I delivered so many newspapers with this cassette in my Walkman. I still listen to the whole album from start to finish while working occasionally. So many great tracks. Such a true "Super Group".
As stated on another Asia song, This album is one my favorite albums of all time. I love every song on this album. This song is no exception. Great song! I miss Wetton a lot!
This was an interesting time when many Clueless types in Rolling Stone mag and others said Prog was dead and this was also the height of MTV ! 🤔 Yes a was in some lineup changes, ELP was over then (to tour again later and in the 90s) and Wetton was done with his time in King Crimson/ Roxy Music/ Uriah Heep & UK. So these Prog greats Howe, Wetton, Palmer along with Downes decided to make a "Proggy Rock Pop" 🎶album with two "HUGE Hits" on it and Roger Dean made the great cover art, and this album got Tons of Radio & TV play and make Huge Gobs of money for a change !!! 👍💰💵💰💵💰💵💰💵💰 Good for them. 😁 The other albums never measured up to this one but there it is Justin. Also a big relationship song for many at the time even myself, I'm sure many have been there ! 🎶😁
I haven't listened to Asia in a long time, but this song takes me back to the great days of early MTV. 🙂 I really enjoy this song, and the entire first Asia album. It has a big 80's sound, along with the slightly thin sounding 80's synths, but I think it all works. Wetton's voice is absolutely great and the rest of the musical cast does a great job of supporting him, Looking forward to more from this album
I saw Asia last night at the Ryman. Only Geoff Downes from the original band. But I must say they nailed it. Had a great time. Focus was really good opening for them.
I loved this album when it came out and I don’t mind the album now, either. I think Wetton sounds fine and Howe is always a treat for me regardless of genre.
Asia were a really unusual band. Very commercial, but still studded with musical brilliance. A lot like Journey. Easy to dismiss, but there's something great there ...
This album has some great songs on it and Only Time Will Tell is a song that I like as time went on. Sole Survivor, Time Again, Wildest Dreams and Here comes the feeling are my favourites you might like them too, Only Time will tell.
Evening, Justin. Dave here, Taking The Old Road... and why not? Good old-fashioned 80s AOR, by a supergroup who really lived up to their billing on this debut. I agree that Wetton's vocals are terrific here. Favourite track is Sole Survivor, coming up next, hopefully not in another three years! P.S. my song ref The Old Road is by Martin Orford (sometime IQ keyboard player), which also features John Wetton on bass and vocals.
If you don't like a band, fine . You cannot discuss taste. I do not like a lot of muzak which is made today by artists like Ed Sheeran. But I am sure a lot of people like his music. I like most of the music by Wetton/Downes. Ik don't mind if a lot of people here don't.
I'm a big fan of Asia and back in the day I played the heck out of their first two albums Asia and Alpha. I recommend "Sole Survivor" for your next listen and if you want to hear a great drum solo from Carl Palmer, give "Wildest Dreams" a listen.
'The Final Countdown' (which I heard play somewhere while on a walk only half an hour ago! 😄) was released only four or even five years _after_ this, though 😊
Vocals were great by John and maybe their best song from an underachieving band that had so much potential yet never lived up to it. I saw them twice live decades later with YES and you can hear the difference in the quality difference of both bands even though 2 of the same members played in both bands.
This is a classic John Wetton song and sadly he will be missed. You should checkout his song "Battlelines" from the album of the same name. It is worth the listen. Is also appears on Steve Hackett's "Tokyo Tapes" which features Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Ian MacDonald, Chester Thompson and Julian Colbeck. This concert played songs from Genesis, King Crimson, Asia, Steve's repetoire and John's Battlelines. It is worth a listen.
I'm going to make a recommendation for the first time in quite a while (yes, shock and horror!)...something from this era and in a hard rock vein but infinitely better: The Prize by the perennially underrated Magnum, from their fourth album The Eleventh Hour. As usual, feel free to tell me to sod off.🙃
The Asia albums with Steve Howe are my favourite ones. For me he is the main attraction. More AOR than Prog, and I went along with the 80's music for a while but prefer this over a lot of other music from that time period. The reunion albums of Asia, again with the original members are very much worth a listen as well. For some reason I've always liked the second Asia album better than the first one. Maybe has something to do with the cover image. I always thought this cover was not as good as many other Asia covers.
