Search - John Wetton, Geoffrey Downes :: Wetton and Downes

The "lost" Asia songs of the 80's

Prog Nerd | Southern California | 06/10/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Yep, there's some definite gems in this collection if you're a rabid fan of Wetton-era Asia. Although they are very rough demos in some cases, with some ("Don't Say It Again", "Walking On Air") they're so good it doesn't matter.



Tracks 1-7 were either written for Astra and dropped (there was a rumored 10-15 dropped songs; the band recorded approximately 25) or they were done later in the 80's. I've mentioned the best above, but some are a bit thin ("Just As Long", "Only You".)



"Oh! Carolanne" is a slightly different version of "Kari-Anne", and "Christina" is a solo acoustic Wetton track, written in 1984 for Downes' daughter (and Wetton's goddaughter) but recorded live in 1995 (also contained on his 1996 release Akustika - Live In Amerika.)



"We Move As One" features the vocals of ABBA vocalist Agnetha Falkskog, and was recorded for her mid-80's solo album.



"Summer" is an early version (with different lyrics) of "Summer (Can't Last Too Long)" from Then & Now.



In the liner notes, "Please" appears to have a copyright note of 2000, which makes me think it was from the aborted Asia reunion of 1999, in which Wetton and Downes wrote a few new songs, but I could be wrong. A very beautiful, plaintive lyric, set to gorgeous keyboards repeating over and over.



Finally, "Lost In America" would have presumably been on 1985's Astra, but was dropped. It was, however, specifically written for the Albert Brooks drama/comedy film of the same name, and wasn't used by the movie's producers. (Wetton would also later feel the sting of famed movie soundtrack scorer Giorgio Moroder, when, after recording a stunning version of Over The Top's "The Winner Takes It All", Sammy Hagar's version was chosen instead.)



"Lost In America" is also notable for the fact that the song's chorus was later modified and worked into the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe song "Brother of Mine", of which Downes got a songwriting credit. "Lost In America" itself is quite a good song (listen to the dark keyboard section near the end) and if this wasn't a demo, and had a real saxophone soloing, it would be stellar.



Liner notes are quite good. Packaging...bad. Obviously, the pyramids on the cover are supposed to represent the Asia logo. Missing lyrics, misprinted pages...Typical hack-job, low-budget deal. A few black and white photos of Wetton and Downes over the years, being chummy and all. Also a few quotes from them regarding their songwriting and the songs in this collection.



Bottom line is, only get this if you're a hardcore Asia fan, or a hardcore John Wetton fan.



3 stars for Asia fans. 2 stars for everybody else."

Sounds like Asia of old

02/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I saw this CD, I recognized a few Asia songs from the track listing, but most of the rest was unknown to me. Now, no offense to Greg Lake or John Payne, but I've always considered John Wetton to be the only real voice of Asia. If you're an Asia fan who feels the same way, this disc is much more essential than the filler Downes has been pumping out under the Asia name the last few years. Based on the liner notes, this is something of an Asia "Odds & Sods". Different versions of some of these tracks (Summer, Kari-Anne) eventually made it to Asia releases, but any of them would have fit on the first three Asia albums. The only exception is a song called "We Move As One" that Wetton/Downes wrote for ABBA vocalist Agnetha Faltskog. She sings lead on the song with Wetton/Downes providing instrumentation and backing vocals. ABBA meets Asia is a little surreal, but it ends up sounding like something out of a Disney soundtrack. Overall, if you miss the old Asia, this is about as close as it gets."

Why weren't these released before or even as an Asia CD?

Geoff Hoover | Rockwell City, IA United States | 02/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set is just a collection of songs that were worked on and never released by the most under-rated songwriting duo in the history of rock music. There are at least 4 songs that should have been released as singles (Kari-Anne or Oh! Carolann could have had hit potential in either form that are presented here, Running Out Of Time, Lost In America & Christina). The songs are presented in fully recorded form and sound great. I only wish that the packaging would have included who the female voice was on "We Move As One". Hopefully, if there is more stuff on the shelf that John and Geoff recorded that can someday be released, they get around to releasing it soon. I need more of artists like this."