John+wetton

Voice Mail is the second solo album by the English rock musician John Wetton. Initially released on 17 June 1994 in Japan only, it was re-released internationally as Battle Lines with the same musical content but different artwork. John Wetton was an English singer, bassist, and songwriter. He rose to fame with bands Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson, Roxy Music and Uriah Heep. Following his period in Uriah Heep, Wetton formed U.K., and later — after a brief stint in Wishbone Ash — he was the frontman and principal songwriter of the supergroup Asia, which proved to be his biggest commercial success.

Upon leaving UK, before reaching Asia, journeyman John Wetton released his first solo album, Caught in the Crossfire. Although a vocal doppelgänger of Greg Lake, as a songwriter Wetton was always more of a team player, so there was no occasion in Wetton's past work where you could say, "Aha, this is what he'd sound like on his own." And he is largely on his own here, handling vocals, bass, keyboards, and even guitar while writing all of the material (though Peter Sinfield does chip in on "Get What You Want"). The result is surprisingly good; Wetton is clearly more comfortable writing songs on the bass, but he fleshes them out nicely with keyboards, supported by Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke, embellished with the plaintive guitar leads of Jethro Tull's Martin Barre, and polished with a pair of saxophone solos from Malcolm Duncan.

A reissue of an album originally released in Japan in 1994 under the title Voice Mail, 1995's Battle Lines continues John Wetton's career path over the preceding 15 years – there's more pop than prog in his prog pop, in other words. Basically indistinguishable from a late-period Asia album, the ten tracks on Battle Lines were mostly co-written by Wetton and keyboardist Bob Marlette. The re-release garnered a new cover and bonus track - acoustic version of the title track.

2001 studio album for the Asia, U.K. vocalist, one of the classic voices of British rock music. Additional artists include Robert Fripp and Ian McDonald (King Crimson), Steve Hackett (Genesis), John Young (Asia/Qango), Martin Orford (IQ/Jadis) and John Mitchell (Arena). Tracks include, 'Heart of Darkness', 'No Ordinary Miracle' and 'Second Best'. Standard jewelcase. The album was originally released in 2000 in Japan under the title Welcome To Heaven with the bonus tracks but with a different cover.

John Wetton is easily one of the greatest singers of the rock era and he shines on this soundtrack CD with two compelling versions of "Battle Lines." His orchestrations of the music for the film are also top shelf…

John Wetton's early-2003 album Rock of Faith appeared after a two-year string of concert releases. It was written at a crossroads in the singer/bassist's life, in the wake of his 50th birthday – it was also occasioned by his extended visit to Vienna, which stimulated him artistically, and recorded in the wake of the dire world events of 2001 halfway around the globe. The ex-Family/King Crimson/Asia member rises to the occasion here, with an album evocative of his progressive rock past, yet slightly leaner and more focused than most of those efforts ever were, and supported by Geoffrey Downes (keyboards), Clive Nolan (keyboards), John Mitchell (electric guitars), and Steve Christey (drums).

Japanese edition of 2000 solo release for the former U.K. and Asia vocalist. Additional artists include Robert Fripp and Ian McDonald (King Crimson), Steve Hackett (Genesis), John Young (Asia/Qango), Martin Orford (IQ/Jadis) and John Mitchell (Arena). Tracks include, 'Heart of Darkness', 'No Ordinary Miracle' and 'Second Best'. Japanese edition includes two bonus tracks, 'Love Is' and 'Space And Time'. It was re-released in 2001 under the title Sinister without the bonus tracks but with a different cover.

Former Asia front man John Wetton has released more than his share of live albums in recent years. The performance, recorded in Poland on the Arkangel tour, is strong and nearly perfect.