Great reaction Justin to a great song! I've always favored this song more than "in heat of the moment" Of course that's just me! But I also love their other song called "Soul Survivor" I think you will like it too! I hope you consider it! Thanks
Ah, Asia...being a supergroup with so many famous musicians, it's a shame they never really lived up to all the hype. "Commercial appeal" is written all the way through the stick of (soft) rock.
You either love this band or you love to hate this band. There's not a lot of middle ground. I haven't heard this in probably 30+ years and it sounds so good. I remember the whole album being fantastic, but those were my teen ears.
I think Downe's synth sound really good. It brings atmosphere to this song. I never thought of The Final Countdown after hearing this song, this song is far better than that. In my opinion The Final Countdown is pretty damn cheesy. R. I. P John.. 😢
The Final Countdown always sounded uncreative like it just borrowed from elsewhere, which it did. This Asia song is better and more creative, and much better than the first track on the album too (which is just sentimental sounding).
Call me sad but I got a John Wetton solo album… the track Cold Is The Night is on it (it was a very Bond-theme-y). Asia were never amazing, but they were pretty sound and I like this track.
Hey Justin! ASIA!! 1982 this was the hottest band in the world and the first album went to #1 in many countries!!! The talent was definitely there!!🎵🎼🎶👍😎
A very, very eighties song. Did you like Wetton. He appeared singing one song by the band PHENOMENA called 'Did It All for Love' and twas famous in those days. Very eighties too, but if you like his voice.... By the way: try 'I Believe' by TRIUMVIRAT. Great wide sounding song.
Bought this album when it came out liked John's voice on it..... liked this album but even back then thought the lyrics a bit lame and didn't make much sense.... only time will tell was very catchy but I did like it good hearing it again...
So much talent, so little to show for it. Rick Wakeman actually said that Steve Howe was too good for Asia. However, I'm such a fan of Wetton that I can't diss it completely.
Regarding the ELP like synth fanfares... this has to be appreciated with the video, a big hit on MTV back then, with its gymnastics theme. To this day the intro for this song is being used on sport events. Although I sometimes wonder why Asia didn't approach it the Alan Parson's Project way, with Sirius being a separate thing.
With this line-up, "Asia" was a major disappointment for me at the time of its release. I'm sure things seem different in hindsight, but at the time it was sad and disheartening to see the great era of 70s prog dying out as its true blue legends began doling out blustery radio and MTV stuff.
I have to kind of disagree with Justin here and folks won't like it, he has every right to not be into it. But the reality is, when Asia was formed in 1981, they decided to be a pop band, yes, that is the reality, When Yes released '90125' in 1983, they decided to be a pop band, pretty much Queen decided to be a pop band by 1980, sign of the times. Yes, Geoff Downes was pretty much a pop writer and Wetton used Asia as a platform for his song writing, due to Howe, there's some pretty Prog moments with the deep cuts. If you look deeper. Folks aren't going to like this, but ELP had pretty much evaporated before the end of the 70s, Love Beach was pretty much a disaster for ELP, and Yes's last two albums before 82, Tormato...and Drama were moderate sellers, that's reality folks, sorry. When Producer Mike Stone came in, he was going to give Asia a big pop sound, he worked with Journey, and cut his teeth working with Queen In the 70s. There were certain decisions made that were a product of their time, it is what it is.
My goodness! Haven’t heard this song in forever! 😊Pretty sure this song came before The Final Countdown. I agree that it’s ok, but nothing special. Asia was ok, but not one of my favorites.
