Asia Discography

Asia was a progressive-rock supergroup that, ironically, signaled the death of classic progressive rock and its subsequent turning to join the undead army of arena rockers. The roots of Asia lie in storied bands such as Yes, ELP, King Crimson and U.K., but its future clearly was patterned after acts such as Foreigner. In a sense, Asia provided a template for how old proggers might move forward in the new world, with Yes (90125) and ELP (Emerson, Lake and Powell) each mapping their future course along Asia’s successful campaign. And yet, there was the sense with the arrival of Asia that a magical spell had been broken.

The achievement of Asia can be contained to a single album, their first, which featured such rock & roll anthems as “Heat of the Moment,” “Sole Survivor” and “Only Time Will Tell.” The material, written mostly by Geoff Downes (Yes, The Buggles) and John Wetton (King Crimson, U.K., Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, etc.), consisted of songs about love and war played out on a grand sonic stage for maximum dramatic effect. Steve Howe (Yes) and Carl Palmer (ELP) elevated the material with their classy contributions and, with an album cover designed by Roger Dean, the prog connection was complete. You could argue with the album’s intent, but not its results: from a commercial standpoint, Asia was a multiplatinum masterpiece.

Alpha was not. The material from Downes and Wetton wasn’t as strong, and it appeared that Asia’s fifteen minutes were winding down. Howe left before the recording of Astra, and Asia went on hiatus soon after. Howe and Wetton continued their Asian adventures with GTR and Wetton/Manzanera, respectively, while Downes released an album of instrumental music. Then & Now featured songs from abortive attempts to revive Asia, and Asia Live captured the band’s 1989 appearance in Moscow, but a proper reboot of the brand had to wait until 1992’s Aqua, by which time Downes was the only full-time original member.

Over the years, Wetton and Howe have had a revolving-door relationship with Asia that reflected their own strained relationship with one another, while Downes has kept the brand alive through minor-label releases that have approached the quality of, if not their debut, at least Alpha and Astra. John Wetton passed away in 2017, ending any chance of an Asia reunion, in case you were waiting for one. I wasn’t.

ASIA (1982)
Heat of the Moment / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / One Step Closer / Time Again // Wildest Dreams / Without You / Cutting It Fine / Here Comes The Feeling. Released on elpee and cassette in March 1982 in the UK, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands (Geffen, GEF/40GEF 85577), the US (Geffen, GHS/M5 2008), Canada (Geffen, XGHS/M5G 2008) and Japan (Geffen, 25AP 2299); reached #11 in the UK and #1 in the US (RIAA-certified 4X platinum record). Re-issued on CD in June 1994 in the UK (Bullet Proof, 4859), in Japan (Geffen, UICY-9123) and in 1997 in the US (Geffen, 2008). Re-issued on remastered, ltd. ed. 24k gold CD in 2010 in the US (Audio Fidelity, AFZ 068). Re-issued on SHMCD in 2010 in Japan (Geffen, UIGY-9606) ana dgain in 2010 in Japan (Geffen, UIGY-9041). Re-issued on 180g vinyl elpee in 2012 in Japan (Geffen, UIJY-75005).

Heat of the Moment (1982)
b/w Ride Easy. Released on 7-inch in April 1982 in the UK (Geffen, GEFA2494), the US (Geffen, GEF50040), Canada (Geffen, KGEF50040), Germany, the Netherlands and Spain (Geffen, A2207) and Japan (Geffen, 07SP-617) with picture sleeve; reached #46 on the UK charts and #4 on the US charts (charted April 17, 1982 for 18 weeks). Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1982 in the US (Geffen, PRO 50040) feat. A only.

Only Time Will Tell (1982)
b/w Time Again, Ride Easy (UK), Here Comes The Feeling. Released on 7-inch and 7-inch picture disc in July 1982 in the UK (Geffen, GEF A/A11-2228), the US (Geffen, 7-29970), Australia (Geffen, GEF 29970), Canada (Geffen, 92 99707), Germany, the Netherlands and Spain (Geffen, GEF A 2594) and Japan (Geffen, 07SP-645) with regional picture sleeves; reached #54 on the UK charts and #17 on the US charts (charted on July 24, 1982 for 14 weeks). Also released as promotional 7-inch and 12-inch in 1982 in the US (Geffen, 7-29970/PRO-A-1042) with different track listings.

Sole Survivor (1982)
b/w Here Comes The Feeling. Released on 7-inch single in October 1982 in the US and Canada (Geffen, 29871) and the UK (Geffen, GEF 2884) with picture sleeve.

