Asia: Asia (released 18 March 1982)

01 Heat of the Moment (3:48)
02 Only TIme Will Tell (4:44)
03 Sole Survivor (4:48)
04 One Step Closer (4:16)
05 Time Again (4:45)
06 Wildest Dreams (5:10)
07 Without You (5:04)
08 Cutting It Fine (5:35)
09 Here Comes the Feeling (5:42)





Asia are an English rock supergroup formed in London in 1981. The most commercially successful lineup was its original, which consisted of four members of different progressive rock bands who had enjoyed great success in the 1970s: lead vocalist and bassist John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep and U.K.), guitarist Steve Howe (Yes), keyboardist Geoff Downes (Yes and the Buggles) and drummer Carl Palmer (Atomic Rooster and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, itself a supergroup). Their self-titled debut album, released in 1982, remains their best-selling album and went to number one in several countries. Billboard listed it as the top album in the U.S. in 1982. The lead single from the album, "Heat of the Moment", remains their top charting and best-known song, reaching the top 40 in over a dozen markets. It peaked at No. 4 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Asia's logo and cover artwork were created by Roger Dean, known for his work with Yes and Uriah Heep. The debut album's art depicts an Asian dragon reaching to catch a pearl. There was a concern that having Dean do the cover would produce something that looked too much like his famed artwork for Yes, but Howe and Downes pushed for his involvement. Geffen's John Kalodner did not initially like Dean's logo for the band.

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". Melody Maker's Adam Sweeting similarly lambasted the band: "Designed by computer, hand-built by robots...Completely calculated, thoroughly contemptible, Asia is every bit as hollow, shallow and nasty as anyone had a right to expect." 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". 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".

The band underwent multiple lineup changes before the original four members reunited in 2006. As a result, a band called Asia featuring John Payne exists as a continuation of John Payne's career as Asia's frontman from 1991 until Wetton's return in 2006. In 2013, the original lineup was broken once again when Howe retired from the band and was replaced by guitarist Sam Coulson. After a few years of inactivity, Billy Sherwood (of Yes, World Trade and Circa:) replaced an ailing Wetton (who died shortly thereafter) in Asia for a summer 2017 tour with Journey. Following the end of the tour, the band went on hiatus again, re-emerging in 2019 with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal replacing both Sherwood on vocals and Coulson on guitar. In 2022, Marc Bonilla joined the group as guitarist and vocalist in place of Thal, but this brief lineup of the band never performed or recorded together. In 2024, Downes announced a new touring line-up of himself, Virgil Donati, John Mitchell and Harry Whitley.

Asia's total worldwide sales are estimated at over ten million copies.

Heat of the Moment

"And when your looks are gone and you're alone
How many nights you sit beside the phone?
What were the things you wanted for yourself?
Teenage ambitions you remember well.

It was the heat of the moment
Telling me what your heart meant
The heat of the moment showed in your eyes..."

Asia: Heat of the Moment
Words

Only Time Will Tell

"Now, sure as the sun will cross the sky
This lie is over.
Lost, like the tears that used to tide me over

(Only time will tell) One thing is sure
That time will tell
(Only time will tell) If you were wrong
The brightest ring around the moon
Will darken when I die..."































































































Asia: Only Time Will Tell
Words