No no no nono o noohoh oh oh oh oh no no no no it hasn't started yet and I'm really hoping it turns out ok It's a Crock of Absolute 80s Radio stock aitken and waterman wok fodder No no no no no no One slag Abacab off after this. Turgid yet still strangely soothing in this July Quagmire that is Modern Communication Nightmares. This Lie is Over. Yep it's already growing on me. Now on to Picture Postard by Steve Hackett.
Sounds outdated or just doesn't like Justin? Good music cannot become obsolete, but if you don’t like a certain sound of an instrument, that’s another matter.
Yep, it's appalling! 🤢🤮 I prefer Wetton's 1980 solo album Caught in the Crossfire, or even Wishbone Ash's Number the Brave from early 81. Even his participation in Uriah Heep's Return to Fantasy and High and Mighty albums is better than this pile of mud. Honestly, leaving U.K. to do this s... is a crime! The same goes for Steve Howe and Geoff Downes, who did their best work with Drama, and who are completely wasted with this middle-of-the-road band.
@@surinaam1186 The thing is, I'm neither a pretentious snob nor a particular prog fan (just an occasional amateur). To say that Asia is an abomination is just a personal opinion... (shared or not).😉
Nope, 3 and a half years wasn't long enough to return to this garbage. I despair, I really do... Surely there's far better albums that've been left hanging than this 80's, made for 'FM' trash.
This stuff doesn't even reach me. Just where does it measure on the insignificance scale? Answers on a postcard, along with a copy of Mudhoney's 'Superfuzz Bigmuff'!🙄
I always realized The final countdown connection, but Only time will tell was 4 years earlier.
good comparrison from Justin. Cannot unhear it
I heard 'The Final Countdown' play somewhere not even an hour ago and while on a walk! 😄
But it never gets played in stadiums or arenas.@@mightyV444
Yes I always thought it was funny that this was Asia and Europe did the Final Countdown. That was just funny to me for some reason.
I delivered so many newspapers with this cassette in my Walkman. I still listen to the whole album from start to finish while working occasionally. So many great tracks. Such a true "Super Group".
I love this first Asia album. This song was one of the singles, but my favorite tracks are the more prog-ish tracks like Sole Survivor and Time Again.
This first Asia Album is a classic.
The thing is, JP, "The Final Countdown" was released four years after this song, so ... ❤😎✌
As stated on another Asia song, This album is one my favorite albums of all time. I love every song on this album. This song is no exception. Great song! I miss Wetton a lot!
ASIA - " SOLE SURVIVOR " 🎸🎹💯🔥 IS THEIR NEXT MEGA HIT SONG SIMILAR VIBE!! AWSOME GROOVE
This was an interesting time when many Clueless types in Rolling Stone mag and others said Prog was dead and this was also the height of MTV ! 🤔
Yes a was in some lineup changes, ELP was over then (to tour again later and in the 90s) and Wetton was done with his time in King Crimson/ Roxy Music/ Uriah Heep & UK.
So these Prog greats Howe, Wetton, Palmer along with Downes decided to make a "Proggy Rock Pop" 🎶album with two "HUGE Hits" on it and Roger Dean made the great cover art, and this album got Tons of Radio & TV play and make Huge Gobs of money for a change !!! 👍💰💵💰💵💰💵💰💵💰 Good for them. 😁
The other albums never measured up to this one but there it is Justin. Also a big relationship song for many at the time even myself, I'm sure many have been there ! 🎶😁
This was released in 1981. Final Countdown and ELP "Touch and Go" were both in 1986. Yes, it's John Wetton's delivery and vocal that sells the song.
I haven't listened to Asia in a long time, but this song takes me back to the great days of early MTV. 🙂 I really enjoy this song, and the entire first Asia album. It has a big 80's sound, along with the slightly thin sounding 80's synths, but I think it all works. Wetton's voice is absolutely great and the rest of the musical cast does a great job of supporting him, Looking forward to more from this album
I love all the prog classic bands and I also LOVE Asia! Always a happy pleasure to listen to their music. Geoff Downes is the true hero of the group
This and Heat Of The Moment are awesome
I love this song!
