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 enlarge | Artist: Asia
Label: Eagle Records
Category: Music
Buy New: $17.98
New (33) Used (11) from $10.49
Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 45798
Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 20115
UPC: 826992011523
EAN: 0826992011523
ASIN: B000QFCD5O
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Finally, a live album from the ORIGINAL 4 - well worth the wait ! April 13, 2008
An ASIA reunion was an impossibility - it was easier for China to renounce communism than for Wetton, Downes, Howe and Palmer to unite on the same stage and play their great world-famous repertoire of songs.
As they say, never say never - we fans have been given the gift of a European and US tour and now also the release of a new studio album in April 2008 - PHOENIX.
Asia disbanded in 1991 and left their fans without a quality live release from the four original members - John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Steve Howe and Carl Palmer. Sixteen years later the four of them reunite and put together a fantastic, thoroughly enjoyable comeback tour. This is a recording of one of these shows (released also on DVD)offering the very best from their two albums - Asia and Alpha. One can feel that the four of them are enjoying themselves as this comes through via the excellent musicianship and wonderful solos.
The highlights of the set list are the outtake "Ride Easy", a past favourite of Wetton, and the four songs taken from the individual member's musical past - "Roundabout" from Howe, "Fanfare" from Palmer, "The Court of the Crimson King" from Wetton and "Video Killed the Radio Star" from Downes.
I recommend this live CD to all those who want to experience classic rock at its best with a touch of originality and a very unique lead vocalist.
don't wake me up, i don't want to chance this album to go away March 19, 2008
A great reassemble of the original lineup. All is well and the release of new material is anxiously awaited. John Wettons vocals still has that awesome power he is famed for. I look to hear the new songs that match the range he has now.
FANTASIA - FANTASTIC! March 12, 2008
I saw ASIA's concert during the first leg of their reunion tour in September 2006, at the House of Blues Cleveland. The performance was as great that night as it is on this CD and DVD (GET THE DVD TOO!). This concert is in the top three best concerts I've ever seen.
I'll never understand all of the people who feel the need to write hateful (and worthless) reviews of this or any other talented performer, doesn't seem very objective to me.
I was only 10 or 11 years old when ASIA's first album was released. Seems like only yesterday when 'Only Time Will Tell' was in regular rotation on MTV ...AAHHH - the good old days. Being that young, and having parents who weren't really into any kind of music. I never knew anything about the past history of the ASIA members. So all of these complaints and comparisons to ASIA's Progressive Rock roots don't really mean anything to me. The complaints seem especially silly when, truth be told, ASIA was formed to be a hugely popular, album-selling monster (and that's not a bad thing!). ASIA makes great rock and roll, period. So save your hate for performers without talent ...there are PLENTY to choose from nowadays!
Anyway, I'm glad the Original ASIA is back together, and I hope they keep rockin' for many years to come. Oh, and I LOVE the acoustic versions of 'The Smile Has Left Your Eyes' and 'Don't Cry'. Carl Palmer is the KING of all rock'n'roll drummers!
 AWFULA February 14, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I am a huge fan of John Wetton, Asia, King Crimson, Yes and ELP. This, however, was a major letdown for me. It just makes me long for 1982-83 when they worked well together.
The Bad: Where do I begin??? As a guitarist, I have to say that Steve Howe is one of the sloppiest, most overrated guitarists in the world now. He bears comparison to Jimmy Page, who can't even seem to stumble through 'Stairway' anymore without killing it (something most ten-year-olds I've taught have no problem with). Should these guys have stayed on drugs?! Howe falls flat on his face through several of the solos, and if it were me, I'd have never let this be released to the public! Yeah, he plays several different stringed instruments, but none of them with the wow and impact of his Yes days. Steve, what gives?! Arthritis? I'd accept that as a valid excuse...if it were the case.
Aside from that, most songs plod along much slower than originally recorded. That is purely and simply annoying. If that's not enough, either Wetton or Palmer are continually jerking the beat somewhere it doesn't want to be or missing a cue. Is it Palmer that keeps things from moving at pace, or did they plan on playing everything slower so that they could all still keep up?
Add to all this not a very good production mix. Did the band even listen to this before it was released? Someone should be fired.
People who love Asia regardless of quality will probably enjoy having Wetton back (I have my fingers crossed for the new studio album), but it's a sad thing when a cover band could blow these guys away at their own material. Seriously, this makes me embarassed for the band! Hopefully they are still good studio artists on the new album, "Phoenix." As for live musicians...I hope and pray this isn't exemplary of their efforts.
The Good: Wetton's vocals are still top-notch. He can still hit the notes, but that's a small consolation when the rest is so god-awful.
A waste of my money. Disappointing in most every way.
Only Time Will Tell January 7, 2008
The two CDs are as much a chronicle of the careers of these four outstanding musicians as it is on the surprising staying power of Asia's oftentimes much derided body of work.
And this is not a group that is simply cruising on the hits from the past; this is a solid performance by individuals who truly understand the strategy of utilizing the stage as a grand avenue to interpret studio concepts.
Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton took progressive rock - with a unique wall-of-sound - and placed it solidly onto the pop charts some 25 years ago. Fantasia arguably is the best live release in 2007.
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