Don’t Cry (1983)
b/w Daylight, True Colors (EUR). Released on 7-inch, 7-inch shaped picture disc and 12-inch in July 1983 in the UK (Geffen, A/WA/TA 3580), the US (Geffen, 29571-7), Australia (Geffen, GEF29571), Canada (Geffen, 92 95717), Germany and the Netherlands (Geffen, A/A12 3580) and Japan (Geffen, 07SP-710) with picture sleeve; reached #10 on the US charts (charted on July 30, 1983 for 13 weeks) and #33 on the UK charts. Re-released on back-to-back hits 7-inch single in the US (Geffen, GGEF 0484) with “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes.”

ALPHA (1983)
Don’t Cry / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / Never In A Million Years / My Own Time (I’ll Do What I Want) / The Heat Goes On // Eye To Eye / The Last To Know / True Colors / Midnight Sun / Open Your Eyes. Released on elpee and cassette on July 26, 1983 in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands (Geffen, GEF/GEF40-25508), the US (Geffen, GHS/M5G-4008), Canada (Geffen, XGHS-4008), Japan (Geffen, 25AP-2650) and Mexico (Epic, LNS-17422) with lyric sleeve; reached #5 in the UK and #6 in the US (RIAA-certified platinum record). Re-issued on CD in the US (Geffen, 4008-2) and in 1988 in Japan (Geffen, 20P2-2077).

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (1983)
b/w Lying to Yourself + Midnight Sun. Released on 7-inch, 7-inch blue vinyl and 12-inch red vinyl single in October 1983 in the UK (Geffen, A/TA 3836), the US (Geffen, 7-29475), Australia (Geffen, GEF29475), Canada (Geffen, 92 94757) and the Netherlands (Geffen, GEFA 3836) with picture sleeve; reached #34 on the US charts (charted on October 15, 1983 for 20 weeks). UK versions feature unique picture sleeve. Re-released on 7-inch single in the US (Geffen Back-to-Back Hits, GGEF 0484) with “Don’t Cry.”

The Heat Goes On (1983)
b/w The Last To Know. Released on 7-inch single in 1983 in Japan (Geffen).

Go (1985)
b/w After The War. Released on 7-inch single in November 1985 in the US (Geffen, 28872); reached #46 on the US charts (charted on December 7, 1985 for 11 weeks).

ASTRA (1985)
Go / Voice of America / Hard On Me / Wishing / Rock And Roll Dream // Countdown To Zero / Love Now Till Eternity / Too Late / Suspicion / After The War. Released on elpee, cassette and CD in November 1985 in the UK and the Netherlands (Geffen, GEF/GED 26413), the US (Geffen, GHS/M5G 24072/-2), Argentina (CBS, 20725) and Japan (CBS/Sony, 28AP-3120/32DP-280) with lyric inner sleeve; reached #68 on the UK charts and #67 on the US charts. Re-issued on compact disc in 1992 in Japan (Geffen, MVCG-21008). Re-issued on compact disc and cassette on May 17, 1995 in the US (MCA, MCAD/MCAC-20851). Re-released on remastered compact disc in Japan (Geffen, UICY-9125). Re-issued on elpee on September 3, 2013 in the US (JDC).

Wishing (1986)
b/w Too Late. Released on 7-inch single in January 1986 in the US (Geffen, 28745).

THEN & NOW (1990)
Only Time Will Tell / Heat of the Moment / Wildest Dreams / Don’t Cry / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes // Days Like These / Prayin’ 4 A Miracle / Am I In Love? / Summer (Can’t Last Too Long) / Voice of America. Released on elpee, CD and cassette in August 1990 in the US (Geffen, 24298-1/2/4) and Mexico (Warner, LPXB 6998); reached #114 on the US charts (RIAA-certified gold record).

Days Like These (1990)
b/w Voice of America. Released on CD and cassette single in September 1990 in the US (Geffen, 19677); reached #64 on the US charts.

ASIA LIVE / 09-X1-90 MOCKBA (1991)
Live tracks: Time Again / Sole Survivor / Don’t Cry / Geoff Downes – Keyboards / Only Time Will Tell / Rock And Roll Dream / Starless / Book of Saturday / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (Parts I & II) / The Heat Goes On / Go / Heat of the Moment / Open Your Eyes / Kari-Anne. Released on CD in 1991 in the US (Rhino, R2 70377), Europe (Cromwell/Essential, ESSCD 174) and Japan (Cromwell/Warner, WPCP-4623).

