Asia Ariaz

2 x CD with remixed/remastered 2022 audio: Live at The Budokan Arena, Tokyo, Japan, MTV satellite telecast concert (6 December 1983, USA time), remixed 2022 from the master tapes; Live at The Budokan Arena, Tokyo, Japan, previous night’s show (6 December 1983, Japan Time), remixed 2022 from the master tapes.

BMG will issue The Reunion Albums next month, a five-CD box set featuring material from the 2006 reformed classic line-up of Asia, which featured lead vocalist / bassist John Wetton of King Crimson, guitarist Steve Howe of Yes, keyboardist Geoff Downes of Yes, and drummer Carl Palmer from Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The clamshell box set features Fantasia: Live in Tokyo, a live show from their 2007 World Tour (a two-CD set), and the three subsequent studio albums: Phoenix (2008), Omega (2010) and XXX (2012).

2 x CD with remixed/remastered 2022 audio: Live at The Budokan Arena, Tokyo, Japan, MTV satellite telecast concert (6 December 1983, USA time), remixed 2022 from the master tapes; Live at The Budokan Arena, Tokyo, Japan, previous night’s show (6 December 1983, Japan Time), remixed 2022 from the master tapes.

This marriage of four players with impressive pedigrees proved to be the success story of 1982 when Asia's debut lodged itself at the top of the U.S. album charts for two months. The album spawned a massive number four single in "Heat of the Moment," a follow-up Top 20 hit in the sweeping "Only Time Will Tell," and a handful of other tracks that received heavy radio play despite going against the grain of the new wave styling of the day. Produced by Mike Stone, Asia's strengths were the powerful vocals of John Wetton, the nimble, classically tinged guitar work of Steve Howe, Geoffrey Downes' majestic keyboard playing, and anchoring the band, Carl Palmer's propulsive drumming. The lyrics are overwrought at moments, but 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.

As a man not familiar with the classic rock act Asia, I must say that this live concert (originally recorded back in 2012 at the Regency Ballroom) comes as a breath of fresh air and served as a bit of a break from all of the extreme heavy metal that I pound my eardrums with on a daily basis. First and foremost, the listener is getting a concert performance of ridiculously high clarity, which is always a major factor for me in live albums.

This is a live album from Asia's MTV gig in Japan. The thing was, John Wetton left the band a week before the concert, so Greg Lake was brought it. Hearing his amazing voice singing Asia classics here is great. Steve Howe's guitar shines in this performance as well. Not to mention Carl Palmer, the guy is just an amazing drummer. Geoff Downes also adds a great keyboard solo, and overall his keyboards really add to the mix of the album. The entire performance sounds great with the remastering. It only gets four stars as the editing between songs isnt that good, and Greg Lake's voice isnt as good as Wetton's in certain parts. But overall, this is an amazing concert. Recomended to Asia fans. ~ B.K., Amazon

This is a live album from Asia's MTV gig in Japan. The thing was, John Wetton left the band a week before the concert, so Greg Lake was brought it. Hearing his amazing voice singing Asia classics here is great. Steve Howe's guitar shines in this performance as well. Not to mention Carl Palmer, the guy is just an amazing drummer. Geoff Downes also adds a great keyboard solo, and overall his keyboards really add to the mix of the album. The entire performance sounds great with the remastering. It only gets four stars as the editing between songs isnt that good, and Greg Lake's voice isnt as good as Wetton's in certain parts. But overall, this is an amazing concert. Recomended to Asia fans. ~ B.K., Amazon