/ASIA\ "XL" - 40 Year Anniversary Thread (1982-2022+)

[agentarmstrong]

Who else is also looking back, at what it meant to "...find yourself in '82"?

/ASIA\ was a super nova of musical talent that immediately exploded at American rock radio AND Top 40 pop radio in the summer of 1982.

As much as YES impacted the youth culture of early 1970s UK and US rock fans, the music of /ASIA\ and YES' 90125 certainly did for my generation of young fans a decade later.

I'm just posting this as a general thread for any memories we care to share about what the songs, albums, cover art, or concerts of /ASIA\ meant to us in 1982... or anytime since... or to speculate on what the /ASIA\ legacy will or should instigate or inspire in 2022 as the landmark 40th anniversary year of /ASIA\ and beyond.

- Douglas /AgentA\

"RIDE EASY, my friends..."

[Gilly Goodness]

Good one. /ASIA\. Haaahaaaahaa

I'm probly a bit older than you. Was a 《YES》fan at the age of 12 or so. 1973. CCTE then Tales. All the way to the buggled Drama. My music tastes had spread out to Tom Waits, Springsteen, Roxy Music, Joni Mitchell. Pop was big. Big Dancey beats. Big hair. Big shoulder pads.

Anyhoo one Sunday evening on the music show Countdown, saw a new band with Steve Howe!
Thrilled to his koto and 14 second solo. These were desperate times. Got the album. For the new dark Dean cover. Learnt who John Wetton was. Found UK soon after. Preferred UK. Love them. ASIA were always OK. Stopped buying albums. Played other music. Settled down, had a child. Then lo and behold the clouds parted and the sun shone again with KEYS reunion of the big boys.

Dug AURA when it came out. Bought it.

So 82 was being a young adult enjoying gigs by The Police and Bowie. But it was nice to see Howe happy and Geoff learning to be a rock God.

Then. 40 year old virgin. Cool to sing HOTM again in public. Rock is really just dumb fun. Hitting 2 rocks together while howling at the moon!

Now I'm totally teamGeoff. Love Downes Braide Association to bits.* Pastoral pop prog perfection.

Now we find ourselves in '22
The hiphop raves hold no charms for you



* DBA do some /ASIA\ songs Live. Checkout YT.
The Smile has left your Eyes from memory...

[Frumious B]

Remember, like, ten years ago when there was supposed to be a deluxe anniversary edition of the Asia debut album? Whatever happened to that? I use tracks ripped from Asia Gold plus “Ride Easy” in my library.

[Frumious B]

Were Asia’s masters lost in the 2008 Universal fire?

[Gtkgasman]

Ahhh. March 1982. Junior, HS. Got my license that month. Asia tunes were anthems for the summer!