AQUA (1992)
Aqua I / Who Will Stop The Rain / Lay Down Your Arms / Heaven On Earth / Someday / Crime of the Heart / A Far Cry / Back In Town / Don’t Call Me / Love Under Fire / The Voice of Reason / Aqua II. Released on compact disc, elpee and cassette in March 1992 in the US (Great Pyramid, 35819), the UK (Musicdisc, 10928) and Germany (IRS, 951959). Re-issued on compact disc in 1994 in the US (Rhino, 71833). Re-released on remastered compact disc in 1998 in the UK (Snapper, SMMCD 521). Re-released on 2CD in 2003 in the US (Snapper, SMDCD 393) with Aria.

Who Will Stop The Rain (1992)
b/w Aqua (Part One) + Heart of Gold, Obsession. Released on three-track 7-inch single and 10-inch picture disc and on four-track 12-inch and CD single in August 1992 in the UK (Musicdisc, 109527/MU 111/109526/109522) . Also released as one-track promotional CD single in 1992 in the US (JRS, JPS 18192).

Heaven On Earth (1993)
Released as one-track cassette single in February 1993 in the US (JRS, 36017).

ARIA (1994)
Anytime / Are You Big Enough? / Desire / Summer / Sad Situation / Don’t Cut The Wire (Brother) / Feels Like Love / Remembrance Day / Enough’s Enough / Military Man / Aria. Released on compact disc in May 1994 in the UK (Bullet Proof, CDVEST8) and the US (Mayhem, 50812).

ARENA (1996)
Into The Arena / Arena / Heaven / To The Side of the Moon / The Day Before The War / Never / Falling / Words / You Bring Me Down / Tell Me Why / Turn It Around / Bella Nova (Out of the Arena). Released on compact disc in 1996 in the UK (Bullet Proof, CDVEST69), the US (Resurgent, 103) and Japan (Warner, WPCP-295).

ARCHIVA I (1996)
Heart of Gold / Tears / Fight Against The Tribe / We Fall Apart / The Mariner’s Dream / Boys From Diamond City / A.L.O. / Reality / I Can’t Wait A Lifetime / Dusty Road / I Believe / Ginger. Released on compact disc on September 24, 1996 in the US (Resurgent, LV104) and in February 1997 in the UK(?) (Pavement, ,32262).

ARCHIVA 2 (1996)
Obsession / Moon Under The Water / Love Like The Video / Don’t Come To Me / The Smoke That Thunders / Satellite Blues / Showdown / That Season / Can’t Tell These Walls / The Higher You Climb / Right To cry / Armenia. Released on compact disc in September 1996 in the US (Resurgent, LV105).

NOW: NOTTINGHAM LIVE (1997)
Live tracks: Wildest dreams / Sole Survivor / Don’t Cry / Voice of America / Time Again / Prayin’ 4 A Miracle / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / Only Time Will Tell / Days Like These / The Heat Goes On / Go / Heat of the Moment / Open Your Eyes. Released on compact disc in April 1997 in the US (Resurgent, 253).

ASIA LIVE – OSAKA (1997)
Live tracks: Go / Band Intro / Lay Down Your Arms / Love Under Fire / Rock And Roll Dream / Geoff Downes Keyboard Solo / Video Killed The Radio Star / Little Rich Boy / Voice of America / Aqua, Part 1 / Who Will Stop The Rain? // Wildest Dreams / Back In Town / Don’t Cry / Some Day / Steve Howe Guitar Solo / The Voice of Reason / Only Time Will Tell / The Heat Goes On / A Far Cry. Released on 2CD on September 23, 1997 in the US (Resurgent, 1064).

ASIA LIVE – KOLN, GERMANY (1997)
Live tracks: Go / Back In Town / Sad Situation / Remembrance Day / Someday / The Heat Goes On / Anytime / Sole Survivor / Summer / Feels Like Love / Little Rich Boy // Desire / Who Will Stop The Rain? / Military Man / Only Time Will Tell / Heat of the Moment. Released on 2CD in October 1997 in the US (Resurgent, 1066).

ASIA LIVE – PHILADELPHIA (1997)
Live tracks: Go / Band Intro / Lay Down Your Arms / Rock And Roll Dream / Love Under Fire / Little Rich Boy / Steve Howe Intro / Aqua, Part 1 / The Heat Goes On / Don’t Cry / Someday / Steve Howe Guitar Solo // Wildest Dreams / Back In Town / Open Your Eyes / Who Will Stop The Rain? / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / Heat of the Moment. Released on 2CD on November 4, 1997 in the US (Resurgent, 4060).

ANTHOLOGY (1999)
Hunter / Only Time Will Tell / Arena / Anytime / Don’t Cry / Aqua Part 1 / Who Will Stop The Rain? / The Heat Goes On / Two Sides of the Moon / Reality / Go / Feels Like Love / Someday / Heat of the Moment / Military Man / Different Worlds. Released on compact disc in February 1999 (Original Masters, 15519).