I saw Asia last night at the Ryman. Only Geoff Downes from the original band. But I must say they nailed it. Had a great time. Focus was really good opening for them.
I loved this album when it came out and I don’t mind the album now, either. I think Wetton sounds fine and Howe is always a treat for me regardless of genre.
Asia were a really unusual band. Very commercial, but still studded with musical brilliance. A lot like Journey. Easy to dismiss, but there's something great there ...
Time Again is the track where they nailed Prog Rock Pop. It’s a monster from this first album
This album has some great songs on it and Only Time Will Tell is a song that I like as time went on. Sole Survivor, Time Again, Wildest Dreams and Here comes the feeling are my favourites you might like them too, Only Time will tell.
You’d love Greg Lakes tour with Asia in Asia. They kicked butt in Japan
Great Song ! A Fave 😊
Before criticising a song for sounding like another, it's advisable to check which came first.
He did not criticize it he just said it reminded him of what he had heard first.
Just looked up the Heat of the Moment review. 3 years ago!!!!!
My favorite Asia song. Very nostalgic for me. I first heard it while getting ready for a camping trip when I was 7 years old. “You’re leaving now…”
This song is better than the final countdown 24/7!
And I don't mind that song either!
Evening, Justin. Dave here, Taking The Old Road... and why not? Good old-fashioned 80s AOR, by a supergroup who really lived up to their billing on this debut. I agree that Wetton's vocals are terrific here. Favourite track is Sole Survivor, coming up next, hopefully not in another three years!
P.S. my song ref The Old Road is by Martin Orford (sometime IQ keyboard player), which also features John Wetton on bass and vocals.
All the hate on ASIA because THEY DARED TO NOT DO WHAT YOU ALL EXPECTED. For shame. How dare they not play the music YOU wanted. Jesus grow up people.
I’m sure they hate 80s Genesis and Yes as well. To each their own I guess. I also really enjoy GTR.
If you don't like a band, fine . You cannot discuss taste. I do not like a lot of muzak which is made today by artists like Ed Sheeran. But I am sure a lot of people like his music. I like most of the music by Wetton/Downes. Ik don't mind if a lot of people here don't.
Gosh, your unhinged rant has really changed my mind.
I'd loved their debut album then, and I still love it today! 😊
I'm a big fan of Asia and back in the day I played the heck out of their first two albums Asia and Alpha. I recommend "Sole Survivor" for your next listen and if you want to hear a great drum solo from Carl Palmer, give "Wildest Dreams" a listen.
Also Justin this was way before The Final Countdown I think this sound was copied by many later ? 😉
This album is VERY good for what it is: a pop-AOR with proggy leanings.
'The Final Countdown' (which I heard play somewhere while on a walk only half an hour ago! 😄) was released only four or even five years _after_ this, though 😊
Vocals were great by John and maybe their best song from an underachieving band that had so much potential yet never lived up to it. I saw them twice live decades later with YES and you can hear the difference in the quality difference of both bands even though 2 of the same members played in both bands.
This is a classic John Wetton song and sadly he will be missed. You should checkout his song "Battlelines" from the album of the same name. It is worth the listen. Is also appears on Steve Hackett's "Tokyo Tapes" which features Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Ian MacDonald, Chester Thompson and Julian Colbeck. This concert played songs from Genesis, King Crimson, Asia, Steve's repetoire and John's Battlelines. It is worth a listen.
Definitely! Battlelines is a great song. I prefer many of John's solo albums to Asia.
I'm going to make a recommendation for the first time in quite a while (yes, shock and horror!)...something from this era and in a hard rock vein but infinitely better: The Prize by the perennially underrated Magnum, from their fourth album The Eleventh Hour. As usual, feel free to tell me to sod off.🙃
Love John's voice, but was never a big Asia fan, but I'm glad he got some commercial success.
