Released 18 March 1982 Length 44:22 Artist Asia Label Geffen Records | Recorded June – November 1981 Producer Mike Stone Release date 18 March 1982 | |
 | ||
Studio Townhouse Studios, London Genres Rock music, Progressive rock, Hard rock, Pop rock Nominations Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Similar Asia albums, Progressive rock albums | ||
Asia full album asia 1982 1080p
Asia is the self-titled debut studio album by the English rock band Asia, released in 1982. According to both Billboard and Cash Box, it was the #1 album in the United States for the year 1982. It contains their biggest hit "Heat of the Moment", which reached #4 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Contents
Commercial success
Upon its release in March 1982, Asia reached #1 in the US and spent nine weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart. Asia was certified 4x-platinum in the US by the RIAA on 10 February 1995.
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. The record received a gold status in Britain on 18 October 1982. "Heat of the Moment" climbed to No. 46.
Asia's total worldwide sales are estimated at over ten million copies.
Critical reception
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". 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".
Cover 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 leviathan gazing into a crystal orb.
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.
Track listing
All tracks written by John Wetton and Geoff Downes, except where noted.
Asia
Technical personnel
Songs
1Heat of the Moment3:50
2Only Time Will Tell4:48
3Sole Survivor4:50