self-titled debut studio album by English rock band Asia, released in 1982. According to both Billboard and Cashbox, it was the #1 album in the United States for the year 1982.[1] It contains their biggest hit "Heat of the Moment", which reached #4 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2]
Artwork
Asia's logo and cover artwork were created by Roger Dean, known for his work with Yes (of which guitarist Steve Howe and keyboard player Geoff Downes had previously been members) and Uriah Heep (of which bassist/vocalist John Wetton had previously been a member) which depicts a sea serpent gazing into a crystal orb.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | C−[4] |
Since its release, Asia has received highly mixed reception, largely due to a more commercial and pop-oriented sound as opposed to progressive rock, given the past of the group's members. Robert Christgau blasted the album, and particularly its lyrics. He stated that it had been a rare occasion that "a big new group is bad enough to sink your teeth into any more" and called the album "pompous – schlock in the grand manner".[4] On the other side, in a Billboard review, it was favourably noted that "the caliber of the [band's] playing is superb and the music sounds fresh and perfect fare for AOR".[5] In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Tom Demalon awarded Asia four-and-a-half out of five, saying that "there's no denying the epic grandeur of the music, which provided some much-needed muscle to radio at the time, and did so with style".[3]
Commercial performance
Upon its release in March 1982, Asia reached #1 in the US and spent nine weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart.[2] Asia was certified 4x-platinum in the US by the RIAA on 10 February 1995.[6]
In the band's native UK, Asia did not perform as well as in the US, peaking only at #11 and spent a total of 38 weeks in the UK Albums Chart.[7] The record received a gold status in Britain on 18 October 1982.[8] "Heat of the Moment" climbed to No. 46.[7]
Asia's total worldwide sales are estimated at over ten million copies.[9]
2010 Audio Fidelity remastered edition
In 2010, Audio Fidelity released a 24 Karat Gold CD (AFZ 068) remaster of the album, mastered by Kevin Gray.[9]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Heat of the Moment" | John Wetton, Geoff Downes | 3:50 |
2. | "Only Time Will Tell" | Wetton, Downes | 4:44 |
3. | "Sole Survivor" | Wetton, Downes | 4:48 |
4. | "One Step Closer" | Wetton, Steve Howe | 4:16 |
5. | "Time Again" | Downes, Howe, Carl Palmer, Wetton | 4:45 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Wildest Dreams" | Wetton, Downes | 5:10 |
7. | "Without You" | Wetton, Howe | 5:04 |
8. | "Cutting It Fine" | Wetton, Downes, Howe | 5:35 |
9. | "Here Comes the Feeling" | Wetton, Howe | 5:42 |
Total length: | 44:22 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
10. | "Ride Easy" | Wetton, Howe | 4:35 |
Total length: | 48:57 |
Personnel
Asia
- John Wetton – lead vocals, bass
- Geoff Downes – keyboards, backing vocals
- Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals
- Carl Palmer – drums, percussion
Technical personnel
- Mike Stone – producer, engineer
- George Marino – mastering
- Roger Dean – cover design
- Brian Griffin – inner sleeve photography
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
All-time chart
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[22] | 3× Platinum | 300,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[24] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "The Billboard 200 – Year-end albums – 1982". Billboard. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009.
- ^ a b "Asia chart positions in the US". Billboard.
- ^ a b Demalon, Tom. Asia: Asia > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Review: Asia". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Top Album Picks: Asia – Asia". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 12. 27 March 1982. p. 98.
- ^ "RIAA's Gold & Platinum Program searchable database". RIAA. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
- ^ a b "Asia chart positions in the UK". The Official Charts Company.
- ^ "BPI's certified awards search". BPI.
- ^ a b "Asia::Asia". Audio Fidelity. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Asia – Asia" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6528". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Asia – Asia" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Asia – Asia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Asia Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Jones, Alan (1983). "The Top 100 UK Albums". Chart File, Volume 2. London: Virgin Books. pp. 82–83. ISBN 0-907080-73-1.
- ^ "Top Pop Albums". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 51. 25 December 1982.
- ^ "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Asia – Asia". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "British album certifications – Asia – Asia". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 October 2016. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Asia in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American album certifications – Asia – Asia". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 October 2016.