The Asia albums with Steve Howe are my favourite ones. For me he is the main attraction. More AOR than Prog, and I went along with the 80's music for a while but prefer this over a lot of other music from that time period. The reunion albums of Asia, again with the original members are very much worth a listen as well. For some reason I've always liked the second Asia album better than the first one. Maybe has something to do with the cover image. I always thought this cover was not as good as many other Asia covers.
The keyboards in this song don't sound like Final Countdown. Final Countdown sounds like them! Asia has first dibs, haha
Justin... "The Smile has left your eyes" and "Voice of América"
Going to meet the in-laws. Perfect song for me.
Great reaction Justin to a great song!
I've always favored this song more than "in heat of the moment"
Of course that's just me!
But I also love their other song called "Soul Survivor" I think you will like it too!
I hope you consider it! Thanks
Ah, Asia...being a supergroup with so many famous musicians, it's a shame they never really lived up to all the hype. "Commercial appeal" is written all the way through the stick of (soft) rock.
You either love this band or you love to hate this band. There's not a lot of middle ground. I haven't heard this in probably 30+ years and it sounds so good. I remember the whole album being fantastic, but those were my teen ears.
Not sure if the riff came earlier but Asia released this in 1981. Europe released The Final Countdown in 1986.
John Wetton is a great singer for sure, but Steve Howe's vibrato is sublime.
I think Downe's synth sound really good. It brings atmosphere to this song.
I never thought of The Final Countdown after hearing this song, this song is far better than that. In my opinion The Final Countdown is pretty damn cheesy.
R. I. P John.. 😢
The Final Countdown always sounded uncreative like it just borrowed from elsewhere, which it did. This Asia song is better and more creative, and much better than the first track on the album too (which is just sentimental sounding).
Call me sad but I got a John Wetton solo album… the track Cold Is The Night is on it (it was a very Bond-theme-y).
Asia were never amazing, but they were pretty sound and I like this track.
Hey Justin! ASIA!! 1982 this was the hottest band in the world and the first album went to #1 in many countries!!! The talent was definitely there!!🎵🎼🎶👍😎
A very, very eighties song. Did you like Wetton. He appeared singing one song by the band PHENOMENA called 'Did It All for Love' and twas famous in those days. Very eighties too, but if you like his voice....
By the way: try 'I Believe' by TRIUMVIRAT. Great wide sounding song.
Oh, you finally did it, in spite of the consternation. Glad you are back to them!
Bought this album when it came out liked John's voice on it..... liked this album but even back then thought the lyrics a bit lame and didn't make much sense.... only time will tell was very catchy but I did like it good hearing it again...
So much talent, so little to show for it. Rick Wakeman actually said that Steve Howe was too good for Asia. However, I'm such a fan of Wetton that I can't diss it completely.
Sounds great!
And yes Europe was undoubtedly inspired by Asia.
But what is wrong with that eh
Always loved this song. I remember when was in school and I heard the guitar I recognized Steve Howe, and that pumped it up a lot more. Thx 🤙💪
Dated, but still enjoyable. The first album is good. Just don't expect it to be prog.
JP!!!! Dude....... "Final Countdown"??? ..... Time lines yo!!! 1982!! not 1986. and not ELP!! 😊
I love wildest dreams, it kicks!!
Regarding the ELP like synth fanfares... this has to be appreciated with the video, a big hit on MTV back then, with its gymnastics theme. To this day the intro for this song is being used on sport events. Although I sometimes wonder why Asia didn't approach it the Alan Parson's Project way, with Sirius being a separate thing.
This came out before final countdown, just saying.
Asia are a bit hit or miss for me, but I absolutely love "Bury Me In Willow" for some reason.
Rock FM at is finest lol
Completely forgot about this song and the band Asia. Looking at other people's comments. They had a few other hits I also forgot about.
With this line-up, "Asia" was a major disappointment for me at the time of its release. I'm sure things seem different in hindsight, but at the time it was sad and disheartening to see the great era of 70s prog dying out as its true blue legends began doling out blustery radio and MTV stuff.
This track’s chorus has a drama to it that is very proggy to me.
