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]
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".[4] 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".[5] 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".[3]
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.[6]
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.[7] The record received a gold status in Britain on 18 October 1982.[8] "Heat of the Moment" climbed to No. 46.[7]
Asia's total worldwide sales are estimated at over ten million copies.[9]
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.[9]
Track listing
|
|
6. | "Wildest Dreams" | Wetton, Downes | 5:10 |
7. | "Without You" | Wetton, Howe | 5:04 |
8. | "Cutting It Fine" | Wetton, Downes, Howe | 5:35 |
9. | "Here Comes the Feeling" | Wetton, Howe | 5:42 |
Total length: | 44:22 |
|
|
10. | "Ride Easy" | Wetton, Howe | 4:35 |
Personnel
Technical personnel
- Mike Stone – producer, engineer
- George Marino – mastering
- Kevin Gray – 2010 Audio Fidelity remastering
- Roger Dean – cover design
- Brian Griffin – inner sleeve photography
Charts
|
All-time chart
Chart |
Peak position |
US Billboard 200[21] |
95 |
|
References
- ↑ "The Billboard 200 – Year-end albums – 1982". Billboard. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009.
- 1 2 "Asia chart positions in the US". Billboard.
- 1 2 Demalon, Tom. Asia: Asia > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Review: Asia". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Top Album Picks: Asia – Asia". Billboard. Vol. 94 no. 12. 27 March 1982. p. 98.
- ↑ "RIAA's Gold & Platinum Program searchable database". RIAA. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007.
- 1 2 "Asia chart positions in the UK". The Official Charts Company.
- ↑ "BPI's certified awards search". BPI.
- 1 2 "Asia::Asia". Audio Fidelity. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Asia – Asia" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6528". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Asia – Asia" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Asia – Asia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Asia – Asia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Asia Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Top Pop Albums". Billboard. Vol. 94 no. 51. 25 December 1982.
- ↑ "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Asia – Asia". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ↑ "British album certifications – Asia – Asia". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 October 2016. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Enter Asia in the search field and then press Enter.
- ↑ "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.
External links
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Studio albums | |
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Extended plays | |
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Live albums | |
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Compilations | |
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Singles | |
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