AXIOMS (1999)
Released on 2CD on April 20, 1999 (Recall, 217).

RARE (2000)
Released on compact disc in 2000 in the US (Resurgent, 106).

LIVE AT THE TOWN AND COUNTRY CLUB (2000)
Released on compact disc on February 8, 2000 in the US (Resurgent, 107).

THE VERY BEST OF ASIA: HEAT OF THE MOMENT (1982-1990) (2000)
Heat of the Moment / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / Time Again / Wildest Dreams / Here Comes the Feeling / Don’t Cry / Daylight / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / Lying to Yourself / The Heat Goes On / Never In A Million Years / Open Your Eyes / Go / Voice of America / Too Late / Days Like These / Ride Easy. Released on CD on June 6, 2000 in the US (Geffen, 069 490 554-2).

AURA (2001)
Awake / Whenever You Are / Ready To Go Home / The Last Time / Forgive Me / Kings of the Day / On The Coldest Day In Hell / Free / You’re The Stranger / The Longest Night / Aura / Under The Gun / Come Make My Day / Hands of Time. Released on compact disc on June 5, 2001 in the US (Wind Storm, 13003).

ANTHOLOGIA: 20^TH ANNIVERSARY/GEFFEN YEARS COLLECTION 1982-1990 (2002)
Heat of the Moment / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / One Step Closer / Time Again / Wildest Dreams / Without You / Cutting It Fine / Here Comes the Feeling / Ride Easy / Don’t Cry / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / Never In A Million Years / My Own Time (I’ll Do What I Want) / The Heat Goes On / Eye To Eye / The Last To Know / True Colors / Midnight Sun / Open Your Eyes / Daylight / Lyin’ To Yourself / Go / Voice of America / Hand On Me / Wishing / Rock And Roll Dream / Countdown To Zero / Love Now Till Eternity / Too Late / Suspicion / After The War / Am I In Love? / Summer (Can’t Last Too Long) / Prayin 4 A Miracle / Days Like These. Released on 2CD on June 25, 2002 in the US (Geffen). Repackaged as Gold on 2CD on June 14, 2005 in the US (Geffen).

DRAGON ATTACK (2003)
Released on 2CD on August 12, 2003 ni the US (United States of Distribution, 235).

THE BEST OF ASIA: THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION (2003)
Heat of the Moment / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / Don’t Cry / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / The Heat Goes On / Open Your Eyes / Daylight / Go / Voice of America / Too Late / Days Like These. Released on compact disc on September 23, 2003 in the US (Geffen, 89702).

LIVE IN BUFFALO (2004)
Live tracks: Time Again / One Step Closer / Without You / Ancient / Claps / Midnight Sun / Only Time Will Tell // Cutting It Fine / Keyboard Solo / Wildest Dreams / Here Comes The Feeling / Sole Survivor / Heat of the Moment. Released on 2CD on January 27, 2004 in the US (United States of Distribution, 348).

LIVE IN HYOGO (2004)
Live tracks: Intro / Wildest Dreams / Sole Survivor / Don’t Cry / Voice of America / Solo Geoff / Majesty / Time Again / Praying For A Miracle / Only Time Will Tell / Rendez-Vous 6:02 // Book of Saturday / Days Like These / The Heat Goes On / Go / Heat of the Moment / Open Your Eyes. Released on 2CD on March 9, 2004 in the US (United States of Distribution, 381).

SILENT NATION (2004)
What About Love / Long Way From Home / Midnight / Blue Moon Monday / Silent Nation / Ghost In The Mirror / Gone Too Far / I Will Be There For You / Darkness Day / The Prophet / Long Way From Home / Sun Don’t Shine. Released on compact disc on July 20, 2004 in the US (Inside Out, 60842).

LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS – 83 (2004)
Released on compact disc on October 5, 2004 in the US (United States of Distribution, 431).

DIFFERENT WORLDS LIVE (2005)
Live tracks: Intro / Go / Lay Down Your Arms / Love Under Fire / Rock And Roll Dream / John Intro / Little Rich Boy / Cutting It Fine / Video Killed The Radio Star / Voice of America / Untitled / Who Will Stop the Rain / Wildest Dreams // The Heat Goes On / Different Worlds / Back In Town / Summer / Don’t Call Me / Military Man / Cutting It Fine / Video Killed The Radio Star / Arena / Only Time Will Tell / Feels Like Love / Who Will Stop The Rain / Sad Situation / Heat of the Moment. Released on 2CD + bonus interview DVD on August 23, 2005 in the US(?) (Shakedown).

THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION (2006)
Heat of the Moment / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / Wildest Dreams / Here Comes The Feeling / Don’t Cry / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / The Heat Goes On / Open Your Eyes / Daylight / Go / Voice of America / Too Late / Wishing / Days Like These / Go (Remix). Released on compact disc on September 12, 2006 in the US (Geffen); reached #183 on the US charts.

FANTASIA LIVE IN TOKYO (2007)
Live tracks: Time Again / Wildest Dreams / One Step Closer / Roundabout / Without You / Cutting It Fine / Intersection Blues / Fanfare For The Common Man / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes // Don’t Cry / In The Court of the Crimson King / Here Comes the Feeling / Video Killed The Radio Star / The Heat Goes On / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / Ride Easy / Heat of the Moment. Released on 2CD on March 26, 2007 in the US (Eagle Rock).

EXTENDED VERSIONS (2007)
Time Again / Only Time Will Tell / Wildest Dreams / Here Comes The Feeling / Silent Nation / Long Way From Home / Cutting It Fine / What About Love / Sole Survivor / Heat of the Moment. Released on compact disc on September 25, 2007 in the US (SBME Special Markets).

LIVE IN JAPAN (2007)
Live tracks: Go / Band Intro / Lay Down Your Arms / Love Under Fire / Rock And Roll Dreams / Geoff Downes Solo / Video Killed The Radio Star / Little Rich Boy / Voice of America / Aqua, Part 1 // Who Will Stop The Rain // Wildest Dreams / Back In Town / Don’t Cry / Some Day / Steve Howe Solo / The Voice of Reason / Only Time Will Tell / The Heat Goes On / A Far Cry. Released on 2CD on October 1, 2007 in the US(?) (Acadia).

SCANDINAVIA (2008)
Live tracks: Time Again / Only Time Will Tell / Wildest Dreams / Here Comes The Feeling / Silent Nation / Long Way From Home / Cutting It Fine / What About Love / Sole Survivor / Heat of the Moment. Released on compact disc on March 11, 2008 (Devgel).

LIVE IN THE USA (2008)
Live tracks: Go / Intro / Lay Down Your Arms / Rock And Roll Dream / Love Under Fire / Little Rich Boy / Intro / Aqua, Part 1 / The Heat Goes On / Don’t Cry / Somebody / Steve Howe Solo // Wildest Dreams / Back In Town / Open Your Eyes / Who Will Stop The Rain? / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor / Heat of the Moment. Released on 2CD on March 31, 2008 in the UK (Evangeline).

ACOUSTIC & ELECTRIC (2008)
The Heat Goes On / Who Will Stop The Rain? / Cutting It Fine / Video Killed The Radio Star / Heat of the Moment / Open Your Eyes / Lay Down Your Arms / Voice of America / Different Worlds / Back In Town / Summer / Arena / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Survivor. Released on compact disc on April 8, 2008 in the US (Fuel 2000).

PHOENIX (2008)
Never Again / Nothing’s Forever / Heroine / Sleeping Giant/No Way Back/Reprise / Alibis / I Will Remember You / Shadow of A Doubt / Parallel Worlds/Vortex/Deya / Wish I’d Known All Along / Orchard of Mines / Over And Over / An Extraordinary Life. Released on compact disc on April 15, 2008 in the US (EMI); reached #73 on the US charts.

MILITARY MAN (EP) (2009)
Military Man / Long Way From Home / Neurosaur / Military Man (Radio Edit) / Long Way From Home (Radio Edit). Released on CDEP on October 27, 2009 in the UK(?) (Voiceprint).

OMEGA (2010)
Finger On The Trigger / Through My Veins / Holy War / Ever Yours / Listen, Children / End of the World / Light The Way / Emily / I’m Still The Same / There Was A Time / I Believe / Don’t Wanna Lose You Now. Released on compact disc on May 4, 2010 in the US(?) (Frontiers).

LIVE AROUND THE WORLD (2010)
Live tracks: Time Again / Go / Days Like These / Wildest Dreams / One Step Closer / The Smile Has Left Your Eyes / Only Time Will Tell / Open Your Eyes / Don’t Cry / The Heat Goes On/Drum Solo / Heat of the Moment / Sole Survivor // Heat of the Moment / Only Time Will Tell / Sole Surviror / One Step Closer / Time Again / Wildest Dreams / Without You / Cutting It Fine (Bolero) / Here Comes The Feeling / Open Your Eyes / Voice of America / Praying For A Miracle. Released on 2CD on July 13, 2010 in the US(?) (Rokarola).