I have to kind of disagree with Justin here and folks won't like it, he has every right to not be into it. But the reality is, when Asia was formed in 1981, they decided to be a pop band, yes, that is the reality, When Yes released '90125' in 1983, they decided to be a pop band, pretty much Queen decided to be a pop band by 1980, sign of the times. Yes, Geoff Downes was pretty much a pop writer and Wetton used Asia as a platform for his song writing, due to Howe, there's some pretty Prog moments with the deep cuts. If you look deeper.
Folks aren't going to like this, but ELP had pretty much evaporated before the end of the 70s, Love Beach was pretty much a disaster for ELP, and Yes's last two albums before 82, Tormato...and Drama were moderate sellers, that's reality folks, sorry.
When Producer Mike Stone came in, he was going to give Asia a big pop sound, he worked with Journey, and cut his teeth working with Queen In the 70s. There were certain decisions made that were a product of their time, it is what it is.
Synths were loved in 1982. I’m guessing you aren’t a big fan of Synth Pop then.
After this album they dropped Steve Howe from the writing and lost all the proggy bits to create anthem like pop songs. All were fine but vanilla
The words to this song is so appropriate today immediately after we find out there were several... aiming at ... Saturday.
Cowbell alert!
Outdated material please listen to ASIA XXX
My goodness! Haven’t heard this song in forever! 😊Pretty sure this song came before The Final Countdown. I agree that it’s ok, but nothing special. Asia was ok, but not one of my favorites.
No no no nono o noohoh oh oh oh oh no no no no it hasn't started yet and I'm really hoping it turns out ok
It's a Crock of
Absolute 80s Radio stock aitken and waterman wok fodder
No no no no no no One slag Abacab off after this.
Turgid yet still strangely soothing in this July Quagmire that is Modern Communication Nightmares.
This Lie is Over.
Yep it's already growing on me.
Now on to Picture Postard by Steve Hackett.
Sounds outdated or just doesn't like Justin? Good music cannot become obsolete, but if you don’t like a certain sound of an instrument, that’s another matter.
Good artwork, terrible band.
The disappointment when hearing the music that goes with such awesome artwork was crushing.
Yep, it's appalling! 🤢🤮
I prefer Wetton's 1980 solo album Caught in the Crossfire, or even Wishbone Ash's Number the Brave from early 81. Even his participation in Uriah Heep's Return to Fantasy and High and Mighty albums is better than this pile of mud. Honestly, leaving U.K. to do this s... is a crime!
The same goes for Steve Howe and Geoff Downes, who did their best work with Drama, and who are completely wasted with this middle-of-the-road band.
Worse than the bloody Eagles!! It's that bad! 🤒
I guess it's impossible for prog fans to not be pretentious snobs.
@@surinaam1186 The thing is, I'm neither a pretentious snob nor a particular prog fan (just an occasional amateur). To say that Asia is an abomination is just a personal opinion... (shared or not).😉
🥱What a total waste!😞 John Wetton leaving UK to make muzak with Asia! (I suppose you have to eat... but still, what a waste!😢).
So you don't want this for Christmas any more? Get your thinking hat on for an alternative please! 😄
@@Owlstretchingtime78 I never wanted any of this crap, for Christmas or anything else! 😉
Nope, 3 and a half years wasn't long enough to return to this garbage. I despair, I really do... Surely there's far better albums that've been left hanging than this 80's, made for 'FM' trash.
What have we done wrong?! Death metal, jazz lite, and now rock softer than talc 😆
Justin is obviously listening to you. 🙄
@@pentagrammaton6793 I know right, bleak times indeed :)
@@XFLexiconMatt If only... 🙂
I'm not angry, Mr Wetton, I am disappointed, very disappointed. Go to your room and stay there. No, no supper!
😆
This stuff doesn't even reach me. Just where does it measure on the insignificance scale? Answers on a postcard, along with a copy of Mudhoney's 'Superfuzz Bigmuff'!🙄
I just re-listened to that, and now I regret selling my Big Muff a while ago. 😒