Asia (Asia album)

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]

Asia
Studio album by
Asia
Released18 March 1982
RecordedJune–November 1981
Studio
Genre
Length44:22
LabelGeffen
ProducerMike Stone
Asia chronology
Asia
(1982)		 Alpha
(1983)
Singles from Asia
  1. "Heat of the Moment"
    Released: April 1982
  2. "Only Time Will Tell"
    Released: July 1982
  3. "Sole Survivor"
    Released: October 1982

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 are currently 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. There was a concern that having Dean do the cover would produce something that looked too much like a Yes cover (Dean having been doing covers for the band for several years), but Howe and Downes pushed for his involvement. Geffen's John Kalodner did not like Dean's logo for the band at first.[3]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Christgau's Record GuideC–[5]

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".[5] 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".[6] 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".[4]

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.[7] It was the best-selling album of 1982 in the US.

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.[8] The record received a gold status in Britain on 18 October 1982.[9] "Heat of the Moment" climbed to No. 46.[8]

Asia's total worldwide sales are estimated at over ten million copies.[10]

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.[10]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Heat of the Moment"John Wetton, Geoff Downes3:50
2."Only Time Will Tell"Wetton, Downes4:44
3."Sole Survivor"Wetton, Downes4:48
4."One Step Closer"Wetton, Steve Howe4:16
5."Time Again"Downes, Howe, Carl Palmer, Wetton4:45
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Wildest Dreams"Wetton, Downes5:10
7."Without You"Wetton, Howe5:04
8."Cutting It Fine"Wetton, Downes, Howe5:35
9."Here Comes the Feeling"Wetton, Howe5:42
Total length:44:22
Bonus Track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Ride Easy"Wetton, Howe4:35
Total length:48:57

Personnel

Asia

Technical personnel

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[24] 3× Platinum 300,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[26] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^
France (SNEP)[27] Gold 100,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[28] Gold 25,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. "The Billboard 200 – Year-end albums – 1982". Billboard. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009.
  2. "Asia chart positions in the US". Billboard.
  3. Roger Dean and Geoff Downes in conversation, Roger Dean YouTube channel
  4. Demalon, Tom. Asia: Asia > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  5. Christgau, Robert (1990). "A". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 16 August 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
  6. "Top Album Picks: Asia – Asia". Billboard. Vol. 94 no. 12. 27 March 1982. p. 98.
  7. "RIAA's Gold & Platinum Program searchable database". RIAA. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
  8. "Asia chart positions in the UK". The Official Charts Company.
  9. "BPI's certified awards search". BPI.
  10. "Asia::Asia". Audio Fidelity. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012.
  11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 19. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  12. "Austriancharts.at – Asia – Asia" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  13. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6528". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Asia – Asia" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Asia – Asia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  16. "Charts.nz – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  17. "Norwegiancharts.com – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  18. "Swedishcharts.com – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  19. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  20. "Asia Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  21. 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.
  22. "Top Pop Albums". Billboard. Vol. 94 no. 51. 25 December 1982.
  23. "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  24. "Canadian album certifications – Asia – Asia". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  25. "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.
  26. "American album certifications – Asia – Asia". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 October 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  27. "French album certifications – Asia – Asia" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  28. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Asia; 'Asia')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
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